26: Revolutionary Roots: Emily Geiger (A 250th Anniversary Series)

As the nation approaches the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolutionary War, Explore Lake Murray Country begins a special series uncovering the stories that shaped our region. In this first episode of Revolutionary Roots, host Kelly Hughes is joined by Andy Thomas, Curator of the Cayce Historical Museum, to share the remarkable story of Emily Geiger, a young woman whose courage helped change the course of the war in South Carolina. In 1781, Geiger was entrusted with a secret message from General Nathanael Greene to General Thomas Sumter. When she was captured by British forces at Fort Granby, legend holds that she memorized the message and destroyed the original to protect its contents, allowing her to continue her mission and later deliver it verbally after her release. Andy Thomas places Geiger’s story within the larger historical context of Fort Granby, a strategic British outpost along the Congaree River that changed hands multiple times during the war. The episode also explores the site’s transformation over time, from military fort to family home, and highlights notable artifacts now on display at the Cayce Historical Museum, including a tea table linked to Lord Cornwallis and an extensive collection of indigenous artifacts that reflect the complex alliances of the Revolutionary era. This episode marks the beginning of a journey through Lake Murray Country’s Revolutionary past, told through the people, places, and stories that still resonate today.