Noble Deeds of American Women: With Biographical Sketches of Some of the More Prominent
History
Noble Deeds of American Women: With Biographical Sketches of Some of the More Prominent
Women -- United States -- Biography
[21] MRS. BREWTON,--since Foster--one of the most amiable and
enlightened of the whig ladies, was an inmate of Mrs. Motte's family at
the time of the destruction of her house. Meeting with her shortly after
the signing of the preliminary articles of peace at Philadelphia, I
inquired--"How it had happened, that she, a helpless, unprotected widow,
without any charge of improper conduct, had so far incurred the enmity
of the British commanders, as to have been arrested without ceremony,
and hurried unprepared, into exile." She answered--"That she knew no act
of hers which had merited such ungentlemanly and inhuman treatment."
Entering, however, into conversation relative to the siege and surrender
of Fort Motte, she gave at once a clue to the transaction. While the
American forces were at a distance, Major M'Pherson, the commander of
the post, suffered Mrs. Motte and her family to remain, and an apartment
was allowed for their accommodation. But when the post at Thompson's,
but a little removed from him, was attacked and carried, anticipating
the fate which awaited him, immediate removal was not only advised, but
insisted on. At the moment of departure, Mrs. Brewton seeing a quiver of
arrows, which had been presented to Mr. Motte by a favorite African,
said to her friend, "I will take these with me, to prevent their
destruction by the soldiers." With the quiver in her hands, she was
passing the gate, when Major M'Pherson, drawing forth a shaft, and
applying the point to his finger, said, "what have you here, Mrs.
Brewton?" "For God's sake be careful," she replied "these arrows are
poisoned." The ladies immediately passed on to the out-house, which they
were now to inhabit. In the siege which directly followed, when the
destruction of the house was determined upon, and missiles eagerly
sought for by Lieutenant Colonel Lee for conveying the fire to the
shingles, these arrows being remembered, were presented by Mrs. Motte,
with a wish for the happy accomplishment of the end proposed. It was
afterwards known, that the first arrow missed its aim, and fell at the
feet of the commander, who taking, it up, with strong expressions of
anger, exclaimed, "I thank you, Mrs. Brewton." The second arrow took
effect, and set fire to the roof, when the brisk discharge of a six
pounder being maintained by Captain Finley, in the direction of the
stair-case, every effort to extinguish it proved fruitless, until, from
the apprehension of the roof falling in, the garrison were compelled to
surrender at discretion. General Greene arriving soon after, paid to
Major M'Pherson the tribute of applause due to his excellent defence,
declaring, "that such gallantry could not fail to procure for him a high
increase of reputation." This compliment, however, does not appear to
have soothed the mortified soldier; for, walking immediately up to Mrs.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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