Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-05-11


rived at Mr.. Leslie's plantation within two
miles Of Kings Mountain battle ground in
South Carolina. had Travelled with Il sin
gle horse and light wagon the rough road
that skirted the foot Of Kings Mountain.
The heavens were shrouded with clouds,
and snow which had fallen during the night
and mingled with mud more than fetlock
deep had iaded my horse. explained to
Mr.. Leslie the object Of my journey, ex-
pressed desire 10 visit the battle ground
Of Kings Mountain that afternoon, and
asked him to show me the way, it being on
ly two miles from his house
Your beast is tired, said Mr.. Leslie.
81 have two good saddle horses in the sta
ble."
They were brought out. We rode to the
farmers field, among wooded gravel hills
viewed the topography Of that strange bat
leground, made two or three sketches,
and returned at twilight. The venerable
William McElwees, Mr. Ieslie's father in
law, had Just arrived. He was stout built
man Of medium stature, with an unmistak
able Scotch face, flowing white hair, blue
eyes, and, though eighty seven years old,
seemed about as vigorous in mind aud body
as hale man at sixty. He was the last
known survivor Of General Sumter's ia
nous partisan band in the old war for in
dependence. His "reminiscences formed
the theme Of the evenings conversation.
when and where did You Join Sumter =
| inquired
Just before Clinton took Charleston and
Cernwalls began to Overrun the state in
1850. South Carolinians were discouraged
and hundreds took British protection Sum
ter would not yield, but retired into North
Carolina. followed him. There he gath
cred a little band Of exles and We return
ed Sumter called for recruits Very few
came until after we struck the camp Of the
wicked Tory, CHRIS Huck, ON II hot night in
July. We killed the leader and scattered
his followers to the wind. Huck was IA
profane and protligate wretch He hated
Presbyterians intensely, murdered one Of
them while on his way 10 place of wor
ship ON Sunday with Bible in his hand
and burned minister's house. When we
struck Huck he had about 200 mounted
men. Our party numbered only 1870 all
told. Timid men now took courage and
Joined Sumters standard Gov Rutledge
made him brigadier, and | was commits
stoned IA lieutenant.
You were engaged in some stirring
events afterward," | said.
Indeed / was. We struck British and
Tory parties here and there 50 unexpected
/ ly aud sharply that Cornwallis declared
Sumter Was his greatest plague III the Car
olinas Before the end of July our little
army numbered about 600 aud was daily
| increasing. Sumter felt strong, and he dc
/ termined to attack a British and Tory force
about 2jO strong at Rocky Mount, a little
west OF the Catawba They occupied log
| houses at the foot of the slope, which were
surrounded 10y ubdtiS, Us the French call 1t
"A row Of felled trees laid brush-end for
ward. We had no cannon, so we got 10
the top Of the hill, filled an old wagon with
dry brush and straw, fired it, and sent the
kissing mass down the slope against the
houses. The British, seeing their peril,
hoisted white flag At that moment "A
shower of rain put out the fire, and the lit
tie garrison detied us. We could do moth
ing, 50 We Withdrew, crossed the Catawba
and pushed on toward Hanging Rock
What caused your defeat there =
asked.
Rum, sir ~ said the old soldier emphat.
ically Rum the deadlest enemy of man
kind. You see, We had whipped the Brit
lsh and Tories completely and sent them
running like frightened deers, leaving
| their camp and all behind. Their camp
was tempting, and our men, instead of pur
suing, engaged in plundering. They drank
freely of the liquors found in the officers
| quarters. Our force became disOrdered,
and when the British rallied and returned
two thirds of our men were too drunk to
do duty. With about 200 men our brave
leader charged upon the enemy, but seeing
"a reinforcement for them coming, we re
treated with some prisoners and booty
You were hard pushed at Fishing
| Greek, remarked.
Indeed We were--surprised-b badly sur
prised.'
Il thought Sumter was always wide
awake | said
so he was, but accidents will happen in
the best Of families, you know. Sumter
had been sent by Gates to intercept Brit
ish escort from Ninety Six. We captured
more than 40 wagons loaded with clothing
and stores, and were returning to the Wa
teree when we heard of the defeat of Gates
near Camden So We went up the river
about 40 miles aud halted for needed rest
near the mouth of Fishing Greek, We did
not dream that an enemy was near. At
noon, ON a hot August day, while our arms
were stacked, the horses were grazing and
more than half the men were asleep under
the trees the fiery TarletOn with his caval-
ry dashed among us, seized our arms and
horses, killed about $50 of our men, and
made 300 prisoners Sumter, who seemed
never to sleep, seeing his men slaughtered
aud dispersed, sprang upon his big white
horse, and closely followed by myself and
IA drummer boy with his drum, both on a
bay mare, fled into North Carolina nor
stopped until we reached Charlotte. We
made sorry figure when we rode into the
village. Sumter was without a hat, with
out coat, and the drummer boy, sitting
astrde behind me, had only a shirt on, hav
ing Just come out of the creek, where he
had been bathing. Our horses We're with
out saddles.
What then (" | asked.
Action Only Marion was then in the
field with Wings in South Carolina. Sum
ter went Immediately to the upper country,
where few of his men who had escaped
Joined him, and many volunteers flocked tc
his standard We were then all mounted
and were soon joined by other parties. We
had an opportunity presently to show Tarle
ton that Americans could strike heavy
blows as well as British Late in Novem
ber he chased us We had encamped al
Blackstocks, ON the Tiger river, in Union
District, where Tarleton overlook US witt
part of his force We fought desperate
Is, and at dusk we set Tarleton and hi
men running for life and liberty, leaving
about 300 of his men on the field, nearly
100 of them dead.
Il have heard there were many brav,
women in that region, | observed.
Brave Why they helped the cause al
4 l.. IN.s.uaa
Grace and Rachel Martin, Mrs. Dilland
Dicey Langston, and scores of others il
that lonely country left at home by the mel
in arms, and they performed their part il
the contest nobly, assure you Grace
and Rachel were the young wives of tive
sons of the Widow Martin of Ninety 81,
District, who were in Greene's army. Thes,
Young women were with their mother-in
law. One evening they were inGorme,
that British Courier, with two guards
would pass that way with important dis
patches for British post beyond. The!
put ON their husbands clothes, provide,
themselves with arms, and lay in ambusl
by the side of the wood. Late la the even
ing the courier and his escort came along
when the young women suddenly spranl
before them, presented their weapons an,
bade the travellers surrender with their pa
pers. Utterly surprised, they obeyed anc
were paroled. Returning they stopped al
Mrs Martins and craved accommodation
for the night On being asked why they
had returned so soon they said they ha'
been made prisoners by two lads, an,
showed their parole. The young womel
allowed their captive guests to depart tn
next morning in ignorance that their cap
tors had entertained them, The despatche
were sent 10 Greene
"Who was Dicey l.aughton p | inquired
"A girl as brave and patriotic as Joan O
Z Arc, and not so old-Only fifteen or six