GENERAL EDWARD LACEY by – Mary D. Boulware
General Edward Lacey / Lacy, was one of Chester County’s most colorful and noteworthy citizens. Edward Lacey, father of Gen. Lacey, and English immigrant, settled first on Chesapeake Bay. He later moved to Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. It was here that his son, Edward, was born in 1742. In 1795 a call was issued on the province of Pennsylvania to raise a regiment to oppose the French and Indians on the Ohio. Young Lacey, caught up in the glamour and excitement of the soldiers parading the streets, ran away from home and joined Gen. Braddock’s campaign. Being only 13 years of age, he was considered too young to bear arms and was assigned duty as a pack horse rider and driver. He was at Braddock’s defeat and stayed with the Army for two years. At that time his father having learned of his whereabouts went and brought him home. He remained with his father for about a year. Then at the age of 16 he again ran away and emigrated to Chester District with William Adair, to whom he bound himself as an apprentice to the brick laying business.
When Edward Lacey reached manhood he presented a commanding appearance, being four feet eleven inches tall, with black hair, dark eyes and an unusually handsome face. His body was perfectly formed and he excelled in physical exercises. He was intelligent, pleasure loving, generous and devoted to his friends. At the age of 24 he married Jane Harper and settled on the headwaters of Sandy River.
When the Revolution began, Lacey chose the side of the Whigs and soon became a partisan leader. His military experience with Braddock’s army gave him a decided advantage over others. His first service was under Gen. Williamson, whose forces were sent to attack the British post at St. Augustine. A messenger from Congress caught up with the army at the Altamaha River. Gen. Williamson had his command to form a hollow square, with two horses held in the center. He called on Captain Edward Lacey to mount and stand on the horses back and read the Declaration of Independence to his Regiment.
Lacey was very popular, a fact that prompted a British officer to make him an offer of a large amount of gold if he would joint with the Loyalist. The offer was made through his father who was a Tory. He scorned the offer and continued his fight for liberty. He organized companies and battalions with which he annoyed the Tories, taking many prisoners. On one occasion he learned that a group of Tories were gathered a few miles from his home. Realizing that before he could get his men together the Tories would have gone, he went alone to the house where they were assembled and boldly demanded their surrender. They refused. Lacey walked off about 100 yards behind a hill, staying within sight of the house. When a Tory showed himself at the door he fired on them. He kept this up for sometime, then went back to the house. He advised the Tories to surrender immediately, otherwise he would not be able to keep his men from murdering them all. They laid down their arms and Lacey marched them off. They were exchanged with Cornwallis for some of his own men who had been captured.
In 1780 Edward Lacey was commissioned a colonel. He organized and commanded a Regiment of Infantry, which served until the end of the war. At one time he was gone from home for about 2 years. During this time the Tories destroyed all of his property. His wife did not even have a cow to furnish milk for their children. Captain Huck (or Hook as he was commonly called) with about 500 Tories had for sometime been with his army at White’s Mill on Fishing Creek in Chester District, committing outrageous acts and desolating the country. A young man, William Strong, was killed while reading Bible, Rev. Simpson’s house was burned as was Mrs. McClure’s. Just prior to this, Col. William Hill’s Ironworks were burned. The latter inflicted a great hardship on the farmers for a 40 or 50 mile radius, who expected they might have to revert to using wood plows.
The people became enraged. Lacey, Bratton and McClure recruited volunteers and raised about 400 fighting men. They were joined by Cols. Hill and Neel with 133 men, and some men raised from Sumter’s camp. Their combined forces now numbered about 500. The Whigs planned a surprise attack at night. As they advanced toward the Mill they were met by Capt. McClure who had gone to reconnoiter. Lacey was in the front platoon and was told that Huck had removed his forces to Bratton’s, a distance of twelve miles. The word was given “march to your horses’,1 as it was passed on was changed to “run to your horses.” This caused confusion and excitement. About 150 men swiftly mounted and did not stop riding until they reached Charlotte, N. C.
After a consultation, a plan was formulated to pursue Huck and surprise him before day. Along this route lived Col. Lacy’s father who was a confirmed Tory. The Colonel assigned four men to guard his father throughout the night and gave orders to restrain him, by tying if necessary. This measure was taken to prevent the elder Lacey from going to the enemy to notify them of the impending attack. Old Lacey eluded the guards, but was brought back and tied in his bed until morning. As the forces advanced it was learned that Huck was not at Bratton’s, but had moved on the Williamson’s, about a quarter of a mile further. The Whigs attacked at dawn. Huck was killed in the ensuring battle, together with 30 or 40 of his men and 50 wounded. The Whigs had only 1 man killed. Before sunrise Huck was dead and his army scattered.
Edward Lacey participated in the following battles – Rocky Mount, Hanging Rock, Wateree Ford, King’s Mountain, Fish Dam Ford, Blackstock’s Plantation, Friday’s Fort, Quimby’s Creek Bridge and Commanded an engagement with the British at Edisto Island. After the War ended Col. Lacey was elected a Brigadier General. He was one of the first County Court Judges appointed and served in the General Assembly for a number of years. In 1793 he declined reelection and retired to private life.
In 1797, reduced to limited circumstances, he and his family removed to Tennessee, where he lived for 2 years. He then settled in Livingston County, Kentucky and there was made a County Court Judge. During the last days of his life he was afflicted with a cataleptic disease, (a condition in which consciousness and feeling are suddenly and temporarily lost). He was most subject to these episodes while riding horseback. While in a state of insensibility he rode into the flooded waters of Deer Creek and was drowned on March 20, 1813.
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