The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-05-07
A SOUTHERN HEROINE OF THE REvoLU-
TON

O1SheSSh years OF age ana Q6r nome
was in South Carolina. Gen. Nath-
aniel Greene was in command of the
army of Upper Carolina at that time
(1781), and was anxious to capture an
important post occupied by the
British. He heard of the approach
of Lord Rawdon and withdrew across
the Saluda river, but he was pursued
by the British forces to the ENFORCE
river, where he made a stand. Gen.
Sumter, for whom Fort Sumter,
in Charleston bay, near the city of
Charleston, was named, and against
which the first gun of the Civil War
was fred, was stationed on the
Wateree river, 100 miles away. Gen.
Greene felt the necessity of immedi
ately communicating with Gen.
Sumter that they might unite their
forces and attack the British but
there we're many broad forests and
deep rivers, with heavy swamps in
tervening, and British soldiers were
guarding every road leading to the
south. These, aided by the tory
inhabitants, made it almost impossi-
BILE to reach the patriot forces. The
general found some difficulty in get
ting a man to undertake the danger
Gus journey, but a young girl in the
person of Emily Geiger came to his
aid, offering her services. John
Geiger, her father, was an ardent
patriot, but was crippled and thus
unable to bear arms Emily was
accustomed to the deep woods was
a good horsewoman and eager to do
some service for her country. Gen.
Greene hesitated before accepting her
offer. He realized how perilous the
undertaking, how many dangers
lurked in the way but she was per
sistent, so that finally he accepted
her services and gave her a written
message to Sumter. The first day
of her lonely ride passed without ad-
venture, but on the evening of the
second, when quite near the Con
garee river, three British scouts
from Lord Rawdon's army appeared,
approaching her. As she came from
the direction of the American camp,
she was suspected and taken before
Lord Rawdon. Her answers YER
ev~asive, arousing the suspicion of
the British general, who sent for
some Tory women living in the
neighborhood to search her. The
brave girl was equal to the emer
gency, and while waiting for the
arrival of the women she tore up the
paper, chewed and swallowed it,
having previous to her departure
memorized it's contents. Thus the
secret was safe from any prying eye
or searching hands, and although
they literally ripped every garment
to pieces they found nothing, and
she was permitted to ride on to the
house of a friend, several miles
further on the way. Here she Sc
cured a fresh horse and was soon
again on her journey to Gen. Sum-
ter. She continued her ride through
the deep and intense darkness of the
night, having been in the saddle two
days and one night. It was not un
til 3 o'clock of the third day that
she found herself in Gen. Sumter'S
camp. Almost dead with hunger,
anxiety and fatigue, she delivered
Gen. Greene's message. In an in
credibly short time Gen. Sumter's
army was ready TO march ard soon
Joined Gen. Greene. The union Of the
two armies compelled Gen. Rawdon
to retreat and, later, to sail for Eng
land. Gen. Greene, in gratitude
and admiration for her noble conduct,
gave her a set of jewelry which is
still in existence.
How many of you cousins are
brave as was this country girl of 100
a ago? What wonderful courage,
daring and perseverance Those
we're the days, we are told, ''that
tried mems souls :" the same may be
said of the women. Who can tell
me something of Mollie Pitcher and
Mary Hart?-Aunt Sallie, IN Texas
Farm and Ranch.
acknowledgements
I'M. Xiv Of tO- dsv ia the impulse