Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1863-09-30


The Troubles in Iredell and Wilkes.
We find the following in the Iredell Er-'
press, of Thursday:
Considerable excitement was produced
in this place On last Wednesday morning by
report coming from the neighborhood Of
Jacob Fraley, Esq, that number of de-
serters in that section had massed themsel-
yes for battle with a portion of the State
Guard, from Camp Vance, commanded by
Lieut.. Robards.
Itappears that.the people Of that region
had appointed day for a Union meeting
in the vicinity of Esquire Fraley's, and had
extended an invitation to the deserters and
skulkers thereabouts to attend and take part
in the proceedings. The. guard marched
from near this place Monday night and
reached the place where the meeting was
to be held about daybreak Tuesday, dis.
tance of twenty miles.
: After the meeting assembled, "a large
number Of women being present, the guard
and militia surrounded the building and
took possession Of the ring-leaders, letting
the females and number of citizens loose,
retaining under guard Eve deserters who
were present and: the chairman, q Mr. John
Difee, who is, from appearance, seventy
five years old and quite inftm.
About one hundred and sixty deserters
were on their way to the rendezvous, but
would not advance nearer than Warren's
Bridge, (three miles distant from the place
Of meeting, on7learningo Of the presence of
the guard. The supposition was they were
waiting for reinforcements from Trap Hill,
in Wilkes County, and intended attacking
the next day; but the guard were disap-
pointed on reaching the place of an antici-
pated battle the following morning, the de-
serters having skedaddled to the mountains
in Wilkes.
An attempt was made on Tuesday night
to release the prisoners whowere being con-
veyed to Camp Vance, by party of sixteen
citizens, but did not succeed in their object,
one Of whom was captured early Wednes-
day morning and confessed being one Of the
party. Two militia officers were also ar
rested the same day foraiding and abetting
deserters. On Thursday these men were
placed under guard of militia, to be brought
to this place, but on reaching a creek with
in four miles Of here, they escaped through
negligence of a portion of the men under
whose care they had been placed for safe
deliverance into the Jail, prior to their ship
ment to Camp Vance.
This is something that we were in hopes
of never having to record as having hap.
pened in this county, but they were blasted
by the teachings of men who should have
had more love Of country and the rights of
freemen, than has been shown by some in
this our time of trouble. It is apicture
upon which we disliketo dwell and spread
before our readers, but necessity has COM
pelled US to say that something should have
been done long since to put down this band
of tories and traitors to their country.
We are glad now to see that the authori-
ties have taken the matter in hand and we
hape that the force which has been sent to
arrest and bring to punishment these de-
serters from the Southern army, will accom-.
plish the undertaking upon which theyhaVe
started.
There is no doubt but there are large
number of deserters 10 this section, but
some reports which we have seen are much
exaggerated. ODe only is known to have
been wounded by the guard, and it is not
l;I,oI, tbot bo mill roooyar