Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-26

or perhaps never known before aro1- = ~ ,
ana orderly SET OF civilized men. At the Nav Co,-
which was attended by multitude of $500 Iei[ y
received the news of the battle Of T Peeople, we
new England, the first blood drawn TL I Su III
was sitting. some of the magistrates 80
and some Tories. The news was first yb;s ml.ss
and then proclaimed At 1rst the people seemed
struck with awe and silence, but in a few r,,;rt
became camorous The sheriff was ordered - al
journ Court. which he did in the usual form, until
the last words, which in form were, God sare fJ.
Engi These he omitted, and the Tory magistrates
ordered him to conclude in the usual form; adding
that they would have him to know, that the Court
sat IN the Kings name, and by his royal authority
Several people standing near the door forbade the
conclusion IN those words, it was the last time it
ever should sit in the Kings name or by his author
lty Some high words ensued, and threats were
used, but the people all rushed out bearing the
sheriff with them, and leaving the Tory part Of the
the bench.
After some time It was proposed to call Court
again, the people conserving for them to meet and
close some unfinished business, upon condition it
should not be called in the Kings name. or that the
words, God saUe The King, should net be added by
the cryer: For, said they, we will have nothing
done in the name of King, who has his troops
saughtering our citizens. And thus ended royal au-
th0rity, for the Court after closing their record never
sat again. In the afternoon the heads of the people
came together and concluded to appoint committed Of
the most respectable men in the county, I,yho should
exercise general and discretionary powers in the
civil as well as military departments, so far as re-
strainng wrongs and injuries ameDg the peOple
and corresponding with the leaders of other conn
ties. This committee appointed a person to act as
Marshal or sheriff of the county to carry their re-
solves into execution. And this Office fell to nv lot
young as then was though the appointment gave
general satisfaction and must confess felt highly
gratifed, as it was entirely unsolicited.
similar change took place generally in the eoun-
ties throughout the Provinces And with us bust
ness multiplied on our hands, for we had some To-
RES who appeared too violent to be left at liberty
These were ordered to be taken and kept under a
guard until they promised to be peaceabe and such
as were wholly refractory were permanently con-
fined. The young men chiefly, who were able to
arm and mount themselves pretty well, performed
general ranging and patrol duty throughout the
county suppressed instructions of Tories and dis
affected people, vagabonds and stragglers who fled
from other counties, and all disorderly persons
white or black. They frequently, by invitation,
ranged into other counties and into South Carolina,
and frequently received parties of similar natur
from other counties and from South Carolina This
gave the appearance of strength and unanimty
awed the Tories and encouraged the Wings
To be thus particular in every instance, would
be to write history of the Revolutionary war,
for which l have neither time nor inclination.
But l thought il would be gratifying to nv
children to know how the bonds of Govern
ment were dissolved, and how a free and rational
Peep lie may proceed to establish another Of their
own choice. 1t may be also of practical benefit to
know that there is not such mystery in government
and the administration of justice people are too
apt to believe. Under the administration of the
committees good order was preserved If man
owed debt, and was suspected of removing with
out payment of it, he was ordered to pay secure
his creditor sf he refused, or delayed his property
was seized or sequestered until he did. The final
adjustment of accounts was much better done by
couple of neighbors and the parties themselves than
by any investigation in court | ever saw. More
business would be done in a few hours than the
mode of legal procrastination would finish
in many months. and in the end 70 the salts
faction Of the parties. If fell out their neigh
bors settled the difference | have known a com
plicated case, both of titles and boundaries Of land
settled and finally decided by few nelghbors con-
vened the premises III day, and more satisfac.
ton given. than all the courts in the State would
have done in seven years, and that without cent
of costs. Several instances occurred Of men who
had been some years at law, with long and compli-
Gated accounts on each side, having them finally ad
justed by two three dsinterested neighbors in
day or two, and greatly to their satisfaction.
