The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-09-19
The Patriotic widow oftbe Congarce.
BY BEyscss J. DoosNe, LID.

Motto plantation ?' / said to lad
Pointing up a gentle slope, be
said. "On the top o the hill is Mr.
Loves house, which they call Fort
Note. 1t is only a short wald from
here I'D that dirt road.
At the summit / found very aged
man. with thin white hair, resting
upon log by the wayside-
rs that Fort Motte?" / inquired,
pointing toward z fine house for the
region, standing on the high rolling
plain which sloped 20 theswamps on
every side. -.
80 they call it, be said; but Il
ain'ttb fort we tuck from the But-
ish MORN sixty year ago-burnt EN-
out. you may say.
"Were you, one Of its captorsT i
asked.
Il reckon / was. ." replied the old
man. Dye see that scara2 :" point
log to his forearm, barred OF his
sleeve. a redcoat's bullet made II
in a scrimmage afore the siege. /
was Harry's leitenant. Harry, you
know, was Marions right-hand
man when hunting Tories. he slut
tered when hurried. Comm sud
denly on a Tory camp, one night, he
want % 20 tell u. to fire quick. lie
gald. "Fi-f-fi-f-ShOot, darn
yel" and we all blszed away in the
dark
"Why was this called Fort MOTIF? p
inquired.
Bless your soul r said the soldier
with animation. Don't you know
Becky Motto lived here? ? Mighty
plucky woman was Becky Motto.
As purity as a picture, though she
was well-uigh forty year old, and
had a darter married 10 Gineral
Pinckney. She was a Charleston
lady, and this was her best country
house-a healthy place. The Brit
ish druv Becky and her little dart
ers out of her house, dug a big ditch
all around it, piled up big bank Of
dirt around the edge Of the ditch,
and so made fort OF il; purity
strong fort agin mnskets and rifles.
1t was a nice house, but not so fine
as Mr. Loves, which Becky built
right away after the war. | helped
draw timber 10 build II.
"The British drove Mrs. Motto and
her family out OF her house, did
they? Where did they go?' L ask
ed.
To her overseers on yonder hill, "
he replied. Becky was a rich wild
der; lost her husband early in the
war. and lived here in The summer.
At that farm house she showed real
grit, ] tell We; grit that made US all
feel as if we could willingly die for
her; yes. die for her"
How did she show grit 2" Iasked,
as | seated myself on the log by the
side OF the veteran.
"Well, YOU see" said the old patri
OF. as his voice waxed stronger by the
stimulus of vivid recollections, they
had her house. and five hundred red
coats We're 10 and around it. Left
enant Colonel Lee-Legion Harry,
you know-a dashing young trooper
only twenty-five year old, had join
ed us with his ight-horse-men, and
veal pushed forward, horse and foot
for this place 10 drive off the British
ers. That very mornin some troop
ers from Charleston came TO the
fort with dispatches for Lord Raw
don at Camden. They were about
to leave, when we appeared at Beck 5
farm house. They were skeered and
didn't 60. Lee had a little six
FOUNDER, 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 troops? ?" | ask
ed.
Mostly young Nirginians, reck-
on, ready TO go where he might lead
and he was ready 10 90 wherever
his country needed brave men. He
was a handsome young man, with
large black eyes and brown hair
The gay uniform OF his men made
the homespun clothes of Marion 1
brigade look meaner than ever. But
we had the grit as well as they"
How did you take the fort with
only that little field piece?" l inquir'
ed.
Lee dismounted his troopers, lee
'em into a narrow hollow up to {
short way from the fort, and, with
the help of some negroes, began t
dig toward it and throw up breast
works, while we took post at th'
field piece to defend it In case tbs
red coats should come out and at
tack us. They were ordered to sur
render. They said they wouldn't
Just then we heard that Rawdon wa
retreatiug from Camden, and hac
sent troops to Join the garrison a
Fort Motto. That very night thei
camp fires were seen on a hill no
far away. The sight made us live
ly, tell ye. Something must b
done quickly.
To batter down their works wit
our baby cannon, or reach them b,
digging trenches, would take to,
much time. But Lee was up TO any
thing.
I'VE must burn 'em out" he said
The shingles on the house wer
dry AS tinder, for the sunshine wa
hot on that day inthe middle @
May. Il can send fire to 'em wit
arrows, said Lee, and they'll blaz
in minute" But he didn't like t
do it. Becky Motto was his frienC
her son-in-law was his friend; bu
he thought of country first, and hi
friends afterwards. When he mer
toned it TO Becky, the plucky won
an clapped her hands, and sbou'
ed, Good. good Do it if yo
can. Burn the house if they won
surrender" !" Wasn't that raal grit
raal patriotism 4?
Lee sent another order for th
red coats to surrender. They kne
help was nigh, and they wouldn't d
it. Have you man who can shoe
straghit with a bow and arrow ?" b
asked Marion. Yes" the Giner;
said: Nathan Savage is as good
shot as any Indian"