Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-11-09
Misturp ot 8. Gardfimaa...
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
Early Settlement Of South Carolina.

HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Early Settlement Of South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
BATTLE OF FIsHDAM FORD.
When, in September, 1880, the British
commenced to advance into North Carolina,
Colonel afterwards GeneraD Sumter, with
the remnant of bis troops which had escaped
Tarleton at Fishing Greek on the 18th Of
August, was encamped on Clem's Branch.
o. the approach of the British, Sumter found
it necessary to move his camp. He was not
able to resist the onward movement Of the
enemy, and wisdom dictated to get out of his
way as soon as possible.
Before the movement from Clem's Branch
commenced, Col. James Williams, with q
small force which he had collected in North
Carolina, joined Sumter. Williams, it is
said had, but short time previous, received
brigadier generals commission from Gov
ernor Rutledge, Of South Carolina. Williams
claimed the right to command the whole
force, but the men under Sumter refused to
submit to him. The whole forces, notwith.
standing the bad state Of feeling Shich exist.
ed among them on account of the claim set
up by Williams, marched together and cross
ed the Catawba at Wright's ferry. Rawdon
and Tarleton were pressing them closely. So
near we're the two armies together, that the
Americans had scarcslx effected the croaaipe
of the river when the British appeared on the
other side and commenced firing To settle
the dispute between Sumter and Williams,
convention of officers, with Colonel William
Hill as chairman, was called.
The convention decided to send Richard
Winn, Henry Hampton, John Thomas and
John Middleton as commissioners to Governor
Rutledge, who was, at that time, some where
in the neighborhood of Salisbury, North Car
olina These commissioners were instructed
to lay the facte before Governor Rutledge and
report his decision. In the meantime, Sum.
ter was to retire from the army and the com.
mand of all the troops, except those brought
by Williams from North Carolina. devolved
upon Hill and Lacey.
What decision Governor Rutledge made, if
any at all, never, so far as we know, was made
public. The battle of Kings Mountain oc-
Cured soon after, and Williams was mortally
wounded. At Kings Mountain we hear moth.
ing of any claim set up by Williams as an
officer of higher rank than Campbell or any
one else. On the contrary, if any one was
first in command at Kings Mountain, that
one was, by the consent of all, William Camp
bell, of Virginia.
After the battle of Kings Mountain, the
troops from western North Carolina and Vir-
ginia returned beyond the mountains. Hill
and Lacey led the remainder ofthe army down
to what was then Wright's (now VIM. Burris)
mill, on Turkey creek. Here the patriots lay
encamped, when Tarleton, who had been sent
by CORVALLIS to look after Ferguson, lay en-
camped for two days on the hill west of Ross
(now Robert Carnes') mill. On the 18th of
Gctober, Tarleton was ordered to join Corn.
wallis at the Nation Ford on Catawba.
Sometime about the first of November or
last of October, 1880, Sumter joiped Hill and
Lacey, then encamped at what is now Burris'
mill. The brave and patriotic Williams was
dead, and all cause of dispute among both of.
6cers and men was removed. Sumter, by
general consent, took the command and led
the troops against the British and tories on
the west side of Broad river. In order to
keep open communication between Camden
and Ninty.six, the British had erected small
stockade forts at several points 10 the counties
of Union and spartanburg. These posts, Sum-
ter and his men annoyed greatly. They gave
the British and tories no rest. The heroic
Elijah Clark, John Twiggs and Andrew Pick.
ena, with small parties of Georgians, were in
the same region operating in way similar to
that pursued by Sumter. On meeting Clarke
and Twiggs, it was determined to unite the
South Carolina forces, under Sumter, with the
Georgians, under Clarke and Twiggs, and
make an attack upon Ninety.six.
Each of the three officers agreed to furnish
certain number of men. Sumter found that
before he could meet his engagement with
Clarke and Twiggs, he must raise at least
one hundred and fifty men. !. On consultation
with the officers of bis command, it was de.
termined to send number of individuals on
recruiting expedition into what is now the
counties Of York and Chester. The inhabit.
ants of this region Of country we're known to
be true patriots, who neither, asked for Brit
isb protection nor accepted it when offered
them. As the settlers we're all, or nearly all,
ofScotch. Irish descent, four native born Irish
men and Edward Lacey, were sent out to
beat up the needed recruits. The names Of
the four scotch.Irish recruiting officers were
Billy Wylie, grandfather Dr.. A. P. Wyliet
Of Chester; Jimmy johnson, the grandfather
Of James E, johnson, Of Blackstocks, Ches.
ter county, s. c.; Patrick McGrif and Jas, I y,
mi l. -.sAI e.~unHk