The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-06-16

fire to the house, and carried off the
negroes. In the confiagation he
spared a big barn we'll stocked with
corn, which he wanted for his horses.
For some years after the war was
over, this barn was the family shell
ter. Mrs. Aver and her two boys
escaped to the nearby swamp, and
there for several days were fed at
nightfal1 by kind neighbors.
One of these sons, Lewis Malone,
was only eleven years old at the out
break of the war, but he soon began
to take part in the great struggle.
Born in Marlboro, he was truly a
son Of Carolina! The boy owned a
sorrel pony, the swiftest steed in the
community, and upon it's back he ira
versed many miles Of unknown coun-
try, carrying messages of Importance
from camp to camp, and from COM
mander to commander.
Of course the British soon learned
how information became disseminat-
ed thereabouts, and the lad and his
pony were objects of vengeance and
desire to the invader. He always
attributed his escape from harm to
the inordinate greed of the enemy
for the horse. They wished to cap
ture it unhurt, and their care for
the animal probably saved his life.
The young courier witnessed the
treacherous death of Col. Kolb. Kolb
with two friends, had gone home for
a brief visit, and the Tories learning
of it, Major Gainey set out to capture
them. Col. Kolb's regiment, hearing
of Gainey's move, made ready to fol-
low and by holding his ferries and,
various roads, hoped to rescue their
beloved commander, if he should be
taken prisoner. An effort, however,
should be made to warn him, in or
der that he might escape. The only
hope was in young Lewis Aver and
his fleet-footed horse, Selim. The
boy was sent upon the errand, but
the Tories were two far in ad-
vance; he never succeeded in over
taking them. When he came in
sight of Col. Kolb's home it was
surrounded by the blood-thirty band.
The residence was "a tWo-story brick
building and was seemingly fastened
against the invaders while Col. Kolb
and his two soldier friends stationed
themselves beside windows in the
second story, commanding obliQuely
the front and rear of the house. The
volley poured into the building by
the Tories was not returned, the
inmates having very little amuni-
ton, and being so few in number,
felt it incumbent upon them to hus-
band their resources.
When the Tories dismounted, and
with logs of wood approached, intend
ing to beat in the doors, the we'll di-
rected shots from above laid them
low. This recurring several times,
the invaders withdrew little dis
tance for consultation. Major Gainey
then sent a messenger bearing a
white flag and requested a parley
with Col. Kolb. The Colonel replied
that Major Gainey and two of his
men, unarmed, might come as close
as they pleased. Gainey then went
forward and most solemnly assured
Kolb that if he and his two compai-
ions would surrender themselves
prisoners Of war they should be
honorably treated and exchanged at
the earliest opportunity. He even
named a British colonel, then pris-
oner in the hands of the Americans,
for whom they would exchange Kolb.
The specific statements and earnest
protestations deceived the brave Of
fhcer, and he with his two friends
came down unarmed and passing
through the door Of the house, sur
rendered. The whole band Of To-
ries advanced to meet their prisoners,
and when they came within fifteen or
twenty feet of them, Gainey gave the
word "shoot the damned traitors" "
The treacherous volley poured upon
them and the three defenceless pa
triots fell dead. :
Lewis Malone Aver, hidden in a
dense willow thicket not far from the
scene of the tragedy, witnessed the
narrowing spectacle. Sad and morti-
fed by the failure Of his mission,
the lad stealthily made his retreat.
But ere long approaching the house
of Mr.. Caleb Nunnary, about six miles
away, hunger, and a stronger pas
sion, boyish love, made him halt
there for a time. Mr.. Nunnary's