Elizabeth Pinckney Huger

“ As the man jumped from his horse and looked down at him, he saw that it was not a soldier, but a peasant, and thinking this his last chance, he sprang out of the ditch, seizing the horse’s bridle with one hand, while he held out in the other what money and gold pieces he had in his pocket, crying out in German “give me your horse.” The man clutched the money, but resisted and would not give up his horse—two or three others riding up together, it was evident all struggle would be useless. The soldiers were now at hand, and he surrendered without further effort. ”

“ Huger, I trust your heart does not fail you now?” said the usually quiet, composed man. “No indeed, but we must do what is best for success. Now General Lafayette has drawn the officer on a little footpath that runs above the high-road, holding by his arm; he seems edging off towards the fields; the phæcton is slowly following along the road, the soldier and driver only in it;” presently Huger exclaimed, “he signs to us,” as General Lafayette shook a white handkerchief with his disengaged hand, at his back. ”

“ I need not tell you that the joy I feel at my liberty has heen lessened by the news, that troubles have arisen between the Republic and the United States. The exact circumstances are entirely unknown to me, but I am sure that nothing can be more impolitic for both parties, and that it is my warmest wish to see everything amicably adjusted. It ought never to have happened. I hope all will be well. Would to God I could be of any assistance. Farewell, my dear Huger. ”

“ Huger if he was sure he had no money at all to get coffee with, and being convinced, shut the panel, again, saying, that’s a pity, leaving the youth to his miserable prison fare. Presently a large, coarse-looking man in double irons shuffled up to him, holding out a roll of nice white bread, saying, here, young man, eat this, you are more used to such things than I am, so I give it to you, for I do not need it. ”

“ One day, as they were passing along these rooms, the jailor said: “You were asking me of the punishments here—this is one;” and he pointed to a large ring in the floor—he raised by it a square of stone, and bade his companion look in, telling him a criminal had lived and died there. It was a square cell, in which a man could neither stand or lie down, but must always sit upright,and even there a ring on one side, from which hung a chain, showed that the hapless wretch, even in that living tomb, bore iron fetters, till his release. ”

“ The journey was continued to Florida, whence General Lafayette returned to New York, by the Western route, and bade adieu to this country forever.
In 1826, Col. Huger, with his family, moved to the healthful and pleasant neighbourhood of Pendleton, where he made himself a comfortable mountain home. He was much interested in his farm, and in the education of the youth of his neighbourhood, as well as in that of his own children. He was always fond of books, and as active life receded, reading was the happy occupation and resource of his old age. ”

“ The Town, or Fortress of Olmutz is situated.in a level country, with fields lying around, divided by ditches, and not even trees or hedges to conceal what might be passing on the roads. The town is enclosed by walls, well fortified, and surmounted by canon, sentinels and soldiers in every direction, and zealously guarded with all the vigilence and activity necessary to keep up the most complete military establishment. So that two unaided young strangers should in any degree succeed in such an undertaking, is almost marvelous. ”

“ Huger urged delay. “They are going steadily along the road; there is a large party on the road now, passing the phæton. Let them get as far as possible from the fort. They are now slowly trotting along the road.” “Well, now is surely the time,” said the blind man. “Not yet” being repeated, seemed to rouse his anxiety and excitement to a great pitch, and his ardent young comrade could scarcely control his own feelings and temper, while endeavouring to act with coolness and judgment. At length he said, “now they have stopped the phæton, and General Lafayette and the officer have got out ”

“ The Corporal Provost, a more sensible, covetous, but treacherous and most cowardly rogue. He may be bribed, but his cowardice is such that he may prefer a little reward and no danger to a fortune with some risk. ”

“ Several horsemen seemed coming up, as if in pursuit, and as one approached him, he jumped down into a dry ditch nearly breast high, which ran along the side of the road, hoping the man might pass him by as he walked along in it. ”

“ After three months of severe and close confinement, when we expected to learn something of our fate, we were at first greatly mortified to find ourselves turned over to the criminal judge, to be tried for having forced the guard of a fortress, and in that situation we are at present, daily expecting to undergo our examination, and however severe the punishment the law inflicts upon our crime, (if I may call it by such a name,) there are so many circumstances in our favor, that we have just grounds to expect a mild sentence. ”

