The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-05-10

. brlClSn escort from NlneCY-Slx. we
captured more than forty wagons loaded
with clothing and stores, and were re-
turning to Wateree when we heard of
the defeat of Gates near Camden. So
we went up the river about forty miles
and halted for needed rest near the
mouth of Fishing Greek. We did not
dream that an enemy was near. At noon,
on 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 cavalry dashed among us, seized our
arms and horses, killed about one hum
dred and fifty of our men, and made
three hundred prisoners. Sumter, who
seemed never to sleep. seeing his men
slaughtered and dispersed, sprang upon
his big white horse, and closely followed
by myself and a drummer.boy with his
drum, both on 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 hat, / without a
coat, and the drummer-boy, sitting
astride behind me, had only shirt on,
having Just come out of the creek, where
he had been bathing. Our horses we're
without saddles"
"What then 2" 81 asked
"Action Only Marion was then in the
field with Wings in South Carolina.
Sumter went Immediately to the upper
country, where few of his men who
had escaped joined him, and many
volunteers focked to his standard. We
were then all mounted and were soon
Joined by other parties. We had an
opportunity presently to show Tarleton
that Americans could strike heavy blows
as we'll as British. Late in November
he chased US. We had cncamped at
Blackstocks, on the Tiger River, in
Union District, where Tarleton overlook
US with part of his force. We fought
desperately, and at dusk we set Tarleton
and his men running for life and liberty,
leaving about two hundred of his men
on the field, nearly one hundred OF them
dead"
81 have heard there were many brave
women in that region" ] observed.
"Brave! Why they helped the cause
almost as much as the men! There were
Grace and Rachel Martin, Mrs. Dilland,
Dicey Langston and scores of others in
that lonely country left at home by the
men in arms, and they performed their
part in the contest nobly, I assure you.
Grace and Rachel were the young wives
OF two sons of the Widow Martin of
Ninety-s District, who were in Greene's
army. These young women were with
their mother.in-law. One evening they
were informed that British courier,
with two guards, would pass that way
with important dispatches for British
post beyond. They put on their hus-
bands clothes, provided themselves
with arms, and lay in ambush by the
side OF the wood. Late in the evening
the courier and his escort came along,
when the young women suddenly sprang
before them, presented their weapons
and bade the travellers surrender with
their papers. Utterly surprised, they
obeyed and were paroled. Returning
they stopped at Mrs. Martins and craved
accommodation for the night. On being
asked why they had returned 80 soon
they said they had been made prisoners
by two lads, and showed their parole,
The young women allowed their captive
guests to depart the next morning in
ignorance that their captors had enter.
tanned them. The dispatches were sent
to Greene"
"who was Dicey Lang1ton ?" I in.
quired.
"a girl as brave and patriotic as Joan
of Arc, and not 80 old-only fifteen OF
sixteen. She was the daughter of q
Wing in Laurens District, whose son
was in my company in Sumter's army.
She was continually getting valuable in.
formation about the Tories and giving II
to the Wings. At one time she heard
that Cunningham and his Bloody Scout
were about to attack q settlement in
which her near relatives resided; she
determined to give them warning
Leaving her home at near midnight she
sped through swamps and thickets and
across running streams until she reached
the Tiger river. 1t was swollen, rem
dering the ford dangerous. She pushet
into the river into the darkness. and il
the channel. neck deep, she became
confused. But she gained the shore
gave the warning, and whom the scou
came the inhabitants had Aed to plac'
Of safety.
zone day she was captured by SOM
Tories and ordered 70 give some inioE
nation about Whig nsishborhood irou
which shs had come. She poaitiyelyr n
iussd. The leadsE. placing : pisfel {
hes hseass anids I'll, - ~ sAel -