70 REMINISCENCES OF 



river bank, was the residence of a widow lady, 

 whose only companion was an orphan girl, and 

 whose property consisted of a small tract of land 

 and a few negroes. Her neighbors were not re- 

 fimote, but the troubled state of the times and the 

 difficulty of access to her dwelling in the swamp 

 had, ever since the occupation of the country by the 

 British, and the broad distinction now existing be- 

 tween Whigs and Tories, cut her off almost entirely 

 from society. The brutality of the British and 

 Tories in sacking houses, carrying off cattle, abduct- 

 ing slaves, insulting the defenceless, and sometimes 

 burning the dwellings of those who were particu- 

 larly obnoxious to them, was such as to prove that 

 security was cheaply bought, even at the cost of the 

 deprivation of society. A few, however, would oc- 

 casionally seek the hospitality of her roof, among 

 whom were the cousins McKelvey, who would fly 

 from the toils and privations of the continental army 

 to recruit in this garden of peace and of plenty. 

 They were young men of fine talents, good con- 

 nections, and easy fortunes. Robert was witty, hu- 

 morous, and lively ; Daniel, sober, sensitive, and of 

 bland and amiable manners. 



Seated in this retreat, at a table well spread in- 

 deed, but which to the ill-fed partisans appeared a 

 display of prodigality, they were startled by a terri- 

 fied negro rushing in with the alarming information 

 that the redcoats were approaching through the 



