The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-28
Old Wright's Bluff, Spot Of Memories.

The State.
Passengers on the steamboats, en-
route from Columbia to Georgetown,
after passing the picturesque seem
cry near the confluence of the
Congaree and Wateree rivers and
sailing several miles down the San
tee, will observe a point where the
bank on the Clarendon side of this
river curves far inward, forming a
graceful horseshoe bend.
A grove of oaks and q dilapidated
warehouse-scarcely more than a pile
Of rubbish-is all that can be seen
here, but
Pass it, o stranger, with uncovered
head,
This is the corpse of a place that is
dead"
1t would require wide stretch
or imagination to fancy the river bank
at this point lined with a mass of hu-
manity, and the heap of rubbish a
great plaform piled with bagging,
buckles and ties-paraphernalia for
the court of King Cotton-for it is
far cry from this bleak, desolate
wind swept bluff of today, to the
busy shipping point of 35 years ago.
More historic ground than Wrights
Bluff would be hard indeed to find,
but many of the notable events that
took place here are known and appre-
ciated by but few people living to-
day, for by far the most interesting
history OF South Carolina is that
which has never been written.
There was a time when mail for
the length and breadth Of Clarendon
county was addressed to Wrights
Bluff; a time when this place was
the destination Of the politician, the
agent and the peddler.
Twice each week steamboats, from
Charleston stopped here, and many
a man, through all seasons, regardless
of weather, regularly met these boats,
for whom in all the years they had
brought neither letter nor parcel,
friend nor foe.
This was the place where during
the Revolution, Gen. Sumter with a
small force, climbed the river bank
almost frozen after swimming across
in futile attempt to surprise the
British, and this was the spot of
ground upon which Gen. Marion built
the famous tower Of logs, that in 1871
figured SO conspicuously in the great
American victory at Fort Watson.
On sultry afternoon in July, 1861
a great crowd stood beneath these
trees, awaiting in breathless suspense
the news from the battle that was
raging in Virginia; longing to hear
Of victory, yet dreading to learr its
price.
This is the place where in '65 the
tragic cry was started-the cry that
swept like wild fire through the coun-
try-"Potrer's raiders have GOMEZ"
The Ovcrseer OF nearby planta-
ton was among the first to hear that
cry, and knowing that ten miles dis
tant on the direct road to the county
seat was q town where the women
had colonized, wished to apprize them
of their danger
No telephone was there to fash
the thrilling message but selecting
the most reliable servant, the over
seer mounted him on the swiftest
horse, and bade him ride with all
speed TO the doomed town.
This Paul Revere of sable hue
had gone but short distance, how
ever, when two federal officers step
ped from the roadside, and ordered
him to dismount and act as guide to
the county seat.
After guiding the regiment to where
the road forks near old st. Paul
church, this faithful negro. with an
ingenuity hat one would not have
expected from one of his race at that
time. dctonred the party by way of
Davis cross roads to Manning. there
by saving SSummerton from the tragic
fate Of hei sister towns. \ few hours
later livid skies to the north told too
| plainly that the county seat was in