The Washington herald., 1915-04-25
THE TAKNG OF
FORT MOTIF
A Story of the Reno.
luton.

By HENRY MILFORD STEELE.
1t was generally agreed among tho
neiGhbors when tho Widow Notes
house was finished that there was not
a handsomer mansion anywhere in the
two Carolinas. Standing on top Of .
long hill, it overlooked tho country
for miles around. It's commanding sit
uation made it prominent feature In
the landscape. and its white and shin
ing walls were visible for a long dis
lance. The house was finished in the
winter of 1850. and the widow moved
in as soon as it was ready for her.
But before she had fairly become
accustomed to her new surroundings
a force of British soldiers uncere-
moniously bundled the patriotic Widow
Motto out of her mansion and pro-
ceeded to turn the place into a fort.
The widow took up her abode in q
vacant farmhouse on another hill not
far away. and every day she watched
with rising anger the transformation
of her property from fine, hospitable
Southern home into a grim and men,
acing military fortress. The parapet
had been built so close to the walls
of the house that all the exercises and
drills of the soldiers took place on
the lawn in front, and as the widow
watched them day by day she wished
more than ever that she had been
born a man.
To he n
the most important in the chain OF
posts that CORVALLIS and Lord Raw
don had stretched across South Caro-
lima. 1t was made the principal depot
of the conveys from Charleston to
Camden. The place was strongly gar
risoned 10y a force of $50 men, under
Capt. Mcpherson, who was himself
brave and gallant officer.
In the spring of 1881 Lord Rawdon's
army was in Camden, where it had been
engaged upon one or two occasions
by Gen. Greene. without decisive re-
suits. A number of victories gained
by the Continentals in various parts of
the State determined Greene to make
an effort to break down the enemy's
chain of posts-the accomplishment of
this would mean the recovery of the
whole State. within thirty miles of the
sea-and Gen. Francis Marion and his
little band of noble followers, re-en-
forced by Col. Lee and detachment
of Continentals, proceeded against
Fort Watson about the middle of April
Sia of
was captured by a most ingenious and
clever device
Then, after one of his characteristic
raids through the country. where he
spread terror and destruction every
where. Marion appeared before Fort
Motto. A few hours previous to his
arrival a force Of dragons from Char
lesion had arrived at the fort and
strengthened its already sufficient gar
rison: but as soon as Marion's band.
together with Lee and his Continentals,
appeared. Capt. Mcpherson dispatched
a messenger to Lord Rawdon at Cam
den for more help.
Lee took up his quarters on the hill
where the widow Motto now resided,
while Marion went into camp on the
eastern slope OF the same ridge upon
which stood the fort. A battery was
Immediately constructed, and on it
was mounted an old six-pounder that
Greene had given to Marion. Mount
ed on the spot Marion had selected.
it WAS in an excellent position to rake
the northern face of the enemy's para
pet.
Marion's earthworks were rapidly
constructed. and on the Goth Of May
he made a formal demand for the sur
render OF the fort. To this McPher-
son replied to the effect that instead