Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1893-03-30
{ MILY GEIGER
The Gallant Courier.
A Revolutionary Story
Founded on Facts.
BY THOMAS. S. ARTHUR.

L
I Watson, the fort at orangebure, a
every other post in South Carolil
except Charleston and Ninety-S
! had yielded, successively, to t
American arms, under the commas
OF Greene, Sumter, Marion and LIE
I and now Gen. Greene turned all /
energies to the reduction of Ninet
! Six, giving orders at the same tin
y for Gen. Sumter to remain in Il
I country South and West of the Coz
4 garee, so as to cut off all commun
cation between Lord Rawdon, VIII
was at Charleston awaiting reinforc,
= ments from England, and Coz. Crr
x ger, who was in command at Ninety
Six.
Day after day the siege of Ninety
Six went on, the Americans slowl
approaching the fort by series O
works constructed under the superin
tendence of kosciusko, and Cruge
still holding out in expectation =,
reinforcements from cUI intel
although not si->. Rawdon had
ligence fro since the investment OF
reae'oSt which he held with so much
bravery and perseverance.
1.-THE Sd Of June the long-expected
reinforcement from England reached
Lord Rawdon, and on the 7th he
started for the relief of Col. Cruger
with a portion of three Irish regi-
ments, and was joined soon after by
South Carolina royalists, swelling his
force to two thousand men. But all
his efforts to transmit intelligence of
his approach to the beleagured gar
rison at Ninety-Six proved unavail
ing. His messengers were inter
cepted by Sumter and Marion, who
held possession of the intermediate
region.
On the 1lth of June Gen. Greene
received intelligence from Gen. Sum-
ter OF the approach of Rawdon. Di-
recting Sumter to keep in front of
the enemy, he reinforced him with all
his cavalry under Lieutenant Colonel
Washington, and urged him to use
every means in his power to delay
the advancing British army, until he
should be able to complete the IN
vestment of the fort at Ninety-Six
and compel it to surrender. Then
:: e-1S-L p11rq2Za saslsa IS 5itu-,
l1ation before cv~ nv
Eeeiye ssi,o news OF the approaching sue
cor, and thus break up, with the :, ex-
ception of Charleston, the last rally
ind point of the enemy in South Ca
, roIipa. But the commander OF the
tort was ever on the alert to make
GOOD ,y his defences and to annoy and
7Tetard the besiegers in every possible
way: and though ignorant OF the
near approach Of aid, he would listen
to no oyertures for capitulation.
One evening, while affairs retained
this aspect, a countryman rode along
the American lines, convers'ng ia
miliarly with the officers and soldiers
on duty. No particular notice was
taken Of this, as, from the beginning
) Of the siege, the friends OF our caus'
were permitted to enter the CAM
and 90 wherever their curiosity nap
e nened to lead them. The lndividua
9 here mentioned moved along, seem {,
e ;nelv much interested with all h
!. heard, until he arrived at the gre:
u i road leading directly to the town,
,. >. which quarter were only some oa'
" teries thrown up for the protectlo
l. !. of the guards. Pausing here Tor
II few moments, he glanced cautl"usl
u around him, and then, suddenly Pu
t;no spurs to his horse, he dashed ;
&c fulj speed into the town. Seen
- ~ this. the guards and sentinels open(
w ,S fire upon him. He escaped 1nhul
w ~ holding up letter as soon as ne W
le 1s out of danger. The garrison whl'
y, 10 had observed this movement, unde
"a "a stood its meaning, and the gates we
~ instantly thrown open to receive t
messenger, who proved to be fre
.re Lord Rawdon, and brought the W
nv come intelligence of his near approa.'
fi Of Hoping still to reduce the t'
he he before the arrival of Lord Rawa'
to Gen. Greene urged on the work
,ut inyesture, and by every means IN
,ou power sought to weaken the gal
- SON so as to make victory cert
G o;e WREN all was ready for the n
: - assault. But before he had acco
kes plished his task a messenger tr
,rs- Sumter arrived with the unwelco
n y intelligence that Rawdon had S
and ceeded in passing him and was pu
rtlv ing on rapidly for Ninety-slx.
at s crisis had now come. Greene III
but either hazard an assault upon
K is fort ere his works were IN comp
n nan n readiness, risk battle with Raw
or retire over the Saluda and l
oive confidence and strength TO
out tories and royalist army. his
, no determination was to meet tine rel rel
cad. ING army under Rawdon, but ev
tual thing depended on his not giving
int en.ay, at this particular crisis
affairs in the South, victory,
seeing that his force was much !
,ood rior to that of the British, he reso
here to make an attack upon the fort,
Z; in if not successful in reducing 1t 1t
nor retire with his army towards n
Carolina before Rawdon came W
The 18th Of June, 1871, was
IS. day chosen for this assault.
), made, as it was, with the besle
= ne J. J. works incomplete, though the
E city fought with desperate courage,
ssaid. tort was successfully defended,
m mo-. OF Gen. Greene ordered bis troey g
e every by retire. after they had sufIGeo
loss Of one hundred and elgn'y
EI.. killed and wounded. -
bed in Ts.L;,o vos now 4ett to do
lnoe retreat. For somesMsehhsy-sla. omeas h :. /. !,
the besieglng sand II three