The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-01-08

GEN. STARTLING TUCKER.

GEN. STARTLING TUCKER.
General Startling Tucker, whose name
stands at the head of this column, was
a prominent figure in Laurens District
in the early years Of the century just
closed. His home was near Lanford's
Station, among the noble hills of the
Enoree, and there lie his remains
among the people he so strenously and
patriotically served in the days of our
country's youth.
An Intelligent friend OF the editor of
this paper has recently visited the spot
on his old homestead where repose his
remains, and sends us q copy Of the
inscription on the stone which marks
his resting place. A granite wall
twelve by fifteen feet encloses this spot
and within the enclosure is a monu-
ment with the following inscription:
Elm memory of General Startling
Tucker, who departed this life the
Gath year of his age. He was be-
loved in life and mourned in death
for private worth and public use
fulness as o mau and q citizen; the
honest representative of his coun-
try for twepty-eight years in the
Legislature of South Carolina and
in the Congress of the Unite
States. His friends in Laurens
District have caused this monu-
ment to be erected to his memory
and worth"
On the diverse side, to his wife, who
long survived him:
"Sacred to the memory of Lavinia
Tucker who departed this life July
10th, 1856, In the eights-sixth year
of her age"
The burial place is near what is still
known as fuckers Mill, now standing
about a century old, and now the prop
erty of Capt. j. w. Lanford.
The writer has endeavored to learn
something of the nativity and early
history of General Tucker, but with
out avail. It is most probable, how
ever, that as he was sixty-fve years
old at the time of his death, in 1884.
his family must have been Virginians
and that he was born on the Enoree
during the Revolution. General Tuck.
81 left no children and we are not ad'
vised of any collateral relatives of the
name, the Higgins family, of which
Mr.. James Higgins is o member, be-
ing connected through either his wife
or q sister of General Tucker.
The memory of General Tucker is
still fresh and green with the many
descendants of his neighbors and his
name is still v%enerated and honored
among them. While We have no re,
cord OF his services in the State Legis.
lature or in Congress, Judge O'Neal in
his biography of Robert Stark, (Revo.
lutionary soldier, afterwards Speaker
of the House of Representatives and
State Solicitor), furnishes an interest.
ing episode in General fuckers career
In 1914 the war was pending between
the United States and Great Britain
and Tucker was Colonel of q Regiment
of the Second Brigade of State Militia
Under the orders of the Governor, com
panies of Infantry, Cavalry and Artil
lery were ordered to rendezvous at
Newberry and Col. Tucker put in com
mand; they were mustered into ser
vice by Brigade-Major Thos. Wright
on the 1st, Ord. and 3rd of March
1914. Robert Wood and Samuel Can.
non were the Majors, and Captain Will
liam lrby, b soldier Of 1776, was Adju.
tant. On the 4th of the month they
took up their march to PocotaligO
through Lexington, O%rangeburg ant
Barnwell and arriving at Pocotaligo
ordered to relieve Col. Carter.
regiment. Says O'Neal, who was {
soldier of the Regiment: sOn the
way down, the Regiment below Barn
well, began to meet the discharged
soldiers of Col. Carter's Regiment, tt
the relief of which we were marching
Those first met had been discharged OF
account OF sickness. They were the
most squalid, emaciated creatures ant
were hardly able to walk. They de
picted to the soldiers OF Col. Tucker's
regiment the unnecessary hardships II
which Col. Youngblood, who had OBJ
tanned the command in place of Col
Carter, had subjected them. AS NIGH
have been expected it created a feeling
of indignation which could not be al
layed." Seeing this state of thing,
John Toubs, of Edgefield, who belong.
ed to Capt. Caldwell's troop of cavalry
said to Col. Tucker: "The day yor
give up the command Of your Regi
ment I will shoot YOU" (They must
have been a gay set OF larks) GA
Pocotaligo the Regiment was met by
Capt. Benjamin Frazier, OF Edgefeld
and he said to Col. Tucker: 'You are
marching right into h-.-ll'. Yesterday
an order was published requiring ade.
tail OF two Companies, to throw up 9
tete de pont on Port Royal Island, un.
der the direction of Col. Youngblood.'
Said he, "the object is thus by Compa.
MES to take your command from you.'
The order to construct the tete d,
pont IAN earthwork to protect o bridge
was published to Col. fuckers Regi
ment. A council of every officer O.
the REGIMENT was held and tbav uoon