The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-12-16
Tho scourge of the CarolInas.

the Kings Dragon Guards. In 1776 h
obtained permission from the Colonel O
his regiment to volunteer for service !.
North America, where 'the insolent re
bellion of Great Britain'e ungratefu
children" as it was regarded Sin thi
country, had just burst into flame. Hi
first act, after landing In New York, wa
to surprise and capture General Charlie.
Leo. who, being an englishmap by birtl
hal, upon the outbreak of the American
rebellion. resigned his British commits
sion and joined the cause of the insurgen
colonies. Gen. Lee was lonked upon
with singular antipathy by the officers o
the army which he had deserted, and il
l119 and l7SG Turleton's health was tho
mosi popular toast that it was possible tt
propose Mt mess dinner in England. OF
at any of the public meetings held 10 eel.
"0rate what was then regarded in this
country as the approaching collapse oi
the rebellion.
century has passed since those days
and 1t Is necessary Mt present for mn En-.
glIsin,an to vis'' the States Of North and
South Carolina in order to appreciate
The terror still awakened in those regions
by the name of Col. Tarlcton. Fiction
hns added to the daring, unscrupulous
deeds in which he was the principal ac.
tor, and we are acquainted with no vol.
ume which Is more pregnant with ma
ierlals for military romance than one
from the pen Of Rev. DR.. Caruthers, en-.
titled, Interesting Revolutionary Incl.
dents and Sketches of Character, chiefly
in the Old North Stnte," which is the
local name for North Carolina. In this
and in other works of IL like kind, Col.
Iarleton stands before us IL he appeared
to the dwellers Ln the frontiers Of North
and South Carolina, through which he
carried fire and sword. "Tarlcton," says
a contemporary writer, "possessed form
that was perfect model of manly
strength md vigor. He stood rather
above the middle height, and had face
almost femininely beautiful. Without
a particc of surplus flesh, his rounded
limbs and full broad chest seemed
moulded from iron, yet at the same time.
displayed MI the elasticity which usually
accompanies elegance of proportion.H
We were admitted by the same writer to
the spectacle of n combat between Tarle.
tim and n violent morse. which no one
else dared to mount. The untamable
brute was coal black stallion, magnifi-
cent in shape and appearance, and with
IN eye that seemed to defy control. He
was led by two grooms to the front of
iarleton'stent, and at bound the Colonel
threw himself into the sadie without
touching The stirrup. For an instant the
animal seemed paralyzed with terror;
then, with perfect yell of rage, he
bounded into the mir like stricken deer.
The undaunted rider piled the scourge
aud rowel without mercy, until, with y
scream of pain, the tortured and
arrow across the level ground in front
of the encampment. II have witnessed
many stirring scenes" says the writer,
during the Revolution and since. but
never one half 80 exciting an the strife
between that savage man and savage.
horse" The war in the CaroIinas
was conflict beween guerrillas rath.
er than between armies, and in it
Tarleton distinguished himself by raids
which he executed under cover of night
The country, sparsely settled. was full of
tories" rs they were then called, or 10y
nlist who sympathizcd with the English.
and of "rebe'8." like Marion and Sumter.
who were match for their enemies i'm the
field. Such were the distances over
which Tarleton and his little band of
picked horsemen travelled by night, that
no rebel ever lay down to rest without
dreading. lest he might hear the tramp of
horses and oaths of dragoons before morn.
ing broke. A characteristic story of the
Colonel's prowess is still told. In the
upper country of North Carolina, there
once lived n rebel named Keitt, who aided
by few congcnial spirits, had worsted
pvnrv rortv re EnoIs,I, ,olJ:,., 81.
preached his lonely dwelling In the woods.
ers with him, Tareton resolved to SUI
rprisc the desperate, and after a ride of
more than 100 miles he stood before the
door of n log cabin just after midnight.
keitt was at home and alone, and, in res
ponse to loud command bidding him
surrender in the kings name," he dis.
charged his rifle through lonphole. sore.
ly wounding Tarleton's horxa and narrow.
ly missing the riders thigh. Before the
rebel could reload, Tarleton had sprang
through an open window and grappled
with his assnilant. The struggle was
short, and Keitt, whom Tarlc.on respect.
ed for his bravery, escaped the fate usually
meted out to rebpls-a short, shrift and a
long halter-and was carried back pris.
oner to the English camp.
Stories OF such desperate acts Of per-
sonal daring as this preceded Colonel
Tarleton TO England, and upon the close
ofthe American war none of the officers
who had worn the Kings uniform was
more popular among his countrymen at
home than the son CT the Liverpool mer.
chant. He was admitted upon terms
of The closest intimacy to the little coterie
os the Prince Of ""a'es' fTionds, aud Was
sent to Parliament by his native town as
its member. In the House ofCummons
he distinguished himself among the ranks
OF the opposition, which never ceased to
wage an active and unscrupulous war
against the King and Mr.. Pitt.-London
9t''ty71Pha.
MR. GARFIELD AND THE SOUTH