Revolutionary War Patriot Langston Dicey Research Paper

South Carolina Revolutionary War Patriot Laodicea Langston, Dicey as her friends and family called her, was the daughter of Solomon and Sarah Bennett Langston of Laurens District, South Carolina. She was born May 14, 1766, on her father’s plantation. Dicey’s mother died when she was a little girl, and she was raised by her father and brothers. She was described as of below medium height, dark-eyed, proud, imperious, and high-spirited. She was also considered graceful and attractive in appearance and in manner.
When the Revolutionary War began, Dicey’s brothers left the plantation to fight with the Continental Army. They camped in the forest with a small band of Patriots, so the plantation wouldn’t suffer the consequences of their patriotism.

When Dicey learned that they were planning to raid Little Eden, where her brother James and his compatriots were camping, she knew she had to warn her brother, regardless of her father’s orders. The Tories were incensed with her brother, and he would be killed if captured. Dicey had no one to send, no contacts she could trust. It was evident that only she could deliver the warning, and it had to be done in secret to avoid retribution from the Tories. She started out on foot late that night, after the family and servants were asleep. She avoided the roads and kept to the fields and forests. Making her way through woods, marshes, and creeks, she finally reached the icy waters of the Enoree River, which was swollen with the spring rains. The only way to cross was to wade through the deep rushing waters; there was no bridge. She bravely struggled toward the center of the stream, where the current was very strong and the water reached her shoulders. Suddenly, she fell, and the swift water carried her downstream, turning her around and around. She regained her footing but had lost her sense of direction. She struggled toward the bank, although she wasn’t certain if it was the correct side of the stream. Falling and regaining her footing only to fall again, she was able to drag herself onto the bank, and lay half drowned and soaked, until she regained her