An instruction of the Scotch inhabitants of An
son and Bladen countless babe fair to give us some
serious employment, but the Wings in arms so
quick that they were intercepted at MooP's Greek,
before they got to Wilmington, the place of their
intended rendezvous. Here an engagement took
place, and Gen. Mcleod, their leader, was killed
and his father-in-Iaw, Col Mcdonald with number
Of others were taken prisoners the battle-ground;
and a number more. who fed, fell into the hands
Of party which was making in pursuit of the
main body. Mcdonald. with the principal leaders,
were sent to Philadelphia and the rest liberated on
a kind of parol and promise of good behavior.
The spirit of Toryism seeming now TO be pretty
well suppressed in this part of the country joined
regiment Of rangers in South Carolina under the
command of Col William Thompson. THIS regi-
ment consisted of between four and five hundred
horseen whose business it was to range
in companies through the different parts of the |
State, TO keep order and suppress Instructions.
We we're allowed go per month which was in !
full for pay, rations, arms and horse feed for |
every man found himself provisions. arms and |
equlpage of every kind. Ranging the country was
to be the sole duty, and that to be performed on
horseback.
Early in the spring of I77G took the Held, and
after ranging through some of the most dsafected
parts of the State, gradually inclined towards
Charleston and in May camped at the Ten Mile
House, We WERE after some little struggle, some
cOaxing, and some artifce, induced to leave our
horses, and IN parties march to the islands
along the coast and finally concentrated our force
and encamped on SullivaI's Island about fifteen
lays before the British feet destined for that place
appeared in sight They cast anchor outside |
The bar, their largest ships having to light |
en- before they could cross, but after 4 few |
lays they crossed and anchored inside the bar in
i've fathom hole, until they Pighted again. In the |
meantime they landed three or four thousand troops
IN Johns Island, Immediately opposite encamp-
lalf mile distant small inlet about sixty yards /
vide lay between u.s. A serious battle now ap- /
leared inevitable, and various opinions to the
ult were entertained. General Lee had GENE on
md taken the command, but kept himself in the
city, and we soon understood IT was his opinion
hat the troops on the Island were to be sacrificed
tut our more immediate commanders determined
o defend it to the last extremity. Every exertion
vas made to finish fort MOultre, and we threw up a
mall breastwOrk of sand at the eastern point oppo
AlrD Al. Il, |
ighteen FOUNDER and two field pieces, with a few
Irtillery men, But our principal reliance was On
he goodness of our rifles and our skilful use of
hem. Notwithstanding, the odds appeared fearful;
hree or four thousand against three or four hun
red, and very few of the latter who had ever
urned powder in battle.
Every day seemed to bring us nearer the critical
Moment which would put our military skill and
raVery to the test; when on the 18th of June,
= in the morning, we saw rocket rise high in the
ir from the Admiral sshp. This, we had no doubt
vas signal to the troops on land . cross the inlet
nd attack us. We stood prepared at the waters
dge, looking at the main body apparently pre-
airing for action, when from behind oyster bank,
little to our left and about sixty yards dis
ant, three four hundred of the British
ose up and deliberately fired on US. This was
omplete surpriZe for we had not the least suspicion
such party being there. But what surprized |
s equally much, not one man of US was touched,
OF single shot took effect. But of small party /
he time had no doubt were every one killed but
had the pleasing satisfaction shortly afterwards
, see them every man jump up, run away, and
lace themselves at respectable distance behing
S unhurt. Not such was our fire at the British.
)ur rifles were in prime order, well proved and
Tel charged every man took deliberate aim at his
beet and it really appeared that every ball took
atal effect 1t might have happened that several balls
truck the same person, and no doubt 1t was the |
ase, but the proportion which fell never to rise
gain was very great. phis fire taught the enemy |
. lie clone behind their bank of oyster Shells and
My show themselves when they rose up to fire.
tut even with this precaution they were cut off
cry fast, for ours certain aim and deadly
re- and we had no thought of drawing trigger
Without an object And although they were rein
breed, and their dead and wounded carried off,
heir numbers diminished very fast until, in the |
pace of an hour they ceased to fire altogether.
While we were thus engaged, the enemy had dis
overed that the water between US was too deep to
Tade, and their boats too few to transport more
han two three hundred at time. and such num-
err might probably be cut off before they were re-
lforced and they dropped the project altogether
mother reason, no doubt, had its weight; they