Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-04-24
Mistellaueuns &eading,
MARION AND HIS MEN.


MARION AND HIS MEN.
In 1888 South Carolina was completely
Overrun by the British. Lord CORVALLIS
held quiet possession of Charleston, had de-
feated Gates and Dekalb at Camden, driven
Marion to the swamps of Pee Dee, scattered
the forces of Sumter, and established his
headquarters in the Waxhaws, on the bor-
der of North Carolina while Tarleton had
his on the Hanging Rock Creek, about thir-
ty miles North Of Camden. Davie alone
was left with a small force on the West bank
of the Catawba, making occasional sOrties to
harass the outposts of the British.
The Scotch-Irish and the Huguenots of
South Carolina were mostly Wings, or reb-
els. The English colonists were divided !;
the majority were Wings; but there were
goodly number of loyal men among them
who conscientiously espoused the cause of
the mother country, and were called Tories.
Lancaster county was one OF the strong
holds of the Wings. The McIlwains, Trues-
McDonalds, McMullens, Mackeys, and 9th
ers of Scotch-Irish origin occupied and held
the Southern portion of Lancaster, and
Chas. Mackey was their acknowledged lead
er; while the Crawfords, Dunlaps, Jacksons
General Jackson was then sixteen years
old), Whites, Masseys, Dodys, Curetons, and
others of the same stock held the WaXhaWs,
in the Northern section 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 companion
ship and sympathy wherever they might
find it. But the advent of the British turn
ed 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 Ma
rion.
Charles Mackey, as the leader of his band,
had made himself very obnoxious to the
Tories, and they impatiently awaited time
Of vengeance.
He was man of medium size, very ac-
tive and energetic, fine hOrseman, splen-
did shot, impulsive, hot-headed, often run
ming unnecessary risks, and doing dare devil
deeds. No work was too hazardous for
him.
Lydia Mackey, his wife, was a woman of
good common sense, with clear head and
fine Judgment, and in coolness and self-pos-
session far superior to her impetuous hus-
band. They had young family Of two or
three children, and Charles Mackey had not
seen or heard from them in several weeks.
Their home was not more than two and a
half miles from Tarleton's camp, on the
Hanging Rock Creek. He knew very we'll
that it would be hazardous for him to return
| to his home, so near to Tareton's headquar-
ters, 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 week, and during
this time he had the temerity to enter Tarle-
| toms lines more than once in search OF in
formation which was valuable to his coun-
try'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 surrounded by quagmire from
ten to thirty feet wide, thus making practic-
ally an island. 1t was entered by jumping
from tussock to tussOck Of moss-covered
Jumps of mould foot or two in diameter,
and rising six or eight inches above the
pitch black semi,jelly like mire, which shook
in every direction in passing over it. A
plank ola 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 ven
tured home. He had good watch dogs, and
they gave the alarm when any one ap-
preached whether by day or by night. If
at night he would Immediately lift 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 disappear in
! 4bo ri
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
abouta week, and was on the eve of leaving
with some valuable information for the rebel
generals, gained by his night prowlings in
and about the headquarters Colonel Tarle-
| ton. But early in June morning (an hour
or two before day. his usually faithful watch
dogs failed to give warning Of the approach
of strangers, and the first notice OF their
presence was their shouting "Hello" in
| front of the house. Mrs. Mackey jumped
stuck out her head, surveyed the half dozen
armed horsemen carefully, and said,
"Who's there?"
"Friends. Is Charley Mackey at home ?"
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 q moment to be sure of the char
acter of his visitors, he heard the spokes-
man say: "Well, we are very sorry indeed,
for there was big fight yesterday on
Lynch's Creek between Gen. 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 at Flat Rock as soon as
possible and then attack Tarleton. We
don't know the way to Landsford, and
came by for Charley to pilot u.s."
Mrs. Mackey was always cool and col
lected, and she said she was very sorry her
husband was not at home. But her hus-
band was just the reverse, hot-headed and
impetuous. This sudden news Of victory,
after so many reverses, was so in accordance
with his wishes that he madly rushed out
into the midst of the mounted men, hur
.rahing for Marion and Davie, and shout
ing vengeance on the redcoats and tories;
and he began to shake hands enthusiastical-
ly with the "boys," and to ask particulars
about the fight, when the ringleader of the
gang coolly said "Well Charley, old fellow,
we've set good many traps for you, but
never have baited 'em right till now. You
are our prisoner"
And they marched him off just as he was,
without hat or coat, without allowing him
moment to say parting word to his
poor wife.
1t was now nearly daylight and they or
dered him to pilot them to Andy Nell
wain's, with the hope of capturing him too.
But he was not at home. Then he was
compelled to pilot them to James Trues-
do lojc q nd hn was not at home From there