The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-04-17
Andeyspn 0ntelligenfer.
MARION AND HIS MEN.
Lydia Macksy and Col. TarIeton.
Harpeys Aagd=ins.

Harpey's Aagd-ins.
1888 South Carolina was completely
oyerrun by the British. Lord Cornwalli,
held quiet possession Of Charleston, had
defeated Gates and Dekalb at Camden
driven Marion to the swanps Of Pee Dee
scattered the forces OF Sumter, and estab
lished his Headquarters in the Waxhaws
on the border Of North Carolina, Will,
Tar!etop lad his on he Hanging Rock
Creek, about thirty miles North Of Cam.
den. Dayie alone wa: leit with q ,nIa.I
force ou the Wes, bank OF the Ca,awba,
making occasional sort:e. TO hara-. The
outpOsts OF the British.
The Scotch Irish and the iiugenots ot
South Carolina were mostly Wbig., or
rebels. The English cOlonists were di.
yided; The majority were Wings; but
there were gDodly number Of loyal men
among them who cou-cien,iou-ly spoused
the cause Of the mother country, and
were called Tories.
Lancaster county was one Of .he strong.
holds Of the Wings. The Mcliwain-,
Truesdalcs, Douglassss, Cuuninghams,
Twi,tys, McDonald-, NcMullcns, Mack.
cys. and Others Of Scotch Irish origin Oc.
cuped 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 ttock held the Waxhaws, in the
Northern sections of the county. The
Wings had always made Lancaster too
hot for the Tories, and had ruthles4ly
driven them out Of the county 20 seek
companion.hip and sympathy wherever
they Nigh, find it, But the adyen, Of
the British turned the tide completely,
and now the Tories with Tarleton's aid, /,
drove the Whigs from Lancaster, some
across the Catawba to join Daylc, and
some 10 the Pee Dee 10 Join Marion.
Charles Mackey, as The leader Of his
band, had made himself very obnoxious
10 the Tories, and they impaticntly
awaited q time of vengeance.
He was man Of medium sizc, very
active and energetic, fine horseman, r
splendid shot. :npuisiTs, hot.heatitd,
often running unnecessary risks, and
doing dare devil deeds. No work was
TOO hazardous for him.
Lydia Mackey, his wife, was Il woman
Of good common sense, with clear head
and fine judgment, and in GOODNESS and
selEpOscssi0n far superior to her inpctu.
Gus husband. They had young family
of two or three children, and Charles
Ma.key had not seen or heard from them
for several weeks. Their home was not
more than two and half miles from
Tarleton's camp on the Hanging Rock
Creek. He knew very well tha. il would
be hazardous for him 10 return TO his
home 20 near to Tarletou's headquarters,
but his anxiety became so intense on
account OF his wifcs peculiar condition
that he could no longer remain in doubt
abOutit. SO he cautiously made his way
home, where he unwisciy lUitercd for Il
week, and during this time he had the
temerity TO enter Tar!cton's lines more
than once in search Of information which
would be valuable TO his cOuntry's
defenders.
Charles Mnckey's house was n double
log catin, with cultivated patches OF corn
and potatoes on either side Of the lane
leading TO tho front, while at The rear
was q kitchen garden of half an acre or
more, extending back 10 huckIeberrv
swamp, which was almost impenetrublr
to man or beast. This swamp covered an
area of ten or fifteen acres and was sur.
rounded by luagmire from ten to thirty
feet wide, thus making practically an
island. 1t was entered by jumping from
tussock 10 tussock Of moss covered Jumps
of mould q foot or two in diameter, and
rising six or eight inches above the pitch
black semijelly like mire, which shook
in every direction in passing over il. \
plank OF fence served as Il temporary
draw.bridge, which was pulled into the
swamp after crossing over.
When The county WAS infested by
Tories Charles Mackey rpSnt his days in
the swamp, /! not scouting. Alright he
ganiIred homo. lie had good watchdogs,
and they gave the alarm when any one
approached, whether by day or by night.
II at night, he would Immediately lii a
loose plank in the foo. Of his bedroom,
drop through or 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 q week, and was on the eve of leav.
ing with some valuable information for
the rebel generals, gained by his night
prowiings in and about the Headquarters
Of Colonel Tarleton. But early in a June
morning ian hour or two before day) his
usually faithful watchdogs failed to give
warning of tho approach of strangers,
and the fret notice of their presence was
their shouting "Helle i" ia 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 2"
Friends. Is Charley Mackey n.
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 il the rear.
when, stopping for moment to be sure
OF the character of his visitors, be 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 omple.ely
ana we have been sent to General Dayie
at Landsford with orders 10 unite with
Marion Mt Flat Rock as Boon as possible.
and then attack Tarleton. We don't
know the way to Landsford, and came by
for Charley 10 pilot us."
Mrs. Mackey was always cool and col.