Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-02-11

there joine1 20O0 men from New York, command
ed by Col. Campbell who had landed near Savan'
nah, which our General attempted to defend with
his reduced troops The Americans were defeat
cd and obliged to retreat into South Carolina, with
the loss Of one hundred killed, AMI four hundred
and fifty made prisoners, and seven pieces of can
non. The town. with all its stores, shipping, pro-
visions Sc fell in,n the cncmy's hands with little
or no loss Oh their part. Thus by imprudcnt en-
terprise> and'bai "onluct. was our South Carroll
na an! Georgia troops cut up by piece meals
Soon after this. General Howe was superseded in
the command of the Southern army by General
Lincoln. Gen. Howe was not much esteemed by
the army. Gen. Gads,len and him fought duel
Gai,den received Ilowes fire, and then fired at
right angles from Howe, anl thus ended the duel.
The British derived great advantages from the
possession Of Savannah, both seaport, and as
Il rendezvous for the tories and Indians from the
back country. General Provost from ST. Angus
tine, with al the troops that cOald be spared from
it, having arrived at Savannah, was thereby
enabled to follow up and harrass our retreatng
army into South Carolina. AMI in the month of
February ITO. sent q naval and land force to
take possession of Beaufort and Port Royal island,
cStceming it commanding and advantageous sta
ton from whence they could at pleasure send out
dctachments to seize or destroy the provisions,
and plunder the plantations on the main land and
adjacent islands. This force, it was said, consist
ci of two hattaions Of veteran infantry, with o
howtzer and commanded by two Majors, viz:
Gardner and Frazer. This force was engaged by
General Moutric, with detachment Of the Char
lesion militia, with two field pieces, commanded
by Captains Edward Rutlege and Thomas Hey
ward Jr.--two Of the signers Of the Declaration
of Indcpchdenco-who bravely redeemed the
pledge they had given to their country on the
floor of Congress, viz: "To hazard their lives,
their fortunes and their sacred honor in its de-
fence have never learned tina, any other of the
signcrs of the Declaration of Indcpenlece had
similar chance of releeming their pledges. Their
presence in this battle was sure augury Of VIC
tory, and also of the ultimate success of the cause
of freedom. To these was joined small dctach-
mcnt Of our artillery regiment, with one field
piece, to which | was attached, (the rest of the
regiment under Gen. Lincoln) commanded by
CAPTAIN De Treville. Capt. william Mitchell
pointed the gun Lieutenant James Fields stopped
the vent, fired it. Captain Lieutenant Donnom
acted also the part Of private. We voluntarily
fbpr
than not fight the enemy. We had only nine pr-
Yates The force on each side was nearly equal in
number, but the British were all regulars and
we'll disciplined ours all militia, except those
who worked one field piece, and none of them had
ever been in actual service before, and for the
first time faced the enemy in battle. The Ameri-
caus we're drawn up and formed with our field
piece OH the right of the road leading from Beau
fort to the ferry the Charleston artillery to our
left on the road the infantry to the right and left,
on open woodland, about three iuiles from the
town of Beaufort. The enemy formed on lower
ground in q drain, covered with low growth OF
woods In this situation the enemy was more
covered from view than the Americans, who were
fully exposed The action lasted about an hour,
when the enemys howizer gotdisabled, they fed,
and left us an unlisputed victory. We were high
" pleased to see the British backs. Major Barn
well of the militia, afterwards General, with Il
small party Of cavalry, acted with good effect on
the encny's flank and rear, and took several prls-
oncrs in their retreat. We buriel their dead and
provided for the cure Of their wounded. This Of
flee was performed with all the humanity that
characterizes the Americans. / went with our Off
GERS to visit the wounded British officers, and l
felt for them rs brave men, suffering by the mis-
fortune of war, and sought by every attention in
my power to alleviate their Distress often reflect
ing that in short time it might be my lot to sut-
fer as they did, and stand in need Of the same hu-
name attention which was paid to them. This was
The only battle gained by the Americans IN this cam
paign in South Carolina or Georgia.
4 few DAYS after this battle, we returned to the
main land and encamped short time at Sheldon
Bulls. 1t WAS with real regret we evacuated
Port Royal island, whose inhabitants had endear-
ed themselves to us by their pOlitcness, and by
the many friendly attentions showed to the Off
GERS of our regiment during their stay on the
islanI-for they were often invited to their pri-
vate and public entertainments, and also their
barbecues or social dinners in the woods, held at
stated and regular times. Each gentleman of the
place provided in turn feast with protus!on OF
the best provisions and liquors that the place al
for,lcd 1t WAS really an earthly paradise to US,
and would to God, we could have prevented the
enemy from ever possessing themselves of Port
Royal island I never saw at those entertain
mcnts any quarrel or disorderly behavior; ally
social friendship and politcness. While we en-
camped at Bulls, General Lincoln with the main
army occupied Purysburg and Black swamp, on
Savannah river.
ro BE coSTINrEp.]
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, Feb'y S, 1888.
M, I.,,.o ,,o ,,o,,. ,rra rnl in tha Ohio contes-