Dicey Langston - The Women of the American Revolution
The Women
of the American Revolution
by Elizabeth F. Ellet
Third Edition
New York: Baker and Scribner
1849.
DICEY LANGSTON
THE portion of South Carolina near the frontier, watered by the
Pacolet, the Tyger, and the Enoree, comprising Spartanburg and Union Districts,
witnessed many deeds of violence and blood, and many bold achievements of the
hardy partisans. It could also boast its full complement of women whose aid in
various ways was of essential service to the patriots. So prevalent was loyalism
in the darkest of those days, so bitter was the animosity felt towards the Whigs,
and so eager the determination to root them from the soil, that the very
recklessness of hate gave frequent opportunities for the betrayal of the plans
of their enemies. Often were the boastings of those who plotted some midnight
surprise, or some enterprise that promised rare pillage-uttered in the hearing
of weak and despised women-unexpectedly turned into wonder at the secret agency
that had disconcerted them, or execrations upon their own folly. The tradition
of the country teems with accounts of female enterprise in this kind of service,
very few instances of which were recorded in the military journals.
The patriots were frequently indebted for important information
to one young girl, fifteen or sixteen years old at the commencement of the war.
This was Dicey, the daughter of Solomon Langston of Laurens District. He was in
principle a stout liberty man, but incapacitated by age and infirmities from
taking any active part in the contest. His son was a devoted patriot, and was
ever found in the field where his services were most needed. He had his home in
the neighborhood, and could easily receive secret intelligence from his sister,
who was always on the alert. Living surrounded by loyalists, some of whom were
her own relatives, Miss Langston found it easy to make herself acquainted with
their movements and plans, and failed not to avail herself of every opportunity
to do so, and immediately to communicate what she learned to the Whigs on the
other side of the Enoree River. At length suspicion of the active aid she
rendered was excited among the Tory neighbors. Mr. Langston was informed that he
would be held responsible thenceforward, with his property, for the conduct of
his daughter. The young girl was reproved severely, and commanded to desist from
her patriotic treachery. For a time she obeyed the parental injunction; but
having heard by accident that a company of loyalists, who on account of their
ruthless cruelty had been commonly called the" Bloody Scout," intent
on their work of death, were about to visit the" Elder settlement"
where her brother and some friends were living, she determined at all hazards to
warn them of the intended expedition. She had none in whom to confide; but was
obliged to leave her home alone, by stealth, and at the dead hour of night. Many
miles were to be traversed, and the road lay through woods, and crossed marshes
and creeks, where the conveniences of bridges and foot-logs were wanting. She
walked rapidly on, heedless of slight difficulties; but her heart almost failed
her when she came to the banks of the Tyger-a deep and rapid stream, which there
was no possibility of crossing except by wading through the ford. This she knew
to be deep at ordinary times, and it had doubtless been rendered more dangerous
by the rains that had lately fallen. But the thought of personal danger weighed
not with her, in comparison to the duty she owed her friends and country. Her
momentary hesitation was but the shrinking of nature from peril encountered in
darkness and alone, when the imagination conjures up a thousand appalling ideas,
each more startling than the worst reality. Her strong heart battled against
these, and she resolved to accomplish her purpose, or perish in the attempt. She
entered the water; but when in the middle of the ford, became bewildered, and
knew not which direction to take. The hoarse rush of the waters, which were up
to her neck-the blackness of the night-the utter solitude around her-the
uncertainty lest the next step should engulf her past help, confused her; and
losing in a degree her self-possession, she wandered for some time in the
channel without knowing whither to turn her steps. But the energy of a resolute
will, under the care of Providence, sustained her. Having with difficulty
reached the other side, she lost no time in hastening to her brother, informed
him and his friends of the preparations made to surprise and destroy them, and
urged him to send his men instantly in different directions to arouse and warn
the neighborhood. The soldiers had just returned from a fatiguing excursion, and
complained that they were faint from want of food. The noble girl, not satisfied
with what she had done at such risk to herself, was ready to help them still
further by providing. refreshment immediately. Though wearied, wet, and
shivering with cold, she at once set about her preparations. A few boards were
taken from the roof of the house, a fire was kindled with them, and in a few
minutes a hoe-cake, partly baked was broken into pieces, and thrust into the
shot pouches of the men. Thus provisioned, the little company hastened to give
the alarm to their neighbors, and did so in time for all to make their escape.
The next day, when the "scout" visited the place, they found no living
enemy on whom to wreak their vengeance.
