Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1855-10-18


Yersy, and being withal, SO distinguished tor
its force and brilliancy of deliueations, that we
have thought it sufficiently important to make
of it nearly literal report.
uWith forced marches this little army dash
ed swiftly over the mountains, and at the base
struck the trail of the wolf, and marked his
course by the blood spots he left in his path
He heard their tramp as they came gathering
down the mountain sides, and skulked away to
hide or entrench himself here. At Gilbert
Town, near Rutherford Court House, whence
Ferguson had fed, they stopped night, and
selected about 100 of their swiftest and
strongest men, with good horses, to lead the
chase and without waiting for daylight, Oft
they sprung, with the speed Of the wind. The
came was a-foot and to the mountain hunter
the chase grew warm. There was no need OF
leaders or captains then, for each man knew
his work, and meant to do it. They were TO
catch Ferguson, or if CORVALLIS came in their
way, they were to catch him. Swiftly but
with stern determination, they kept the track,
turn aside for nothing, save now and then to
shoot tory, as bear hunter shoots rattle
snake, merely to kill the vermin, or keep his
rifle from rusting; or if they found rascal tory
skulking about, they stretched him up with a
grape vine, practising for subsequent neces-
sity. The night after leaving Gilbert town, on
a short halt in council, the officers selected a
chief to act until they could receive orders
from Gates. Their little army was composed
then of men nearly in equal numbers from
Virginia, North and South Carolina. Each
band was lead rather than commanded by Its
own officers. Sewer, Shelby, Campbell, Cleave-
land Williams and Mcdowell were the Colo
nels. and had all seen hard service either IN the
Indian wars or in this struggle. After full
delbcra,ion, they unanimously chose Campbell
Of Eirsinid, 70 command in the approaching
r;,v. lie Was man in the vi"or of lille, not
quite 10 years OF age, Of pure Scotch descent;
thoroughly educated in the classics and all the
science of the day, and had been soldier from
his earliest manhood. He had married the
sister of the famous Patrick Henry, and was
the intimate friend Of Jefferson, and had JOIN
ed in all the early movements Of resistance
But having large family connection and prop
erty in Western Virginia, and that region be,
ing still subject to imminent perils from the
Indians Of Tennessee and kentucky, he dccll'
ned commissions rendered him in the continen
tai army and Virginia lines, and accepted the
honorable, laborious and dangerous post Of
county lieutenant. In this he succeeded Evar
Shelby, the father of his associate Ill this ex
pedition He Immediately gave the care o.
his property and family to 4 kinsman, and de
voted himself to the cause of freedom Ills
manner was grave and digni6cd, his persol
strong and graceful, and his courage of the
most daring and reckless character his patn
otism of the stcrncst mould, enthusiastic arc
uncompromising, with fierce and RELENTLESS
hatred to those who refused to join the patrlo
cause, and withall skillful, judicious ant
practical officer. He brought to this cxpedl
ton 450mcn-many Of them kinsmen, friends
and ncighbors of wealth and position equal tt
his own, and most of them of that true Scotch
Irish breed whose fathers had fought for klrl
and covenant and among whose descendant
are the Clay's, Calhoun's, Scottsand Taylor
our dav. 1t was there the merit OF the oll'cc
and the material of his troop that induced nj
gallant and patriotic band, to confer on Camp
hell the chief command. The pioneers OF GU
liberties were far above the filth and dirt
H.. iybo sook the bauble of personal glory