Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-02-24
Mistprg IT 8. Garaliua.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Early Settlement of South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.

BY REV, ROBERT LATHAM.
REGULATORS AND sCoyILLITEs.
The successful defence of Fort Moultrit
against the British under Parker and Clinton
had most decided effect upon all parties
The tories and loyalists began to fear for theil
sovereign's power in. America, and the Whig'
came to the conclusion that it was possible
for them to throw off the British yoke and be
free.
For period of about three years after the
battle of Fort Moultrie, the State of South
Carolina, although she was one of the thirteen
colonies which had solemnly pledged theil
lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor
to resist to death the unjust acts of the Brit
ish government, enjoyed comparative peace
Her SONS Aocked BY the hundreds to the Nor
thern colonies to aid in vanquishing the com
mon Toe. The distinction North and Soutf
did not then exist Massachusetts loved South
Carolina, and South Carolina cherished nc
less love for Massachusetts, From June 18th
1776, to January, 1779, the war was carried
on, principally, in the States north Of the 20
tomac. It was not, however, during these
three years, period of perfect tranquility.
For more than ten years prior to the com
mencement of hostilities between the colonies
and Great Britain, there had existed in South
Carolina two parties, which cherished towarc
each other bitter hatred. These parties were
at different times, known by different names
but the same individuals composed them.
When the up country was settling up,
vast multitude of strangers were brought int
contact With one another, and still they were
totally different from each other in theil
manners and customs, and especially in theil
notions of civil government. Some were in
tensely loyal, whilst others were as intensely
republican. There was also not few whe
came to the up country for no other purpose
than that they might live free from all the
restraints of law and good order. They were
thieving set of fellows, and contemplated
amassing fortunes by stealing horses and ne
groes. The order-loving portion Of the In
habitants were kept in state OF constant
dread by these desperadoes .r
Prior to 1859 there was no general court
except in Charleston. There were magis
trates' courts, the jurisdiction Of which extend
ed to all sums below twenty pounds. Te
catch and convey to Charleston one Of these
horse-thieves for trial, was no small job. Tht
probability was that after being captured, h
would be rescued by his partners in crime; or
if brought to trial, he would be saved from
suffering the penalties of the law by the false
swearing of his fellows. s l...a..
As early as 1862 the inhabitants Of the Pc
dee and Lyncb's creek region, presented pc
tition praying that Craven county might bt
divided, and that for the portion situated ir
the east, twelve Justices be appointed, With
out fee or reward, "to hear and determine
all cases, as we'll civil as criminal" These
petitioners of the Pedee region were lsborine
under great burden in that they were sur
rounded by set Of horse-thieves and cut
tbfoats. The western section of the State
that portion between the Broad and Saluda
rivers. was full of these desperadoes. This
was chosen by them as kind of headquarters
whence they sailed out in all directions tc
the great annoyance Of peaceable citizens.
Thomas Woodward, who lived in the region
that is now embraced in Fairfield county, to-
gether with Barnaby Pope and Joseph Kirk.
land, got upan organization which was called
the "Regulation," and the members Of which
were called Regulators" The Regulators
went to work with zeal to remedy the evils
under which the county groaned. 1t was ev-
identity their intention, at first, to do good by
Furnishing outlaws; but sometimes they per.
mitted their judgment to be controlled BY
their individual feelings. Horse-thieVes and
other violators of the rights of Others were
hunted up, and according to the statutes OF
the Regulators, were given thirty-nine lashes
on the naked back. In many instances noto-
rious characters were dealt with more severe
" and some we're shot when attempting to
escape. i. .,a '..@-. -.a .'it".t'
The horse-thieves were more numerous
than the Regulators at first supposed them to
he. The line of demarcation between the
Regulators and the horse-thieves, and horse
thief sympathisers, soon became clear and
distinct. The people began to arm them.
selves, and civil war seemed to be not far
distant. To prevent this, Governor Montague
appointed one Scovill to act as a kind of ar
bitrator, with unlimited powers, of the diff
culties existing amongst the citizens. scovill
was a most consummate villain. He es-
poused the cause of the horse-thieves, with
whom he was no doubt in league, and as if
war had been already declared, prepared for
the conflict. The horse-thieves and rufians
Hocked to his, standard. The Regulators
armed themselves and determined to resist
the government as administered by ScoVill.
The two parties confronted each other on
the plantation Of John Musgrove, afterward q
tory Colonel. 1t was on the Saluda river, in
what is now Newberry county. scovill sum-
moned the Regulators to surrender. This
they did not do, and yet there was no one
killed, although scme shots were exchanged.
1t appears that some of the more prudent of
both parties interfered and put stop to the
strife. The parties separated without a bat
tie, but still their love for each other was not
increased nor their hatred diminished.
Tradition has preserved most laughable
which took place whilst the two
parties were drawn up in battle array.
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