The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1854-10-06


Hessians as to inhale the odor of their pipes !;
discovered by the newly-turned earth the
position OF the redoubts, and by the numer-
GUS tents that dotted the field for. many a
rod around, and showed dimly, amid the
light haze, the encampment of the British
and German reinforcements, and, in short,
performed their perilous duty without the
slightest discovery, and, pleased with them
selves and the success of their enterprise, pre-
pared to retire, just as chanticleer from a
neighboring farmhouse was bidding salu-
tation TO the morn g., ~.
The adventurous party reached small
eminence at some distance from the British
camp, and commanding an extensive pros
pect over the adjacent country. Here Nor
gan halted to give his men a little rest, be-
tore taking up his line of march for the Amer
lean outposts. Scarcely had they thrown
themselves upon the grass, when they per
celved issuing from the enemy's advanced
Pickets body Of horse, commanded by an
officer, and proceeding along the road that
led directly by the spot where the rifemen
had halted. No spot could be better chosen
for an ambuscade, for there were rocks and
ravines, and also scrubby oaks, that grew
thickly on the eminence by which the road
which We have just mentioned passed, at not
exceeding hundred yards. :. p -
Down, boys, down. cried Morgan, rs the
horse approached; nor did the clansmen of
the Black Roderick disappear more promptly
amid their native heather than did Morgan's
woodsmen, in the present instance, each to
his tree or rock. 'Lie close there, my lads,
till we see what these fellows are about
Meantime the horsemen had gained the
height, and the officer, dropping the rain on
the chargers neck, with spy-glass reconnoi-
tired the American lines. The troops closed
up their files, and were either caressing the
noble animals they rode, adjusting their
equipments, or gazing upon the surrounding
scenery, now fast Frightening in the beams
OF rising sun. a o.,
Morgan looked at Long, and Long at his
superior, while the riaemen, with painting
chests and sparkling eyes, were only waiting
seme signal from their officers to let the ruin
fly ~ -va .s,..-l.as.1..., p. - ~ -
AT length the martial ardor of Morgan
overcame his prudence and sense of military
suborbination. Forgetful of consequences,
reckless of everything but his enemy, now
within his grasp, he waved his hand, and
loud and sharp rang the report of their rifles
amid the surrounding echoes. ...f- ,ss,. ..,....
AT point blank distance, the certain and
deadly aim of the Hunting Shirts ofthe Rev
olutlonary army is too well known to history
to need remark at this time of day. In the
instance we have recorded, the effect of the
fire of the rifemen was tremendous. OF
the horse, some had fallen to rise no more.
while their liberated chargers rushed wildly
over the adjoining plain, others, wounded,
but entangled with their stirrups, were drag
ged by the infuriated animals expirinoly
along, while the very few who were unscath-
ed spuTred hard to regain the shelter of the
British lines. -f., .o..t... t.E'L.'I -
While the smoke yet canopied the scene of
slaughter, and the picturesque froms of the
woodsmen appeared among the foliage, as
they were re-loading their pieces, the coos-
sal figure of ofMorgan stood apart He seemed
the very genius of war, and gloomily he con-
templated thehavoc his order had made. He
spoke not, he moved not, but looked as one
absorbed in the intensity of thought. The
martial shout with which he was wont to
cheer his comrades in the hour of combat
was hushed the shell from which he had
blown full many note of battle and of tr;-
ulnph on the field of Saratoga, hung by hi.
side; no order was given to spoil the slain.
the arms and equipments, for which there
was always bounty from Congress, the
shirts of which there was such q need at that
the sorest period of our country's privation.
all, all-were abandoned, as with an abstract.
ed air and voice struggling for utterance.
Morgan, suddenly turning TO his captain, ex.
claimed--Long, to the camp, to the carnp.,
The favorite captain obeyed,' the riiemen
with trailed arms fell into file, and Long and
his party soon disappeared, but not Before
the hardy fellows had exchanged opinions on
the strange termination of the late affair."
And they agreed mem. con-, that their colonel
was tncked, (conjured) for assuredly after
such fire as they had given the enemy,
such an emptying of saddles and scattering
of the troopers, he would not have ordered
his poor rife boys from the field without so,
much as few shirts or pair of stockings be-
ing divided among them. YEA raid a tall.
lean and swarthy looking fellow, and Indian
hunter from the frontier, as he carefully placed
his moccasined feet in the Footprints of the
fle-leader, yes, my lads, itstands to reason,
our colonel is tricked.' 49, 4
Morgan followed only on the trail of his
men Tho full fnxoa ~ ~ ,..;i.....-F .-...t.