The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-06-09
r J.. CIR RAWFORD.
Battle of the WaXhaWs.


We nd in llnrper's Wrckly paper AN
nrtistical illustration of the light. or rather
of the inhumun bu,chery of our furVfn,hers
by Tnrleton and his men, Il, the Waxhaw
settlement in this District on the 29th May
1880. We presume that 40 one now living
among us was II witness 10 this tragic eyeut
Of our countr's history but there may DE
some who are in possession of Interesting
unpublished incidents relative thereto, ana
which would b. Rad with ayidity, especial
ly by natives Of cur District. We would
he pleased 10 hear from any who can fur.
nlsh US with traditional facts connected
with this memorable period, now seventy
eight years ago. The Illustration in Hur-
pe.s Weekly is accompanied with the fol-
lowing remarks:
The battle, or massacre, of the Waxbaws
was fought on the 29h Of May, 1880, Oh
the WaXhaw Creek, about nine miles from,
the present Lancaster Cnnrt House, South
Carolina. Sir Henry Clinton tool; posses.
sion OF Charleston on the twelfth OF Nav:
and, having sufficient forces at his command
Immediately determined te subjuuate The
the whole Stair. lie sent out three de.
tachments in different directions. Curn>
wallis, who commanded one Of these, learn
ed that Colonel Abraham BuJord. with n
force of 400 Continental infantr, "A small
detachment of Washingion's cavalry, and
TWO field pieces, was lcisurely retrealinp
out OF the State lindIng himslf too late 10
assist LiUculn at Charleston This force
COrnwaIlis determined to annibilate. uc
dispatched against il TnrIe,on, with seven
hundred men, nll muunted They marched
lO5 miles in tiity-iour hours, and came up
with Buiord at Wuxhaws, surrounding hin,
! almost before he was aware O: his danger
! TarIeton demanded an immediate surTrn.
der, upon Illuminating terms. Buford wrote
back decisyey:
"SIR,-I reject your proposal. and shall
defend myself to the last extremity"
Contrary to military fules, while the con.
ference flags were passing and repassin..
Tarleton WAS making preparations for the
charge, ard the instant he received Buford' =
! gallant reply his cavalry made furious
assault upon the unprepared American
ranks. Having received no orders, and
supposing that negotiations were yet pend
ing, the surprised Contnen.als were thruvn
into confusion. Seine fired, others threw
their arms ard begled for quarter. None
was given Men witnout arnis weIo lieyn
in pieces bv Tarmon's troopers. One
hundJcd and thirteen were slain, one hun
dred aud iifty so maincd as to be- unable Ia
travel, and iifty-ihrce were made prisoners
10 show how utter was the surprise of The
Amencan-, Borord's field pieces were. no,
even discharged, and only five If the British
were killed, and fifteen wounded. Corn
wallis praised TarletQn for the cold blood.d
massacre but on his return To England
he was tainted with his crnclty. and
Stedman. British historian OF tlIc aar.
writes "On This occasion the virtue of
humanity was entirely forgot"
This blow spread conslrrnaiion among
all the residents of this region. who fled
huEridly from an enemy who had nomercy
In his nature. Among the fngtives W as
the widowed mother of Andrew Jack.
son, and this, the first practical lesson of
hatred to Tyranny which young Jackson
Received. Rad doubtless an important bear.
ing upon the character of the youth who
was wa one day y be Presidento of the Uuiied
States