The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-17
zinc p;stillers Surround the Raiders
Long Odds-Thc Troops Release their
P-isoncr-Thc Distillers Open Fire.
TrRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE
COLUMBIA, Saturday, January IL.
RAID on DIsTILLERiEs.

COLUMBIA, Saturday, January IL.
RAID on DISTILLERfEs.
As am informed, on Tuesday night last Mr..
T. NJ Wallace, deputy collector OF Internal Eevc'
nuc, with six revenue officers, deputy United
States marshal and seven soldiers, oil under
command OF Captain Somerhaycs, left Spartan
burg Courthouse to capture ie parties who hal
destroyed Mr.. A. p. turner's trevenue asscssor)
house sorsc weeks ago. The soldiers were armed
with single breech-loading rifles, the remainder
OF the party with revolver each. MIR. Turner
accompanied the party. They proceeded to the
vicinity OF the ruins of Mr.. Turner's house, some
fifteen miles frem Spartanburs Courthouse, but
Jailed TO arrest any of tile parties Tor whom
they were in search. The next morning early
they learned OF the Whereabouts OF some
distilleries and proceeded to the locality, where
they we're reported to be, about four miles
from Turner's. Here they found three dis
tilleries (owned respectively by Messrs. Cautrell,
Iollie and Scruggs,) which they destroyed. AT
Scruggs' still they caught his stepson, Humphrles
by name, whom they took along with them. by
the time these distllerics had been destroyed 1t
was near dark, and the raiders thought about
going into camp to wait until morning before
proceeding to destroy other stills which they
knew were in the vicinity. While on the way to
camp they were nearly surrounded by "whisEey
men, who were armed and threatened ven-
geance upon the revenue officers. The soldiers
and officers proposed TO defend themselves, but
made no other demonstration, and proceeded on
their way, the crowd following them and threat
ening to attack them. observing that in all pro.
bability they would be attacked If they went
further, the raiders determined to go into quar-
ters for the night. Mr. EZell's house was near
by and they took possession of 1t, combining the
family TO the upper story.
SECOND BATTLE OF cowPENs.
Mr.. Ezelrs house is situated upon the old battle.
field Of Cowpcns, made famous By the repulse OF
Murgan's troops by the British during the Rerolu-
tiunary war; AS soon us our raiders took possess
sion Of the house they secured the doors and
windows Of the lower story and prepared to re-
sst any demonstration OF violence from their
pursuers who had surrounded the house ere all
preparations for its defence had been completed.
Tic bcsiegers were about one hundred in num-
Der. They, however, claimed, TO have about two
hundred Yelling to the bcsleged, "There are
only seventeen of you, and we have more than
ten to your one; you had better surrender or
wen clean you out;' you'll get some of us while
we are doing it, perhaps, but woe unto the rest
of you" After this announcement, the be-
scgers commenced advancing upon the house.
Captain Somerhayes ordered them oil, warning
them that he would fire upon them unless
they kept at o distance. whereupon they
retired short distance and resumed tEcir
threats This was eontirued for an hour o: so,