"The Free Lance" Issue: May 27, 1904 pt. 2 {This is somewhat hard to read} REVOLUTIONARY SKETCH Where'n Figure Prominent Names in the County To the Editor of the Free Lance, At the beginning of the war for American independence South Carolina as well as the other colonies was badly torn with internal strife. Her people were not unanimous in their opposition to the mother country. A great many of her citizens, even after she had declared herself a sovereign state, retained unswervingly their allegiance to King George. This state of affairs predominated especially in the up country. The reason for this is obvious. Unlike the people living nearer the coast who were in a more direct communication with the outside world the people lived to themselves. They enjoyed all the liberty their natures demanded. The decree of a bigoted king and an overbearing, parliament never reached their ears, or at least never affected their life. Not a pound of England's taxed tea ever penetrated the wilderness between Charleston and the piedmont. The nicer distinctions between civil liberty and submission to the grinding heel of the tyrant were not noticed or did not appeal to a great many of them. Although DRAYTON's mission to the upcountry was in a measure successful yet many failed to support the new order of things, and remained loyal to Great Britain some for reasons of duty and principle and others supported King George because they considered it good policy. Those of the latter class, in fact might have been found on either side as an engagement always brought then to the side of the victors, During the seven years of war communities were divided against themselves as each one contained champions of the opposing sides. There lived on the banks of the Tyger several families of prominence who were to play an active part in the struggle that was coming on with the mother country, These were LEWELLEN, the YOUNGS, the LANGSTONS, the MUSGROVES, and the WOFFORDS. These families had always been the best of friends. All of these families with the exception of the YOUNGS were uncompromising whigs. While the YOUNGS chose to remain loyal to Britain. However, cupid ignored the political differences existing between love with Miss Martha LEWELLEN, the daughter of Maj. John LEWELLEN. Unfortunately for Nat his good taste was confirmed by Joseph WOFFORD, who lost his heart on the same object. There was considerable rivalry between the two young men and for some time the result seemed doubtful. But at last Joseph won the coveted prize. He made Martha his wife. The hearts of both husband and wife were wrapped up in the contest that was coming on and each one devoted every power that they possessed to further the cause of their country. The young couple soon after they were married, settled down the north bank of Tyger river near the old Hill Shoal which place Joseph owned and he operated a mill at this place. The house stood upon the hill and commanded a view of the ford. From this elevation the young wife was able to watch the ford, and advantage of considerable measure in those troublesome times. Soon after they were married the war came on. Joseph wad heart and sould for the American cause and in this sentiment Martha joined heartily. No sooner had hostilities began when Joseph went to do active service. He went to work immediately and raised a company of which he was captain. With these men he engaged war with the tories. Sometimes they would be in their own neighborhood, sometimes they would go off on campaigns and be gone for several days. Now let us follow the fortunes of Nat Young. [note- edge cut off * inserted] After Joseph WOFFORD had won Martha LEWELLEN for his wife a breach occurred between the YOUNGS and WOFFORDS. As they differed in ***lities the outbreak of the war of ** widened the breach. YOUNG was an uncompromising tory. And as ** offord was the leader of the whig movement in this community, so YOUNG ** the champion of the Royalist. Naturally they came to regard each other as personal enemies. YOUNG was still sore over his defeat in the love affair, for besides loving Martha sincerely as he did the blow to his pride was still greater. His proud spirit was not the kind to let a real or fancied wrong go unrevenged. He was constantly planning how he might in his estimation get even with WOFFORD. Nothing short of his enemy's life* would satisfy him. Of course the condition of affairs at that time was ample opportunity for the accomplishment of private or personal **nds. Nat YOUNG was not slow to avail himself of these opportunities. On one occasion he collected some half dozen of his companions and on a certain night determined to go and cab ** WOFFORD and kill him. On the appointed night he with his crowd, started to the WOFFORD house. YOUNG placed his ** on the outside with instructions not to let anyone leave the house alive. He himself went inside. When he entered the room he found, the husband, the man he was seeking busy around the fire, apparently warming some tea or something for his wife who was in bed sick. Without a moments hesitation, YOUNG drew his saber and rushed upon WOFFORD, who being completely surprised and unarmed was powerless to resist. The young wife was terrified for knowing the feeling that existed between her husband and the assailant, she expected him to be killed outright and with a terrified **am she su** out of