Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1881-04-21
81 5foa, the Natioaa1 Portrait Gallery d d
ANDREW PICKENs. 7

Was born in Paxton township,
Pennsylvania, on The 10Th Of Septen-
ber, 1789. He was of Frenchaeie'
scent, his ancestors having been driv-
en- from France by the revocation Of
the edict OF Nantes. They first set
tied in Scotland; and afterwards IN
the north OF ireland. His father en-
igrated to Pennsylvania, and from
thence removed with his family, while
Andrew was very young, to Virginia,
and settled for a few years, about
eight miles west ef where Stanton
now stands. In the year 1852, his
father removed from Augusta countF
Virginia, and settled in the WaxkF
South Carolina. His family wa
amongst the first settlers Of - =
of the State! AS heswas.Sll &
the frontiers OF newly settled cot
try, he was necessarily deprived :, q
the advantages Of e good education.
He spent his youth in hunting and
agriculture, the usual occupations OF
such a country. But endowed as he
was by nature with uncommon sagao-
ity and great decision of character,
he soon attracted the confidence Of
all who knew him. He was rather
above the middle height, very active,
with a muscular frame, capable OF
enduring great fatigue; and there.
was no hardy enterprise ofthose days
too daring to enlist his zeal and
hearty cooperation.
Like many Of our most distinguish
ed officers of the revolution, he com
menced his military services in the
French war, which ter minated 1853
lt was during this war that he began
to develop those qualities fec which
he was afterwards 80 eminently dis
tinguished. In the year 1852, he
served as a volunteer in a bloody but
rnccassfnl eynedition under Lieuten-
ant Colonel Grant, British officer
sent by General Amherst to command
against the Cherokee Indians.
In l761 the settlement made on
Long Cane, in the western part OF
Carolina, was nearly externinated by
the Indians, and many of the inhabi
tants fled to the Waxhaws for protec,
ton, and amongst them was Ezekiel
Calhoun and his family, 1t was Re-
becca, the daughter of this gentlemen
with whom young Pickens then be,
came acquainted, and afterwards ma7f
ried. She was the sister Of John@
Calhoun, who died while d SENATOR
congress. y
Early in l764, the sutject Of this
biographical sketch removed to the
Long Cane settlement, near where
Abbeville G. Ii. is now situated.
He had a considerable family OF
small children, when the revolution,
with all its additional horrors OF civil
war, commenced. At q very early
period, he took a decided and active
stand against the right claimed by
Great Britain to tax her colonies with
out their consent. The section Of
country il which he lived was unfor'
tunately much divided. And it was
more so near him, in the section be
tween Salula and Broad rivers, where
the majority were tories.
These circumstances made the
struggle in the upper parts OF s'nth
Carolina far more painful and destruc-
tive than it was in almost any other
part Of the confederacy. The bloody
and midnight contests that arose be-
tween neishbors and acquaintances:
even over their hearthstones and in
the bosom of their families, were far
more terrible than the conllagrahons
of foreign foe; and nothing but the
sternest patriotism and most undaunt-
ed courage conld have borne up the
whig cause against murderons civil
war at hone, and the invasion Of a
relentless enemy from abroad.
At the very commencement Of the
revolution, Andrew Pickens raised a
militia company. and was appointed
the captain. The distinguished pat
which he acted throughout The str
gle. for independence, has beeI
general terms recorded by Tie i
rian, and the principal events
only be alluded to in the presses,
sketch. His zeal, skill, and courage
were rewarded by his country in bis
being rapidly promoted to the respec
tive commands Of major, colonel, ant
brigadier general.
In the most despondent time, wher
South Carolina was overrm by th'
enemy, and suffered all the horrors
of Indian and tory murders, he re
NAMED unshaken, and with Marion
and sumpter in different parts of th'
State, kept up the spirit of resistance
These three generals waged gueril
la warfare by night and by day, Ggbt
ing on the banks Of this creek AM
on the banks Of that river, over eve
ry inch of soil, in a manner tina
stands as yet unrivalied in the hiSto