Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-04-19
quired to swear they would support
the Constitution of South Carolina.
Whcn, after the battle of I.axinp-


When, after the battle of Lexing-
ton, open hosilities commenced in
the South, our patriot was among
the first to take the field. The COM
pact that was drawn up in 1775 be-
tween the Tories and patriots, by
which the latter promised not TO aid
the British, was witnessed for the
patriots by Francis Salvador. lie
was also active in the northern part
of the colony in trying to conciiate
the Tories and to convince them that
by joining the Association they
would be fighting, "not against, but
for, their country"
Throughout the period he seems
to have kept in close touch with the
Revolutionary leaders. The cores
pondence Of prominent men of the
day shows that he was kept minutcly
informed on military affairs. The
correspondence from which Mr.. Huh
ner quoted covers whole range Of
subjects Clinton's movements, the
operations of the British about
Charleston, the promotion Of officers,
the character of Gen. Lee and the
disputes in the Continental Congress.
Early in 1776 the British stirred
up the Tories and indians to take up
arms against the colonists in order
divert their attention from British
operations. Salvador and Major
Williamson were the leaders of an
expedition sent by Congress to op-
pose the attack. Mr.. IIuhncr gave
in detail some Of the correspondence
on this subject.
On one occasion, when an attack
was made by Tories and Indians, our
patriot was informed of the fact by
refugee and the ancient record tells
us that: "Mr. Salvador forthwith
mounted his horse and gallopcd to
Williamston's to give the alarm TO
the colony"
Though ardently in favor OF indie
pcndence, it is doubtful whether he
ever knew whether the Declaration
of independence had ever been
signed. The news Of that event
does not seem to have reached the
leaders in South Carolina for over a
month. On July "a, 17GG, Chief
Justice Drayton wrote to Salvador
as follows: "No news yet from
Philadelphia. Every ear is turned
that way anxiously listening for the
word independence | say God
speed the passage OF it. Amcn,' say
YOU"
Our patriot was killed on August
[, l77G, while leading an expedition
against Tories and Indians. The ac-
count of his death, sent by Major
Williamson to John Rutledgc, is cx-
ccedingly complete. 1t concludes
"When | came to him after dis
lodging the enemy, and speaking to
him, he asked whether | had beat the
enemy. told him yes lie said
he was glad of it, and shook me by
the hand and badc me farewell, and
said he would die in few minutes. u
Saivador's tragic death is men
toned by Henry Laurcns, President
of the Council of Safety, and by
most of the prominent figures OF
South Carolina. Chief Justice Dray-
ton, in his memoirs, speaking Of Sal
vador, calls attention to his having
been jew. lie sums up his charac-
ter by saying ellis fate excited uni.
vcrsal regret. His manners were
those of apolishcd gentleman, and as
such he was intimately known and
esteemed by the first Revolutionary
characters of South Carolina. lie
also possessed their confidence in a
great degree, as his literary cores
pondcncc with them sufficiently
proves. At the side Of his friend,
Major Williamson, he received those
wounds which sacrificed his life in
the service of his adopted country"
In conclusion Mr.. lIuhner said
"Thus pcrishcd this Jewish patriot.
How remarkable career was his
In the brief period of three years he,
a stranger, attained a prominent
place in the history Of his adopted
country. AS jew by birth and
jew by religion, he sat in repre-
sentative assembly and in provin-
cial Congress, and gained the esteem
and lasting friendship Of the leading
men Of his day"
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