“ It proved to be the wrong one, in which he continued to ride rapidly for many miles; at length when his good horse was much jaded, he approached a village nearly thirty miles off, and he determined to procure, if possible, another horse, and addressed himself to an honest looking country-man in the outskirts of the village, stating that he was in want of a guide and a horse to take him on his hurried journey, and inquiring if the man would assist to procure them, without his entering the village. ”

“ Francis Kinloch Huger, of South Carolina, have often been requested to furnish particulars of the attempt to rescue General Lafayette from imprisonment in Austria. Many notices and letters have been at various times published in magazines and newspapers, showing the public interest in the event, and in the young American who risked his life in an effort to serve the friend of his country. ”

“ It is a thousand times better to go off in spite of him when we ride out together. We are in a phaeton, nobody with me but the little Corporal, who by the by is afflicted with a rupture, and a clumsy driver, who sometimes as to-day is left at home, and the Corporal drives me in the phaeton We go different roads, sometimes thro’ by-roads, and do not always return the same way we went; but we always go half a German mile, one league, or sometimes a full mile, two leagues from town. ”

“ Dr. Bollman arrived alone at Hoff. After waiting as long as he could venture to delay, in hopes one of the others might arrive, towards night took the carriage, and the course the party had intended to pursue, crossed into Silesia, and lingered about the frontier, particularly near the mines of Tarrowitz, hoping General Lafayette might have escaped, and be concealed among them. ”

“ Huger was removed from the small dungeon to a higher and better apartment above ground, and less damp, having one window high up on the wall, admitting light, and one star could sometimes be seen, but neither sun or moon; the chains were longer, and admitted of his taking three steps, the length of his cell. ”

“ Their plan was that General Lafayette should ride one horse and his two friends follow on the other, until near Hoff, when Mr. Huger should get off and walk, while the two gentlemen would go to the Inn, and Dr. Bollman would order out his carriage to the door. When the two gentlemen were seated in it, Dr. Bollman would recollect something left, and dispatch the servant to seek for it, while Mr. Huger, who would be at hand, was to have quietly stepped into the coachman’s place, and driven off, leaving the groom to his fate ”

“ At first he was led through the streets chained, and guarded by soldiers; but afterwards the Court was held in a different part of the prison buildings, and he was taken there by the jailor and one or two attendants, through a covered way. During these examinations the effort was to make him confess some crime, or acknowledge some plot, and the crossquestioning, to try and confuse him was evident, and annoying. They signified they could compel him to speak the truth, which meant, they could use torture to extort it. ”

“ My two friends, and especially Pucy, are much more affected than myself, but I trust they will soon recover. Of our servants, one is in a condition that causes anxiety, the other has suffered a good deal, but is improving. ”

“ The two young men agreed to rise suddenly and release the prostrate officer, who struggled to his feet, glared at them a moment, and then ran off after General Lafayette, who was then it the high-road cantering away. Mr. Huger had seen the horse which had escaped, caught by a lad at some distance, and without a word, set off running towards it, spite of Dr. Bollman’s amazed enquiries, shouted after him as why he was going towards the town? He gave the lad who caught the horse, a piece of money, who ran by his side and helped Dr. ”

“ The peasant then ran to the police, and gave information of the stranger, and his request for a horse. General Lafayette had not advanced far along the lane before he was met and surrounded by a party of soldiers, and immediately carried before a Magistrate. ”

“ But it would be much easier for the Lieutenant, who can ride with me altho’ he does not, or for the Corporal, who to my great satisfaction accompanies me, when we are out of town to push forward and meet another carriage with prepared horses The scheme could not fail unless we were betrayed, which to avoid I have a plan equally easy, and you may depend upon an undoubted success. The Lieutenant is an old slavish hardened fool. ”

“ The malady that formerly affected the arm has now settled in one of the legs, fortunately the inner parts have remained free from it, the extremeties only being affected. All the doctors agree that it would be madness to cross the ocean before she is somewhat improved, and therefore we intend tu establish a common hospital and devote ourselves to our recuperation. ”

