A Daring Mission

Standing on the bank of the rushing river, Dicey Langston could feel her heart pounding in her chest. It was midnight, and the 14-year-old could hardly see in the pitch-black darkness. She had already raced through miles of woods on foot to reach this point. The teen had no idea how deep the churning waters were, but she knew she had to try to get across. Her brother’s life—and the lives of hundreds of other American colonists—depended on it.

The year was 1781, and South Carolina, where Dicey lived, was embroiled in the American Revolution (1775-1783). It was one of the 13 Colonies in North America fighting for independence from Great Britain.

Dicey Langston was standing on the bank of the rushing river. She was 14. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest. It was midnight. She could hardly see in the pitch-black darkness. She had already raced through miles of woods on foot to reach this point. The teen had no idea how deep the churning waters were. But she knew she had to try to get across. Her brother’s life—and the lives of hundreds of other American colonists—depended on it.

The year was 1781. South Carolina, where Dicey lived, was embroiled in the American Revolution (1775-1783). It was one of the 13 Colonies in North America fighting for independence from Great Britain.

Patriots like Dicey wanted freedom from Britain’s rule. But not all colonists felt the same way. Dicey’s family lived on a farm a few miles south of the Enoree River. In that area, patriot households like theirs were vastly outnumbered by loyalists—colonists who remained loyal to Britain. During the war, lawlessness had become rampant in this part of South Carolina. It was common for loyalists and patriots to attack or kill one another, burn down property, and destroy crops.

Earlier that day in April, Dicey had overheard plans for a particularly ruthless attack. A band of armed loyalists intended to ambush a patriot settlement just north of the Enoree the next morning. The settlement housed hundreds of people, including her brother.

Now, looking down at the choppy river, Dicey pushed aside thoughts of everything that could go wrong: injury, capture, or even death at the hands of loyalists lurking in the shadows. Dicey was a proud patriot who passionately believed that freedom from Britain was worth such risks.

She took a deep breath and jumped in.

Patriots like Dicey wanted freedom from Britain’s rule. But not all colonists felt the same way. Dicey’s family lived on a farm a few miles south of the Enoree River. In that area, patriot households like theirs were vastly outnumbered by loyalists. Those were colonists who remained loyal to Britain. During the war, lawlessness had become rampant in this part of South Carolina. It was common for loyalists and patriots to attack or kill one another. They would burn down property and destroy crops. 

Earlier that day in April, Dicey had overheard plans for a particularly ruthless attack. A band of armed loyalists were going to ambush a patriot settlement just north of the Enoree the next morning. The settlement housed hundreds of people. That included her brother.

Now Dicey was looking down at the choppy river. She thought about everything that could go wrong. She could face injury, capture, or even death at the hands of loyalists lurking in the shadows. She pushed those thoughts aside. She was a proud patriot. She passionately believed that freedom from Britain was worth such risks. 

She took a deep breath and jumped in.

Laodicea (lay-oh-dih-SEE-uh) “Dicey” Langston was born on May 14, 1766, in what is today Laurens County, South Carolina. Little is known about her childhood except that her parents, Sarah and Solomon, had as many as 11 children.

Dicey grew up in an era primed for war. Starting in the mid-1700s, Britain had increased its control over the colonies, imposing taxes that raised the prices of some goods. Many colonists had begun to grow angry at how tightly Britain’s King George III and the British Parliament controlled their lives—without giving them a say in that lawmaking body.

Patriots protested in a number of ways, including by refusing to purchase British goods. Violent clashes erupted between British soldiers and townspeople, particularly in the north. As tensions increased, so did the patriots’ calls for American independence.

In 1775, the first shots of the Revolution were fired in Massachusetts. For the next few years, the fighting between British troops and America’s Continental Army mainly took place in the northern colonies. Much of the rebellion had started there, and the British hoped to quash it quickly.

Laodicea (lay-oh-dih-SEE-uh) “Dicey” Langston was born on May 14, 1766. She was born in what is today Laurens County, South Carolina. Little is known about her childhood except that her parents, Sarah and Solomon, had as many as 11 children. 

Dicey grew up in an era primed for war. Starting in the mid-1700s, Britain had increased its control over the colonies. It imposed taxes that raised the prices of some goods. Many colonists had begun to grow angry at how tightly Britain’s King George III and the British Parliament controlled their lives. They were also upset that they did not have a say in that lawmaking body.

Patriots protested in a number of ways. For example, they refused to purchase British goods. Violent clashes erupted between British soldiers and townspeople. That particularly happened in the north. Tensions increased. And so did the patriots’ calls for American independence.

In 1775, the first shots of the Revolution were fired in Massachusetts. For the next few years, the fighting between British troops and America’s Continental Army took place mainly in the northern colonies. Much of the rebellion had started there. And the British hoped to quash it quickly.

Defeating the Americans proved more difficult than expected. So in the late 1770s, British military officers launched the Southern Campaign, taking the fight south. They believed they would find more support among loyalists in the southern colonies, allowing them to quickly seize the region.

Taking control of South Carolina, one of the wealthiest colonies, would be crucial. The colony’s leaders had been vocal in their desire to end ties with Britain, but many residents there were still loyal to the king.

Defeating the Americans proved more difficult than expected. So in the late 1770s, British military officers launched the Southern Campaign. They took the fight south. They believed they would find more support among loyalists in the southern colonies. That would allow them to quickly seize the region. 

