Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-08-25
From the Walha1la Banner.
The Ring Fight Mt Tamosse.


will describe the locality and afterwards the
conflict The Chattooga Ridge is the first forma-
ton of mountains in the western portion OF PICK
ems District. Oconee Station is Immediately ut
the base of this ridge troops were stationed tncre
previous to, and Immediately after the heVolu-
tonarv war for the protection Of the western por-
tion Of South Carolina. A portion Of those troops
made the. fight Tamossa mountain and valley
are at the base of the same ridge, miles north of
the station. The beauty, fertility and extent OF
this valley would require the pen OF washington
Irving TO describe. It's various attractions in
duced Gen. Pickens to make it his home; and he
there ended long, eventful and useful life in the
service Of his country and South Carolina. AS
christian, civilian and soldier, he stood second
to no man. What pleasant contrast! the shrlll
whistle of the engine is now heard in the valley,
where once the terrific yell Of the Indian savage
salrted the ears of Pickens and men. once own
ed this valley and was often mportuned for infor-
nation respecting this Ring Fight.
Mr.. Pendleton, from Charleston, who was about
to publish q monthly journal there, sought an in.
PRODUCTION to me, asking the points and details OF
the Fight. I informed him that had had many
descriptions concerning it, but they being uncer-
tain and contradictory, I could not give him any
He requested if I should acquire any reliable
facts, should give them to him. Time rolled
on apace, and had forgotten Mr.. P. and the Ring
| fight. I net with Mrs. s. / had had the plea
sure Of her acquaintance in Pendletcn village
where she spent the larger portion OF long life,
and left name that her posterity will ever be
proud to wear. She possessed fine conversational
powers, and great accuracy of description. l
knew that she and her husband had been the init
mate friends of Gen. Pickens and his family.
Iapproached her by saying that had often
been solicited for facts relative to that fight She
informed me that herself and husband had spent
a week with Gen. Pickens at Tamossa, in the lat
ter days of his life. She described his person,
his features and his habits. "He was taciturn,
but communicative to his personal friends" Du-
ring that week, Mr. s. and myself were sitting
in the western piazza of his house. Mr.. s. inci-
dentally remarked about the Ring Fight. The
General arose to his feet, and pointing to little
ravine about three hundred yards from his house,
and that runs east into Little River, remarked -
ssThere is the spot, and in all the engagements
that had during. the Revolutionary struggle, for
the number of men, and time we were fighting,
none were more hazardous or critical. l was out
looking at the valley, and to ascertain the noun
tain passes, with detachment of men. Very
suddenly the Indians showed themselves from an
immense cane brake My knowledge of Indian
character convinced me that they were determined
to fight, and that they had surrounded US. in
formed my men that we would have to with cool
ness and crcumspecton: that we had but little am
muntion, and that no man should fire until ne came
within point blank shot. They made the onset.
Our ire was so destructive they recoiled: after a
few minutes of maneuvring, they made the Sec
oud attack; our fire was more destructive than
the frs; they maneuvred for few moments, and
again recouced. Several of my men understood
tho Indian dialect well they heard the word OF
command from different points, that the attack
should be renewed with the tomahawks. While