The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-05-21

| StiIhh'S anoincT plOw. WIN Tie consent
OF Gen. Mcdowell, two trusty men were
sent forward, rs spies to ascertain where
WAS the nearest assailable out post Of the
, cncmy.-'lhis duty was successfully per
! fo'mrd 10y the men, WHO upon their return,
, reported that there WAS an encamplncnt of
tory militia. commanded by Capt. l1awsey,
Il, Mu<grovc's Mill. on the lower bank of
:hc Ennorcc; and that they were not more
than two hundred in-number. An expedi-
ton to break up this post, was instantly re-
solved upon; and volunteers were called
for. A large number of the officers stepped
forward, to serve as privates. followed hy the
! mos. adventurous Of the so!,iirry. and :, force
! equal To that OF the enemy was soon organ
zed. Every man composing this company
must have been Of tried and acknowledged
courage; for the expedition WAS one Of un-
common au1aritv. and consequently would
l." compelled to pass within very few miles
of FerYuson's camp, WHO, in case he dis
| covered their design hy his scouts or 10y
the noise Of battle, conIl cut off their re-
trent through Cuon District; while Corn
wallis, should Gates ready defeated.
! mig lit easily capture them in Chester. Yet
each man volunteer Much AS we
are glad TO admire such courage in the out
set OF this incur>ion there urcurcd uncxpcc,.
ediy complication Of pcril-whcn they
were Tar away from surror-which forces
us I" lock upon their 'lariny in still p:ovok-
'ng battle, as absolutely reckless.
The command was given conformity to
" '!Iiarns. Clarke and Shelby. About tie
middle Of Tie afternoon on the lsil, ,f Aur
1850, the party mounted their horses and
determined upon the plan Of prorcctling.-
lhr'r prime osjc't WAS to surprise the to-
'irs-an achievement Which it WAS impos>i
b!e to accomplish. without avoiding Ferru-
son. III" course thea, was very plain they
must make a dcour through the portion Of
country ROW known as Union District, and
r"s"'" the highway passing 10y Mu>srove's
Miil, ri som" point below the Tiger. So
they 'crnountcd their horses at dusk. and
marched with as much rapidi'y AS Tie cir
cnmspectl"n, necessary 10 success, would al
low. Cras<ing the Pacuct and Fair For
rest Creek, they came 10 the Tvgcr AS the
cocks were prorlaiming the approach of
Jay At l'larks:ock's farmhouse. It WAS
nov necessary TO proceed with extreme eau.
l'"n Ferguson was only three miles I'D
the river, and it was double that distance
Yet, to Mnsgrove's Mill. Should they fall
in with a patrol, their situation would be
desperate. Forward BIackstock's is left
behind-tirne is every thing now; they
must fall upon the Tories and ron, them lc-
fore any intelligence can reach the force in
thci: rear. A, length they hear the roaring
Of Musgrovc' Shoals. They can even trace
on their left, the valley Of the Ennoree, over
which little brown cloud, already tinycd
by the sun, has stationed itself near the
hor'z"n In the grove, part Of which is
still remaining above Mr. Gordon's house,
the intrepid little band paused, and re-
connoi;cring party was sent forward. Five
minutes after, a firing WAS heard along the
side OF the ridge descending towards the
river, and the reconnoiterers returned to re-
port that they encountered patrol of the
enemy, which they Immediately attacked
killing some and dispensing the remainder.
This WIS uuwclcome news. The dcsion Of
surprising, the camp was frustrated, and the
Hazardous attempt to cross the ford under
the fire of the enemy must be made. Bur,
almost at the same moment, farmer Of the
ne'ghhorh"od approached the bcwildered
adventures aud made known to them the as
founding fact, that at nigh,E.ll of tic pre-
vions day, Col. Innis and Maj. ERASER. with
one hundred and fifty regulars. had arrived
at llawsey's camp on their way to rein
force Ferguson; and had tarriel over night.
intending to continue tIiesir march Ieisurelv
after breakfast. This WAS enomgl, TO war.
rant m immediate retreat They could vet
make their escape by speedily 'rctrac,ing
t''eir steps, hut no; Williams, Clarke, and
Shelby said "w"'mns fight them. If they
have ragnlars they. can be induced to ~
tack us. Let us prepare for them !r The
Officers ins'an'iyrcommenced asurvey' Of the
ground in their neighbor!,ood. Two hun
dr'd and fifty yards beyond the site Of Mr..
Gordon's house, they found the heals Of
the two 'ravines have already described :;
the one setting off from the right Of the road
towards Cedar slIoal Greek, and the other.
distant abouktwo hundred PAGES from the
hrat. descending on the left INTO the meade.
Wy HAT, whicl, sweeps around the ford i,e
low tie mil. The space between b,ie sn'''ib ibese