Synopsis
In the early 1770s, Henry Felder lives a life of quiet contentment with his wife Catherine and a large brood of children on their back country farm in the British colony of South Carolina. Felder was a “Switzer” - a German-Swiss son of a mercenary brought to America in 1735 to be a buffer against the Cherokee for the South Carolina planters in Charlestown. Orphaned in his teens, Felder stayed on to keep the two-hundred acres on the frontier given by the planters. Over the three decades he helped push the tribes back to the mountains and became a respected local leader. Known for his fairness, Felder tried hard to work with the British courts but massive taxation and unprosecuted crimes against his own family became more than he could take. Urged on by the new patriot governor of the colony, John Rutledge, Felder write the Articles of Separation from the English King, in 1776, months before Thomas Jefferson will write his renown Declaration of Independence.Many a colonist greet the news of independence with celebration but others, Tory loyalists, bitterly resent what they consider treason. Among these is Felder’s old Indian fighting comrade, Bill Jenkins who forms a Tory militia to assist the Crown in the coming struggle for power. Soon after Felder writes his Articles he is tapped by Rutledge to raise a militia to help defend the capital city, Charlestowne, against an impending attack from the vengeful British and their Tory allies. Felder rallies his sons, resourceful Henry Junior and his hotheaded younger brother, John. Felder’s friends and neighbors also rally to the cause.
The Americans’ prospects turn deadly with the British invasion and conquest of Charlestown. The British commander, Lord Cornwallis plans to head north to annihilate Washington’s starving army at Valley Forge, far to the north. But pestered by Felder’s militia, the British decide to take care of him first. They send fresh provisions and ammunition to Jenkins and the Tory backcountry leaders, giving them permission to destroy and plunder. Jenkins burns Felder out - house, barns and all. Felder rebuilds and continues to fight but his son, John, is killed on a secret patriot mission. Suspecting that the patriots are surviving through espionage, the British zero in on Alice and Molly, arresting them. No longer thwarted by spies, Jenkins’ militia surrounds Felder’s homestead in a surprise attack. In the ensuing battle, Jenkins draws most of the Felder men out to an ambush, leaving the wounded Felder alone in the house with his wife and a servant. Felder, shooting from all sides of the house with the help of the women, is finally forced out as the Tories burn it. Trying to protect his wife and servant he draws fire and is mortally wounded. But Felder’s death does not stop his community. Led by Henry Junior the patriots capture a British fort, prompting Jenkins to flee, only to be killed in a final desperate battle with Henry Jr. Felder and his back country patriots’ passionate fight for liberty cost them dearly. But managing to delay Cornwallis six months allowed Washington enough time to revive his forces and conclude an alliance with France. When Cornwallis finally marches north , Washington and the French trapped the British at Yorktown, winning liberty at last, a liberty which all Americans have since enjoyed.