The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-15
AN INTERESTING PEOPLE.
Origin Of the Bcnnanhaly and Scott
Families.

at the outbreak of the Revolution
ary War Gen. Thomas Sumter found
himself in Goose Creek Parish, near
charleston, S. c., where he had been
sent after Braddocks defeat, where he
was a lieutenant in the provincial
army or militia of Virginia, his native
state, by the English government to
quell the disturbances among the In
dams, instigated by the French. He
was successful, after having placed in
irons the most prominent Frenchman
who was causing the trouble, and
shipping him to France. He said the
vessel was never heard of again.
Gen. Sumter then commenced trad
Ing with the Indians for land and
bought plantation from them as
high up as the Santec river and made
home near Nelson's Ferry. 1t was
during this period the war of Amer
lean Independence" broke out. It was
not Ions before he had a following of
friendly Indians and whites to join
him in tho fight for freedom. It
was on one OF his recruiting trips he
came upon crowd of men fighting
Tan1c chickens at cross road, and
upon HIS demonstrating with them
MANY agreed to follow him and fight
for their country. One in the crowd
called out "Eoys that's the blue hens
chicken let's follow him, he IS the
game cock"
Hence he got the soubriquet, game
cock" 1t was from this crowd he en-
listed Joseph Bennanhaly, and a man
who gave his name as Scott. He
made Joseph Bennanhaly his scout, in
which capacity nc continued during
the war. lie was Caucasian Of
Arab descent. Scott, the other man,
was always thought to lie of partly
rrench descent and had an assumed
name. Gen. Sumter made him q bu-
hug'cr for the ClaremOnt Troop, COM
mandcd Ly Col. Thomas Sumter, only
son CT Cen. Sumter and at their mus
ter Iarades he acted in that capacity
The late Col. JAS. Blanding and 9th
erS remembered seeing him, an old
man in that capacity. He was a tail
or and Col Sumtcr's wife. who was n
French lady, employed him to clean
hor silk dresses which she got from
France. Hc used as soap for this Dur
posc tho root of tho Bear Grass or
Spanish Bayonet (botO (Yucco Aloi-
folia) it being very cleansing and void
of any grease and cleaned silk beau
tifully.
Cen. Sumter, after the Revolution
lry war gave the two old soldiers Il
niece Of land near his homo at State
burg, S. c., whore they lived and he
cared for thom during his lifetime.
Joseph rennanhaly and the man
colt werc either pirates or had cs-
aped from pirates-the writer ha.
forgotten which, but they were white
men, On one occasion the fact oc
: heir dark complexion brought up tho
question Of their having a right to 81;
N jury and when Gen. Sumter was
sent for--the writer was told this by
the latc Col. Jas. d. Blanding, who
vas about IS years old. who said he
saw Cen. Sumter walk in, place his
D!stOl on a desk, and deliberately
shake hands with both mon and turn.
no. asked if that was sufficient? or
curse this was sufficient to establish
hem Is belonging to the white race
. tho writer. got all Of this informa
ION MS written above from my father
Who remembered Gen. Sumter we'll
being Is years old at his death, an
vas told this by Con. Sumter, whom
ne conversed with, and rode with
often as n boy. He, my father, show
ri me the very spot on the Statcbury
mn Where ne Sald, My son, here Is
where grandfather (meaning the Old
generaD jumped his horse over this
ditch and escaped thence into the
Waxaw country. after the Tories had
surprised him over there at the ruins
asked him if Bcnnanhaly or Scott
were with him and nc laughed and
said he did not know.
l got some information myself. rs
boy. from old Sallie Scott, who was
the wifc of the old Bugler, and also
from Rennanhalcy's wife, but they
we're so old and feeble that it all wa,
disconnected ana incOhcrcnt. I could
not get much Information of the
past, but chiefly conGrmations of my