The Monticellonian., 1917-10-26

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 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 96. a region which in 1755 was purchased from the Cherokee Indians. Its inhabitants were mostly Scotch and Scotch-lrish families who had come down from Pennsylvania and Virginia.
 Between the Broad and Saluda riv- CTS, In upper South Carolina, in the region of the Blue Ridge. they had es- i tabliShed the three settlements of Upper Fair Forest. Lawson's Fork and Tygers. In their views of life and conduct these pioneers bore many re- l semblanceS to the men of ancient Sparta. They were self-reliant and aggressive, and endured toil. hardship and pain without complaint.
 When South Carolina cast her lot with the other colonies she had much opposition from the Tories and Loyal ists 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- sentntiyes of the council who went to District 96 were William Henry Dray- ton and Rev. William Tennant.
 On their way they stopped at the house of Col. Thomas Fletchall. com mander of a 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.
 Mir. Drayton later reported that the people of District 96 were capable of resisting the Indians and also of put ting check on Fletchan and that therefore he had taken the liberty of supplying them with ammunition from Fort Charlotte. which was just across the line between the Carolnas as now delinented 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.
 Mir. Drayton belonged to n 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 q regiment was organized In the dis trict 1t was called the Spartan regi" ment. Its commander was Col. John Thomas, ST. '.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 1t Is difficult to trace the history of the regiment itself. the people of the region were continually active in the cause of liberty.
 Although South Carolina was for three years without regularly or ganized patriot army, tbe cause was kept alive by such men as Gen. Fran cis Marion. General Sumner and Colon. el Thomas of the "Spartans." On one occasion Thomas and several of his associates surrendered and entered into an agreement that they would not take up arms for the balance of the war It was understood that If they retired to their homes they would receive protection from the British commanders. Considering. however that the agreement with them had been violated, they returned to tht cause and fought as the annalists o1