Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-06-21
North Carolina or Virginia. Laboring unde

eircumscribe the field of his operations to the
tract of country included between the Edisto,
Congaree and Santee rivers. Within this
tract of country he contemplated establishing,
in the most eligible position, military post
from which he might lead out his forces and
act as his surroundings might indicate. On
returning to Ninety.Six, he promptly set about
making preparations for the abandonment of
that post. Many circumstances indicated this
as proper course to be pursued. Even had
it been true, as Rawdon, no doubt thought,
that Greene and bis army was forced to leave
the State of South Carolina to the mercy of the
British, still Ninety.six was too far in the in
terror of the country and too much exposed to
attacks from the various partisan corps which
were known still to exist, to warrant its re-
tention. This was not all. The various other
posts in the up-country had been captured
and their garrisons made prisoners. Under
such circumstances, the maintenance of gar
rison at Ninety.six would have been attended
with great difficulty.
The plan chosen by Rawdon for the aban-
donment of the post and the future disposi.
ton of the troops, was that Rawdon, with q
portion of the whole forces then at Ninety
Six, was to proceed directly to Fridays ferry
on the Congaree, whilst Cruger, with the re-
mainder, in charge of the baggage, loyalists,
and sick, was to incline to the right and ad-
vance to Orangeburg. At Fridays ferry and
Orangeburg, cantonments were to be estab-
lished. Colonel Stuart was ordered from
Charleston to form, with the troops under his
command, a junction with Ravdon at Fri
days ferry.
Before, however, the troops moved from
Ninety.Six, Lord Rawdon discovered that bis
conclusions with respect to the intentions of
General Greene were incorrect. On leaving
the Enoree, he was followed by Lieutenant
Colonel Lees corps. General Greene, from
the moment he raised the siege at Ninety-Six,
contemplated regulating his future >move-
ments by those of his enemy. His purpose
was to keep at safe distance from bis foe,
and yet near enough to improve any advan-
tage which might be presented.
Previous to advancing upon Ninety.Six,
General Greene had sent his hospital stores
and heavy baggage to Winnsboro. So soon
as the intentions of Rawdon were discovered,
General Greene ordered his stores at Winns-
boro to be removed to Camden. Lieutenant
Colonel Lee was ordered to watch the move
ments of the enemy and communicate all in.
telligence gained to General Greene. Sumter
and Marion were apprised of the movements
of the enemy, and also of the aims and in
teptions of the American general.
Itwas at this time that an event traDspired
which has furnished theme for the poet or
novelist, and a fit subject for the painter.
When General Greene had written letter to
General Sumter, containing an outline Of his
plans and orders, he found it difficult to find
person who was willing to convey the letter
to General Sumter. The advance of Lord
Rawdon into the up country, had encouraged
the tories and loyalists to take bold stand.
The country through which the bearer of the
letter would necessarily have to pass, in some
places, swsrmed with gangs of horse thieves
and unprincipled tories. No one was willing
to volunteer to hear the letter to its destina-
ton. At this critical juncture of affairs. a
young girl of scarcely eighteen years of age,
the daughter of German planter of Fair.
field county, offered her services for the per-
ilous task. Her name, which has become
historical, was Emily Geiger. General Greene
readily accepted the offer.
The maid was mounted upon feet horse,
and the letter placed by General Greene in
her hands Fearing lest some mishap might
befall the heroic girl, General Greene took
the precaution to communicate to her the con-
tents of the letter. Without molestation, she
passed through the country, crossed the Wa
teree river at the ferry below Camden, and
was nearing Sumter's camp. In one Of those
low bottoms in which that region of country
abounds, she was, on the second day of her
journey, halted by a small scouting party Of
tories. In accordance with the principle laid
down by the Scotch poet that the "real har.
dened wicked are to few restricted" the
tory scouts, individually, forbore to search
Emily, in order to discover whether or not
she was the bearer Of any contraband docu.
ments. She was taken to a house in the
neighborhood and woman sent for to make
the search. Emily was shut up in room
alone, there to remain until the individual
designed to search her person should arrive.
During this interval, Emily deliberately, and
wisely, chewed up and swallowed the letter
placed in her charge. When her person was
searched, it was found that there was nothing
about her that was suspicious, or that fur.
nished reasonable cause for her longer de-
lay. Mortified that they had acted so harsh
ly, the gallant tories apologized to the fair
maiden and permitted her, without further de-
lay, to pursue her journey.
She reached Sumter's camp and since she
had eaten up the letter, promptly delivered
the message from General Greene to General
Sumter. Emily Geiger afterwards married
gentleman by the name of Thurwits, and
settled in Lexington county.
SINGLE vs.. MARR1ED.-They we're pretty,
and there was apparently Eve or six years
difference in their ages AS the train pulled
up at Busy, out on the A. K. D., the younger
girl blushed, flattened her nose nervously
against the window, and drew back in jealous
smiles as young man came dashing into the