At a later period of the war, the father of Miss Langston
incurred the displeasure of the loyalists in consequence of the active services
of his sons in their country's cause. They were known to have imbibed their
principles from him; and he was marked out as an object of summary vengeance. A
party came to his house with the desperate design of putting to death all the
men of the family. The sons were absent; but the feeble old man, selected by
their relentless hate as a victim, was in their power. He could not escape or
resist; and he scorned to implore their mercy. One of the company drew a pistol,
and deliberately leveled it at the breast of Langston. Suddenly a wild shriek
was heard; and his young daughter sprang between her aged parent and the fatal
weapon. The brutal soldier roughly ordered her to get out of the way, or the
contents of the pistol would be instantly lodged in her own heart. She heeded
not the threat, which was but too likely to be fulfilled the next moment.
Clasping her arms tightly round the old man's neck, she declared that her own
body should first receive the ball aimed at his heart! There are few human
beings, even of the most depraved, entirely insensible to all noble and generous
impulses. On this occasion the conduct of the daughter, so fearless, so
determined to shield her father's life by the sacrifice of her own, touched the
heart even of a member of the" Bloody Scout." Langston was spared; and
the party left the house filled with admiration at the filial affection and
devotion they had witnessed.
At another time the heroic maiden showed herself as ready to
prevent wrong to an enemy as to her friends. Her father's house was visited by a
company of Whigs, who stopped to get some refreshment, and to feed their wearied
horses. In the course of conversation one of them mentioned that they were going
to visit a Tory neighbor, for the purpose of seizing his horses. The man whose
possessions were thus to be appropriated had been in general a peaceable
citizen; and Mr. Langston determined to inform him of the danger in which his
horses stood of having their ownership changed. Entering cordially into her
father's design, Miss Langston set off immediately to carry the information. She
gave it in the best faith; but just before she started on her return home, she
discovered that the neighbor whom she had warned was not only taking precautions
to save his property, but was about to send for the captain of a Tory band not
far distant, so that the "liberty men" might be captured when intent
on their expedition, before they should be aware of their danger. It was now the
generous girl's duty to perform alike friendly act towards the Whigs. She lost
no time in conveying the intelligence, and thus saved an enemy's property, and
the jives of her friends.
Her disregard of personal danger, where service could be
rendered, was remarkable. One day, returning from a Whig neighborhood in
Spartanburg District, she was met by a company of loyalists, who ordered her to
give them some intelligence they desired respecting those she had just left. She
refused; whereupon the captain of the band held a pistol to her breast, and
ordered her instantly to make the disclosures, or she should" die in her
tracks." Miss Langston only replied, with the cool intrepidity of a veteran
soldier: "Shoot me if you dare! I will not tell you," at the same time
opening a long handkerchief which covered her neck and bosom, as if offering a
place to receive the contents of the weapon. Incensed by her defiance, the
officer was about to fire, when another threw up his hand, and saved the
courageous girl's life.
On one occasion, when her father's house was visited on a
plundering expedition by the noted Tory Captain Gray with his riflemen, and they
had collected and divided every thing they thought could be of use, they were at
some loss what to do with a large pewter basin. At length the captain determined
on taking that also, jeeringly remarking, "it will do to run into bullets
to kill the rebels." "Pewter bullets, sir," answered Miss
Langston, "will not kill a Whig." "Why not ?" inquired
Captain Gray. "It is said, sir," replied she, "that a witch can
be shot only with a silver bullet; and I am sure the Whigs are more under the
protection of Providence." At another time when a company of the enemy came
to the house they found the door secured. To their demand for admission and
threats of breaking down the door, Miss Langston answered by sternly bidding
them be gone. Her resolute language induced the company to "hold a
parley;" and the result was that they departed without further attempt to
obtain an entrance.
One more anecdote is given to illustrate her spirit and
fearlessness. Her brother James had left a rifle in her care, which she was to
keep hid till he sent for it. He did so, by a company of "liberty
men," who were to return by his father's dwelling. On arriving at the
house, one of them asked the young girl for the gun. She went immediately, and
brought it; but as she came towards the soldiers, the thought struck her that
she had neglected to ask for the countersign agreed upon between her brother and
herself. Advancing more cautiously-she observed to them that their looks were
suspicious; that for aught she knew they might be a set of Tories; and demanded
the countersign. One of the company answered that it was too late to make
conditions; the gun was in their possession, and its holder, too. "Do you
think so," cried she, cocking it, and presenting the muzzle at the speaker.
"If the gun is in your possession, take charge of her!" Her
look and attitude of defiance showed her in earnest; the countersign was quickly
given; and the men, laughing heartily, pronounced her worthy of being the sister
of James Langston.
After the war was ended, Miss Langston married Thomas
Springfield, of Greenville, South Carolina. She died in Greenville District, a
few years since. Of her numerous descendants then living, thirty-two were sons
and grandsons capable of bearing arms, and ready at any time to do so in the
maintenance of that liberty which was so dear to the youthful heart of their
ancestor. *
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