The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-02-07
WAR STORIES.
Emily Geiger's Ride.

'H0 1|otucl HaIlou Suapter, ~. n. II L,
by Miss Aileen V. Bell, Aiken, S.
c.:
Looking back in the dimness of the
past to thoso stirring, unsel6sh days
when our forefathers strove for lib
erty and the right, and won for their
children and children's children the
freedom of this glorious country, in
the fierce glare of the present day
where graft, love of self, personal
luxury and desire to stand in the
lime-light Of tho worlds eyes scoms to
possess the soul OF our nation, We are
almost inclined to think that heredity,
the moulding force of oircumst &c,
the iron hold OF the past upon the
present, had lost some Of it's grip.
Buts glance at the deeds of those
stalwart fathers and Spartan mothers,
who 90 willingly gave up life, hearth,
home, friend and comfort to serve and
make better commonwealth, will
stir the heroic drops Of blood that
course in present day veine. During
the epring Of 1881 several victories
followed closely upon each other,
browning the hard struggle Of thoss
bravo ones with eucosss. Fort Motto,
Fort CRANKY, Orapgeburg and Angus
ia had surrendered, but Ninety-Six re-.
mained a stronghold. The battle of
Ninety-six OF which we speak today,
was not decisive one at the moment
for the liberty.lovers. but the end,
more than the outcome, of prudent
handling Of q few men.
Ninety-Six at that time was q de-.
fensive work on the site of Cambridge,
in Abbeville district, so called be-
cause it was SO miles from the frontier
fort Of Prince George on the Keowee
River. May 22, 1881, Gen. Greene
commenced siege Of this fort; the
approaches we're gradually carried on
under the direction Of Col. Kosoiusko,
sn engineer sent dowr By Gen. Wash.
ington to assist the Southern terri.
tory. By his assiduity and energy, o
third parallel within 80 yards OF the
ditch was completed June 10Th, and o
rife battery 80 feet high was built a.
the same distance. % the seventh
the abatsis was turned, and two
trenches and mine were worked to
! within elk feet Of the ditch. Rife.
men aud sharpshootefs were employed
on both eides. Aud whens7sr any
one showed himself be wac 10 great
dsnger. This brave little bands
manoeuvers had resohed o: critical
point where further resistance would
have been hopeleas, when news reach
ed them that Lord Rswdou wes 40.
proaehing with force Of 1000 neo il.
This made it necessary either 70 raise
tho siege, or attempt to take the place
! BY assault. It was Ju: q l8 b, when
the assault vss'made and failure fol.
lowed. ~ !:
Lord Rawdou was rapidly approach.
ing aud Gen. Greene was forced to re-
tire. az he was too weak 60 stand
agsinat theis auperior forssa. Gen.
Greene had already sustained heavy
losses. Much OF this failure has been
attributed to Kosoiusko'e want Of en-.
gineering skill, or rather to his neglect
TO- out of their wafer supply, This
waa one OF the heaviest blows that
they sustained, for 1t was then they
would have wrested the whole upper
country from the British. =. ..,...,, i
The effect OF Gen. iGresne's failure
to take Ninety.six was depressing asd
gloomy in the extreme. Many per,
sons advised him TO leave sns State
and retire with his forces into VII.
ginia. To all suoh susgestions Gen.
Greene's reply was, II will recover
the country or die in the attempt.
Lota Rewdon pursued Con. Greene as i
far as The Euoree river aud not over.
taking him fatsered himself that be
had driven the rebels out Of the soun,.
try. While Gen. Greene tsas retreat.
ing from Ninety.six, after mis- unsrc i,rv / :
oessfnl assault on that place, he ,is,t oross. i.
ed the saluda river !. and passed
through the upper part Of what is nov
Newherry County. 7; Gen.! Greene
moved on, toward Broad river and !, Cd.
oampsd between the forks Of .Enor,,sI,ea 5
and Broad, with his wsary and much,
discouraged Men.. Not Far from whore,
Gen. Greene had :sncanped with his
disheartensd troops, lived i vsll,to.do
farmer whose name was John 5Geiger.
E's. heart was full of, love for his
country, aud was aorely disappointed
that he was Unable To- take shp arms.
His daughter Emily, / who .sas about,
10 years Of ago, was an. ardent patrios
and nffat, rssahad an 4 ! IL taas.. 4 3.