MADAM CONSTANTIA [Illustration: ‘A fourth time I tried and, failing, gave over ... and laid my face against the saddle.’ _p. 273_] Madam Constantia THE ROMANCE OF A PRISONER OF WAR IN THE REVOLUTION (SOUTH CAROLINA) EDITED BY JEFFERSON CARTER _Tros Tyriusque mihi nullo discrimine agetur_ LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO. FOURTH AVENUE & 30TH STREET, NEW YORK 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON BOMBAY, CALCUTTA, AND MADRAS 1919 COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY LONGMANS, GREEN & CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. SIR EDWARD’S PREFACE 1 II. UNDER KING’S MOUNTAIN 8 III. MADAM CONSTANTIA 26 IV. AT THE SMITHY 48 V. THE SWAMP FOX 72 VI. ON PAROLE 94 VII. HICKORY KNOB 116 VIII. THE MAN WITH TWO FACES 141 IX. THE COURT IS CLOSED 165 X. THE WOMAN’S PART 188 XI. THE MAN’S PART 211 XII. THE MILL ON THE WATEREE 235 XIII. CONSTANTIA AT SARATOGA 260 EDITOR’S PREFACE Although the Historical Manuscripts Commission (England) has dealt with several of the Northumberland Collections, the Commission has not thought fit to print among the papers of the Craven family of Osgodby, the narrative of the fifth baronet’s experiences in South Carolina during the War of American Independence. The reason for this decision may be either a belief that the episode is not of value from a historical standpoint; or a suspicion that the facts owe something to the expansion of a man writing many years later. However this may be, the story seemed to the present Editor to possess a certain poignancy, and, notwithstanding some intimate passages, to be worthy of a public wider than that of the County of its birth. He has, therefore, with such skill as he possesses prepared it for publication. It will be noticed that Sir Edward Craven nowhere names the regiment in which he served, but it appears from other sources that it was the 33rd Regiment of Foot, now styled the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. The Editor has thought proper to retain the fanciful title prefixed by the writer, but has added some Chapter headings. MADAM CONSTANTIA CHAPTER I SIR EDWARD’S PREFACE