The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-04-17
Andersula gutelligeneer.
MARION AND HIS MEN.
Lydia Macksy and Col. Tarleton.
Harper's AagoSi'le.

Lydia Macksy and Col. Tarleton.
HarpeT's Aaga=ine.
In 1888 South Carolina was completely
oyerrun by the British. Lord CORVALLIS
held quiet possession of Charleston, had
defeated Gates and DeKalb at Camden
driven Marion to the swamps of Pee Dee
scattered the forces of Sumter, and estab'
lisbed his headquarters in the Waxhaws
ON the border of North Carolina, while
Tarleton had his on the Hanging Rock
Greek, about thirty miles North OF Cam.
den. Davie alone was left with SMALL
force on the West bank of the Catawba,
making occasional sorties to harass the
outposts of the British.
The Scotch and the Hugenots Of
South Carolina were mostly Wings, OF
rebels. The English colonists were di.
yided; the majority were Wings; but
there were goodly number of loyal men
among them who conscientiously espoused
the cause of the mother country, and
we're called Tories.
Lancaster county was one of the strong
holds of the Wings. The Mcllwains,
Truesdalcs,, Douglasses, Cunninghams,
Twittys, McDonalds, McMullens, Mack
eys. and others of Scotch. Irish origin oc-
cipied and held the Southern portion OF
Lancaster, and Chas. Mackey was their
acknowledged leader; while the Craw.
fords, DunIaps, Jacksons General Jack
son was then sixteen years old), Whites,
Masseys, Dodys, Curetons, and others OF
the same stock held the Waxhaws, in the
Northern sections of the county. The
Wings had always made Lancaster too
hot for the Tories, and had ruthlessly
driven them out of the county to seek
companionship and sympathy wherever
they might find it. But the advent of
the British turned the tide completely,
and now the Tories with Tarleton's aid,
drove the Wings from Lancaster, some
across the Catawba to join Davie, and
some to the Pee Dee to join Marion.
Charles Mackey, as the leader of his
band, had made himself very obnoxious
to the Tories, and they impatiertly
awaited time of vengeance.
He was man of medium size, very
active and energetic, fine horseman, a
splendid shot, impulsive, hot.headed,
often running unnecessary risks, and
doing dare devil deeds. No work was
too hazardous for him.
Lydia Mackey, his wife, was woman
of good common sense, with clear head
aud fine Judgment, and in GOODNESS and
elf.posession far superior to her impetu.
GUS husband. They had young family
of two or three children, and Charles
Mackey had not seen or heard from them
for several weeks. Their home was not
more thar two aud half miles from
Tarleton's camp on the Hanging Rock
Greek. He knew very we'll that it would
be hazardous for him to return to his
home SO near to Tarleton's headquarters,
but his anxiety became SO intense on
account of his wife's peculiar condition
that he could no longer remain in doubt
about it. So he cautiously made his way
home, where he unwisely loitered for a
week, ald during this time he had the
temerity to enter Tarleton's lines more
than once in search of information which
would be valuable to his country's
defenders.
Charles Mackey's house was double
log cabin, with cultivated patches of corn
and potatoes on either side of the lane
leading to the front, while at the rear
was kitchen garden of half an acre or
more, extending back to huckleberry
swamp, which was almost impenetrable
to man or beast. This swamp covered an
area of ten or fifteen acres and was sur
rounded by quagmire from ten to thirty
I. feet wide, thus making practically an
island. Itwas entered by jumping from
tnssock to tussock of moss.covered Jumps
of mould foot or TIVE in diameter, and
rising six or eight inches above the pitch
black semijelly like mire, which shook
in every direction in passing over it. A
plank of fence served as temporary
draw-bridge, which was pulled into the
swamp after crossing over.
When the county was infested by
Tories Charles Mackey spent his days in
the swamp, if not scouting. At night he
yentured home. He had good watchdogs
and they gave the alarm when any one
approached, whether by day or by night
If at night, he would Immediately lift o
loose plank in the floor of his bedroom,
drop through on the ground, crawl out in
the rear, then run thirty or forty yards
across the garden, gun in hand, and dis.
appear in the swamp, pulling his. fence
railing draw-bridge in after him. There
was no approach to the house from the
rear, and his retreat was always effected
with impunity.
Charles Mackey had been at home now
about week, and was on the eve of leav-
ing with some valuable information fol
the rebel generals, gained by his night
prowlings in and about the headquarters
of Colonel Tarleton. But early in June
morning ian hour or two before day. his
usually faithful watchdogs failed to give
warning of the approach of strangers,
and the fret notice of their presence was
their shouting "Hello !" in front of the
house. Mrs. Mackey jumped out of bed,
threw open the window shutter, stuck
out her head, surveyed the half dozen
armed horsemen carefully, and said
"Who's there?"
s'Friends. Is Charley Mackey at
homer"
She promptly answered, ':No."
In the meantime Charley had raised
the loose plank in the floor, and was
ready to make for the swamp in the rear
when, stopping for a moment to be sure
of the character of. his visitors, he heard
the spokesman say ."Well, we are very
sorry indeed, for there was big fight
yesterday on Lynch's Creek between
General Marion and the British, and we
routed the-redcoats completely
and we have been sent to General Dayie
at Landsford with orders to unite with
Marion at Flat Rock as soon as possible
and then attack Tarletou. We don't
know the way to Landsford, and came by
for Charley to pilot us"