The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-07-23

In the night courier arrived from
Gen. Greene to advise them of Raw
don's retreat from Camden and urge
redcubled activity, and Marion per-
severed through the hours of dark
ness in pressing the completion Of
their works. The following night
Lord Rawdon encamped on the high
est ground in the country opposite
Fort Motto. and the despairing gar
rison saw with JOY the illumination
Of his fires; while the Americans were
convinced that no time was to be
lost. The large house in the centre
of the encircling trench left but a
few yards of ground within the Brit
ish works uncovered; burning the
mansion, therefore. must compel the
surrender of the garrison.
The expedient was reluctantly re-
solved upon by Marion and Lee, who,
unwilling under any circumstances
to destroy private property, felt the
duty to be much more painful in the
present case. 1t was the summer res
idence of the owner, whose deceased
husband had been a firm friend to his
country, and whose daughter (Mrs.
Pinckney) was the wife of gallant
officer; then a prisoner in the hands
of the British. Lee had made Mrs.
Notes dwelling his quarters at her
pressing invitation and with his Off
GERS had shared her liberal hospital
ity. Not satisfied with polite atten-
ton to the officers while they were
entertained at her luxurious table,
she had attended with active benevo-
lence to the sick and wounded, sooth-
ed the infirm with kind sympathy
and animated the desponding to hope.
It was thus not without deep regret
that the commanders determined on
the sacrifice, and the lieutenant COL
onel found himself compelled to in
form Mrs. Motto Of the unavoidable
necessity of the destruction Of her
property.
"The smile with which the COM
munication was received gave instant
relief to the embarrassed officer, Mrs.
Motto not only assented but declared
that she was gratified for the oppor-
tunity of contributing to the good of
her country and should view the ap-
preaching scene with delight. Shortly
after seeing by accident the bow and
arrow which had been prepared to car
ry combustible matter, she sent for
Lee, and presenting him with bow
and it's apparatus, which had been i'm
ported from India, requested his sub
stitution of them, as better adapted
for the object than those prepared
Everything was now ready for the
concluding scene. The lines were
manned and an additional force sta
toned at the battery to meet a des-
perate assault, if such should be made
The American entertainments being
within arrow shot, Mcpherson was
once more summoned and again more
confdently-for help was at hand
asserted his determination to resist
to the last.
"The .scorching rays of the noon
day sun had prepared the shingle
roof for the confagration. The return
of the flag was Immediately followed
by the shooting of the arrows towhich
| balls of blazing rosin and birthstone
we're attached. Simms tells us: "The
bow was put in the hands of Nathan
Savage, a private in Marion's brig
ade. The first struck and set fire, al
so the second and third, in different
| quarters of the roof. Mcpherson i'm
| mediately ordered men to repair to
the loft of the house and check the
flames by knocking off the shingles,
| but they were soon driven down by
the flames and the fire of siX-pound-
er, and, no other effort to stop the
burning being practicable, the COM
mandant hung out the white flag and
surrendered the garrison at discre-
ton. If ever a situation in real life
afforded fit subject for poetry, by
filling the mind with sense Of moral
grandeur-it was that of Mrs. Motto
contemplating the spectacle Of her
home in flames and rejoicing in the
triumph secured to her country-the
benefit to her native land by her sur
| render Of her own interest to the
public service. L. B., in the State.