The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-06-01
Written For the Tunes.
REVOLUTIONARY "REMINISCENCES.


REVOLUTIONARY "REMINISCENCES.
James Meek was soldier of the revolution
ary war, and resided on Bullock's creek, in
York County, S. C. lie served under Marion
during the war, and suffered all the hardships
and privatiohs of that partisan officer. On one
occasion he was captured by squad of Tories
commanded by Capt. Mayfeld, of Union County,
S. c., and for fear he might make his escape,
they pinoned his arms with ropes and drove
him before them like dumb brute to he slaugi-
ter pen. They had river to cross after they
captured Mr.. Meek, and finding no boat or
other means of conveyance by which they could
cross the river after looking around they at
length found n large hog trough, which they
launched into the river, and into which they
placed their prisoner and fcrried him over he
stream. They reached Mayfelds house about
noon, where they halted for dinner. They
~ "a sA-i-Ii..;-s- -arms in the yard and placed D.
7grtftfne1 5sn ret.-L1 1-- them anu v--SSv. the
alarm in case of danger. Mrs. May6eld hastily
prepared dinner for them, and while they were
enjoying their repast the sentinel cried out:
"Yonder comes Marions Men" They Ill
dropped their knives and forks-leaving their
door and fed to the nearest thickct as fast rs
their legs could carry them. With Marion's
men there was n man by the name of Hood,
father Of Abner Hood, who once resided in
Winston County, Miss, who, on reaching May
fields house and finding his friend Meek with
his arms firmly tied behind him, out with his
knife and Gu. the cords that bound him and
carried him safely back to Marion's camp.
Many years after the close of the war, aud after
his children had grown up around him, Mr..
Meek started to Alabama 20 attend the land
sales ut Cahawba. His body was found shortly
afterwards on the Seneca river, in the North
west part of s. c., where he was drowned or
was murdered by highway robbers for his
money and his body thrown into the stream.
His remains were buried on the premises OF
Colonel Anderson, near the Seneca river. 1lc
left many respectable descendants, his son Eli
died in Northern Missssppi; AMI, Jas. b.
and William b., died in Louisville, Miss. ABB
ner died in Alfalfa County, Mis-; one of bis
daughters married Chesterfield Mckenny Of
Rutherford County, N. C.
This captain Mayfel resided in the neighbor-
hood of Josiah Culbcrtson, in Union County, S.
G., and among his tory friends were such men
as Bloody Bill Cunningham, Sam Brown, Sam
Smith, who married Sally White, and others.
During one of their tory raids they captured
Benjamin Savage and endcnvarel to make him
take an cath, "to be true to the Royal cause;
but Benjamin refused to take the oath, so they
hung him until he nearly dead and then
cut him down; but he still persisted in his firm
resolution and told them that they might kill
,.--,-..v- rrnv rr.y,,,-Tsnfo;n . in
Mayfeld married sister Of Charley Crane, q
sterling whig, of Union County, S. c., who
fought by the side of such men Gen. Thomas
Brandon, Col. Jo. Hughes, Josiah Culbertson,
Wm. Kennedy and others. Although his sister
married the notorious tory. Capt Mayfcld. yet
she was true whig in principle. The tories
were in i!,c habit of meeting ai Mayfelds s house
at right, to consult and make known their plans
to each other, rs to where they would go and
what whig families they would mob and kill
during the next few days, and then dsperse 10
meet at q certain designated place. Mrs. May
field during their consultation, would manifest
q perfect Indifference as to their conversation
and plans of attack upon the wings; but, so
soon rs her husband and his tory gang would
leave, and she conld get her children safely
locked in the arms of Morpheus she would mount
her pony and ride four miles and back, under
cover Of night, to inform her brother, Charley
Crane of the plans, &C., of the tories The
tories at length made prisoner of Charley and
informed him that unless he took an oath to
support III" Royal Cause they would put him
to death. Charley, knowing into whose hands
he had fallen, and drcndimg tory vengeance
Reluctantly took the oath to save his life. lie
soon returned to his whig friends and offered to
hazarl his life in the cause Of liberty. They
asked him, what was he going TO do with his
oath. lie replied 81 only took the oath from
my lips outwnrls." The above mentioned items
of information | obtained from the descendants
of JAS. Meek, Sr.. Of York County, s. c., and
from the Hughes family of Union County, S. c.
Louisville Miss May 18th 1883.
WM. 7. LEWIS.
Mr. EpIroE IF you consider the above
sketch worthy of place IN your paper, you can
insert it, If you publish this may write
| you another sketch about old Vim. Kennedy,
Gen. Thos. Brandon and others. My wife
| is great grand daughter of Wm Kennedy
| who married :: SISTER, of Gen. Thos. Brandon OF
revolutionary memory. W,
| \ WORD FOR THE CRrw.-DOn kill the crows
| 1t is only within few years that speakers at
the various meetings had the courage to say a
word for the crow, but now il is admittcd thai
his character is not 50 unilorE.!y black rs his
plumayc In y rthcrn gardens. the white grub