Emily Geiger
Encyclopedia
Emily Geiger is an American Revolutionary War
heroine who was captured by the Tories while on a military mission as a civilian. She was carrying an important message across enemy grounds when she was captured and questioned. The Tory matron could find nothing on her seeing as she physically ate the message, so they had to let her go. She proceeded to verbally deliver the message. She is now a well known American
heroine who went down in history for her heroic journey.
Switzerland. Her great grandfather, Hans Jacob and grandfather, Herman, left Switzerland on December 5, 1736 and arrived in Charleston, SC on Feb. 1, 1737 aboard “The Prince of Wales”. The family settled in Saxe Gotha, Lexington District, South Carolina. Her father was John Geiger and her mother was Emily Murff. She was an only child. She married John Threwits. She had one daughter named Elizabeth Juliet Threwits.
in case of accidents and/or capture. Emily pursued her journey on horseback on a sidesaddle. She traveled under the disguise of being on her way to her Uncle Jacob's house many miles away. But on the second day, Lord Rawdon's scouts near the Congaree River intercepted her. Coming from the direction of Greene's army and not being able to lie without blushing, Emily was suspected and confined to a room. The officer had an old Tory matron search Emily. When they weren't looking, she tore the message to pieces and ate it all. When the matron went to search her, they found nothing. They let her go and had someone accompany her on her journey to her Uncle Jacob's house. Once she arrived there, she made her way to Sumter and delivered the message verbally.
are named for her. To honor Emily and commemorate her heroic ride, the woman holding the laurel branch on the South Carolina State Seal is designated as Emily Geiger. There are also monuments to her at the Cayce, South Carolina history museum and at the South Carolina state house (Capitol).
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
heroine who was captured by the Tories while on a military mission as a civilian. She was carrying an important message across enemy grounds when she was captured and questioned. The Tory matron could find nothing on her seeing as she physically ate the message, so they had to let her go. She proceeded to verbally deliver the message. She is now a well known American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
heroine who went down in history for her heroic journey.
Family History
Emily’s family was from the village of Wydnau, ZurichZürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
Switzerland. Her great grandfather, Hans Jacob and grandfather, Herman, left Switzerland on December 5, 1736 and arrived in Charleston, SC on Feb. 1, 1737 aboard “The Prince of Wales”. The family settled in Saxe Gotha, Lexington District, South Carolina. Her father was John Geiger and her mother was Emily Murff. She was an only child. She married John Threwits. She had one daughter named Elizabeth Juliet Threwits.
Revolutionary War Involvement
Due to Emily's father's infirmities, he could not go to the battlefield, so when the opportunity to deliver a very important message for General Nathaniel Greene across enemy grounds arose, Emily jumped at the chance to serve for her country and defend her father's beliefs. The general, both surprised and delighted, consented to her proposal. He wrote a letter and gave it to Emily, and at the same time communicated the contents of it verbally, to be told to SumterSumter
Sumter may refer to:* General Thomas Sumter, hero of the American RevolutionPlaces in the United States:* Fort Sumter, location of the first shots of the United States Civil War* Sumter, South Carolina* Sumter National Forest...
in case of accidents and/or capture. Emily pursued her journey on horseback on a sidesaddle. She traveled under the disguise of being on her way to her Uncle Jacob's house many miles away. But on the second day, Lord Rawdon's scouts near the Congaree River intercepted her. Coming from the direction of Greene's army and not being able to lie without blushing, Emily was suspected and confined to a room. The officer had an old Tory matron search Emily. When they weren't looking, she tore the message to pieces and ate it all. When the matron went to search her, they found nothing. They let her go and had someone accompany her on her journey to her Uncle Jacob's house. Once she arrived there, she made her way to Sumter and delivered the message verbally.
Burial
Emily's grave marker was moved to the Geiger Cemetery in 1958. The State newspaper stated on April 13, 1958 that "A granite marker to Herman Geiger, a pioneer citizen of the Congaree area, is to be dedicated at 3:30 p.m. May 11 [1958] at the Geiger (formerly Tyler Field) Cemetery. This historic spot is near the line between Calhoun and Lexington counties, on the Calhoun side, a quarter of a mile west of U.S. Highway 176 on a county road half-way between Geiger's store and the county line." This is also where Emily's marker was moved to.Memorials
Two South Carolina chapters of the Daughters of the American RevolutionDaughters of the American Revolution
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are descended from a person involved in United States' independence....
are named for her. To honor Emily and commemorate her heroic ride, the woman holding the laurel branch on the South Carolina State Seal is designated as Emily Geiger. There are also monuments to her at the Cayce, South Carolina history museum and at the South Carolina state house (Capitol).