Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-09-24

him a man of mark. His recent election to seat
in Congress. opens to him new field of useful
ness, o grander theatre for the exercise Of bis
eloquence; and we feel safe in predicting for him
brilliant career. After dwelling briefly upon
the noble deeds of the South, and those of South
Carolina in particular, he gave succinct account
of the action at Eutaw. The facts which he ad.
duced, he professed to have drawn almost exclu'
sivelyfrom Mr.. SIMMs, in his private converse
tions, and from his publications, which he warm
ly recommends to all wishing u acquire an &C
curate knowledge of our Stute history. Though
he gives GREENE full credit for the skilfu general
ship accorded him by the world, he yet criticized,
without reserve, the errors of which he WAS guilty
on that eventful day. Some of tn Sc errors were
of so, glarng character as almost to justify the
conclusion of the philophizing PoRaY, that "the
wits of the General were in the moon" For in.
stance, his order to Col. WASHINGTON to charge
and dislodge the detachment under MAJoR1BANKs'
could scarcely admit of palliation, even in the
most undiscipHned captain of militia. This de
tachment, consisting of 800 picked men, was lying
under cover of the dense blackjack thickets which
skirt the Eutaw creek, through which the most
reckless fox-hunter would hardly venture beyond
q trot. As was to be expected, the cavalry was
almost totally annibilated, and their gallant lead
er captured. Almost equally gross was the blum
der committed in the attack upon the brick house.
Instead of statoning the guns out of musket
and battering the house to atoms about their ears
at his leisure, he runs them up within point blank
shot, so that the gunners could be picked off with
perfect immunity, by the sharp-shooters from the
windows. Ancthtr circumstance which contribu-
ted largely to the disasters of the day was the in
subordination displayed by the soldiers. Though
in full pursuit Of flying enemy, the temptation
held out by the unstinted rations, and abundant
liquors of John Bulls fulfilled sodery, could not
be resisted by the half-starved Americans. Fall
ing ravenously upon the rich spoils, they allowed
the enemy ample time to recover from their panic;
and many poor fellow paid, with his blood for
that mess of English pottage.
Thus through the blunders Of the commander,
and the insubordination of the soldiers this vic.
tory, which might have been the most brilliant Of
the famous Southern campaign" was tarnished.
Indeed, though this battle had the effect of VIC
tory in Kidding our soil Of foreign foe, yet, of it.
self considered, it was little better than drawn
game.
The orator dedueed several practical lessons
from the events of the day, which he very appro-
priately applied to our present political relations.
His address was closed with an appeal which
should meet hearty response in every patriotic
breast, and call forth a corresponding one from
every patriotic pocket. For se,enty-six years the
glorious field of Eutaw has lain neglected; no
towering monument, no humble slab, not even Q
rude stone to mark the sacred spot, and tell the
passing traveller that he is tresding upon holy
ground. Indeed it has been more than neglected |;
the rude ploughshare has desecrated its hallowed
SOIL And in visiting this field upon which the best
blood of Carolina was poured out in defence Of
freedom, one is forcibly reminded of the charge,
So often preferred by writers accustomed to speak
disparagingly of the present age in general, aud
of our own country in particular, that the crying
vice of our land is the sin of ingratitude." Shall
this charge stand unconfuted? Can the appeal be
made in vain? Is South Carolina too poor to pay
the proper honors to the gallant defenders Of her
dearest rights? We trust not. May the patriot
ism, displayed in the erection os the Eutaw Monu.
ment, cancel forever such an aspersiou upon the
fair fame of the Old Palmetto State.
McCANTsv1LLE, s. c., Sept. 14th, 1867.