The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-04-17
"You have something fox .a!c pre-.

paid for them. She frankly declared
that her ba-ket of fruit was only a pre-
text 70 get to see Colonel Tasleton; thai
she was anxious 10 see him in person Oh
business Of great importance. she ther
explained .he capture Of her husband
and that she wished to get him released
if he were still alive, for she did not know
but wha, they had hung HIM 20 the near.
ct tree they came 10. The officer told
her that the Colonel was nn parade and
would no; return fDt twp hnur--IiO! un-
Ill he came in tor hi, MD dag meal.
/ Mr. Mackey was cpme.y woman Of
! superior Intelligence, and -hc soon inter.
e-ied the young officer III her lad coDdi
ton. He expressed Tor her the deepest
sympathy, told her that her husband had
! been tried and sentenced 10 death at sun
rise to.morrDw morning; and that he
feared there was no hope OF repreive, a.
the evidence giYen ngan-t him by the
| Tories was Of the most positive kind. lie
told her tina, Colonel Tarleton was as
cruel and unieeling as he was brave and
that he would promise her anything TO
get rid Of her, but he would fulfil! moth.
ing.
However" said he, II will prepare
the necessary document for your hus.
bands release, filing in the blank. 80
that ii will only be necessary 10 get Col.
Iar!eton's signature. But | mus, again
frankly say that this is almost hopelts-." !"
Il was evident to the most superficial
observer that Mrs Nackcy would soon
become mother, and this probably had
something 10 do ~ cnli-tlpg the kindly
| sympathy Of The brave young officer.
At twelve O'Clock Col. Tarleton rode up,
di.moun,cd, and catered the adjoining
tent.
You mus. wait ill he dimes raid the
officer. Another charge will ihcn be
brought forth aud wien he comes out to
mount, you can approach him, and not
until then"
At the expected time the tall, boyish-
looking, clean shaved, handsome young
Tarle,on came out Of his tent, and as
he heared hi, charge lie was confronted
by the heroic Lydia Mackcy, who in a
few words made known the object Of her
visit. lie quickly answered that he was
in i; gfeat hurry, aEd could not st that
time stop to consider her case. She said
the case was urgent, that her husband
had been condemned 10 die at sunrise To.
morrow morning, and that be alone had
the power 20 save his life. He replied :
Very we'll my good woman, when
return later in the day | will inquire in.
to the matter" Saying thi. he placed
his foot in re s,irrup, and sprang up, but
before he could throw his righ, Icg over
the saddle, Mrs NJ tey caught HIM by
the coat aud jerkti him down. lie
turned upon her with scowl, and she
mD!orcd him to gran, her request.
In, ii mi t.I
augri.y said he would look into the case
on hi. return. lie tIien attempted again
to mouln, m hen she dragged him down a
second time, begging h,m in eloquent
terms 10 spare the life of her husband.
"Iiul tut my good woman" said he, boil,
ing with rage do you know what you
are doing? Eegone! III attend to this
at my convenience; not sooner"
So saying, he tried third time TO
mount, aud third time Lydia Mackry
erkcd him 10 the ground. Holding by
ihe swords scabbard and falling on her
stay ME and my unborn babe, or give mo
let you 20 till YOU kill me or rign this
doc1ment"-which she drew from her
bosom and held up before his face
corpse, and turning to the young officer,
who STOOD near by in,enlly watching the
scene, he said, Captain where is this
woman's husband?"
He answered, Under guard in yord,
tent"
"Order him to be brought here" And
valiant Tarleton. Sir" said he, "you
,,C
against his Majestys government. Worse
you have been convicted of being n
spy; you have dared to enter my linea
in disguise as spy and you cannot deny
it. But for the sake OF your wife: will
give you full parton on condition that
you will take nm oath never ugain to bear
arms against the kings government"
Sir" said Charles Mackey, in the
firmest tones, 81 cannot accept pardon on
these terms. IL must he unconditional,
or must die"
And poor Lydia Mackey cried out,
"A nd too must die" and on her knees,
holding on to Colonel Tarleton, she
pleaded with such feryer and eloquence
that TarletOn seemed for moment to
hesitate, and then, turning to the young
captain, he said, with quiveriug lips, and
in voice choked With emotion, cap.
tain, for Gods sake, sign my name to this
paper, and let this woman go"
With this Lydia Mackcy sank to the
ground exhausted, and Colonel carleton
mounted his charger and galloped off,
doubtless happier for having spared the
life of the heroic Lydia Mackey's hus.
band.
Lydia AIacEey in her old age was &
fine talker. A. boy of ten years old,
heard her tell this story with such feel
ing and earnestness that great tears
rolled down her aged cheek to mingle
with those of her little grandchildren
gathered around her knees.
The name Of Tarleton was execrated
in South Carolina till very late period.
But the Lydia Mackey episode shows
that he had n heart not wholly steeled
against the ncbe feelings of humanity.
. The history Of our Revolutionary War
can hardly present more interesting
tablenu than that Of Lydia Mackey beg.
ging the life Of her husband al tho hands
of the brave and bloody Tarleton. 1t ia
altogether probable that the Lydia Mack.
ey victory was the first ever gained over
the redolIb!able commander.
My mother, Mahala Mackey, was born
September l, 1892, was the ninth and
youngest child of Charles and Lydia
Mackey, the subjects of this narrative.