Cynthia Smith

According to family tradition, Cynthia SMITH at age 12, in 1780 confronted General Cornwalllis at his encampment near her home in **Camden**. Family tradition states that British troops took Cynthia's cow after destroying the family plantation, store, grist mill and cotton gin which was located in the **Camden** area. Cynthia, incensed, pursed the troops and confronted Cornwallis. Cornwallis declared "you are a sturdy little rebel" and returned her cow and gave her a pair of silver knee buckles as a present.

Cynthia SMITH married Thomas CARTER c1795 in Camden, **South Carolina**. They removed to **North Carolina** a few years later. After her husband Thomas died in North Carolina, Cynthia and children removed to Pennsylvania, then to New Harmony, Indiana and finally to Jefferson Co, Illinois.

Cynthia was my G-g-g-grandmother. Here is the genealogy:

1-Cynthia SMITH b c1768 Camden, SC, d New Harmony, IN sp: Thomas CARTER
b SC, d NC, m c1795 Camden, SC

4-Clarance R FOSTER b 4/14/1893 Jefferson Co, IL, d 10/27/1975 Bethany, OK
sp: Nellie M ANDERSON b 1897 Ravendon, AR, d 1951 Jackson Co, OR*

*This story was published in 1929 by/ Dr John W Wayland, PhD, in "History Stories for Primary Grades".*

Note from Sandy Bauer:

I found the book online and here is the actual transcription starting on page 188:

CYNTHIA'S COW

Cynthia Smith was a little girl who lived in South Carolina more than a hundred years ago. When the war of the Revovlution began she was just seven years old.

Cynthis had a pet calf. It was red and white, and cynthia thought it was very pretty. She and the calf were great friends.

When the Declaration of Independence was signed Cynthia was eight, and when some one read the Declaration she listed eagerly. In the Declaration are two words that she lived very much. They are "free" and "equal."

"Free 'n Equal!" cried Cynthia; "I'm going to name my calf "Free 'n Equal!"

And so she did. "Free 'n Equal" learned to know her name and seemed well pleased with it.

Toward the end of the war General Cornwallis, a British general, led his army of Red-coats into South Carolina. They came and camped near Cynthia's home. Cynthia by that time was eleven or twelve years old -- a good-sized girl; and how about "Free 'n Equal"?

"Free 'n Equal" was no longer a calf -- she was a fine cow. She supplied Cynthia and her mother with good milk; but she was still a pet. She and Cynthia were still close friends.

One day when Cynthia came from from an errand "Free 'n Equal" was gone. Where do you think she was?

The Red-coats had come and driven her away. They had taken her to their camp, for they, too, liked good milk.

Cynthia crited bitterly. She was almost heart-broken. She felt that she could not give up her cow, yet she did not know how to get her back.

At last she said: "Mother, I am going to see General Cornwallis and ask him to let me bring 'Free 'n Equal' home."

Her mother said, "Child, it is no use. He won't let you have her." But finally she gave her consent, and off Cynthia trudged. She had to walk three miles over a hot and dusty road to reach the British camp.

Why didn't Cynthia's father or one of her brothers go? Can't you guess?

Her father and her five brothers were away from home. They were off with the Armerican army, trying to get a chance to drive the Red-coats out of the country. Cynthia and her mother were at home alone.

Poor Cynthia's heart beat fast and her courage almost failed her, but she trudged on. In the British camp were so many soldiers with their guns and bayonets and swords that Cynthia was frightened worse than ever. "But," she thought, "it won't do to give up now."

"Where is General Cornwallis?" she inquired. Then she was led before the great general.

"Little girl," said he, "what do you want?"

Cynthia tried hard not to let her voice tremble, but it did tremble just a little as she replied:

"General, your soldiers have stolen my cow, and I want you to give her back to me."

Then she told him how much she and her mother needed "Free 'n Equal."

The general listened kindly to what Cynthia said. He smiled a little when she told him that her cow's name was "Free 'n Equal."

"You are a sturdy little rebel," he declared, "and you shall have your cow."

So Cynthia went back home happy.

General Cornwallis not only sent back Cynthia's cow -- he also gave her a pair of silver knee-buckles, such as gentlemen then wore, as a present. Cynthia kept those buckles all her life. Whenver she looked at them she remembered how the British general had called her a "stury little rebel" and a "brave little woman."