The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-02-06
Rejoinder.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:

years have passed since Emily yer
gers famous ride, and to write the
story at this late day with absolute
accuracy would be difficult if not I'M
possible. Those who read the sketch,
which appeared recently will recall
that it was stated in an explanatory
note that .he story was belieued to be
true from information acquired after
dilieent research, and that it was
Substantially true beyond controversy.
MIR. A S. Sally undertakes to sho"
that the story as told does not con-
form to the records. A careful exam
ination Of the quotations. submitted
will show that he has failed to estao'
lish his position
That Sum.er was on the. Broad
not steast" Of it-fve miles beio"
Lyle's Ford and near the present
Lexington line, on the 18th of June,
does not effect the question at issue.
He was then en- route to relieve
Greene who was retiring before
Rawdon. When Rawdon declined
further pursuit he was no longer
needed at that point.
Whether or not the body OF
Greene's army vas east Of the Broad
on the 29th of June is not material.
The sketch shows that on the morn
ing of july End when Emily started
On her missiop), Greene was in doubt
as to The locality of Sumter. 1t
Greene had heard from Sumter-sipce
June the 25th-one week before
Mr.. Sally does not show it.
Again, Sumter wrote to Greene on
July 2nd, 81 thought it necessary to
take turn through the upper RAgi
ments of my Brigade"-This evi-
IDENTIFY without Greene's knowledge, or
the explanation would have been su-
perfuous.
1t ought not to be assumed that
Sumter took with him his forces
with which he had been operating
between the Broad and Saluds rivers
while taking his "turn" all the way
to the Waxhaws on the n. G. line
and thence by way of Hanging Rock
to Camden. It is easy to believe
that Sumter left his command on the
Broad under instructions to move d.
rect to Camden where he would meet
them after his tour among the sup
per Regiments"
When he wrote on the All OF July
from smear Hanging Rock" he was
manifestly moving southwark
Now Hanging Rock is perhaps
eighteen miles from Camden. (not
teceaty foe'), and as he was smear"
it he may have been even nearer the
end of his journey.
At any rate he would easily ride to
the Wateree by three P. NJ, the
hour at which Emily reached his
camp-Sumter in his letter Of the
End of July'announced bis purpose to
go to the WaxhaBs. Greene did not
know that morning that Sumter was
sin Lancaster county above him. ;"
It is thus seen that all the records
quoted may be true and yet not
necessarily inconsistent with occur
renees related in the sketch.
The substance Of the story is that
Emily rode part Of three days; was
arrested and searched the second
DAY; and delivered her message Cd
the 4th OF July the fifth anniversary
OF the Declaration OF American Iu- |
dependence. The descendants OF the |
earlier Geigers are living near the
original Homestead-The family has
long been wealthy and influential |
There are among them now those who |
are educated, refined, and cultured
and who have heard the familiar |
story from friends and relatives who |
were contemporary with Emily Gel
ger, and who knew her intimately |
Their character for truthfulness has
not been, and cannot now be, brought
in question. The writer would more
easily believe that contemporaneous
records were erroneous In some IN
stances than question for moment
the sources from which the essentials
of the story were derived. Mr.. Sal.
ley's avowed object "to preserve the
truth" is praiseworthy.
Tue author of the sketch hopes it
is unnecessary - say that he would
not make a statement over his sigma
ture or otherwise unless convinced
that it was true. He wro.e in the
beginning that he held himself ready
TO correct errors which were shown to
be errors.
It is honestly believed that the