Subject: Sumter, Part 2 Excerpt from "Statistics of the State of Georgia", by George White. Printed in 1849, Savannah, W. Thorne Williams. Part two of Sumter County: Name-The following account of Major General Thomas Sumter, is abridged from a memoir written by William Gilmore Sims, Esq.: Thomas Sumter, after whom this division of the State was named, was born in Virinia, in the year 1734. When a boy, he went as a volunteer against the French and Indians, in the "old French war." Not long after Braddock's defeat he came to South Carolina, where he was engaged in active service against the Indians. Known to be a warm friend to the principles of those who were opposed to the usurpations of Great Britain, as early as March, 1776, he was appointed by the Provisional Congress, Lieutenant Colonel of the 2d regiment of riflemen, and was engaged in watching the outbreaks of the disaffected on the frontier, and the hostile red men. After the fall of Charleston, Sumter retired to the swamps of the Santee; but he soon emerged from his hiding place, went to North Carolina to obtain recruits, and stopped at a place known as the "Gillespie Settlement." Of the Gillespie family were numerous brothers, all of whom were famous cock-fighters. They were content with the conflicts of the barn-yard, having in their possession, amongst other famous fighting birds, a blue hen of the game species, whose progeny were particularly distinguished for their martial qualities. Of one of these chickens, called Tuck, there is quite a biography. His reputation was extended far and wide, from mountain to mountain. He was never known to refuse a fight, or to lose a battle. At one time Sumter suddenly appeared at the cockpit and surprised the Gillespies at their usual occupation, and in abrupt language called upon them to leave the cockpit, and go with him, where he would teach them how to fight with men. They took him at his word. "Tuck for ever," was the cry of the Gillespies. "He is one of the Blue Hen's chickens." The sobriquet stuck to him always after; and the eagerness with which he sought his enemies on all occasions amply justified in the opinion of his followers the name of the Game Cock. In raising recruits our hero was successful, and on the 12th of July, 1780, he gave the Gillespies the amusement he had promised them, by suddenly attacking a body of Tories, and completely defeating them. After this affair Sumter had the pleasure of receiving from Governor Rutledge, a commission as a Brigadier in the service of the State, and was ordered to recover a certain portion of the country from the power of the enemy. On the 30th of July, 1780, he advanced upon the British post at Rocky Mount; but for want of artillery, he was compelled to abandon the attack. Hanging Rock next attracted the notice of Sumter. This was garrisoned by a force of 500 men; and although in the battle fought here he could not be said to have obtained a complete victory, yet it is acknowledged by the enemy, that they got the worst of the battle. About August of the same year, he surprised the British near Carey's fort. Having taken the fort; stores and troops, he commenced a retreat; but Tarlton overtook him two days after, at Fishing creek. Burdened with his baggage and his prisoners, 300 in >number, his movements were necessarily slower than those of the light armed >troops which Tarlton commanded. The camp of Sumter was surprised; his troops were dispersed, the prisoners recaptured, and Sumter again a fugitive. Again he made his way into North Carolina, and after raising a force, he took the field and occupied a post at the Fish Dam ford. Here he was attacked by Col. Wemyss; but so gallantly did Sumter defend his position, that the British fled, leaving their commander in the hands of the Americans. Col. Wemyss had rendered himself very obnoxious to the Americans by his cruelties. In addition to many offences of the same character, a memorandum of the houses and estates he was yet to destroy was found upon his person. This was shown to Sumter, but he, with the magnanimity becoming a hero, threw the paper into the fire, and would permit no injury to be inflicted upon the British officer. After this action, he crossed Broad river, and being joined by an additional force, he prepared to attempt the British post at Ninety-Six; but hearing of the approach of Tarlton, he changed his movements, and took up his position at the house of Blackstock, where he was attacked by the British; but a well directed fire from the Americans forced him to give up the assault. In this engagement 192 of the enemy were left on the field, of whom 92 were slain, and the rest wounded. The loss of the americans was almost nominal. General Sumter received a ball through the breast near the shoulder, which for a long time rendered him unfit for service. Congress acknowledged his services by a vote of thanks. In the early part of 1781, he again took the field, and made a rapid movement towards Fort Granby, and succeeded in destroying its magazines, and the very next day he surprised an escort convoying wagons of stores from Charleston to Camden, slew thirteen of the escort, and made sixty-six prisoners. Not long after this he was attacked by Major Fraser, near Camden; but that officer got the worst in the conflict, making off with the loss of twenty men. Receiving a letter from General Greene, requesting him to do all in his power towards breaking up the British communication, Sumter was already in the field, sweeping the county lying between the Broad, Saluda, and Wateree rivers. On the 10th of May, he took the British post, at Orangeburgh, with its garrison, consisting of 100 men, and all its stores. About this time Gen. Sumter, embroiled in a dispute with Col. Lee, sent his commission to Gen. Greene, whom he thought improperly partial to Lee. This was returned with many expressions of kindness and compliment on the part of Gen. Greene; and Sumter, cheerfully yielding his private grievances to his sense of patriotism, resumed his responsibilities; but in a short time, fatigue and wounds demanded that he should have a respite from toils, and accordingly he repaired to the mountains, for the purpose of recruiting his health; and when he was able to resume the field, the war was at an end. He survived long after the independence of his country was established. For many years he was a member of Congress, first as a Representative, and afterwards as a Senator. He lived to a mature old age, honoured to the last, and died on the 1st of June, 1832, at his residence, near Bradford Springs, South Carolina, in the ninety-eighth year of his age.