Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-06-15

two counties It was now determined to drive
Huyck and Ferguson from the county. About
the time that Lacey. Bratton and Mcclure de-
termined to drive Huyck's forces from the
Fishing creek region, Colonels Hill and Neil
were sent over the Catawba, to beat up re.
cruits for Sumter's army, then forming on
Clem's branch. When Hill and Neil heard
that Bratton, Lacey and Mcclure had deter
mined to attack Huyck and Ferguson, they
at once concluded to join in with these pat
riots. Hill and Neil had one hundred and
thirty.three men. Ajunction was formed and
the united forces amounted to more than five
hundred men. 1t was determined to attack
Huyck and Ferguson during the night of the
18th of July at Whites, now Willitord's
mill. 1t was concerted that Captain Nc
Lure and a party under him, should be
sent out. during the day, to reconnoitre, and
that the whole force should be in the, neigh
borhood before dark. About sundown all ar
rived within few hundred yards Of the mill,
and having tied their horses in the woods,
without any commander, arranged themselves
into platoons of six and commenced to march
for Huyck's camp. Just at this moment the
FIRST platoon, in which was Lacey, was met by
McLure and his accommodating party, who
told them that Huyck had decamped during
the day, and had gone to what is now Brat
tonville, ten miles South of Yorkville. A
consultation was held by the leading spirits,
and it was determined to follow Huyck and
Ferguson and attack them that night, as they
were distant only about fifteen miles. The
word was given, "March to your horses"
Some of those who had not learned that tbe
enemy was gone, supposiug that the command,
"march to your horses" meant "retreat,"
rushed, with all possible speed to their horses,
and so great was the effect upon the minds Of
one hundred and fifty, that having mounted
their horses, they never stopped till they
reached Charlotte, North Carolina. So soon
as the facts in the case were learned, every
thing became quiet and another consultation
was held. 1t was again determined to make
an attack upon the British and tories before
morning. They had only three hundred and
fifty men. They set out on Huyck's trail and
had 40 difficulty in following it. Colonel
Lacay's father lived only few miles from
BrattoH's, where it was thought the enemy was
encamped. As was not uncommon in the
Revolutionary war, old Lacey was an uncom-
promising loyalist and so was his son Reuben;
but his son Edward was as uncompromising
a Whig Edward Lacey knew that his father,
if he learned that the Wings were about to
attack the British, would be sure to to the
British camp and announce the fact. TO pre-
vent this, Edward Lacey sent detail of four
men to guard his father until morning, and as
be knew his father to be both shrewd and
determined man, he gave them permission to
tie him. The guard finding that the old man
could be controlled in no other way, did actu-
ally tie him, and thus prevented him from
frustrating the plans of his son and the other
patriots.
Having arrived in the neighborhood of
Bratton's, Colonel Edward Lacey and Capt.
John Mills, the grandfather Of Thomas S.
Mills, of Chesterville, were sent out to learn
the exact position of the enemy's camp. They
learned that Reuben Lacey, the brother of
Colonel Edward Lacey had gone, the evening
before, to the British carp. Edward knew
that his brother. was an ear, riser and that
he would be certain to return home in the
morning before daylight. The two scouts,
Mills and Lacey, placed themselves near by
the road which they knew Reuben Lacey
would be obliged to travel in returning home.
Here they waited quietly his return. Ed
ward Lacey vas right in his conjecture. Be-
fore day, Reuben came along. He was blind
of one eye, and what was somewhat remarka'
BILE, he rode horse that was blind of one eye,
and he had dog which was blind of one eye.
This dog followed him everywhere he went.
So soon as blind Reuben, on his blind horse,
followed by his blind dog, came nearly oppo-
site to the place occupied by Edward Lacey
and John Mills, be was accosted by Mills, in
feigned voice, with the demand, "Who
comes there?"
"A friend"
"A friend of whom ?"
"Of the British"
$50 are we; where is the camp?"
cat Williamson's two miles ahead"
"Where are the sentinels posted?"
"One is north of Williamson's, on the road,
at the branch another is half way between
Bratton's and Willamson's; one about one
hundred yards south of Williamson's house
and another is east of Williamson's, towards
the creek"
This was all that the scouts desired to
know. They bid blind Reuben Lacey good
morning, and hastened to communicate the
important information TO their comrades. The
plan of attack was soon determined on. The
whole force was divided into two divisions;
one to be led by Bratton and Neil, and the
other to be led by Edward Lacey. Bratton
and Neil were to lead their men up the road
which passed by Wilismson's house, whilst
Lacey was to lead his men down the same
road. The divisions were to meet at Will
iamson's James Moore, understanding the
locality, acted as guide for Lacey. At the
branch the sentinel was found posted, but was
asleep. Samuel Williamson, the son Of James
Williamson, at whose house Huyck and Fer