‘Freedom Fighters of Calhoun County’ Oct. 8 in Cameron

The event features heroes Francis Marion, William Danger Thomson, Emily Geiger, John Chavis and Rebecca Brewton Motte. It is designed for educational distribution by the Calhoun County SC 250 Committee.

The performance stars professional actors Clarence Felder, Michael Easler, Karen DeLoach, Ken Battle and Chris Weatherhead.

South Carolina Humanities scholars Damon L. Fordham of The Citadel and Charleston Southern University and Alexia Helsley of the USC Aiken history department will join performers for a discussion with the audience.

The program was made possible through a grant to the SC 250 Calhoun County Committee and is produced by Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina.

“We’re grateful for the grant to launch our activities. The stories are very inspiring. To be able to meet brave fighters in the war through professional performances by actors reveals many sacrifices for freedom which took place in our county,” said Doug Doster, co-chairman of Calhoun County SC 250 Committee.

Clarence Felder shares exploits as acclaimed patriot William “Danger” Thomson, who lived in Calhoun County and was a lieutenant colonel in the 3rd Regiment of South Carolina Militia. He led his militia to repel the attack from seven British war ships in Charleston harbor in 1776 in the Battle of Sullivan’s Island.

Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox,” is played by Michael Easler, who shares a little-known story of Marion’s first battle experience.

Marion served in the French and Indian War and later was a key leader in the Southern campaign of the Revolutionary War. He led his own band of “Freedom Fighters of Calhoun County,” both Black and white volunteers. He led them in irregular actions as one of the fathers of guerrilla warfare, such as the modern operations of the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment.

Karen DeLoach presents Emily Geiger’s story: a wild ride as a young spy. It has been questioned by some historians, but recent research seems to support her place in history.

As a teen, Geiger rode through very dangerous Redcoat territory to take a message from one general to another. She was captured and questioned but found a way to trick the British and complete her mission.

John Chavis, played by Ken Battle, was a free African American soldier from the Orangeburg district who fought with several companies in the revolution, including William Danger Thomson’s 3rd Regiment. At the Siege of Charleston, he escaped when the city fell to the British in 1780. He then fought with Capt. Mattock’s Militia until severely wounded at Ramsour’s Mill in North Carolina.

Rebecca Brewton Motte, played by Chris Weatherhead, reveals Mrs. Motte’s bravery during the occupation in Charleston by British Gen. Henry Clinton in 1780. She hid her daughters in the attic and suffered under the British until released to her home on the Congaree River. That home was made headquarters for nearly 200 British, turning it into Fort Motte. Francis Marion and Lighthorse Harry Lee were sent by Gen. Nathanael Greene to attack the fortified camp.

Needing to burn the British out, Mrs. Motte helped by giving flaming arrows for the attack.

The free performance and discussion is from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and includes an audience question-and-answer period with scholars about people from Calhoun County during the war, followed by a reception.

There will be information available from Daughters of the American Revolution, William Thomson Chapter and Battle of Eutaw Springs Chapter, South Carolina Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

The Cameron School auditorium is located on Highway 33 in Cameron.

For more information, call 803-823-2824 or www.ActorsTheatreOfSC.Org