the bed and *wing her arms around her husband's neck exclaimed, "Nat, spare *Jo". At this juncture there came a ** from the bed Martha had just ** YOUNG paused. This waff from the bed clothes revealed the true state of affairs to Nat. Lowering his saber he said, "Go back to bed, Martha" *** my life for his if another hair of his head be touched tonight. The young mother was supported back to the bed. The first wail of the future founder of Wofford College saved his father's life. Some five or six miles north of the WOFFORD home was the home of Wood ELDER, a whig who was a a member of Sumpter's band, then operating in the eastern part of the state. At this time ELDER was at home sick, with smallpox. Nat YOUNG was passionately fond of the fine horses and there was only one horse in the county that could surpass his. The horse belonged to Wood ELDER. Nat wanted it and set his heart on getting it. He had made several efforts to obtain possession of the horse but had failed each time. However he did not give it up, but determined to try it again. Now was the opportune time. ELDER was at home, in a helpless condition with smallpox. He did not know how soon ELDER would rejoin Sumpter and take the horse with him. Now or never it must be his. Mounting his own horse he rode one day to ELDER's home. His purpose was to go directly to the stable and take the coveted horse out and lead it away, but you can imagine his chagrin and disappointment when he got there to fine the animal gone. Almost beside himself with rage he went to the house pushing the door open went in. He found Wood ELDER in bed and unable to sit up. YOUNG deliberately walked to the bedside, took out his pistol and shot the sick man dead. Turning around he walked out, mounted his horse and rode away. The murdered man had three sons, Shadrack, Mesback and Abednego. The oldest Shadrack, was a boy of eighteen, the other two, Mesback and Abednego were aged fifteen and twelve respectively. At the time of the murder these boys were back from the house on the creek working some corn and they had the horse with them, hence YOUNG had failed to find it. When a they went to the house a few hours later they were horrified to find their father whom they had left alone a short while before, dead with a bullet through his head. Knowing that YOUNG was the leader of the tories in this section, also that Nat wanted the horse, it oc curred to the boys at once that the foul deed had been committed by none other than Nat YOUNG. There by the bedside of their dead father the boys took a solemn oath that they would neither eat nor sleep until their father's death had been avenged. The oldest boy at once mounted the horse and rode directly to the home of Joseph WOFFORD the whig leader. But when he got there he found no one at home but Martha. He related the incident of his father's murder, also he told her of the vow he and his brothers had made. After he had told his story, the wife went to the back door and gave a signal. In a few minutes, her husband, Maj. WOFFORD as he was then called, came up from toward the river. The boy repeated the story to the major and asked him to help avenge his father's death. This WOFFORD agreed to do. He collected several of his whig friends in the neighborhood and all mounted they started in pursuit of YOUNG. Several men had been seen crossing the river just above the WOFFORD home several hours earlier and going in the direction of the old CAVINS place. Believing them to have been Nat YOUNG and his crowd, the pursuing party set out directly for the CAVINS place. There they came up with the tory crowd, and sure enough YOUNG was with them. When the whigs came upon them they were cooking some forage they had taken in their recent raid. As soon as the whigs came in sight everything was dropped, and mounting their horses they fled before the pursuers came within shooting distance. As they fled Shadrack WOOD recognized the murderer of his father who was separated a little from the crowd. Putting spurs to his horse he started after YOUNG. Just then YOUNG's horse ran under a limb and knocked his hat off. Nat being recklessly brave stopped his horse, dismounted and got his hat. Just after he had gotten back into the saddle and started off, WOOD, who was now within shot, fired and Nat reeled and fell from the saddle. Wood thinking he had killed YOUNG galloped on to overtake the rest of the fleeing party. However, YOUNG was not killed but was severely wounded. He crawled several yards to a branch. About an hour later young Elder came back from the pursuit as the tory band had scattered in the woods. On his way back he came by the spot where YOUNG had fallen but was not there. Just at this juncture WOFFORD came up, Elder told him how he had shot YOUNG and thinking he was dead he rode on but YOUNG's body was not there. They noted blood on the ground. The bloody trail led in the direction of the branch. Following it up they found the wounded man down in the branch. As soon as they found him Elder took YOUNG's own sword and was about to finish him. YOUNG begged for time to pray. Edler refused to grant him one minute, but Maj. WOFFORD *** ELDER and told YOUNG he would see that he should have five minutes for prayer. At the end of the five minutes WOFFORD released Elder who at once ran the sword through YOUNG's body and his father's death was avenged. W. H. KELLY free post Lisa