Grace & Rachel Martin

Grace Martin and Rachel Martin (?--?) were Revolutionary War heroines who lived in Ninety-Six, S. C.

Their husbands were fighting in the Revolutionary War for the American side. Around 1780 Grace and Rachel received word that a British messenger, carrying vital information that would have been detrimental to the American patriots, would pass near their home. The women decided to stop the British from delivering the message.

Later that night, Grace and Rachel disguised themselves as young male rebels. As the messenger and the two soldiers who accompanied him approached them, Grace and Rachel stepped into the roadway. They demanded that the courier give them the message and frightened by what they assumed were young men, the British troops quickly relinquished the message and the women disappeared into the woods. Grace and Rachel were able to successfully accomplish a dangerous mission because of their intelligence, courage, clever disguises and a surprise maneuver that was made at night.