The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-08-21

Revolution. mus We're llieS 9Vt'e'i O.
ed for many years; and until at
length my father was at Richmond
Virginia. a member of the legislature.
Sun1pter was a member Of congress
and on his way home called at Rich
.nond. where they met for the first
time in more than 80 years. What
meeting this must have bee7, to talk
over old matters and things. They
had beth now become Old and highly
elevated in the temple of fame. What
proud satisfaction they must have
felt in the retrospection. Before they
separated Sumpter handed my father
30 guineas-having reference to the
prison.
Wars With Indians.
''Appleton's Encyclopaedia Of Amer
lean Biography states: Sumter was
present at Braddock's defeat in 1855,
and seems afterward to have been en-
gagged in military service on the
frontier
'McCrady, in his history, states
that he served in the Virginia provin-
cial corps in the French and Indian
wars, and was present at Braddock's s
defeat in 1855, and that he was sent
by Gov. Dinwiddie Of Virginia on a
mission to the Cherokees and accom-
panied the Indian chiefs to England
in 1852
Neither gives any reference or au-
thority for these statements.
|The family tradition as contained
in a manuscript sketch of Gen. Sum-
ter by his granddaughter, Miss
Brcwnfeld, is to the effect as stated
by McCrady, who obtained his infor-
nation from her. The same tradi-
ton is stated in an obituary Of Gen.
Sumter, published in the Sumter Ga
zette for June 9. 1S32-probably OBJ
tained from some one of Gen. sum
ter's descendants at the time.
Great weight, however, should
fairly be attached to the recollec-
tons Of John Redd and William Mar
tin. Mr.. Redo personally knew both
Gen. sumter's mother and his brother
William. and was himself present at
the interview between Sumter and
Gen. Joseph Martin at Richmond
where Sumter paid his old friend 20
guineas.
There is nothing directly from
Gen. Joseph Martin, who died in 1908,
but the account by his son, William
Martin. who wrote in 1912, but who
had been Old enough in 1775 70 ac-
company his father on an expedition
to Tennessee-is an account by one
who was in a: position 10 near. and
&C hea G7ss ::E
~ as <ather a1d >;;1n5esr raj Fassn
present. a. 50 aoraioie ~ occzS5tsfz a>
J9raddacE de- aee.t he void scarcely
. have 1ai.vt 90 Mention IL He says
they joined the army in 1855, whereas
Rar6dock's defeat took place in 1855
"The authenticity Of the Martin re-
niniscences is strengthened by the
circumstance that the earliest known
letter OF Gen Sumter in existence is
dated 7th December, 1853, and is ad-
dressed 70. Mr.. Joseph Martin, whom
he addresses as Friend and Loving
Comrade,' and mentions a debt he
owes him.
Did He Go to England?
.The following manuscript notes
made by DR.. Lyman c. Draper, have
been furnished by descendant O
Gen. Sumter:
".2sth November, 1851. Thorna:
sumter, with Lieut. Timberlake, lef
Great Island. on Tennessee river, Il
go to- the Cherokee nation.
con the 18th May Thomas sum
ter embarked at Hampton Roads Va,
for England and arrived at Ports
mouth OF the 18th June, 1852, with
three indians. Ortinaco, the Indiai
chief, among them, and Lieut.. Tim
beraake. The sloop Epreuve, Capt
Peter Blake. was the ship which tool
them to England.
about the 25th August, 1852
Thomas Sumter embarked with th'
three Indian chiefs and without Lieut.
Timberlake, for Charleston on th'
same ship which had taken him t.
England
"Dr. Diapers notes as furnished
give 10 reference for these statements
but in the South Carolina Gazette. NO
1856. Tor 5th June, 1.6 .. the state
ment is made that Judd's friend, one
Of the principal headrnen Of the che
rokee nation, had gone to Nirslnli
and had permission to go to Engian'