The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-04-03

men,"
You're right, Sam. 1t would be
madness to lead only the dozen that
are left against such force. I'll go
alone.'
1--WE can't let you do that, colonel"
said another of the men, hastily. "If
you are determined to go, Wen go
with YOU"
mo, you WON'T" retorted Colonel
John Gillespie, shortly. I'm going
alone!"
Before any of his men could pro-
test further, the impulsive young lead
er had leaped upon the back of his
little bay horse-the feetest animal in
all the partial force-and had fed from
the spot
That's the last we'll ever see of
John Gillespie" said one of the older
men in the band. 1--WE never ought
to have let him go alone"
"You might well say that II 1t was
any other man than Colonel John"
said Forbis. Hes the biggest dare
devil in the Carolinas, and if there's
any way out, he'll find it. He always
has"
"That doesn't mean that he always
WILL" responded another. For my
part, think we ought to take after
him."
mo, sir" said Forbis, shortly. We'll
stay right here where we are, at least
for a while The colonel wouldn't
know we were coming and it might
spoil anything he was trying to do.
| We've just got to leave him to himself
and trust the luck that has never left
him yet"
Reluctantly the men yielded to the
positive assertion Of their companion,
and no one departed from the place
where the little remnant of the "parti-
san" band was concealed within the
pine forest. 1t was not the first time
the force had been in trouble since
the War of the Revolution had broken
out. Indeed, before the Declaration
| of independence had been sent forth,
in the trying times when Governor
! Tryon had endeavored by every means
! within his power to crush the spirit
of revolt among the determined peo-
pie of North Carolina, John Gillespie
and some of his companions had been
! amongst the most active of the pa
triots in resisting the tax on tea and
the harsh measures of the loyalist
Governor. When the resistance had at
last led to bloodshed and the battle of
the Allamana--May 16, 1771, the first
battle of our war for independence
4 occurred, John Gillespie at the time
held commission as captain, and was
one of the most active and determined
of the Regulators"
Later, when independence was de-
clared, he was made a colonel, and
some of those who knew him best
were positive that his talents and brav-
cry would soon place him in po-
sition still higher among the defenders
of the new nation. others, however,
! shook their heads at the suggestion
and, though they were free to ack-
nowledge the young colonePs ability,
they declared that he was too reck-
less in his daring and too hasty and
impetuous in his actions ever to be
trusted with a larger command.
The very character of the struggle
in the South soon placed the young
colon4l at the head of one of the num-
erous bands of "partisans." The care
fully planned and executed campaigns
were few, and for the most part the
contest became a veritable civil war;
Tory neighbors were more bitter
against their Whig friends than were
the relocated soldiers of King George
Frequently the hand of brother was
raised against brother, and father was
warning against son. 1t almost seemed
as if the prophecy of old had been
fulfilled, and "a mans foes were they
of his own household"
The intensity and bitterness of the
! feelings thus aroused increased with
every passing month. Plantations were
raided, lonely and unprotected fam
lilies were robbed, men who former
ly had been close friends were plan
ming and plotting to make prisoners of
one another, and state of fear and
lawlessness prevailed through the re-
gion. Heroism, which the world has
forgotten, was at times displayed by
the women as well as by the men in
their attempts to defend their proper
\ ty or protect their lives, End the stor-
les Of the bravery and daring Of the
patriots Of the Carolinas form a chap
ter in the history Of the winning Of