St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-03-29


Mackey jumped out of bed, threw open
the window shutter, stuck out hel
head, surveyed the half-dozen armed
horsemen carefully, and said, ''Who's
there?"
Friends. Is Charley Mackey a,
home9"
She promptly answered. ..No."
In the meantime Charley had raised
the loose plank in the floor, and wa:
ready to make for the swamp in the
rear, when, stopping for a moment tt
be sure OF the character of his visitors
he heard the spokesman say: 'Well,
We are very sorry indeed, fol
there was a big fight yesterday or
Lynch's Creek between General Marion
and the British, and we routed the red
coats completely; and we have been
sent to General Davie at Landsford
with orders to unite with Marion al
Flat Rock as soon as possible, and then
to attack Tarleton. We don't know
the way to Landsford, and came by fol
Charley to pilot u.s.
Mrs. Mackey was always cool and
collected, and she said she was very
sorry her husband was not at home
But her husband was Just the reverse
hot-headed and impetuous. This sud.
den news of victory, after so many re,
verses, was SO in accordance with his
wishes that he madly rushed out into
the midst of the mounted men, hurrah-
ing for Marion and Davie. and shout
ing vengeance on the redcoats and To
ries and he began to shake hands en-
Enthusiastically with the " boys, and to
ask particulars about the fight, when
the ringleader of the gang coolly said
''Well, Charley, old fellow, we've Sc,
good many traps for you, but never
baited 'em right till now. You are
our prisoner" And they marched
him of. just as he was, without hat OF
coat. and without allowing him mo.
ment to say parting word to his poor
wife.
1t was now nearly daylight, and they
ordered him to pilot them to Andy Nc.
Elwain's, with the hope of capturing
him too. But he was not at home. Then
he was compelled to pilot them to James
Truesdale's, and he was not at home.
From there they went to Lancaster vii
lage. and then to Colonel Tarleton's
headquarters, where Charley Mackey
was tried by court-martial, and SEN
fenced to death as spy.
The next day Mrs. Mackey. moi
knowing what had happened, gathered
some fruit and eggs. and, with basket
well filled, she made her way to Colonel
Tarleton's camp. Hucksters were
readily admitted when they had such
luxuries to dispose of.
On getting within the lines she in
guired the way to Colonel Tarleton's s
marquee, which was shown to her. The
Colonel was on parade, but young
officer, who was writing, asked her to
be seated. After he had finished, he
said: "You have something for sale, /
presume
She replied that she had eggs and
fruit. He gladly took what she had
and paid for them. She frankly de-
clared that her basket of fruit was only
a pretext to get to Colonel Tarleton;
that she was anxious to see him in per-
son on business of great Importance.
She then explained to him the capture
of her husband, and that she wished to
get him released if he were still alive,
for she did not know but what they had
hung him up to the first tree they
came to- The officer told her that the
Colonel was on parade. and would not
return for two hours-nOt till he came
in for his midday meal. Mrs. Mackey
was comely woman of superior in
telligence, and she soon interested the
young officer in her sad condition. He
expressed for her the deepest sympathy
told her that her husband was near by
under guard; that he had been tried
and sentenced to death as spy; that
he was to be hung at sunrise to morrow
morning, and that he feared there was
no hope of a reprieve, as the evidence
given against him by Tories was of the
most positive kind. He told her that
Colonel Tarleton was as cruel and un-
feeling as he was brave, and that he
would promise her anything to get rid
Of her. but would fulfill nothing.
However. said he, II will pre-
pare the necessary document for
your husbands release, filling in
the blanks so that it will only be
necessary to get Colonel Tarleton's
signature. But / must again frankly
say that this is almost hopeless.
At twelve o'clock Colonel Tarleton
rode up, dismounted, and entered the
adjoining tent. As he passed along,
the young officer said: ''You must wait
till he dimes. Another charger will
then be brought forth, and when he
comes out to mount, you can approach
him, and not till then"
At the expected time the tall, boyish-
looking, clean-shaved, handsome young
Tarleton came out of his tent, and as
he neared his charger he was confronted
by the heroic Lydia Mackey, who in a
few words made known the object OF
her visit. He quickly answered that he
was in great hurry, and could not
at that time stop to consider her case.
She said the case was urgent; that her
husband had been condemned to die 81
sunrise tomorrow morning, and that he
alone had the power to save his life.
He replied: every well, my good
woman, when I return later in the day
will inquire into the matter" Saying
this he placed his foot in the stirrup.
and sprang up, but before he could
throw his right leg over the saddle,
Mrs. Mackey caught him by the coat
and jerked him down. He turned upon
her with q scowl, and she implored him
to grant her request.
He was greatly discounted, and
angrily said he would inquire into the
case on his return. He then attempted
again to mount, when she dragged
him down . second time, begging him
in eloquent terms to spare the life OF
her husband. .sHut, tut, my good
woman!' said he. boiling with rage.
"Do you know what you are doinge
Begone! TIL attend to this at my con-
venience; not sooner"
So saying, he tried third time to
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