The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-06-27


ceived by the false reports which they
had heard at home of the success which
had attended his Majesty's forces in
crushing the rebellion of the colonies,
these troops had come over to possess the
subjugated country. Each one thought
that, on arriving at Charleston, all he
would have to do in order to become the
owner of large landed estate was to
make his selection and have his land
marked out by metes and bounds. Three
days after landing they discovered, no
doubt to their sorrow, that before they
could settle down in the country as land
lords they must first conquefthe present
inhabitants.
Although Lord Rawdon had by rapid
marches reached the vicinity of Ninety
Six soon enough to drive away General
Greene and save the garrison, he was not
disposed to give himself or troops up to
supineness. On the very evening after
reaching Ninety Six he selected his best
m en- and horses and set out in pursuit of
Gen. Greene. The sick and broken down
men and horses were left with Cruger.
He crossed the Saluda and pushed on to
the Enoree. Here his van encountered
the American rear, under Colonel Wash
ington and Lieut. Colonel Lee. General
Greene, with the main forces, had crossed
the Enoree -and Tiger, and, perhaps,
Broad river, and consequently was out of
danger.
Lord Rawdon, discovering very soon
the superiority of the America cavalry
to that of his own, concluded to abandon
the pursuit of the Americans and return
to Ninety Six. Rawdon seems to have
come to the conclusion that Gen. Greene
had determined to leave the State of
So'1th Carolina and 60 either to North
Carolina or Virginia. Laboring under
this mistake, the British General conclu-
ded to circumscribe the field of his oper-
ations 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
viii 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 cir
cuustarces indicated this as proper
course to be pursued. Even had it been
true, as Rawdon no doubt thoug ght, that
Greene and his army was forced to leave
the State of South Carolina to the mercy
of the British, still Ninety Six was too
far in the interior of the country, and
too much exposed to attacks from the
various partisan corps which we're still
known to exist, to warrant its retention.
ThiiI 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 a
garrison at Ninety Six would have been
attended with great difficulty.
The plan chosen by Rawdon for the
abandonment of the post and the future
disposition of the troops was that Raw
don, with portion of the whole forces
then at Ninety Six was to proceed directly
to- Friday's ferry on the Congaree, whilst
Cruger, with the remainder, in charge of
the baggage, loyalists and sick, was to
incline 70 the right and advance to Or
angeburg. At Fridays ferry and Orange
burg cantonments were to be established.
Colonel Stuart was ordered from Charles
ton to form, with the troops under his
command, a junction with Rawdon at
Fridays ferry.
| Before, however, the troops moved
from Ninety Six, Lord Rawdon discov-
cred that his conclusions with respect to
the Intentions of General Greene were
incorrect. On leaving the Enoree, he
was followed by Lieut. Colonel Lees
crops. General Greene, from the mo-
ment he raised the siege at Ninety Six,
contemplated regulating his future move
ment, by those Of his enemy. His pur-
pose was to keep at safe distance from
his fee, and yet near enough to improve
any advantage which might be presen-
ted.
Previous to advancing upon Ninety
Six, Gen. Greene had sent his hospital
stores, and heavy baggage to Winnsboro.
So soon as the intentions. of Rawdon
were discovered, Gen. Greene ordered
his stores at Winnsboro to be removed to
Camden. Lieut.. Colonel Lee WIS or
dered to. watch the movements OF the
enemy and communicate all intelligence
gained to General Greene. Sumter and
Marion were apprised of the movements
of the enemy, and also of the aims and
intentions of the American General.
It was at this time that an event trans
pired which has furnished theme for
the poet or novelist, and a fit subject for
the painter. When Gen. Greene had
written letter to Gen. Sumter, contain
fling s,n outline of his plans and orders,
he found it difficult to find person who
was willing to convey the letter to Gen.
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 tho letter would necessarily have to
pass, in some places, swarmed with gangs
of horse thieves aud unprincipled tories.
No one was willing to volunteer to bear
the letter to its destination. At this crit
ical juncture of affairs, young girl,
scarcely eighteen years of age, daughter
of German planter of Fairfield county,
offered her services for the perilous task.
Her name, which has become historical,
was Emily Geiger. Gen. Greene readily
accepted the offer.
The maid was mounted upon feet
horse, and the letter placed by General
Green, in her hands. Fearing lest some
mishap might befall the heroic girl, Gen.
Greene took the precaution to communi-
cate to her the contents of the letter.
Without molestation she passed through
the country, crossed the Wateree river at
the ferry below Camden, and was nearing
SumteIs 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 small scouting
party of tories. In accordance with the
principle laid down by the Scotch poet
that the "rsal hardened wicked are to q
few restricted" the tory scouts, individu'
ally, iorebore to search Emily, in order
to discover whether or not she was the
bearer of any contraband documents
She was taken to house in the neigh.
borhood, and q woman sent for to make
4 n y