The National tribune., 1893-01-05

sounds of feet from the midnight council! and
at length getting up, she stole like shadow
to the door of the room, and heard the reading
of a paper containing the plan of attack upon
the American army at the White Marsh on the
next day but one. She crept back TO bed, and
q knocking at her door soon announced that
her mysterious guests were departing.
She rose. Shut up the house, and collected
her thoughts Information must be given to
her countrymen of the impending destruction;
but by whom? To employ her husband would
be to place him in imminent jeopardy, aud she
determined TO be herself tire messenger.
Early the next morning, taking an empty
sack with her for the ostensible purpose OF
procuring -four for her family. she went to
Headquarters obtained Gen. Howe's written
permission to pass tho British lines. and then
walking through the SHOW to Frankfort, de-
posted her sack at the mill. She then pressed
forward towards the American outposts, but
luckily falling in with an officer on the way,
she delivered her fateful tidings. Lydia re-
turned home with her sack of flour the samo
day, aud the haffied British never could i'm
agine 10 whom they owed this untathomable
treachery.
Early in the war, Gov. Rutledge sent a
quantity of arms and ammunition TO the house
of Col. Thomas TO be ready in case of any
emergency that might arise on the frontier.
These munitions were under the guard of %
men, and the house was prepared to resist as
sault. Col. Thomas received information thsta
large party of Tories under the command ofCol.
More of North Carolina, was advancing to
attack him. He and his guard deeming it
inexpedient TO risk IN encounter with force
so much superior TO their own retired, carry
ing as much ammunition rs possible. JOSIAH
Gu ibertSnn, q son-in.law OF Col. Thomas, who
was with the little garrison, would not go
with the others. and remained In the house.
Besides him and boy, the only inmates were
women.
The Tories advanced and took up their
station. hut the treasure was not to be yielded
TO their demand. Their call for admittance
was answered by an order to leave the prem
ises. and their fire was received without much
injury by the logs of which the house was
built. Their fire was quickly returned from the
upper story, and proved much more ef'ectnal
than that of the assalants. The old fashioned
hattem 3" door. strongly barricaded, resisted
their efforts todemolish it.
Meanwhile Culbertson continued to fire, the
guns being loaded RS fast as he discharged
them by the ready hands of Mrs. Thomas and
her daughters, aided by her son William; and
this spirited resistance very shortly convinced
the enemy that further effort was useless Be-
lleving that many men were concealed IN the
house, and experimenting sally, their retreat
was made as rapidly as their wounds would
permit.
After waiting a prudent time and recon-
noitering as we'll as she could from her posi-
tion above, Mrs. Thomas descended the stairs
and opened the doors. The powder thus pre-
served constituted the principal supply for
Sumter's army in the battles OF Rocky Mount
and Hanging Rock.
In District Ninety-six there lived two women,
named Martin, wives of two brothers. One even
ing intelligence came to them that courier,
conveying important dispatches 10 one of the
upper stations was TO pass that night along the
road guarded by two British officers. They de-
ternincd to wayiay the party, and, at the risk
of their lives. to obtain possession of the papers.
For this purpose the two young women dis
guised themselves in their husbands clothes,
and, being well provided with arms, took their
station at point on the road which they
knew the escort must pass.
1t was already late, and they had not waited
long before the tramp of horses was heard in the
distance. ltmay be imagined with what anxious
expectation the heroiues awaited the approach
of the critical moment on which so much de-
pended. Presently the courier appeared, with
his attendant guards. As they came close to the
spot, the disguised women leaped from their
covert in the bushes, presented their pistols at
the officers, and demanded the instant sur
render of the party and their dispatches. Tho
men were taken completely by surprise, and.
in their alarm by tho sudden attack yielded
prompt submission.
The seeming soldiers put them on their
parole, and. having taken possession of the
papers, FASTENED home by short cut through
the forest. 1t happened, curiously enough,
that the officers, returning on parole, claimed
the hospitality Of these very ladies' and re-
lated their mishap to them. without having
any suspicion of their conquerors and enter
tanners.
The history Of the world cannot show more
personal bravery and devotion to country than
that displayed by our grandmothers and great
granimothers.