Taking control of South Carolina would be crucial. It was one of the wealthiest colonies. The colony’s leaders had been vocal in their desire to end ties with Britain. But many residents there were still loyal to the king. 

In May 1780, after a weeks-long siege, the British captured Charleston*, the colony’s thriving seaport capital. Soon after, the British stationed hundreds of soldiers throughout South Carolina, including in Dicey’s area. This unleashed a wave of violence across the colony between patriots and loyalists, says Paul Wood. He is a retired minister and a historian who has written about Dicey’s life.

Neighbors and even family members turned on each other. “It was a civil war within a war,” Wood says. “Farmers and merchants were going at each other’s throats in this unrestrained place.”

Dicey and her family were drawn into the action. Her brother James joined a patriot militia (see "How Militias Helped Win the Revolution" sidebar, below). And Dicey found her own way to fight the British—by spying. Many adults on both sides of the war viewed her as just a child, so they spoke freely in front of her. Often they shared valuable information about the war, including local skirmishes. She listened in on conversations around the neighborhood while doing chores or running errands for her parents.

Any intelligence Dicey learned, she passed on to the patriots—usually James. But the news about the upcoming loyalist attack couldn’t wait until daylight. That’s what had brought Dicey to the edge of the dark river.

In May 1780, after a weeks-long siege, the British captured Charleston.* That was the colony’s thriving seaport capital. Soon after, the British stationed hundreds of soldiers throughout South Carolina. That included Dicey’s area. This unleashed a wave of violence across the colony between patriots and loyalists, says Paul Wood. He is a retired minister and a historian. He has written about Dicey’s life. 

Neighbors and even family members turned on each other. “It was a civil war within a war,” Wood says. “Farmers and merchants were going at each other’s throats in this unrestrained place.”

Dicey and her family were drawn into the action. Her brother James joined a patriot militia (see "How Militias Helped Win the Revolution" sidebar, below). And Dicey found her own way to fight the British—by spying. Many adults on both sides of the war viewed her as just a child. So they spoke freely in front of her. Often they shared valuable information about the war, including local skirmishes. She listened in on conversations around the neighborhood while doing chores or running errands for her parents.

Dicey shared the intelligence that she learned with the patriots—usually James. But the news about the upcoming loyalist attack could not wait until daylight. That is what had brought Dicey to the edge of the dark river. 

After Dicey jumped into the water, there was a terrifying moment when she lost her footing in the powerful currents. She eventually managed to reach the opposite bank. Soaked and exhausted, she pulled herself out of the chest-deep water and ran the rest of the way toward her brother’s camp.

When Dicey found James and the other militiamen, they had just returned from a mission of their own. They were exhausted—and starving. As Dicey relayed her urgent message, she lost no time preparing them something to eat. She quickly made a type of fried bread called a hoecake, using cornmeal. The militiamen took the food with them as they raced to warn the rest of the settlement of the impending danger.

Dicey jumped into the water. Then there was a terrifying moment when she lost her footing in the powerful currents. She eventually managed to reach the opposite bank. She was soaked and exhausted. She pulled herself out of the chest-deep water. She ran the rest of the way toward her brother’s camp. 

When Dicey found James and the other militiamen, they had just returned from a mission of their own. They were exhausted and starving. Dicey relayed her urgent message while preparing them something to eat. She quickly made a type of fried bread called a hoecake using cornmeal. The militiamen took the food with them. And they raced to warn the rest of the settlement of the impending danger.

Dicey then set off for home. A few hours later, she was freshly dressed and having breakfast with her parents, who had no idea about her overnight mission. All told, Dicey had trekked as many as 15 miles to save hundreds of lives, explains Wood, the historian. And that morning, the band of loyalists was reportedly enraged to discover the settlement completely empty.

Still, the war was not over, and the Langstons continued to face danger. Sometime later, loyalists charged into their home and aimed a gun at Dicey’s father, Solomon. Dicey leaped between her father and the pistol, managing to persuade the men to leave (see “Artifact” sidebar, below).

Dicey then set off for home. A few hours later, she was freshly dressed and having breakfast with her parents. They had no idea about her overnight mission. All told, Dicey had trekked as many as 15 miles to save hundreds of lives, explains Wood, the historian. And that morning, the band of loyalists was reportedly enraged to discover the settlement completely empty. 

Still, the war was not over. And the Langstons continued to face danger. Sometime later, loyalists charged into their home. They aimed a gun at Dicey’s father, Solomon. Dicey leaped between her father and the pistol. She managed to persuade the men to leave (see “Artifact” sidebar, below). 

In another incident, Dicey was confronted at gunpoint by loyalists who demanded information about a patriot neighborhood she had just visited. The teen refused to reveal anything, defiantly telling the man holding the gun, “Shoot me if you dare.”

Enraged at her response, the loyalist was just about to shoot her when another loyalist pushed the man’s arm away, saving Dicey’s life.

Her loyalty and determination could have gotten her killed, Wood says, but she never gave in to fear. “Dicey took risks to help other people,” he says. “She didn’t hide.”

In another incident, Dicey was confronted at gunpoint by loyalists. They demanded information about a patriot neighborhood she had just visited. The teen refused to reveal anything. She defiantly told the man holding the gun, “Shoot me if you dare.” 

The loyalist was angered at her response. He was just about to shoot her when another loyalist pushed the man’s arm away. That saved Dicey’s life.

Her loyalty and determination could have gotten her killed, Wood says. But she never gave in to fear. “Dicey took risks to help other people,” he says. “She didn’t hide.”