Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-02-18

dishonor themselves and sacrifice the dearest nte-
rests of their country and its independence, by en-
ternginto treaty ofneutrality with the enemy,and
that before the consequences ofa battle or attack
upon the town were known. Their plan was GER
tainly to prolOng the conferences as long as they
could and amuse the enemy by new proposals, to
give Lincoln time to come up, and themselves time
to prepare for defence. General Gadsden and
Thomas Ferguson, two Of the council, disagreed
in opinion with the others, and proposed to de-
fend the town to the last extremity. Upon the ar
rival of General Pulaski with his legion, he sailed
out of the lines and attacked the enemy. Some men
were killed on both sides. Pulaski lost his brave
old Colonel Cutbert, who fell bravely in the con-
1ct, refusing to take quarters to the last moment
according to the report of two British deserters.
who said they were present when he was killed.
On the night of the 10Th false alarm, OCCASION
ed q firing of cannon and musketry, along the
whole extent of the lines. from river to river
This continued blaze of artillery and small arms,
appeared to my view amidst the darkness ofnight
L
the horizon was on FIRE. With repeated peals of
thunder, it was arfuy sublime. 1t had its effect
on the enemy, who judging from the extent and
steadness of our fire, that our lines were far bet
ter manned and stronger than they had apprehen-
ded, and the garrison more numerous Under
these impressions they retreated during the night,
and by the morning of the 18th, they were on the
west side of the Ashley river. No other conse'
quences that know of except the death of the
brave and patriotic Major Huger-who in return
ing with a reconotering party-was unfortunately
killed near our lines by our own guns during the
firing. Why is not monument raised to the mem
ory of those two officers? Are none but General
officers 10 be honored with them, when secret
hint was given to the continental officers in town
by the minority on the above council, to surrender
Charleston to the British on terms of neutrality
during the war? The shock was ndescribable, and
was received by them with indignant contempt.
| recoect the time we'll and the attendant circum-
stances and had they attempted to carry it into
effect the consequences perhaps would have been
fatal to the majority. 1t was agitated in the
corps of continentals and in the ancient battalion
of artillery, to revenge themselves on those that
had disgraced them, and then to unite, and either
cut their way through the enemy or retreat across
Cooper river, and march up the country and join
Gen. Lincoln. Our army was by this time fast
approaching, and the enemy fearful of being
hemmed in, between LncolD's army and Moul-
tries in town, thought it prudent to abandon the
main land, and retire to the islands, and fortified
themselves at Stono Ferry, where they could be
supplied with fresh provisions, and supported by
their shipping. Upon the arrival of Gen. Lincoln,
preparations were made to attack them in their
lines ut Stono ferry on the 20th June 1779. After
the enemy had had FIVE weeks time to fortify him
self, instead of attacking them directly while un
fortified, the attack to be simultaneous at two
points Lincoln on the front of his lines, and by
Moutre from Charleston on their rear. was at
tached to General Moultrie's dvision-General
Lincoln commanded the attack Mt the time and
place agreed upon, but not being supported by
Moutre's division. was repulsed with loss. But
the enemy suffered severely too, for during the
battle, two complete companies of British regulars
sailed out of their works, with the intention Of
flanking and charging our troops. They were met
and charged in very gallant manner by our in
fantry, under the command of Col. Henderson and
Major Thomas Pnckney with so complete success
that very few of them returned into their works
Here fell the gallant Colonel Owen Roberts, Of the
continental regiment Of artillery of the South Ca
rolina line. His name and justly acquired fame
are recorded in the pages Of history-posterity
will know him and honor and revere his memory
When he received his mortal wound, his son, Capt
Richard Brooke Roberts, came to his dying father
to sooth him in his last moments and receive his
blessings. He raised his head, and told him fare
well, and said "go my boy and do your duty, do
not mind me-"
On the part of General Moutrie, every exertio'
and necessary preparation was made that 10y q
his power; the troops were already on the whats
to embark and lay on their arms all night, 'ut
from some cause, could not learn, the Quater-
Master General failed in procuring sufclent
number of boats to transport the troops their
destined point in the attack. If they had ben pro-
cured, it would have availed us nothing Tor the
enemy had stationed their armed vessels "appoo
cut, and our unarmed boats and vesselcoulu not
have forced their way through them. | believe
this was the cause of our repulse, andhe cause OF
death to many brave man. For if loultries d.
vision could have reached the poit OF attack IN
time feel confident from the spit that seemed
to actuatc our men, we should AVE beaten the
enemy and gained complete visory. In this bat
tie, Capt. James Mitchell of 'ur regiment was
wounded in the leg-the effecof which he never
got over. Some time after 20 battle of Stono,
the enemy retreated from sand to island into
Georgia, there to defend Svannah from the at
tack threatened by General'incon and the Compte
DeEstainge. l was now aought by my superior
officers, sufficiently prorl and fully competent to
command company, tough only a Lieutenant
50 was appointed to dangerous and important
command-through a;ountry lately possessed by
tbe British and torit, that required great vigi
lance, activity and aelity to conduct it in safety
This was the secor time that was ordered to
ioin Gen. Lincoln, i Augusta, with thirty men and
two field pieces, c. surmounted every difficulty
and danger, ar arrived safely at my destined
point, Augustf Before my arrival there, Gen.
| Lincoln had larched with his army to meet
Connie DeEsainge and his army to beslege Savan !
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