The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1912-05-08
Emily Ge1ger's Ride Dur
ing the Revolutionary
War.
(BY MRS. J. B. NUNNAMAKER.) }

about the daring ride Of Emily Geiger
to save our country from the clutches
of the Tories, but the account I am
giving here I am sure is correct in
every detail, as it is just as Emily
Geiger related it to her first cousin,
who was also my great-grand-mother,
Elizabeth Kaigler.
When Cen. Greene saw that, unless
he could get into communication with
Gen. Sumter and get reinforcements,
his army could not resist the opposing
army, he failed to get any of his men
to consent to take message from him
to Gen. Sumter. This was because
they would have to pass through the
country that the Tories occupied and
they felt it would be certain death to
any one to undertake it.
Emily Geiger, girl only IS years
o,d-a daughter of German farmer
living in Lexington county, who was
devoted to the American cause, but
was too old for active service-offered
her services to take the message. At
first Gen. Greene would not consent
for her to go. It was only aftcr she
insisted, saying she had often made
the trip through that section Oh her
way to visit relatives in the low coun-
try, and that she felt confident she
could take the message in safety, that
he consented. He then told her to get
the consent of her parents and come
back to his camp. She complied with
his request, her parents consenting
and giving her the best horse they
owned to make the trip on. When
she returned to Greene's camp. he
read the message to her, then sealed
it up and giving it to her bade her
God-speed.
1t was a long and lonely ride that
this girl undertook but she did not fall
ter. Fer horse was strong and he
went en- without hindrance until after
she had crossed the Congaree river.
On the edge Of a dried up swamp
she was met by two Tories, who sus-
pected the young girl riding alone on
this dismal road. They captured her
and took her to the old Cayce home in
Lexington county. It was at this
house that Lord Rawdon had her Sc
cured in q room on the second floor
and semitic two Tory women to search
her. While she was left alone for
few minutes, she ate the message and,
as nothing, could be found when she
was searched, she was allowed to pro-
coed OF her way. Late in the after
noon Of the same day, she was again
arrested by some Tories. She was ia
ken to farm house and confined in a
room by herself. After supper, she
but she could not sleep, so she
heard o conversation between the man
of the house and man who had come
in since she retired. He asked if EN-
lily Geiger was there and was told that
she was and that she said she was on
her way to visit relatives in the low
country, but he said he believed she
v as on some secret mission. Emily
very quickly decided to make her es-
cape from that house just as soon as
she could safely do SO. As soon as
she thought the people were asleep,
she opened window that lopened on
q piazza. AS she did SO large fierce
dog came up to her, but she patted
him on the head and, by making
friends with him, succeeded in getting
to the stable where she quickly mount
ed her horse and rode away. It was a
night and she succeeded in
finding her way to the home of a pa
triot friend. 1t was scarcely day when
she arrived and when she explained
her errand, a hurried breakfast was
prepared for her, fresh horse was
saddled and guide was sent to show
her shorter and safer way to Sum-
ter's camp. After the guide had Civ
en- her accurate directions, she went
on her way alone, urging on her tired
horse.
In the afternoon she came upon
some soldiers whom she knew to be
Sumter's men. "Take me to Gen.
SUMTER" she said eagerly, II have
message for him from Gen. Greene.'
She was so tired she could scarcely
speak, but she repeated to Gen. Sum.
ter, almost word for word, the con-
tents Of the letter that she had de-
stroyad. In an hour Gen. Sumter
and his men were marching towards
the point that Gen. Greene had di.
rected him to come. At the same
ee xpo, eork IN ko.:.-