Traditions and Reminiscences Chiefly of the American Revolution in the South

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1851. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... PREFACE. As I advance in years, I am sensible that my memory is failing me as to recent events, but not as to what I heard and saw in my youth. The remembrance of such occurrences, even in my childhood, is still vividly impressed on my mind, particularly of such as were connected with the Revolution. This partial failure of memory is but a gradual decline of my mental faculties, and reminds me that those incidents and facts which I now remember, may soon be forgotten in the down hill of life. My seniors and cotemporaries are also falling off rapidly, and in a few years little or nothing could be collected of the many interesting scenes and events, which may still be preserved by committing them to paper. Occurrences which escaped the recording pens of historians, or were considered by them comparatively unimportant, too local or too individual for a place in general history, may even now interest our reading community. Historians of the American Revolution all lived on or near the sea coast--many of the sturdy sons of the forest were therefore unknown to them, and the daring acts and patriotic sufferings of such worthy persons have never been written or published. Most of these collections are derived from the families or connections of the parties, and many of them from documents which may still be seen; some of them from traditions--traditions from the lips of our parents and friends, whose memories we venerate; and I transmit my collections to any who may have a curiosity to know some of the past events. I still had Lopes ****** Around my fire an evening group to draw, And tell of all I heard--of all I saw.--Goldsmith. My children, too, may have some curiosity to hear the traditions of their own family, and of the exciting scenes in the American Revoluti...