The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-05-28
South Carolina in the Revolution.
EXPLOITS OF PATRIOTS IN THE
PIEDMONT REGION
Gold Mcda1---Entertainin Review
or the Country apd-tho People.

Columbia, which captured ior the lair
author tho beautiful gold medal Of
fercd by the Columbia chapter Of the
Duughtors Of the Revolution for the
best historical sketch presented
Upper South Carolina embraced"
says Logan, sin tho modern Districts
OF Abbcville, Anderson, Edgetield,
Grccnyille, Pickens, Nowberry, Laur-
ems, Union, Spartanburg, Fairfield,
land. is the classic ground of the
American Revolution"
That it was country of surprising
beauty and fertility Is abundantly
shown by tho testimony of the writ
ers OF that period. Lord CORVALLIS
said Of Fairfield, Il typical country
81 can conceive of no fairer region,
taking into consideration its fertile
soil, mild climate, its long drawn beau
tiful valleys and glorious highlands"
Tho forests have been described as
peculiarly grand and imposing, and
through their open depths could be
seen stretches Of the country for milos
around. Extensive plains were filed
with waving masses Of cane; gushing
springs bubbled out from tho sides Of
blossomcd in the green valleys and
Abundance Of game was found in the
woodlands, and tho streams were filed
with fish of the choicest varieties.
In this new and SalubriOus region,
our Fathers of the Revolution had
built their cabins, and were telling
tho primeval forests and cultivating
the virgin soil. But, though nature
was here seen in her kindcst prodi-
gality," and the simple wants of the
pioneers were easily supplied from
her we'll filed store house, they found
many difficulties and dangers in tho
way Of their advancement. The coun
try was already inhabited by race Of
Indians, who would not tamely yield
rich pasture lands and ideal hunting
grounds. Stop by step the red men
retarded the progress Of the settlers
and subjected them for many long
years to all tho horrors Of savage war
fare. Wild beasts, disturbed in their
native Businesses, frequently prOwled
around the cabins OF the pioneers, pre-
pared to spring upon tho unwary oc-
cupants. SO sparscly settled was the
country, that there could be little con-
cert OF action in cases OF danger, hut
every man relied for safety upon the
fertility OF his own resources and the
strength Of his good right arm. Thus,
accustomed to danger and inurod to
exposure, these 'sons Of the soil" we're
prepared to win the hard fought battles
Of the Revolution.
Remote from the sea coast and cut
or from all commercial centres by al
most lmpaSsablo roads and streams,
rendered still more dangerous by bands
OF hostile Indians, our settlers held
little intercourse with the outside
world. Their interests were wholly
agricultural and their trade was prac-
tically confined to the town Of Charles
ton and Augusta. Therefore, the op
pressive measure Of taxation, which
fell with so much force upon the ship
ping of the inhabitants Of tho coast
had little effect upon the people o.
the up country, and they took no ac
tive part In the opening scenes of the
Rev olution.
But Charleston, realizing that i
would be impossible to defend hel
coast with disatfected country in hel
rear, in June, ITS, dispatched two
commissioners, Col. Drayton and Rev
William Tenent, into the interior tt
explain to the people the cause of dis
satisfaction, and to endeavOr to enlist
their cooperation. Owing to the
violent opposition of tho loyalist lead
ers, these gentlemen met with little
immediate success.
1t was difficult for o population 81
heterogeneous in character as that O.
the up country to arrivo at unanimity
of opinion. They had no substantial
cause for revolt against Eng land te
whom many of them were sincerel,
attached, and who had up to this
period exerted horsclf to protect the
infant colony; neither had they any
inclination to espouse the quarrel o
their brothers on the coast, who haC
allowed them small representation il
the assembly and had treated thcil
public men with but little respect
But, among men trained to tho ex
crcise Of independence Of thought anC
action, by lives Of hardship in q new
aud untried region, there were those
who clearly perceived the dangers
that lay in the principle of "taxatior
without representation There wert
many, too, among their number who
had come across the seas seeking {
country whore they might WORSHIP
God after the dictates OF their owr
conscienccs and whore they might
enjoy tho right Of every man to be g
freeman. Men such as these were moi
to be lulled into security by the enjoy
mont OF present prosperity. They
united with the patriot forces already
collected and were known as Whigs
Among them no man exerted wider
influence than Gen. Andrew Pick ems
the Revolutionary hero, "par excel
lencc, of tho up country. His courage
and ability had been already displayed
in the war with the Cherokees, and
these qualities added to his modesty
greatly endeared him to his country
mon.
Those among the inhabitants who
adhered to the king were called Tories.
They wore, in many instances, men OF
honest convictions and sincere loyalty;
it WAS their misfortune That The dis
affected, the idle, and the vicious we're
drawn into their ranks by British
emissaries. Fierce and bloody was the
conflict waged between these two par
ties in Upper South Carolina during
tho Revolution.
AS South Carolina was the first to
entcr protest against the tyranny Of
England, 80 the first real battle OF the
war, (the encounter at Lexington be-