Harper's Young People, June 21, 1881

A curious traveler in 1849 finds himself far from the bustle of Charleston, staying with an elderly planter’s wife who has lived through the turmoil of the Revolutionary War. Over tea she recounts a world where loyalties shifted like the wind, and ordinary families were forced to masquerade as loyalists to survive. Her memories paint a vivid picture of the Upper Santee’s pine‑filled swamps, the clash of Greene and Rawdon, and the ever‑present danger that haunted nightly sleep.

Amid those recollections rises the tale of Emily Geiger, a young woman of striking resolve who volunteers to carry a crucial message across hostile territory. With a spirited horse and unshakable poise, she confronts a band of Tory scouts who seize her bridle, only to be met with unexpected bravery and wit. Listeners will be drawn into the suspense of her daring ride, the thin line between danger and duty, and the quiet heroism that defined a generation.