The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-08-02
Auaersou gntel1igeneeg.
The Patriotic Widow Of the Congaree.
BY BENSON J. LOSING, LIZ. d.

plantation" said to a lad.
Pointing up gentle slope, he said
"On the top O. the hill is Mr.. Loves
house, which they call Fort Motto. It's
only short walk from here up that dirt
road"
At the summit found very aged
man, with thin white hair, resting upon q
log by the wayside.
us that Fort Motto ?" l inquired,
pointing toward fine house for the re-
gion, standing On The high fol!ing plain
which sloped to the swamps on every
side.
$50 they call it," he said; but it ain't
the fort we tuck from the British mOre'n
sixty year ago, burnt 'em out, you may
say"
"Were you one Of its captors??"
asked.
81 reckon | was" replied the old man.
"D'ye see that scar ?" pointing to his
forearm barred Of his sleeve. "a red
coats bullet made it in scrimmagc
afore the siege. was Harry's leitenant.
Harry, you know, was Marion's right.
hand man when hunting Tories. He
suffered when hurried. Comin s:;:jcn-
lv on Tory camp, one night, he wanted
to tell us to fire quick. lie said, FIT
-fi-f-,Moof, darn yc!" and we blaZcd
away in the dark"
"Why was this called Fort Motto ?" /
inquired.
BLESS your sou. 7" said the old colder
with animation. "Don't you know
Becky Motto lived here? Mighty plucky
woman was Becky Motto. A purity
woman too; as purity as O pictur, though
she was well.ngh forty year old, and had
darter married to Gineral Pinckncy.
She was Charleston lady, and this was
her best country house, "a healthy place.
The British drug Becky and be. little
darters out of her house, dug o big ditch
all around ii, piled u : - higt bsnk Of
dirt around the edge f the ditch, and so
made fort of it; n purity strong fort
agin uiuskets and rifles. It was O nice
house, but not 80 fine IA Mr.. Love's,
which Becky built right away after the
war. helped draw timber to build it.
THE British drove Mrs. Motto and her
family out Of her house, did
they? Where did they go?" asked.
replied. Becky was rich wdder lost
her husband early in the war, and lived
here in the summer. At that farm house
she showed raal grit that made liz all feel
as if we could willingly die for her yes,
die for her"
How did abe show grit?" asked, ns
! seated myself ON the log by the side of
the yeleran.
"Well, you sce," said the old patriot
as his voice waxed stronger by the stim
ulus of vivid recollecti0ns, "they had
her house, and five hundred red coats
were in and around it. Leitenant Colo.
mel Lee-Legion Harry, you kbow--a
dashing young tr0Uper only twenty. five
year old, dad joined us with his light.
horsemen, and we all pushed forward,
horse and foot, for this place to drive of
the Britishers. That very mornin' some
ioopers from Charleston come to the
fort with dispatches for Lord Rawdon at
Camden. They were about to leave,
when we appeared at Becky's farm. house.
They were skeered and didn't go. Lee
had little six.pounder, which he placed
in battery on the knoll yonder. The
red coats had no artillery and so we had
'em we reckoned."
"Who were Lees troopers p asked.
ready to 60 where he might lead and he
was ready to go wherever his country
needed brave men. He was q handsome
young man, with large black eyes and
brown hair. The gay uniform of his
men made the homespun clothes of
Marion'e brigade look meaner than ever.
But We had the grit ~ we'll MS they"
How did you take the fort with only
that little field piece7" inquired.
Lee dismounted his troopers, led 'em
into narrow hollow up to short way
from the fort, and, With the help of some
negroes, began to dig toward it, and
throw up breastworks, while we took post
Mt the field. piece to defend it in case tho
red.coats should come out and attack us.
They ae-e ordered 70 surrender. They
said they wouldn't. Just then we heard
that Rawdon was retreating from Cam
den, and had sent troopn to join the gar
-sson 81 Ecct Mc:.e. The. very nigh.
their camp fires were seen on a hill not
far away. The sight made us lively, l
tell ye. Something must be done quick.
". To batter down their works with
our baby, cannon, or reach them by
digging trenches. would take too much
time: But Lee was up to anything.
"'We must burn EN- OUT he said.
"Ths shing!es or the houss were dry
as tinder, for the sunshine was hot on
that day at the middle of May. Il can
send fire to 'em with arrows, said Lee,
and they'll blaze in minute But he
didn't like to do it. Becky Motto was
his friend, her son in.law was Ills friend !;
but he thought Of his country first, and
his friend afterwards. When he men.
toned It to Becky, the plucky woman
clapped her hands, and said, Good good |
Do 1t + you can. Burn the house if
they won't surrenderp Wasn' that raal
grit-raal patriotism,
Lee sent another order for the red.
coats to surrender. They isnew help was
nigh, and they wouldn't do it. Have
you man who can shoot strnight with
q bow and arrow?' he asked Marion
Yes, the Ginerai said Nathan Savage
is as good q shot rs any Indian,
"a bow an arrows were quickly made
and taken to Lees headquarters at the
fnrm houae, with Nathan. He tried the
bow, and said, 1T amt strong enough.
Here darter,' said Becky to her young.
eat, who married Colonel Alston, run
and git the Indian DOW and arrows.'
Turrentine torches were fastened to two
or three of the arrows, and Nathan cent
them like blazing stars straight to the
roof. The shingles smoked, and we hur.
rahed. They blazed. and we shouted.
The red. coats ran up, and began TO knock
off tho burning shingles. Shots from the
eix.pounder raked the loft, and sent Brit
ishers scampering pell.mell below. Pur-
ty soon q white flag vac seen waving,
and at noon we had 'em the red.coats
were all our prisnners. Warn't we
happy feilersl didn't mind the bullet
hole In my arm q bit, jist then. Becky
Motto, plucky Becky Motto, was as
happy as any of US, though her fiDe