Meade County news., 1917-11-01
.IT training ground for the New
'@ York National Guard is Spar
tanburg, s. c., in the very

tanDurg, S. u, In tne very
heart of the American Sparta.
How Spartanburg came to receive
its name recalls the story of that
ThermOpylae which modern historians
recognize as having had much to do
in bringing about the effective turning
point of the Revolution which gave
freedom to the United States, writes
John Walker Harrington in the New
York Sun.
What is now the county of Spartan
burg was part Of District 90, region
which in 1855 was purchased from the
Cherokee Indians. It's inhabitants
were mostly Scotch and Scotch-Irish
families who had come down from
Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Between the Broad and Saluda riv-
ers, in upper South Carolina, in the
region Of the Blue Ridge, they had es-
tablished the three settlements of
Upper Fair Forest, Lawson's Fork and
Tigers. In their views of life and
conduct these pioneers bore many re-
semblances to the men Of ancient
Sparta. They were self-rellant and
aggressive, and endured toll, hardship
and pain without complaint.
When South Carolina cast her lot
with the other colonies she had much
opposition from the Tories and Loyal
lists within her own borders. To over
come this opposition delegates were
sent out by the South Carolina Council
of Safety to explain to the people the
situation out of which had grown the
first Continental congress. The repre-
sentatives of the council who went to
District 90 were William Henry Dray-
ton and Rev. William Tenant.
On their way they stopped at the
house of Col. Thomas Fletchall, COM
mander Of regiment consisting os-
tensibly Of colonial militia but in
reality of Tories. They had negotia
tions with him in the hope of inducing
him to join the popular cause. Find
Ing him Obdurate, they proceeded fur
ther toward the Blue Ridge.
Mr.. DraytOn later reported that the
people Of District 90 were capable of
resisting tie Indians and also Of put
ting a check on Fletchall and that
therefore he had taken the liberty of
supplying them with ammunition from
Fort Charlotte, which was just across
the line between the Carolinas as now
delineated. Through his influence the
region was made into new divisions
and he referred to the part where the
frontiersmen were strongest and most
devoted to the cause of liberty as the
"Upper or Spartan district"
Organization of The Spartans.
Mr.. DraytOn belonged to race of
scholars, and to him the organization
Of the settlements and the fearlessness
Of the inhabitants suggested very
strongly the people who withstood the
Persian might in Greece. When a
regiment Vas organized in the dis
trict 1t Was called the Spartan regl-
ment. It's commander was Col. John
Thomas, Sr. ''The Spartans" were
attached to the command of Col. Rich
ardsOn and took an active part in the
snow campaign in which the Tory
forces were much harried. The name
Spartans was applied in time to all
of those in northwest South Carolina,
and although it is difficult to trace the
history Of the regiment itself, the
people Of the region were continually
active In che cause of liberty.
Although South Carolina was for
three years without regularly or
ganized patriot army, the cause was
kept alive by such men as Gen. Fran
els Marion, General Sumner and Colon
ell Thomas of the "Spartans" On one
occasion Thomas and several of his
associates surrendered and entered
into ar agreement that they would not
take up arms for the balance of the
war. II was understood that If they
retired to their homes they would
receive protection from the British
co nmanders. Considering, however,
that the agreement with them had
been violated they returned to the
cause and fought as the annalists of
the time say with halters around their
necks." One Of them, Col. Isaac Hayne,
was captured, nnd after a summary
court-martlal was hanged at Charles
ton by the orderA # TarletOn.
Broken up as were their military
organizations, the Spartans figured
extensively in the detached and ir-
regular forces Of the patriots under
Marion, Sumner and Moultrie.
Major Ferguson was sent by Corn
wallis 70 South Carolina with 1,20O
men, Of FhOm five-sixths were native
Loyalists. His Instructions were to
inimldate the rebels and 70 bring in