Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-07-16


ing period, by his friends and relatives.
Ten years from the time of the above
scene, Washington's forces lay encamped on
New York and Long Island, awaiting the
sanguinary battle in which we lost about
seventeen hundred men, and during which
more heroism and bravery was evinced than
in any other action that took place on the
American Continent.
On the Oath of August, l776, small
group of riAemen were collected on the road
to the Narrows. There was every sign of
suffering among them. They were badly
clad, uncleauly, and looked as if rest and
food were luxuries they had not been in
dulged with for day. Among them was a
tall, muscular, fierce whiskered man, whose
brilliant eye and forid complexion-thin
lips and aquiline nose-betokened the earn
estness of his feeling and the frmness of pur-
pose with which be addressed his comrades.
He was making known his determination to
engage in the expected contest to the death.
Give him, he declared, a protected position
where he might remain undiscovered during
he action, and he would kill as many of the
enemy as he had hairs on his head. He was
the STRIPPING who ten years before astonished
Locksley, but now how changed Instead
of the mild light which then shone from his
eve, the concentrated fires of hate and re-
vense shot their rays from his optics, and he
clutched his weapon with the blood thirsty
and wild air supposed to belong to pirate.
"Why do you hate these Englishmen
worse than the rest of us ?" asked one. owe
love freedom and are assembled to resist op-
preston; but you appear to have personal
motive in your actions, and seem to thirst
for blood"
nVengeance is sweet !" exclaimed Piggot,
with convulsive effort to smother his emo
tions. "Vengeance is sweet, and 1 desire
twill have it--even thong it costs me
my own life"
"Vengeance vengeance !" said another
of the men named Randall; "what the devil
have you to avenge more than or each of
US Z"
"I'll tell you," replied Piggot, the lines
in his face deepening, and his whole form
shadowing forth Mephistophilish outline
II had an only brother, a lad whom loved
better than myself He was the last rem
nant of our stock, and I looked upon him as
the only being that enabled me to feel was
not distinctive feature in the community
"a piece of humanity alone and uncared
for He went to Boston, and there engaged
among the patriots who resisted the efforts
of the British at Breeds Hill. He was
brought down in the early part of the action
by ball which deprived him of the use of
his lower extremeties. AS he lay in this help
less condition, British officer, to whom he
appealed, looked savagely on and saw cor
peral crush out his life with bayonet. My
brothers nearest comrade witnessed the MUIR
der, gave me an account Of it, and told me
the officers words after the boy had appeal
ed for mercy. These words-they are brand
ed upon my heart-were, "No mercy should
be shown to an insurrectionist taken with
arms in his hands against his Majesty's loyal
subjects" I have heard those words ring
ing in my ears, day and night, ever since ;
and imagination pictures my helpless brother
mangled by, and struggling beneath, the
cruel bayonet that sent his soul to heaven.
I have sworn to avenge that murderer? Now
you can account for the feeling that has CIV
en- me character of late never before sus'
tanned by me a character of late never be-
fore sustained by me,-that Of cruelty. Have
l not cause"
"By G., think So" replied one of the
rifemen, "apd had half so much I should
be worse than you"
"Well, you'll all have chance of trying
the extent of our courage and principles err
long, so let us talk of something else," re
marked a.tall fellow whose usual twang pro
nounced "Connecticut" plainly.
"Harkw said Piggot, the drum calls u
in. A truce to this. Let US act, not mouth
Let US make the very name of rifle dreaded
while red coat harbors in America
On the following day it was plain, from
the movements of the royal forces, and from
the preparations made by the American com
mander and his officers, that a battle wa
near at hand: All that day and night tn
utmost activity prevailed, and the American
army evinced the greatest courage and alac
rity. When Lord Howe landed at Graves
end Bay, near Fort Hamilton, every mai
was ready to receive him. 4 description 0
the battle would be superfuous, inasmuch a
it has been graphically toldin these columns
We will therefore narrate our incident un
der the presumption that of the battle itsel
our readers need not be informed a secon
time.
The first of the action occurred with tn
riAemen near where we now find that beau
tiful resting place for the peaceful dead
Greenwood Cemetery. 1t was the left win
of the royalists, under Colonel Grant, tina
assumed this position, while the right an
centre occupied other memorable ground
The carnage of that day-the terrors, tn
cruelties, the reckless and desperation Of ths
battle, fought with the utmost desperatlo
by both parties-were almost beyond belle
In close proximity to the cemetry is creel
It's waters were dyed in the best blood
Americans, who were moved down withot
IL .I:lI.. No1 onl