“ But he was aswered, do not think of me, or my friends; think only of General Lafayette. You are in every way the best fitted to assist him, and I positively refuse to impede our chance of success, by attempting to mount that horse again. Thus urged, with evident pain and reluctance, yet convinced by such clear reasons, Dr. Bollman put spurs to his horse, and was quickly out of sight.
Mr. Huger walked as fast as he could, in the direction he had seen his friends depart ”

“ Huger must write a letter, and get the jailor to post it. Mr. Huger wanted to ask some question with regard to it, and got the jailor’s wife to take up to Bollman a black silk neck handkerchief of his, which he had prepared before hand, having printed on the inside a few words with a bit of white mortar taken from his wall, he showed the young woman this handkerchief, and asked her to take it up to his friend and show him the three knots he put in it before her, saying she could judge ”

“ The excited young men put spurs to their horses and dashed up together. (Had they slowly trotted, or walked up, all might have been very different in result, as Mr. Huger said afterwards.) As General Lafayette heard the clatter of their horses’ feet on the hard road, he seized the hilt of the sword worn by the officer, and tried to draw it from the scabbard. The latter immediately grasped the blade by both hands, which were cut by it, and they were struggling for the sword when the riders dashed up. Bollman dismounting first, held out the bridle of his horse to Mr. ”

“ OLMUTZ.’’
Francis Kinloch Huger, the second son of Major Benjamin Huger, and of Mary Esther Kinloch, was born in Charleston, in September, 1773. Major Huger was killed during the Revolutionary War, before the lines of Charleston, when his son was about six years of age ”

“ Huger saw General Lafayette at a distance steadily cantering on—their horse which had become excessively restive, kicked up violently, and threw Dr. Bollman. Huger advised Dr. Bollman to mount in the saddle and let him ride behind, as perhaps the spurs had touched him, which the Doctor wore; and they tried the change; but soon the animal became again restive under its double burden, and could hardly be made to move on rapidly; and presently it put its fore feet in a little ditch by the roadside, and kicked up violently, throwing both the riders. Dr. ”

“ Mr. Huger gave General Lafayette his horse, and a pair of pocket pistols he had brought at his request, and said to him, go to Hoff, one of us will follow you directly. General Lafayette got on the horse and moved off a little way, returned to the two men who were still holding down the officer, and asked again, is there anything I can do? No—go to Hoff, Mr. Huger repeated; we will follow ”

“ Huger, who failed to catch it, as the horses were alarmed at the flashing of the sword, or the struggle, and swerved at the moment. The horse dashed aside and galloped off. Huger quickly dismounted, passed his arm through his bridle, and joined the group. The officer had quitted the sword and seized General Lafayette by the throat, and as Bollman rushed against him, he fell, but dragged down the General with him, who faintly cried “il m’etrangle,” as Huger seized the hands of the officer and tore them from the General’s throat, while Dr. Bollman held down him on whose arm Mr. ”

“ Mr. Bollman is in the same prison, but has been prevented from giving full accounts of the circumstances that caused our failure. Mons. de LaF. would certainly have escaped, but was known at a small town where he changed his horse; he had already mounted a fresh one when stopped. His treatment, however, is the same as before. Bollman is in chains, and we are not allowed to see each other. Don’t forget us.F. K. H.
“Olmutz, Jan. 5th, 1795.”
Mr. Huger’s money was, as has been said, taken from him when he was captured, but they were enabled to bribe the jailor to assist them, because Dr. ”

“ Dr. Bollman then asked Mr. Huger’s assistance in attempting the liberation of General Lafayette, but did not attempt to conceal that there would be danger and difficulty in the enterprise. The offer was immediately accepted, and the comrades proceeded to carry out Dr. Bollman’s well arranged plans. They tried in vain to procure a third person, and in October, (1794) left Vienna with a light travelling carriage and two riding horses, intending to appear in the character of a young Englishman and his travelling tutor, for which parts both were well fitted. Dr. ”