The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-05-15
Local Tales of Il Hundred Years Ago.

called, the General Assembly Of South
Calolina was in session. After max
ing John Rutledge, dictator, and COM
missioning him to see that the "repub-
lie sustained no harm" they dissolved.
John Rutledge afterwards Governor
of the State) issued a proclamation
ordering the troops consisting Of
militia and all arms-bearing men
throughout the country to repair to
Charlestown. This produced very little
effect. The people were unwilling to
leave their homes and families unpro-
tected from the Tories. After Charles
town fell, the officer of the highest
rank in the State was Gen. Andrew
Williamson. He was by birth
Scotchman, and his occupation was
cowherd, or COW driver as he was
called. He failed our people at this
time. He, it was discovered, was in
the pay Of the British, and had a
British commission in his pocket. AL
though he assembled our leaders at
the time, and they had every conf
dence in him, he showed plainly to
them at this interview that he was
ready to submit; and by his influence
the militia was disbanded, and dis
couraged they all repaired to their
homes. Our leaders found out these
things on him, and he had to flee the
country and take refuge with the
British in Charlestown. Afterwards
he was induced to become spy in
the British camp, and Marion obtain
ed from him the information which
permitted him often times to punish
the British and Tories severely for
their cruel treatment Of our people.
This man was very ignorant but
shrewd, and passed for more than he
was worth. By the surrender in
Charlestown and the conduct of this
unprincipled Scotchman, our Swamp
Fox" was paralyzed for while.
In fight near Waxhaw (the birth
place Of Andrew Jackson) Tarleton
defeated Col. Buford of the militia,
giving no quarter, and five out of six
of his men were brutally butchered.
Tarleton himself called this "bloody
business" This had good effect on
the country. "Tarleton's quarter" be-
came proyerbial, and a spirit OF re-
venge gave q keener edge to the mill
tary resentments of the people.
About this time the British dreaded
Gen. Sumter, the old "Game Cock"
and drove his family from and de-
stroyed his fine residence. At this
time John Rutledge, the dictator,
found it very hard to see that the ere
public sustained no harm" although
he found in Sumter a man equal to
the emergency. The British com
mander was suddenly aroused by
this .new Richmond" in the field, as
he called him, and determined to
crush him. Col. Ferguson command
ed the British troops, and one Hauck
commanded the Tories. Sumter with
less than $50 men met them and de-
feated and killed them both, and
when their men on their knees cried
for mercy they received what Tarle-
ton had given Buford at the Wax
haws. The British and Tories by
their own acts brought this terrible
punishment upon themselves.
Tarleton now turned his attention
to Gen. Marion. He fancied at one
time that he had him. Marion, how
ever, bafied and eluded him at all
points, and was master Of the situa-
tion; and Iarleton finding he could
accomplish nothing left and went for
Gen. Sumter again. The British
commander being anxious to cap
ture Gen. Sumter sent Major Wemyss
with S dragons to push through the
lines and take him dead or alive at
his quarters. Wemyss was defeated,
wounded through both thighs, and
left in Sumter's hands,
After this Marion was left entirely
in charge Of this section of country.
Times were now hard indeed, no hard
money, only Provincial scrip. The
following is a copy of ten shilling
bill which is now in the hands Of a
good lady in our community whose
forefathers were in this war:
10 South Carolina. No. 2295 10
This Bill will entitle the Bearer to the sum
of ten Shillings, Currency. BY order Of the
Provincial Congress. Is November 1773.
10 Sh j. BoUscIE,
MDCCLXXV RI. .LEGARE.
About this time salt was very
scarce. Granny" Ridgeway made
the trip by night to somewhere near
Kingstree, and exchanged some fresh
butter for 8 quarts Of salt. Jeremiah
Rbame, grand father Of the late Capt.
Z. F. Rhame, had his last beifer taken
by the British. He took it to heart
very much because his family had
been out of meat some time and to
see his folly in thus depriving his
family when the British could make
such nice steak in his presence, and
for which his appetite craved.
There were few churches in this
section then. AS we'll as remembered