The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1898-1913, 1901-10-09

news Of Col. MouItrie : successful .c-
fcrsc of Charleston h&rboc and OF ,hc
Declaration OF Independence by the
Cc:t;nenta! Congress reached III" -
country and te-aHjmHtcd t'a patriot
/ ism of the men no" curampct in 'Hc
very hcara Of the Cherokee Nation.
Several times in his reports to
! headquarter, in Cha:,->.on Col. VIII
/ hanson mentions Col. T"omus and
| his regiment, and always in terms Of
praise.
! We should find it instrurtiu-, no
doubt. to follow the march ci 'he
army and tell Of the thrilling adve2-
tlrcs g..laHntered-:h ambushes in
| to 6wni@n ,::... '.a.r i"t '''' to-. '.1~!
/ ish,in5 &r... ...-... ,a... oi.. { ".',:.
winch the Spartan Relims7s oisyss
its fnll part--Da5 time forSids.
| Following the successful termina-
ton OF this Indian war,-in which,
however-be il said to their everIast-
| ing shame-maHy tories disguised as
Indians, took paft-came an interval
OF peace to upper South CaroIioq,
which lasted three or fDTr yearS.
During this time the Spartan Reg
ment was not inactive. To it w@s
| intrusted long line OF forts on the
frontier Of Western North Carolina.
We hear of some garrisOning fort mt
the foot OF Hogback Mountain-of
others Ninety Six and others still
further down near Augusta-nOt 4
few of the more daring Spartan spir-
its were also engaged in the fights at
Brier Creek and around Savannah.
It was during this interval of com
paratlve quIet-prObably in HI.
that the Spartan Regiment was reor-
ganized. Col, John Thomas had now
become too old for the most active
service, and so resigned his comlnis-
sion.
For some reason, perhaps because
OF increased numbers and better to
suit their convenience, the regiment
was divided into two regiment'-call-
ed the First and Second Spartan
Regiment. The terms upper and
Lower" were probably derived from
the geographical positions Of the two
commands.
OF the Upper Division John Thom-
as. Jr., was chosen colonel to succeed
his father. He was probably living
with his father at the time, and Ike
him was an ardent patriot full OF ke
.kcaaragn. eeG deeisie;f. az wa skelhsGen
learn from his words and his actions.
OK the same true spirit was Thomas
Brandon, who was chosen colonel Of
the Lower or Second Division OF the
Spartan Regiment. He is spoken Of
in history as the master spirit among
the Wings in his community. HIS
home was on the west side OF Broad
river in the lower portion Of the pre-
sent county OF Union. Like many
another in his regiment, he was oI
Scotch Irish blood and from Penn E
sylvania. Both he and Col. Thomas,
Jr., had been captured in the origi =
nal Spartan Regiment, and at the
time of its reorganization Col. Bran
don was ranking as Major.
On May 18th, 1880, Gen. Lincoln
surrendered and Charleston fell into
the hands of the British. Her fall
marked the beginning Of the darkes,
days South Carolina has ever seen
T At once the State became the theatre
and Our Piedmont region the very
stage upon which the tragedy Q
American independence was enacted
y. Hardly had the city come within
the grasp of the British arms, whel
+ Ferguson was dispatched into the VI
country, with Il regiment Of dragons
, 10 arouse the Ioyalists to his stand
ard. and to Smitc with the sword 0
vengeance all who dared uphold TIN
, American cause. In few days ht
i was at Ninety Six, with force in
y creasing each day from the loya
, country through which he passed
Advancing still further, with a rap
Y idity almost equal 20 that with whicI
- the news of CharleSton's Surrendr
had come, he left "a t'.Ir '' ;'
, scattered mon of the Spartan Reg'
- ment to collect themselves and ole
n him resistance.
% But the effort was made. AS 500
20 as Coils. Thomas, Brandon and Lyle
20 were aware of Ferguson's approach
they determined to summon the
N men together and consider what W.
. host to do for their safety and prOtc,