The Patriot Who Burned Her Home

During the Revolutionary War, British forces seized the spacious home of Rebecca Motte on the Congaree River in South Carolina. Motte, a wealthy widow, was forced to take up residence in a smaller nearby house while about 175 British soldiers fortified her home, surrounding it with a trench and parapet.

From May 8 to May 12, 1781, a Patriot force led by Francis Marion and Lighthorse Harry Lee laid siege to Fort Motte, as the British called their compound. Marion and Lee called on Lt. Daniel McPherson, the British commander, to surrender, but he refused. The Patriots soon concluded that to get the British out, they would have to set fire to the house. When Lee broke the news to Mrs. Motte, she responded that she was "gratified with the opportunity of contributing to the good of her country, and should view the approaching scene with delight."

The widow produced a bow and set of arrows and told Lee to put them to use. The Patriots shot flaming arrows at the roof, setting it on fire and forcing a surrender. Then they quickly climbed to the top of the house and managed to put out the flames. That evening, in the tradition of true Southern hospitality, Rebecca Motte served dinner to both the American and British officers in her dining room.

Courtesy of Bill Bennett, of course. Buy the book!

I posted this story for two reasons. First, because the good Widow Motte amuses me. I love ladies of spunk. Second, because it is incredible to me to compare the character of our founders to the character of today's citizens. In the above account, enemies sat down to dine at the table of a woman whose house had been taken from her by force and used as a military headquarters. Undoubtedly both sides picked up arms again the next day - we will never know. But they were able to separate their cause from their humanity and break bread together, presumably without harsh words or recriminations. Compare that with the partisan hatred that permeates today's society - the weekend's venomous screed by Wanda Sykes is a grand example. As are the comments on many liberal blogs in response to any story about any conservative with health problems, or the media's vicious personal attacks on the Palin family. I would suggest to these partisan haters that they might try following Widow Motte's example sometime...sit down with those with whom you disagree and try listening to what they have to say. I suspect you will find that you have a lot more in common than you think. For the most part, we all want the same things. The big disagreement is simply in how to get there.