240 ELBERT COUNTY. 



had actually gained the rear of his army before the alarm was 

 given. Col. Elbert rallied a few of his command, and fought 

 until he was struck down. He was then on the point of being 

 despatched by a soldier with uplifted bayonet, when he made 

 a masonic sign of distress. An officer noticed it, instantly 

 responded, stayed the arm of the soldier, and Elbert's life 

 was saved by the benevolent principle of brotherly love, even 

 among enemies, and in the heat and hurry of battle. 



While a prisoner on parole in the British camp, Elbert 

 was treated with great respect and kindness. Offers of pro- 

 motion, honours and rewards, were made to him ; and cour- 

 tesy, persuasion and blandishments, used to seduce him from 

 the American cause. It is a tradition in his family, that when 

 these were declined, an insidious attempt was made by 

 means of two Indians to murder him, his person being mi- 

 nutely described as the object for their aim. Elbert, in his 

 mercantile transactions with the Indians, was a favourite 

 among them. He fortunately discovered his enemies 

 in time, gave a signal which he had formerly been accus- 

 tomed to use among them, when their guns were immedi- 

 ately lowered, and they then came forward and shook hands 

 with him. 



This signal had probably been agreed upon and used, 

 when with his company, by order of Gov. Wright, he guarded 

 the Indian chiefs back to the Cherokee nation. This attempt 

 on Elbert's life was probably not made by any of the British 

 army, all of whom continued to treat him kindly. There was 

 a gang of lawless marauders calling themselves Royalists, but 

 by the Americans called Schofelites, plundering and devas- 

 tating the south of Georgia, and retreating with their plunder 

 into Florida. Against these men Elbert had been particularly 

 active, and they were remarkably vindictive. At that time, 

 also, there was much virulence prevailing between the 

 Whigs and Tories, inciting them to acts more cruel than 

 those of the savages. Even the atrocities of civil war can 

 neither justify nor excuse such deeds as were then com- 

 mitted. 



When the three southern States were overrun by the 



