The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-06-05
S. IN THE REVOLUTION.
EXPLOITS OF PATRIOTS IN TIE
PIEDMONT REGION.
The Historical Sketch Which Won Il
Gold Notwithstanding Review
of the Country ard tie People.

by Miss Mary Earle lNlcS, uarShiCr U1
Mr.. Wm. Lyles, of Columh;;:. which
captured for the fair author the LCautiful
gold modal offered by thc Columbia
chapter of the Daughters of the Revolu-
ton for the best historical sketch
presented.
Cpp"r South Carolina ''emlnaccd,' :
says Logan, Sin the modern Districts OF
Ablevillc. Andersen, fCg,i.c!d, Green
Vile, Pickcns. NeMherTy, l.auronS
Union, Spartanburg, Fairfield. Chester.
Lancaster, York and Richald is the
classic ground Of tie American Rev
oution.'
That it WAS Il country of surprising
beauty and fertility is abuudantIy shown
by the testimony of the writers of that
period. I.orl CORVALLIS said of Fair
field, Il typical country: II can conceive
of no fairer region. taking into conSid-
Grafton its fertile soil, mild climate. It's
long drawn beautiful valleys and glorious
highlands The forests have been
described us peculiarly grand and i'm
posing. and through their open depths
could bc seen stretches of tie country
for miles around. Extensive plains were
filled with waving masses Of cane; grlSll-
ing springs dubbed out from the sides of
the hills and flowers of every hue bios
SOmcd in the green valleys and orna-
mcntCd the tops Of Tie MOGH.a!ES.
Abundance of game WAS found in the
woodlands. and the streams were filled
with fish of tie choicest varieties.
In this new and salubriouS region. our
fathers of the revolution had built ,hrir
cabins. and were Telling the primeval
forests ard cultivating Tie virgin soil.
But, though nature was here seen in hCr
'.kindest probability and the simple
want of the pioneers were easily supplied
from her well filled stolc house, they
found many difficulties and dangers in
the way of their advancement. Tie
country WAS already ihllahitCd by a race
of Indians. Wlo would rot taMli; We'd
to StIaEgorS thc Possession Of their rich
1Glsiul" lands and IDEAL hunting grounds.
step ir' step tie l,d men iuarttd the
progress % Tie stttltIS aLd subjected
aneu for MANY long years Ia all the
horroIS of savage warfare. Wild least.
DISTURBED in their natiN, Businesses,
frequently prowlcd around the cLainG of
aSa" pioneers, lrcrmcd /" >pring ulon
the unw;uN ,CculaliiS. 10 sM"Tcly
settled VAS the country. that there could
iE little LuNilt Of acticn III eases of
danger Eut cytrT man relied for safety
ION Tie fertility Ct his own TEolIrctS
and tie sI(ngth of his grC4i right arm.
thus. atCust, med to danger and inurrd
.toHyluSmr. th,.c sons CI the SOIL
wcre :IN2 pared To win the hard ..altl,S of
the RcNoluicn
Remote finut The sea coast and cui off
from all ,ummrrchi! ""ntrrH hy almost
impossible roads and Strra,!,$. rendered
sdisl more dangerous 10y bands of hostile
Indians. cur settlers held little intercourse
with the outside world. Their interests
were holl. agricultural and their trade
was practically confined To tie towns of
Charleston ;u,d Augusta. Therefore.
11.s oppressive measures 81 ,,,>H;i"n.
rvhici a. !! with 80 mlich force upon the
shipping ca The Inhabitants of the cost,
had little effect "rn the people of tine
mp country. and they took no active part
in the opt ming scenes "i' ,i,r RCyolulion.
But Charleston, real iZing tisE / Nruld
i.c iln! !.ossillc TO defend her coast with Il
..lSaffeg"d country in her rear IN June.
l77j, Dispatched two commissioners.
Colonel Dr,Ntom and Rev. William
Tpnnt. INTO tln interior To explain tu
the pcoplc th" calEy. ni dissatisfaction
and to cndcavor to tnli>, their CO.
operation. Owing to the Nioi.ni oppO-
sition Of tie loyaliSt leaders, these gc!lI!c-
f..rn met with little immmcdatc >IIcccSS.
IL was Il difficult for Il population So
Heterogeneous in character as that of
Ike up GouiIiry To arrive ut UnamimitN of
opinion. They bad 10 substantial ca,lsc
for rivOlt aElDlH England to whom
many of them were .i,p"lcly attached.
and had up To this period eNcltGi herself
to protect the infant colony. neither had
AarV amy inclination tOcNrOSc Tn" quarrel
of tii,"ir brothers on the cost. who had
alUwGe, th,m :mall representation III
she ;ISScluhi$ md lad treated their public
ulCpl Mjthb but li%l respect. But. among
men trained To the cX.ig'isr of inicpcnd-
.rncc of thought and aC!irh lr lives of
hardship III Il ncW m'd unlrirI region,
there were those who clearly prrccvcd
the dangers that lay in the principle oi
sa>ation" without Representations.
There were many. tGo, among THEN
number wlD had come across the seas
seeking Il .coni.'iv where they might
worship God atAA The dictates OF
their own c0lscicuCca 49, Wh"r" they
,ni.ri,i nnin Nv iir. rimht al. rNNrN nIln - hr