Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-03-28
THE FAIR COURIER.
1899 bo F,nk 4. Uoonol,,

copyrighted. 1885, bg Funk q Wagnalls.l
On mild, hazy day in January, 1S49, l
was at Orangeburg, South Carolina, about
eighty miles west of Charleston. My pur-
pose was to visit the battle ground of
Eutaw Spring, on the right bank of the
Santee River, forty miles distant. l hired
horse and gig for the journey. The
steed was fleet and the road was level and
cultivated fields and dark pine forests and
across dry swamps, where the Spanish
moss hung like trailing banners from the
live oak and cypress trees.
at sunset l had travelled thirty miles. |
lodged at the house of planter some dis
tance from Vances Ferry on the Santee,
where passed the evening with an intelli-
gent and venerable woman (Nlrs. Buxton)
eighty-four years of age. She was maiden
of seventeen when the armies of Greene
and Rawden made lively times in the region
of the Upper Santee, Catawba, Saluda and
Broad rivers. She knew Marion and Sumter
and Horny and other less famous partisan
leaders, who were frequently at her fathers
house on the verge of swamp not far
from the high hills of Santee.
"We were "Whigs," she said, "but the
Tories were so thick and cruel around us
when Rawdon was at Camden that father
had to pretend to be kings man to save
his life and property. Oh, those terrible
times, when one was not sure in going to
bed that the house would not be burned
before morningp'
"Did you witness any exciting scenes
yourself?" inquired.
"Yes, many. Ona in particular so stirred
my young blood that actually resolved to
put on brother Bsn's clothes, take our old
fowling- piece, join the Swamp Fox as
the British called Marion, and fight for
freedom to call my soul my own."
"What was that event?" / asked.
"You have read, maybe" said Mrs. Bux-
ton, chow Lord Rawdon, after chasing
General Greene far toward the Saluda, sud-
denly turned back, abandoned Fort Ninety
six, in Abbeville District, and retreated
toward Charleston. Well, Greene sent
Harry Lee with his Lighthouse to get in
front of Rawdon before he should reach the
ferry on the Congaree at Camden. He
was anxious to call Marion and Sumter to
the same point to help Lee. Sumter was
then encamped dozen miles south of our
home"
The venerable woman's dark brown eyes
sparkled with emotion as she proceeded
with the story. She said her cousin, who
was on Greene's staff at the time, told her
that when the General called for volun-
teer messenger to carry letter TO Sumter,
not one of the soldiers offered to undertake
the perilous task, for the way was swarm
ing with Tories. Greene was perplexed.-
Brave and pretty Emily Geiger, the young
daughter of German planter in Fairfield
District. had just arrived at headquarters
with important information for the Gen.
eral. She rode a spirited horse with the
ease and grace of a dragoon. Emily,
aware of the hesitation of the soldiers and
Greene's anxiety, earnestly but modestly
said to the General, MAY carry the let
ter ?"
Greene was astonished. He was unwill-
ing to expose her to the dangers which he
knew awaited any messenger, for the Tories
were vigilant.
"They won't hurt a young girl, I am
sure, and know the way" said Emily.
Greene's want was great, and he accepted
the proffer of the important service, but
with many misgivings. Fearing Emily
might lose the letter on the way, he inform
cd her of its contents, that she might de-
liver the message orally. She mounted
her feet horse, and with the Generals