Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-11-23
sAistpru pf s. Gara,lIiua. l,!I
HIsToRIcAL SKETCHES
Nv settlement iof South Carolina,
! By sEY. RoBBBT,l LATHAM.


O 9s,ei ;4sll.s.' ~ :
S VA BIZ Rev. ROBERT LATHAM. a. =. ~
THE BATTLE OF BLAcKsTocKs.
SImmedisteiyy afsr the battle Of Fishdam
Ford, Sumter crossed Broad river and was
ioined By the partisan forces ID that region.
iAs,already stated, plans had been concerted
and preparations made for attacking Ninety
Six, he principal British post in the upper
portion of South Carolina west of Broad river.
So 'soonAas the British troops, which had been
sen. against Sumter at Fishdam Ford, return
ed to WiApsboro, CORVALLIS sent dispatch
to Tarletog, who was At that time in the re-
pion between the Santee and the Black rivers,
begging him to return Immediately. In his
dispatch To Terleton, Cornwailis says: II am
under the greatest anxiety for Ninety.six, and
trust you will lpse no time in returning to
me-" The overthrow Of Wemyss and his de-
tachment filled tie mind Of Earl CORVALLIS
with fears, lest Ninety Six and all the posts
west Of Broad rivsr would fall into the hands
ofsumter and hS partisans. go.
Corvallis haH really been. driven back
from Charlotte, and now he began to fear that
10 the fortunes sf war, he might be forced to
retire from Wi1nsboro to some more safe po.
sition. Tarlepn promptly obeyed the orders
ofhis commander. Agreeable to Instructions,
he left number of horses at Camden for the
purpose Of 1ounting some infantry. The 10y
aiists ii thsSantee river being greatly dispir-
tied, be encouraged them; and having con-
certed some plans with the commander at
Camden by which intelligence Of any threat
ened dapger to the line of posts between Nine
ty-six and Camden might be made known,
witbt6e utmost dispatch he crossed the Wa
teree river. Here he was met by courier
frons Earl CORVALLIS, instructing him 70 take
the most direct route leading to Ninety-Six.
Passing through the southern portion Of Fair
field county, hecrossed Broad river near the
point where Aston station, on the Greenville
and Columbia Railroad, is located.
= When Sumter crossed Broad river-perhaps
on the ninth of November in connection
with the partisan leaders, Clarke, Thomas,
Brannon, Bratton, Taylor, Chandler, rwiggs,
Mccall and Hammond, concerted plans for
making an attack upon .Ninety-Six. In the
region between Broad river and Ninety-Six,
the British had supplies collected at three
points-at Summers mill, at Captain Faust's,
and at Williams, fifteen miles from Ninety
Six. At each of these points, q few British
troops were stationed, and to them the loyal.
ists in great numbers, focked. 1t was con.
cluded by. Sumter and the other partisan
leaders, first to take these posts and then con-
centrats all their forces and make the contem.
plated attack upon the strong post of Ninety
Six. .. ..
On crossing Broad river at Fishdam Ford,
Sumter directed his course down the river.
Colonel Taylor, of South Carolina, and Colo.
mel Chandler, of Georgia, with small de-
tachment, were sent out to break up the Brit.
ish post at Summers, bring away the sup.
plies and gain what intelligence they could Of
the movements of the enemy. Lieutenant
Colonel Williamson, of Georgia, and Major
Hammond, of South Carolina, with detach-
ment similar to that under Taylor and Chan
dler, were sent, for like purpose, against the
post at Faust's. Whilst these detachnents
we're attempting to accomplish the object for
which they had been sent out, Sumter receiv-
ed information that Tsrleton had returned
from the low country. This fact necessarily
caused Sumter to change his plans. He de-
termined to retreat, but leisurely, that the two
detsehmenss might be enabled to join him.
Evidently, the advance of Sumter towards
Ninety-Six had greatly alarmed the British.
When CORVALLIS instructed Tarleton to cross
the Wateree river and take the most direct
route to Ninety-Six, he sent strong detach.
ment, consisting of the frat battalion of the
ssysnty.frst regiment. under, Major Near.
thur, and q portion of the sixty'third regi-
ment. under Lieutenant Money, to join Tarle.
ton 90 soon as he would arrive at Broad river.
No doubt the troops stationed at Summers
mills, at Captain Fausts, at Williams and at
Ninety.Six, had been informed of the In
tended attack upon the part of the Wings.
From Faust's, and perhaps from Summers
mills, the garrison had been removed.
Before Tarleton reached Broad river, he
learned that the Americans were on the oppo'
site bank. That the patriots might be de-
ceiyed, Tarletou ordered his troops to conceal
their uniforms in order to deceive Sumter.
The American militia dreaded Tarleton and
His legion more than any command in the
British army. He was brave and daring,
and at the same time wickedly, cruel The
green uniform in which the legion was clad,
made the hearts Of the undisciplined Wings
tremble, whilst they dreaded the red coats
but little. There was mutual dread exist
ing between Tarleton and the Wing militia.
At Waxhaw, be had acted so cruelty as to
make his very name feared, hated and detess'
eddy every Wbig. On the other hand, Tarle.
ton knew that be was doomed man, and
fsared.to fall into the hands Of the Wings, for
he was persuaded that his life would be sac:
rifced at once. .l.sf ..aS IN - .=s-.:
Having reached Broad river with tAe green
uniform Of his legion concealed, be ordered
Major Macarthur to lire two pieces Of cannon
1T the Americans on the west bank Of the
river. As the Wings had no cannon, they