In April 1841, Silas Rutled made a shocking announcement that sent ripples through the elite circles of South Carolina.

 

 

He declared that his 28-year-old daughter, Catherine, who weighed over 260 pounds, would be placed under the complete authority of an enslaved man named Ezekiel Cross.

This decision was not merely for care or companionship; it was a radical act that would change the lives of everyone involved.

The white society of Colatin County was scandalized, but they remained unaware of the true intentions behind Silas’s decision and what Ezekiel Cross would do to Catherine in the months that followed.

By November, the consequences of this arrangement would lead to the deaths of 13 men and the destruction of Cypress Grove Plantation.

What transpired between the enslaved man and the plantation owner’s daughter?

What horrors did Ezekiel inflict that terrified all who witnessed it?

Before we delve into this disturbing history, let’s set the stage for the events that unfolded.

Spring in Colatin County was marked by oppressive heat and humidity, making the air feel almost solid.

The Combe River meandered slowly through the low country, its dark waters reflecting the Spanish moss that hung from the live oak trees.

Rice paddies stretched for miles, worked by hundreds of enslaved individuals toiling from dawn until dusk.

This was wealth built on suffering, a prosperity extracted from human misery, justified by men who believed cruelty was the natural order of things.

Cypress Grove Plantation covered 800 acres of land, owned by Silas Rutled, who was desperate to climb the social ladder.

Owning 58 enslaved people made him wealthy by most standards, but it barely qualified him as mid-tier in local society.

 

 

The truly powerful families owned thousands of acres and hundreds of slaves, their names carrying weight that could open doors or destroy reputations.

Silas had married Elizabeth Yansy in 1812, a union that brought him moderate land holdings and a respected surname.

However, Elizabeth died giving birth to Catherine in 1813, leaving Silas to raise their daughter alone.

For 28 years, Silas focused on gaining entry into the county’s inner circles of power while Catherine grew up isolated and educated by tutors.

By 1841, she was a woman burdened by her weight and mental health struggles, often prescribed medications for hysteria and nervous disorders.

Her violent fits left her father scarred and the local society whispering about her condition with false sympathy.

But no one understood the truth of Catherine’s suffering.

On April 7, 1841, a letter arrived, delivered by a private courier.

Silas opened it, expecting business correspondence, but instead found three pages sealed with red wax bearing a sinister symbol.

This was the mark of the Brethren of the Harvest, a secret society of 13 men who believed in rituals involving blood sacrifice to strengthen the land.

Silas had been initiated into this group in 1822 and had participated in many disturbing rituals over the years.

The letter revealed that Silas was in debt—$12,000—a sum he could not repay without selling most of his land and slaves.

But the letter offered an alternative: a demonstration of commitment.

 

 

Silas was to place Catherine under the complete authority of an enslaved man for one year, declaring her worth less than his property.

This humiliation would secure his financial support from the Brethren and maintain his social standing.

After much deliberation, Silas accepted the terms.

Three days later, he received information about Ezekiel Cross, a 33-year-old man recently purchased from a Virginia plantation.

Ezekiel was described as quiet and obedient, but what the letter did not reveal was his own burning desire for justice.

Ezekiel arrived on April 13, and the first thing Silas noticed was his calm, assessing gaze.

Silas addressed Ezekiel directly, explaining that he would be responsible for Catherine’s care.

Ezekiel replied that he had learned herbal medicine from his grandmother before being sold.

The transaction was completed quickly, and Ezekiel was shown to a small cabin near the main house.

For the first time since arriving, he allowed himself to relax.

He pulled out a cloth bundle containing a piece of worn paper with the names of his family: Sarah, Benjamin, and Ruth.

They had been sold away from him three years ago, and he had learned they all died within 18 months on a plantation known for working slaves to death.

Ezekiel had spent two years working his way south, gathering information about the Brethren and their horrific rituals.

Now, he had access to Silas Rutled’s house, secrets, and vulnerabilities.

His first day began on April 14, when he was introduced to Catherine, who was in a dark, cluttered room.

She was unkempt, her face puffy and her hands trembling from years of medication.

Catherine was initially distrustful, believing Ezekiel was just another tormentor sent by her father.

But as they talked, Ezekiel began to reveal the truth about her condition and the poison she had been subjected to.

Catherine slowly came to realize that Ezekiel was not like the others.

Together, they formed a plan for revenge against Silas and the Brethren.

As Catherine regained her strength, she shared her knowledge of the Brethren’s rituals and the hidden ledger that documented their atrocities.

This ledger contained evidence of their horrific practices, including the sacrifices they had made over the years.

 

 

The day of reckoning was set for April 29, when Silas would publicly announce Catherine’s new arrangement with Ezekiel.

At the gathering, Silas presented Ezekiel as the one responsible for Catherine’s care, shocking the county’s elite.

Catherine played her role perfectly, but inside, she was seething with rage.

The evening passed in awkward conversation until the guests departed, and Silas went to his study.

Ezekiel knocked softly on Catherine’s door, and they discussed their plans.

The next step was to access the cellar where the Brethren conducted their rituals.

On May 14, Silas left for Charleston, giving them the opportunity they needed.

Catherine led Ezekiel to the hidden cellar entrance, and they descended into the darkness, where they discovered the altar and the ledger.

The gruesome details within the ledger revealed the true extent of the Brethren’s atrocities, including the systematic sacrifice of enslaved people and the consumption of their bodies.

Ezekiel was horrified but focused on their mission.

They spent hours copying entries from the ledger, documenting evidence that could bring down the Brethren.

However, their work was interrupted when Silas and several members of the Brethren caught them in the act.

Silas had returned unexpectedly, and they were forced to confront him.

In a tense standoff, Silas offered Ezekiel a chance to join the Brethren, promising revenge against the man who had destroyed his family in exchange for his loyalty.

But Ezekiel refused to become complicit in their evil.

Catherine, standing firm, declared she would not forget the horrors she had witnessed.

In a moment of desperation, Silas grabbed Catherine, threatening her life.

But she fought back, and Ezekiel seized the opportunity to confront Silas directly.

What followed was a brutal confrontation, resulting in the downfall of the Brethren.

Catherine, fueled by years of suppressed rage, joined Ezekiel in the fight against her father and his associates.

Together, they led a rebellion against the men who had tormented them for years.

When the dust settled, they stood amidst the bodies of the Brethren, finally free from their tyranny.

Catherine and Ezekiel knew they had to destroy all evidence of the Brethren’s existence to ensure their safety.

They set fire to the cellar, burning the ledger and everything that connected them to the atrocities committed there.

As the flames engulfed Cypress Grove Plantation, they escaped into the night, determined to start anew.

The official story portrayed the fire as a tragic accident, with Silas and the Brethren perishing in the blaze.

Catherine was reported dead, a victim of her father’s madness.

But the truth remained hidden in the ashes, and the enslaved people who had participated in the rebellion carried their secret to their graves.

Years passed, and the ruins of Cypress Grove were eventually demolished, but whispers of the night justice was served persisted.

 

 

During the Civil War, evidence of the Brethren’s rituals was discovered, but the war overshadowed any investigation.

In 1971, a journal detailing the Brethren’s activities was found but vanished before it could be fully decoded.

Some say it still exists, waiting to be uncovered when the time is right.

The legacy of Catherine Rutled and Ezekiel Cross lives on in the stories told in the shadows, reminding us that power built on cruelty is never absolute.

Their tale serves as a testament to the dangerous power of memory and the refusal to forget.

What do you think of this story?

Do you believe everything was revealed?

Do you think the journal still exists, waiting to be found?

Leave your comments below.