[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 82 (Thursday, May 16, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H3848-H3849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING EMILY CARNES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Jackson Lee). The Chair recognizes the

[[Page H3849]]

gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NORMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Emily 
Carnes, a former resident of South Carolina's Fifth District who 
dedicated her life to the preservation of the historic Buford 
battlefield.
  The Battle of Buford was significant and momentous in the southern 
campaign during our Revolutionary War. 113 Continental troops perished 
during this struggle and another 150 suffered terrible wounds.
  Witnessing this carnage was Emily Carnes' great-great-grandfather, 
Jacob. Emily would go on to tell her ancestor's story in her book, 
``Jacob Was There''.
  The book describes Jacob Carnes, who was 16 years old at the time, 
and on the fateful day of May 29 of 1780, Jacob was employed plowing in 
a field close to the historic site when the Continental troops under 
Colonel Abraham Buford clashed with the British forces led by 
Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarleton.
  Jacob hid behind a tree during the struggle, but was eventually 
discovered by British troops, who took him into custody. While in their 
custody, British troops commanded Jacob to bury an American soldier 
alive. Jacob refused.
  In reply, a British soldier fired his musket and shot off one of 
Jacob's fingers, therefore, adding Jacob's name to the long list of 
patriots who gave their blood for our freedom.
  In remembrance of her great-great-grandfather's traumatic experience 
and the historic importance of the battle to the southern campaign, 
Emily Carnes singlehandedly cared for and preserved the 2 acres of leaf 
and debris-filled battlefield for years. She did this with no support 
and very few means. Indeed, she couldn't even afford to fly a flag in 
remembrance of those who gave their life for our independence.
  Finally, in 2010, the Friends of Buford Massacre Battlefield was 
established, and Ms. Carnes was awarded an honorary member.
  Thanks to Ms. Carnes' lifelong efforts, the former 2-acre site now 
encompasses over 47 acres of surrounding land on which the battle was 
fought, with the site now proudly flying the Stars and Stripes, the 
Buford Battle flag, and the State flags of Virginia and South Carolina.
  The site now also includes modern comforts like a patio, walkways, 
informational kiosks, and a memorial bronze plaque inscribed with the 
names of 216 men recognized for defending their country in the Battle 
of Buford.
  We thank Ms. Carnes for her lifelong passion and dedication to this 
sacred soil and for preserving this moment in a State and Nation's 
history for all of us to remember and enjoy.

                          ____________________