Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-05-06
Kebela5tol1l1arg 10 SktttB,
g.. - From the Newberry Conservatist
BATTLE OF MUSGROVE'S MILLS

After the fall Of Charleston, in May, l7SO,
the British and Tories soon over-ran the
whole of South Carolina. All was dark ex-
cept where Sumter and Marion Aickered,
like Jack o o'Lanterns, through the swamps
of the Catawba and Santee. The advanced
centres Of operations were established by
the enemy at Camden and Ninsty-six; but
between these two posts were numerous bod
les Of Tories and regular troops ravaging the
country. To watch their movements and
repress their outrages,. Gen. Charles Nc
Dowell, ,sof North Carolina, advanced with
nearly two thousand militia as far as Smiths
Ford, on Broad River. On this march he
was joined by Col. Isaac Shelby of North
Carolina COL John Clarke of Georgia; and
Col. James Williams of South Carolina, men
of the most restless determination, and eager,
ness to do anything, that could be called re-
sistance. Shelby, witch CoE ,Jno. Sewer Of
Tennessee, broke upa tory station on the
Pacolet and Clarke, on his way to Mellow
ellis rendezvous, gave Maj. Ferguson, at
Cedar Spring, back-handed blow, which
mads him stagger. Ferguson, an officer Of
equal ability with Tarleton, was despatched
by Lord CORVALLIS, witha strong force, to
subdue the northwestern portion of the
State; and had advanced as far as the mid,
die of Spartanburg. The rebuff he reeeiv.
ed at Cedar Spring, demonstrated to him the
danger of proceeding further without rein
foreements. He made known his embar
rassment at Head Quarters, and Col. Innis
was soon marched to his relief with a body
ofNew York Tories, "a portion Of what was
called the Queens regiment. For the dou
bic purpose of removing further from danger
and facilitating his junction with this rein
foreement, Ferguson had withdrawn to 9
point south of Tiger River, not far from the
place now known as the Cross Keys.
About this time, the army under Gates
for tt, relief of the South, moved on towards
Camden. Hope was balanced by suspense
Every patriot was listening for the news o.
victory, as the signal for him to advance
or Of defeat, for him to fly, he knew moi
where. The term, for which McDowelPs
men had been enlisted, was about to expire
Should Gates be successful, they would re-
enlist should he fail, they would hasten tc
their homes in North Carolina. But Will
liams, Clarke, and Shelby determined, thai
they should not disband, without striking
another blow. With the consent of Gen
Mcdowell, two trusty- men Gere- sent for
ward, as spies to ascertain where was tht
nearest assailable outpost of the enemy
This duty was successfully performed by thu
men, who upon their return, reported tina
there was an encampment of tory militia
commanded by Capt. Hawsey, at Musgrove:
Mill, on the lower bank of the Ennoree
and that they were not more than two hun
dred in number. An expedition to breal
up this post, was instantly resolved upon
and volunteers were called for. A larg'
number of the officers stepped forward, tt
serve as privates, followed by the most ad
venturous of the soldiery, and force equa
to that ofthe enemy was soon organized. Eve
ry man composing this company must hav'
been of tried and acknowledged courage
for the expedition was one of uncommon au
dacity, and consequently would be compel
led to pass within very few miles of Fer
guson's camp, who, in case he discovered
their design by his scouts or by the noise o
battle, could cut off their retreat through
Union District; while CORVALLIS, shoult
Gates be already defeated, might easil.
capture them in Chester. Yet each maj
was a volunteer. Much as we are glad tt
admire such courage, in the outset of thi
incursion there occurred unexpectedly com
p.ication of peril-when they were fa
away from succor-which forces us to lool
upon their daring in still provoking a bat
tie, as absolutely reckless.
The command was given conformity tt
Williams, Clarke and Shelby. About thu
middle of the afternoon on the 18th of Aug.
17SO, the party mounted their horses ant
determined nnon the nlan of nr0cAedinp -