The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-09-20
Mrs. Martha Bratton.

women who became famous during tile
Revolution, that of Mrs. Martha Brat
ton stands out in prominence.
Mrs. Bratton's home was in York
County, ten miles south of Yorkville.
Her husband, Vim. Bratton, was
Colonel in Sumtcr's army. In June,
1780, Colonel Bratton defeated a Brit
ish troop at Mobley's Meeting house,
in Fairfield County. To avenge this
defeat, Captain Huyck was sent out at
the head of 400 British calvary and a
large band of Tories. On the 18th of
July they reached Colonel Brat1on' S
house. Soon after his arrial, Captain
Huyck entered the house and asked
Mrs. Bratton where her husband was,
Gle is in Sumtcr's army, where lie
ought to be-" she replied.
Captain Huyck then told Mrs. Brat
ton that if her husband would give up
the cause of his country and join the
Royalists, he should have a commits
sion in the Royal service.
Mrs. Bratton answered that she
would far rather see him remain true
to his country even though he should
perish in Sumter 5 army.
Her answer very much infurhlted
Captain Huyek, and his MEN who
stood near. Captain Huyek gave her
little s0n, whom he was fondling on
his knee, such sudden and violent
push that the child was hurt by the
fall it caused him. One of the men, a
Scotchman, seized a reaping-hook
which hung near, and brought it to
Mrs. :Brattoa's throat, saying he
would kill her if she did not irnmedi:
ately tell where her Husband could be
found. But even then she refused to
tell. Captain Huyck did not inter-
fere, but the officer second in command
compelled the brutal man to release
her. Captain Huyck then ordered
Mrs: Bratt1n to prepare supper for
himself and for his MEN; Mrs. Brat
toms feelings, as she PREPARED the
meal for her unlimited and unwelcome
guests, was shown by the desperate
idea that occurred to her, to put
poison in the food. But she shrank
from such an act, and after reflection
she gave up the plan. Then, tob, she
remembered that her husband and his
men might even then lie near at hand,
and thus she might deprive them of a
victory. After supper, Captain
Huyck and his officers went about
half a mile away to spend the night in
d house owned by Mr.. Williamson.
There, with their men encamped
around them, they slept in fancicd Sc
curity.
In the meanwhile, Colonel Bratton,
with about seyentg-Gye men, came
into tile neighborhood from North
Carolina and marched within short
distance of the British encampment.
While the enemy was sleeping sound
ly, they began an attack. Captain
Huyck rallied his men as quickly as
possible; but early in the fight he and
one of his officers were killed. Then
the men threw down their arms and
fed In the pursuit the conflict ragged
around Colonel. .Bratton' house. Mrs.
Bratton and her children were in great
danger Of being shot. She made her
little son sit within the chimney.
While he sat there a bombshell fell
through the roof on the floor. Imme-
diately the boy ran to it, picked it up
and began a critical examination of it's
character and object. He continued
the examination until he was again
brought within the line Of fortifca
tion. About daylight the firing ceas.
ed. The early morning light displayed
a terrible scene. Scattered over the
ground lay the dead, the dying and
the wounded. The spring near by,
once so clear and pure, was red with
the mingled blood of friend and foe.
AS soon as possible, Mrs. Bratton
went out upon the battle-ground.
When she found that all Of her own
dear ones we're spared, she began to
attend the wants of the wounded. She
threw open her house to all, and ten
dorly ministered to friend and foe
alike. AS she leaned over one dying
man, he opened his eyes and looked at
her. He was the Scotchman who had
attempted to take her life the evening
before.
With his dying breath he muir
INJURED, Madam, forgive me-"
She answered, ''If God will forgive
you, most assuredly will. f"
Among the prisoners was the officer
who took command when Captain
Huyck fell. He was sentenced to i'm
mediate death, but as a last favor he
was allowed to see Mrs. Bratton. She
at once recognized him as the man
who had rescued her from the Scotch
man. She begged that he might be
spared. Her request was granted.
He was given into her charge, and she
entertained him in her own home un-
til he was exchanged.
Another time during the war, Mrs.
Bratton displayed her determined
spirit. Governor Rutledge sent some
ammunition to Colonel Bratton, but,
he being absent, his wife took charge
Of it. Some Royalists, hearing Of it,
determined to secure it for them
selves. Mrs. Bratton determined that
they should. not do so. She laid a
train of powder from the place where
it was deposited to the place where
she stood. When the detachment
came in sight, she set fire to it and
blew it up. The officer was enragcd
and swore vengeance upon the person
who had outwittcd him in such man
ncr.
"It was I WHO did it, said Mrs.
Bratton. ''Let the consequence be
what it will, I glory in having pre-
vented the mischief contemplated by
the cruel enemies of my country"
During the remainder Of the war,
Colonel Bratton was away from home
almost constantly His wife devoted
herself to her home and to her
children, but ever ready to aid and en-
courage her neighbors.
When the war was ended, Colonel
Bratton continued the cultivation of