Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-08-12
THE LAST OF suMrIa,s MEN.
AvenerabIe Old Patriot Discusses the CIrcum.
stances Connected With General Sumter

1t was adreary day in January
1S49, when, at 8 O'Clock in the after
noon, 1 arriveda at Mr.. Leslie's planta
tion, within two miles of King'i
Mountain battle ground in Soutf
Carolina. / had travelled with {
light wagon the rough road thai
skirted the footof Kings Mountain
The heavens were shrouded with
clouds, and melting snow and mud
more than fetlook deep had jaded
my horse. explained to Mr.. Leslie
the object Of my journey, expressed
q desire to visit the battle-ground
that afternoon, and asked him to
show me the way.
"Your beast is tired" ne said. 81
have two good saddle horses in the
stable"
They were brought out. We rode
to the famous field among the
wooded-gravel hills, viewed the to.
biography of that strange battle
ground, made two or three sketches
and returned at twilight. William
McElwee, Mr.. Leslie's father-in-law,
had just arrived. He was stout
built man with an unmistakable
Scotch face, flowing white hair, blue
eyes, and as vigorous in appearance
as a hale man of sixty. He was the
last survivor of Sumter's famous
partisan band in the old war of Inde-
pendence. His "reminiscences were
the theme of the evenings CONVEX
sation.
"When did you join Sumter?"
inquired.
"Just before Clinton took Charles
ton, and CORVALLIS began to over
run the State. South Carolinians
were discouraged, and hundreds took
British protection. Sumter would
not yield, but retired into North
Carolina. / followed him. There he
gathered little band of exiles and
we returned. Sumter called for re-
cruits. But few came until we
struck the camp of wicked Houck,
near Brattonsville, in York district,
one hot night in July, killed him,
and scattered his whole army to the
winds. Our party numbered only
130 all told. Timid men took eour-
age, and Joined the standard of
Sumter. Governor Rutledge made
him brigadier aud l was commits
stoned lieutenant.
"We struck British and Tory par
ties here and there 80 unexpectedly
and sharply that CORVALLIS declared
that Sumter was the greatest plague
in the country. Before the end of
July, our little army numbered about
600, and was daily increased. Sumter
felt strong and determined to attack
a British and Tory force at Rocky
Mount, little west of the Catawba
river. They were only about $50
strong, and were stationed in three
log houses near the foot of the slope
and surrounded by abatis, as the
French call it-a row of felled trees,
laid brush end forward. We had no
cannon, so we got on top of the hill,
filled an old wagon with dry brush
and straw from the abatis, fired it,
and sent the blazing mass down the
slope against the Lighthouses. The
British, seeing their peril, hoisted a
white flag. AT that moment a
shower of rain put out the fire and
the little garrison defed us. We
could do nothing, so we withdrew,
crossed the Catawba, and pushed on
toward Hanging Rock"
"What caused your defeat there p''
/ inquired.
"Rum, sir! s" said the old soldier
emphatically. "Rum, the deadliest
enemy of mankind. You see, we
had whipped the British and Tories
completely and sent them running
like frightened deer, leaving their
camp and all behind. Their camp
was tempting, and our men, instead
of pursuing, engaged in plundering.
They drank freely of the liquor
found in the British quarters. Our
force became disordered, and when
the British rallied, thirds of our
men we're too drunk to do duty
With about two hundred men, brave
Sumter charged upon the enemy
but seeing reinforcement for them
coming, we retreated with some
prisoners and booty"
"You were hard pushed at Fishing
Greek" I remarked.
"Indeed we were; surprised
badly surprised"
81 thought Sumter was always
wide awake" said.
$50 he was; but accidents will
happen in the best of families, you
know. Sumter had been sent by
Gates to intercept British escort
from Ninety-Six. We captured
more than forty wagons, loaded with
clothing and stores, and were return
ing to the Wateree, when we heard
of the defeat of Gates, near Cam
den. SO we went up the river about