The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-02-09

had pitched his tents on the Parade
Ground in Kingstree tnat memorable
day in 1880, possibly expecting thai
those good Scotch-IriSh women would
regale him ard his men abundantly
with their far famed ginger cakes.
Instead, these women began to pour
into his forces some of the leaden
bullets that they had moulded for
their men to use in the same manner.
Soon after these bullets began 10 dis
trrb Tarleton's siesta, this cavalier
received a grapevine Telegram that
McCottry's mounted rifemen were
moving toward Kingstree with no
uncertain velocity. Tarleton knew
that it was moving time for him.
His first halting place was ut Captain
Mouzon's home. Captain Mouzon was
the grandfather Of Samuel Rufhn
Mouzon. The present Mouzon manor
house was built where the one that
Tarleton had burned stood.
| was interested all the eight miles
flom Kingstree to Mouzons, having
pointed out to me where the SCOTS,
Pressleys, McGills and others had
lived in colonial days, but when we
reached the Mouzon plantation and
I looked down the avenue of syca-
mores at the grounded white pillars
of the manor house, my imagination
made me expect an old rose garden,
arborvitae, and pomigranates. AS we
drew nearer, l saw them, and caught
the soft breath Of violets, aristo-
cratic violets that had grown and
sweetened a hundred years about the
same doorway.
Mr.. Mouzon was not 1T home. Mrs.
Mouzon welcomed us and led us over
solid brick steps, half worn away by
generations of the Mouzons and their
friends, into her home where saw
their hair cushioned sofa, candle
stand, book case, all mahogany, fash
ioned after the manner of the olden
time. saw many old books, those
that make one certain when he sees
them where they belong.
Mrs. Mouzon knew me from my
relationship to the lady who had
brought me, allowing opportunity for
many brilliant flashes of wit and
humor from her tilat otherwise /
should not have enjoyed.
81 am told, Mrs. Mouzon," said,
chat you and MIR. Mouzon know
everybody in Williamsburg county"
81 know everybody worth while and
'Ruffie' knows all the rest" she re-
piled.
81 am very sorry that l shall not
meet Mr.. Mouzon this Afternoon"
ventured. 81 have heard so many
good stories about him."
"What you heard about 'Ruffie'
were not Stories, but the trut:l,' she
added
Assisting her mother in entertain
ing us that afternoon, was Mrs. King,
who was wearing the Gold Star as
a widow of the World War. Mrs.
Mouzon showed US the Cross of Honor
so wortbily worn by her husband. |
s.w painting in the home Of the
Mouzon of 1912. He was shown in
full dress uniform. Out under the
cedars in the graveyard, I saw mar
bic slab whereon was, "Capt. Henry
Mouzon, Marion's Brigade" These
things showed this family has always
responded to South Cardinals call.
Sometime after this visit, met
Mr. Mouzon in Kingstree. I asked
him to tell me something about him
self and his tribe. 81 like to talk
about my good friends" said he.
zone of the best of them is sanity
Presbyterian minister. another is the
most accomplished gambler in the
South"
l asked him about the War Between
the Sections and he told me many
interesting things CT those four years
of fraternal strife, which Webster
had foreseen and prayed so frevent-
ly might pass. Afte:' Mr.. Mouzon
had told me of many of the fierce
fights of that long ago, North against
South, all at once he Strengthened up
like a young man rejoicing in his
strength, 4 thin mist softened his
g.ittering eyes, ard pride American
tened his voice as he said, 81 always
received chivalrous treatment from
the Yankees. l never knew Yam
kee officer who was not gentleman.
They were just as careful to require
that a prisoner received his righs as