Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-07-20
THE LAST OF SUMTER'S MEN.

the foot of Kings Mountain. The heavens
were shrouded with clouds, and melting snow
and mud more than fetlOck deep had jaded
nv horse l explained to Mr.. Leslie the OBJ
ject of my journey, expressed desire to visit
the battle ground that afternoon, and asked
him to show me the way.
Your beast is tired,'' he said, 81 have two
good saddle-horses in the stable"
They were brought out. We rode to the
famous field among wooded gravel-hills, viewed
the topography of that strange battle-ground,
made two or three sketches, and returned at
twilight William McElwee, Mr.. Leslie's
father-in, law, had just arrived. He was a
stout built man with an unmistakable Scotch
face, flowing white hair, blue eyes, and US
vigorous in appearance us a hale man OF sixty
He was the last survivor of Sumter's famous
partisan band in the old War for Indepen.
dence. His "reminiscences were the theme OF
the evenings conversation.
"When did you join Sumter?" inquired
''Just before Clinton took Charleston, and
CORVALLIS began to overrun the State. South
Carolinians were discouraged, and hundreds
took British protection. Sumter would moi
yield, but retired into North Carolina.
| followed him. There he gathered a little
band of exiles and we returned Sumter call
ed for recruits, but few came until we struck
the camp of wicked Houck one hot night in
July, killed him, and scattered his whole army
to the winds Our party numbered only ont
hundred and thirty all told. Timid men took
courage. and Joined the standard OF Sumter.
Governor Rutledge made him a brigadier and
was commissioned a lieutenant
Indeed I was. We struck British and
Tory parties here and there so unexpectedly
and Sharply that Cornwallis declared that Sum-
ter was the greatest plague in the country.
Before the end of July our little army number
ed about six hundred, and was daily increasing.
Sumter felt strong, and determined to attack
British and Tory force at Rocky Mount,
little west of the Catawba river. They were
only about two hundred and fifty strong, and
were stationed in three Lighthouses near the
foot of the slope, and surrounded by abat's,
us the French call it-a row CT felled trees,
laid brush end forward. We had no cannon.
so we got to the top of the hill, filled an old
wagon with dry brush and straw from thu
aJatis, fired it, and sent the blazing mass down
the slope against the Lighthouses. The British,
seeing their peril, h0isted Il white flag. Al
that moment a shower of rain put out the
fire and the little garrison delied us. We could
do nothing, 50 we withdrew, crossed the
Catawba, and pushed on toward Hanging
Rock"
What caused your defeat there % in
quired.
Rum, sir" said the old soldier emphati-
cally. Rum, the deadliest enemy Of man
kind. You see, we had whipped the British
and Tories completely and sent them running
like frightened deer, leaving their camp and
all behind. Their camp was tempting, and
our men, instead of ofpursuing, engaged in plum
dering. They drank freely of the liquor found
in the British quarters Our force became
dsordered, and when the British rallied, two
thirds Of our men were too drunk to 40 duty.
With about two hundred men, brave Sumter
charged upon the enemy but seeing rein
forcement for them coming, we retreated with
some prisoners and booty"
''You were hard pushed at Fishing Creek, "
remarked.
"Imdeed we were; SurprlSed-Dadly sur
prisei.''
Il thought Sumter was always wide awake" "
1 said.
$50 he was; but accidents will happen in
| the best of families, you know. Sumter had
been sent by Gates to intercept British es-
cort from Ninety-Six. We captured more
than forty wagons, loaded with clothing and
stores, and were returning to the Wateree,
when we heard of the defeat of Gates, near
Camden So we went up the river about
| forty miles, and halted for needed rest near
the mouth Of Fishing Creek. We did not
! hot August day, while our arms were stack
ed. the horses were grazing, and more than
| half the men were asleep under the trees, the
| fiery Tarleton, with his cavalry, dashed among
us, seized our arms and horses, killed about
one hundred and fifty of our meE, and made
| three hundred prisoners. Sumter, who seem,
ed never to sleep, seeing his men slaughtered
and dispersed, sprang upon his big white
horse, and closely followed by myself and
drummer-boy with his drum, both on bay
mare fled into North Carolina nor stopped
until we reached Charlotte. We made sorry
figure when we rode into the village. Sumter
was without a hat 1 was without coat and
| the drummer boy, sitting astride behind me.
was nearly naked, having just come out OF
the creek in which he had been bathing. Our
horses were without saddles'
..What then 20 asked.
"Action Only Marion was then in the
field with Wings, in South Carolina. Sumter
Immediately went to the upper country, where
Il few of his men who had escaped joined him,
and many volunteers hocked to his standard.
We were then all mounted, and were soon
Joined by other parties. We had an opport'i-
nifty, presently, to show Tarleton that Amerl-
cans could strike heavy blows us well as
British. lie chased us late in November We
had encamped at Blackstocks, on the Tiger
river in Union district, when Tarleton over
took us with part of his force. We fought
desperately, and at dusk set Tareton running
| for life and liberty, leaving about two hundred
of his men on the field, nearly one hundred
of them dead
II have heard there were many brave wo-
men in that regon,' / observed.
Brave. Why, they helped the cause al
most as much bs the men There were trace
and Rachel Martin, Mrs. billiard, Dicay Lang
sion. and scores Of others in that lonely country
| left ut home by the men in arms, and they
performed their part in the contest. Grace
| and Rachel were the young wives Of two sons
of Mrs. Martini, of Ninety-SiX district, who
were in Greenes army. These young women
were with their mother-in-law. One evening
they were informed that a British courier, with
| two guards, would pass that way with i'm
portant dispatches for British post beyond.
| They put on their husbands clothes, prorid-
| themselves with arms, and lay in ambush
! by the side of the wood. Late III the even
| inc, the courier and his escort came along,
when the young women suddenly sprang be-
| fore them, presented their weapons and bade
the travellers surrender with their papers.
Utterly surprised, they obeyed, and were pa
rolrd Returning, they stopped at Mrs. Mar
tins, and craved Accommodations for the night.
On being asked why they returned SO soon,
! they said they had been made prisoners ny
! two lads and showed their parole. The
young women allowed their captive guests to
depart the next morning ignorant that their
captors had entertained them. The dispatches
we're sent to Greene"
! sWho was Dicey Langston ?" inquired.
"a girl as brave and patriotic as Joan OF
Arc, and not SO Old--Only fifteen or sixteen.
She was the daughter of a Wing in 1.aurens
| district, whose son was in my company III sum-