The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-07-04
HIsroRIo WOMEN OF CAROLINA.

HISEORIC WOMEN OF CAROLINA
The following sketches were read al
the recent memorial exercises of the
Winthrop Normal College:
Mrs. Behethland Foote Butler.
BY BESSIE b. TENNENT, OF COLUMBIA
Among the women of the Revolution
deserving remembrance, there was 9
Miss Moore, seventeen years old. She
afterwards became Mrs. Behethland
Foote Butler, wife of Captain William
Butler, who was for many years in
Congress-, and was commander OF the
South Carolina forces in Charleston
during l81415. She was the mother
OF two distinguished sons-Col. Pierce
Mason Butler and Andrew Pickens
Butler--and grandmother of our pres
ent Senator, M. G. Butler, and Colonel
William Butler.
Miss Moore was born December Ath,
1764, in Fauquier County, Va. In 1768
her family moved to Laurens District,
s: G. Two years later Captain Moore
died, and HIS widow married Captain
Samuel Savage, and moved to Edge
field, on the Salu6a River. Here Miss
Moore went to school, and in fact spent
the greater part Of her early life, un-
til she was sent to Camden to school,
where much attention was paid to her
education. While she was at school
Count Pulaski, with his forces, passed
through Camden. She took great de-
light in watching the military move-
ments. 1t was not long afterwards
that the terrors of war were brought
to her very door, there being skir-
mishes at this time between Colonel
Washington's cavalry and Rawdon's
men. Under these circumstances
Royalist advised the family to take
care OF the property. The caution was
were intruded upon by British soldiers.
In their search for plunder, in the gar
ret, they picked up the apples which
rolled down from the shelves. Beheth-
land commanded them to put them in
her apron; then she offered them to a
non-commissioned officer near by.
Struck with the cool courage and de-
termination of so young girl he or
dered the soldiers to obey her.
1t became necessary at one time to
convey intelligence to Captain Wal
lace, commander Oh the Saluda River.
There being no way to procure male
messenger, Behethland volunteered to
undertake the service. Accompanied
by her little brother and friend, she
went in canoe and gave the warming
to Captain Wallace, and through him
to Colonel Henry Lee. The next
morning she left home and started to
go to a neighbor's with q bundle of
yarn. She was going to take it to the
loom to have it woven into cloth.
While she was walking leisurely along
some American officers rode up and
asked her where she was going. They
told her of the dangers surrounding
her, out alone, with bands of Tories on
all sides. Captain William Butler, one
of the officers, said If she would get on
his horse with him he would take her
where she wanted to go. She never
hesitated, but readily accepted. He
rode up to a stump and she mounted
the horse behind him. Behethland
saw no more of the handsome officer in
dragoon uniform for some time, but
her image accompanied him on every
battle field, and before very long Cap
tain Butler returned to that neighbor-
hood in search OF the young girl that
he had carried on his horse to the
loom. They were married in 1884, and
lived on small farm that Captain
Butler inherited. Later they loved
to an estate on the Saluda River, and
remained there until the husbands
death in 1921.
Captain Butler was constantly en-
gagged in public service, and was neces-
of the time, consequently the whole
care of the family and farm developed
upon Mrs. Butler. Never were such
varied responsibilities more worthily
met and discharged. The best testi-
mony that could be borne to the excel
lency of this noble mother is afforded
by the career of her sons. The emf
nent talents and brilliant public career
of Andrew Pickens Butler are we'll
known. He was for many years a dis
tinguished member of the Judiciary of
South Carolina, and afterwards q
United States Senator. The late Colo
mel Pierce Mason Butler, who was
Governor of South Carolina during
ls44-45, was celebrated for his heroic
and generous qualities. He foil at the
head of the Palmetto Regiment at the
battle of CherubuscO.
A strange incident in connection
with Colonel Buffers death is that on
the very night in which he was killed,
Mrs. Butler (although she was in
Edgetield and he in Mexico dreamed
that her son was dead and was lying
on the battlefield with handkerchief
over his face. This Is verified by one
who knows 1t to have happened.
How much her sons owed to her can
not be known. We can see how in the
incidents of Mrs. Buffers early life
were developed the high mental and
moral qualities which marked her in
after years. In her children whom
she reared to usefulness, and whose
devotion to her never faltered, her re-
ward has been found. She saw each
and every one of them go down to
their graves, until only one, Judge
Butler an uncle of our present Sena-
tor remained. 1t has been said OF
her, Many daughters have done
virtuously, but thou excelleth them
ALL"
Theodosia Burr AIston.
BY NINA E. TRADEWELL, OF COLUMBIA.