Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-06-22
Misturp nt 8. Garuliua.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
EarIv Settlement of South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
GENERAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
MOUNT. .-..-.

'. BY REV ROBERT LATHAM.
GENERAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
MOUNT. -..-.;
In order that we may have clear and dis
tinct knowledge of the subsequent move.
ments of the contending powers, it is neces-
sary that we have correct and exact knowl-
edge of the disposition of the British forces
in South Carolina. When, on the 9th Of
June, 1880, Sir Henry Clinton set out for
New York, the command of the Southern di-
vision of the British army in America, was
entrusted to Lieutenant General Earl Corn
wallis. No better selection could have been
made. CORVALLIS was a soldier BY choice
and soldier by profession. Brave, energet-
ic and skillful, be entered upon the discharge
of his duty as soldier. In this particular
instance, however, not because he thought it
was right in the English government to sub
iugate the North American colonies, but be-
cause, as a soldier, he felt that it was his
duty to obey. The subaltern officers designed
to assist in executing the task assigned him,
were, generally, skillful leaders, and some Of
them we're dashing heroes. '@
To keep South Carolina and Georgia in
subjection, and when the proper time arrived,
to subdue North Carolina, Sir Henry Clinton
left CORVALLIS six thousand and five hundred
effective troops. These troops were British
regulars, hired Hessians, and Loyalists from
the colonies. This force, to all human ap-
pearances, was more than sufficient. Both
Georgia and South Carolina were lying pros
trate, at least in appearance, at the feet of the
British lion. Still, it was the design of the
British commander to augment his force by
enrolling the loyalists scattered over the State.
So soon as the force was sufficiently strong,
and the season Of the year and the supplies
Of the country would warrant it, the COM
mander contemplated marching into North
Carolina, and having reduced that State, then
to continue his progress northward until
junction was formed with the Northern di.
vision of his Majesty's forces. In vision, both
Clinton and CORVALLIS saw the American
forces melting away and the British flag
waving in triumph, from Boston to Savannah.
It was dream, and like most dreams, never
realized. so.
To keep Georgia and South Carolina in
subiection, and be convenient, at the proper
time, to advance northward, the following
disnosition was made of the British forces in
the South: Savannah, the capital of Geor-
gia, was garrisoned by corps Of Hessians
and loyalists, under the command of Colonel
Alured Clark !; Augusta was entrusted to COL
onel Thomas Brown, a tory. His forces con-
sisted mostly Of loyalists from the adjacent
regions o. South Carolina and Georgia.
Lord Rawdon, With the twenty.third and thir-
ty-third regiments of infantry, legion OF
volunteers from Ireland, Brown and Hamil-
toms corps of loyalists, and detachment Of
artillery, was stationed at Camden. Major
Macarthur, with the seventy-6rst regiment Of
regulars, was stationed at Cheraw; Lieuten-
ant. Colonel Balfour was placed in command
of a garrison at Ninety-Six, and Lieutenant.
Colonel Turnbull was stationed at Rocky
Mount, on the Catawba. Brigadier-General
Patterson, with three regiments of British
regulars, two battalions of Hessians, q de.
tachment of artillery, and whatever number
of loyalists he could gather up, was stationed
at Charleston. At several other points, as
necessity seemed to require, small detach-
ments were stationed.
Taking everything into consideration, one
would suppose that there was not even a pos
sibility for South Carolina and Georgia to
make even an attempt to release themselves
from the heel of the invader. AS we have
already seen, when Buford's command, on the
29th of May, 1880, was cut to pieces by
Tarleton, the patriots had no armed forces
left in the State. Instead of giving up in
despair, those who could do 80, left. the State
and began to prepare for renewing the con-
fict. ..'"
Ithas been customary to say that the ap-
proach of General Gates, at the head of
considerable number of continental troops,
infused life into the people of the two Carroll.
mas. This is not true. Sumter, Marion, Pick
ems, Clarke, Rutherford, Locke, Davie, d.
wilson, and multitude of others, we're pre-
pairing to meet the British.
The progress of the enemy through the coun-
try was announced, by refugees from Geor-
gia and South Carolina, to the Wings in Wes-
tern North Carolina and South Western Vir.
ginia. Campbell, Shelby, Sewer, Mcdowell
and other patriotic spirits, determined to aid
their kindred and their friends. The Wings
of the whole of Upper South Carolina, North
ern Georgia and Southwestern North Caro-
lima, we're concerning measures to drive the
Kings troops and the Kings friends from the
shores of North America.
After the defeat of Huyck at William
sons, on the 18th Of July, 1880, those Of the
British and loyalists who escaped, made their
way to Rocky Mount. The Wings dispersed
some going home, and others joining Sumter
at Clem's Branch. As is generally the case,
victory had infused life and energy into the
minds of the Wings in all the region around
Williamson's. Sumter's army, at Clem's
Branch, began to increase rapidly. The
Wings of Fairfield, Chester, York and Lam
caster counties, were not long in discovering
that Clem's Branch was safe retreat, and
that Thomas Sumter was competent to lead a
partisan corps TO victory.
What was Joy to the Wings, was sorrow to
the British and Tories. Fear and trembling
seized the whole fraternity, from CORVALLIS
down to the meanest thieving Tory. After
the fall of Charleston, and the establishing Of
r ~ ha I'M oountry tbav