The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-03-20

AAC ANpIlSo- fCly "c1ly 2OOd
woman, when | 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 jerlxed him down He turned upon
her with 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. "Hut, tut, my good
womanp' said he, boiling with rage.
do you know what you are doing?
Begone! I'll attend to this at my con
| venience; not sooner.
So saying, he tried third time to
mount. and third time Lydia Mackey
jerked him to the ground. Holding by
the sword scabbard and falling on her
knees, she cried: DRAW your sword
and slay me and my unborn babe, or
give me the life of my husband, for l
shall never let you 60 till you kill me
or sign this document" which she drew
from her bosom and held up before his
! face
Tarleton trembled, was as pale as q
corpse, and turning to the young officer,
who stood near by intently watching the
scene. he said, Captain, where is this
woman's husband?n
He answered, Under guard in yon-
der tent"
"Order him to be brought here :"
And soon Charles Mackey stood before
the valiant Tarleton. Sir, said he,
''you have been convicted of bearing
arms against his Majesty's Govern
ment. Worse-you have been con-
victed of being spy; you have dared
10 enter my lines in disguise as a spy.
and you cannot deny it. But, for the
sake of your wife | will give you full
| pardon on condition that you will take
an oath never again to bear arms against
the Kings government"
''Sir," said Charles Mackey, in the
firmest tones, 81 cannot accept pardon
on those terms. 1t must be uncon-
ditional, or must die.
And poor Lydia Mackey cried out,
'tAnd 1 too must die;'' and on her
knees, holding on to Colonel Tarleton,
she pleaded with such fervor and elo-
quence that Tarleton seemed for no.
ment to hesitate, and then, turning to
the Young captain, he said, with culver
ing lips, aud in a voice choked with
emotion, Captain, for Gods sake, sign
my name to this paper, and let this
| woman 90.
With this, Lydia Mackey sank to the
ground exhausted, and Colonel
Tarleton mounted his charger and
gallopcd off, doubtless happier for
having spared the life of the heroic
Lydia Mackey's husband;
Lydia Maekey in her old age was
fine talker, and when was boy ten
years old I heard her tell this story
with such feeling and earnestness that
great tears rolled down her aged
cheeks to mingle with those of her little
grandchildren gathered around her
knees.
The name of Tarleton was execrated
in South Carolina till very late peri
cd. But the Lydia Mackey episode
shows that he had heart not wholly
steeled against the nobler feelings o.
humanity
The history of our Revolutionary
war can hardly present a more interest
ing tableau than that of Lydia Maekey
begging the life of her husband at tht
hands of the brave and bloody Tarle
ton. 1t is altogether probable that the
Lydia Mackey victory was the frs
ever gained over this redoubtable com
mander .-Harpey''s Weekly,