Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-04-27
Aisturp ut 8. Garnlima:
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Early Settlement Of South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
THE FIGHT, AT sTONO.

BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM,
THE FIGHT AT sTONO. tr'
While the British were engaged in crossing
from James Island to Johns Island, General
Lincoln thought it favorable opportunity to
attack their forces in detachment. On the
4tb of June, he moved down in the neighbor-
hood ofStono. It was his intention to at once
attack the van of the British army; but after
close examination OF the ground and the po-
sition of the enemy troops, he thought it best
to decline the assault at that time.
About two weeks after General Lincoln had
taken his position near Stono, General Pre-
vost detached Lieutenant Colonel Provost and
sent him, with portion Of the British army,
to Savannah. A bridge, connecting Johns
Island with the main land, had been built out
of boats. These had been taken away for the
purpose of transporting the troops, under the
command of Colonel Provost, to Savannah.
Lieutenant Colonel Maitland, a gallant off.
Ger, was placed in command of the British
post at Stono, on the main land. His forces
consisted of English, Hessians and a regiment
of North Carolina loyalists In all, they
amounted to FIVE hundred men. In some re-
spects, the British under Colonel Maitland
were favorably situated; in other respectsthey
we're not. Since the bridge of boats had been
removed, communication with the main body
of the army, which was yet on James Island,
was difficult. As they had been there for
some time, they we're fortified and both their
wings rested on swamps which, although not
impossible, could only be crossed with diff
Guilty. ~
In this position, General Lincoln deter
mined to attack Colonel Maitland. General
Moultrie was ordered to set out from Charles
ton, with body of six hundred troops under
his command, and take possession Of james
Island. From thence, he was to pass over to
Johns Island. The object of this movement,
on the part of General Moultrie, was to divert
the attention of General Provost fsoG; Gener-
al Lincoln, and prevent reinforcements from
being sent to Colonel Maitland. The order
of battle and plan of attack were well con-
ceived and did General Lincoln great credit
In fact, he gave more evidence of military
talent on this occasion, than he ever did be-
fore CRATER. The Highlanders were regarded
as the best troops in the British army. Gen.
eral Lincoln knew that these were placed on
the enemy's right. Opposed to these, Gener.
al Lincoln placed his Continental troops, COM
manded by General Jethro Summer. The
Hessians we're posted on Colonel Maitland's
left. Opposed to these, General Lincoln
placed Brigadier. General Butler, with the
North Carolina militia. The loyal North
Carolina regiment, commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel Hamilton, composed the British CEN
tire. General Lincoln's fanks were covered
by two bodies of light troops, Colonel Malme-
dy commanding the one, and Lieutenant Col
onel Henderson the other. General Lincoln's
reserve consisted Of the cavalry and some
Virginia militia, commanded by General
Mason.
It was planned that the assault should be
made on the morning of the 10th Of June
On the 10Th, General Lincoln put bis army
in motion, and on the 10th, in accordance
with the previous arrangements with General
Moultrie, he led his troops, disposed as we
have stated, to the attack. Colonel Matt
lands pickets were driven in, and Of two com.
panies of Highlanders that came to their as.
sistance, only nine escaped being cut to pieces.
This encouraged the American troops, and it
was determined to rush forward upon the ene-
my with fixed bayonets. The American
troops advanced steadily to within sixty yards
of the enemy's works, when heavy fire was
opened by the entrenched foe. Here the
American troops, contrary to orders, halted
and began to return the fire. For half an
hour the firing was sharp, and the enemys
left was driven back. Colonel Maitland, in,
an instant, threw bis Highlanders to bis left,
and supplied their vacancy with his reserves.
The Hessians, which had been posted on the
left and who had given back, we're again raj
lied and brought into line. General Lincoln
was enraged that bis troops had not carried
out his orders to charge bayonet, but had COM
menced to fire as soon as they we're fred upon.
That his original plan might be carried out,
he ordered the troops to cease firing. This
order was obeyed. Again be ordered them to
charge bayonet, but again the troops began to
fire. Just at this juncture General Provost
was crossing over the ferry on the stono for
the purpose of assisting Colonel Maitland.
General Lincoln now ordered a retreat. This
produced some confusion, and Colonel Matt
land rushed out with all his available force to
the pursuit, but the American cavalry dashed
in upon him and enabled the forces under
General Lincoln to get away in tolerable or
der. ........ ........ =
In the arrangement of bis troops, General
Lincoln gave evidence of his military talent;
but in the mode of attack his judgment was
at fault. Along the whole British front there
was an abattis. Besides this, they were en-
trenched, and their field pieces properly 10
Gated. Instead of making the attack on the
front, General Lincoln should have directed
his fire upon the British fanks. 1t was also
a grand mistake in placing the issue of the
undertaking on the bayonet. It was in an
open field, and in every charge bis men were
exposed to murderous FIRE. Situated as he
was, General Lincoln might have known that
success, by bis mode Of attack, would have
been equivalent to ruin. Lincoln had more
than twice as many men as Maitland, and bic
troops fought we'll. 4, i. II .ts /, +, ~ es!, ,.y