"Buckhead," the then new and large mansion house between Charleston and Camden, to be known afterwards as Fort Motte because of the patriotism so strikingly displayed there by this daughter of South Carolina.
A British detachment under McPherson had seized the mansion house and occupied it with a garrison, removing Mrs. Motte, without ceremony, to an old farmhouse on a hill opposite the beautiful residence which was her legal home. The American force attempting to dislodge McPherson from this position was under Lieutenant-Colonel Lee and the intrepid Marion, and, receiving orders from General Greene to complete the surrender of McPherson, before he could be re-enforced by General Rawdon, who was proceeding to the Motte Mansion, on his retreat from Camden, they concluded that redoubled activity was imperative. On account of the deep trench and strong and lofty parapet which McPherson had placed about the mansion, there could be no direct assault attempted, and the only expedient left for compelling the immediate surrender of the garrison was to burn the homestead. This expedient was reluctantly resolved upon by Marion and Lee who, unwilling under any circumstances to destroy private property, felt the duty to be much more painful in the present case, since it must be done in sight of the owner, whose husband had been a firm friend to his country, and whose daughter was the wife of a gallant officer, then a prisoner in the hands of the British. Moreover, Lee had made the farmhouse dwelling of Mrs. Motte his quarters, and she, not satisfied with extending hospitality as liberal as possible to the officers of her country, had attended with active benevolence to the sick and wounded of the American force. It was thus not without deep regret that the commanders determined on the sacrifice and that the Lieutenant-Colonel found himself compelled to inform Mrs. Motte of the unavoidable necessity of the destruction of her property.
