The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-04-11
A'CAROLINA HEROINE.
Emily Geiger, Heroine Of the American
Revolution.
Columbia State.

tU bStQtB.
times, and had her repeat it until it
was thoroughly mcmorized, SO that in
case Of accident she could deliver it
verbally to Gtn. Sumter. Emily was
fearless rider and her horse was
strong and fleet. Her aim vas to cross
the Saluda not far from ats junction
with the Broad, and then cross the
Congaree at Fridays Ferry, not far
from where Columbia now is. All
went well until the afternoon of the
second day, when more than two thirds
OF the journey had been passed over
with safety. She at that time had
crossed the Saluda and was on her way
to the ferry over the Congaree, when
three of Rawdon's scouts suddenly ap-
peared before her. AS she came from
the direction Of Greene's camp and
could give no satisfactory account Of
herself, she was taken into Lord Raw
don's presence. Her replies to his
questions being rather evasive, he or
dered her to be locked up until Tory
woman. who lived some miles away.
could be brought to search her. She
was left alone, fortunately, for few
moments, and with the thought of the
dispatch uppermost in her mind,
pressed into service her "woman' wit"
to devise some way of disposing of it.
Realizing What its discovery would
mean to her, she took it from her
pocket, tore it into \small bits, and
then chewed and swallowed them.
When she was searched nothing Of
suspicious nature could be found about
her. and she was allowed to pursue
her journey. Lord Rawdon even fur
nished her with an escort to the house
of friend few miles distant. These
friends supplied her with refreshments
and fresh horse and pointed out
shorter and more direct route to Gen.
Sumter's camp than the one she had
intended to take.
By riding all night, at day ybreak she.
was far from the ncighborhood of
Lord Rawdon. About 3 clock in the
afternoon Of the third day Emily
reached the camp Of Gen. Sumter, aud,
although almost fainting from fatigue
and hunger, clearly and distinctly de-
livered her message 1t is stated that
in one hour Gen. Sumter was ready to
march, and soon after joined Gen.
Greene. Two weeks later Emily re-
turned TO her home. Gen. Greene Isl
said to have presented her With pair
of gold earrings for her gallant
service.
In consequence Of Generals Greene
and Sumter uniting their forces, Raw
don was forced to retreat to Orange
burg, Ninety-six was evacuated soon
after, and finally Rawdon, despiring
of success, sailed for Europe. So that
this brave act of Emily Geiger was not
an unimportant link in the chain of
events that accomplished Greene pur-
pose Of drawing CORVALLIS from Caro-
line and finally winning victory for the
American cause.
Very little is known Of Emily Gel
ger after the war. She married Col.
Threwitts, wealthy planter on
the Lexington side of the Congaree
River.
Tradition says that when Lafayette
paid mis- farewell visit II South Caro-
fflina, end n grand ball was given in his
honor in Charleston, she was sent for
to grace the occasion, and that she
danced the first 'ninuet with the Mar
quis. It's nown that she left no chill
dren, but beyond that no record can
be found Of her subsequent life. She
was buried In the old Threwitts bury
ing ground in Lexington County, about
ten miles from Columbia.