Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-09-21
Misturp uf s. Gatnlina.

r, HISTORICAL SKETCHES
--. ,.. OF THE
Early Settlement of South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
BATTLE OF MUsGROvE's MILLS.
Soon after the battle of Cedar Springs, a
junction was formed by Colonel Bratton, of
York; Colonel Williams, of Laurens; Colo.
mel Shelby, of Tennessee; (then North Caro-
lima or Virginia., Colonel Clarke, Of Georgia,
together with Hammond, Mccall and Liddle,
of the Ninety-Six brigade. Each of these Of
6cers had a few men who followed him, and
voluntarily regarded him as their commander.
Shelby and Clarke had the largest force, and
each of them had only about one hundred
men. The force under Williams was the next
largest, and the commands Of Hammond,
Bratton, Mccall and Liddle, consisted Of a
few of their neighbors, who were banded to-
gether for the purposes of oAsnse and defense.
Clarke was evidently the leading spirit. Not
that he was the best officer or bravest man !;
but, since the fall of Georgia, he and the men
in his command had suffered greatly, and
we're thirsting for vengeance. Colonel Clarke's
house was first plundered and then burned,
ard his family ordered to leave the State.
Many Of his men had shared similar fate.
The cruel treatment which they had received
at the hands of the victorious foe, had goaded
them to desperation. Clarke was burning
with rage, and he longed for an opportunity
to chastise the enemies of his country. He
was constantly on the look out for small par
ties of British and tories.
The junction Of these troops, from regions
far distant from each other, was formed near
the head waters of Broad river, in Cleveland
county, North Carolina. General Mcdowell,
with small force, was encamped on Broad
river, near the Cherokee Ford. Mcdowell
was the highest officer in command in that
region of country, and his camp was, by
common consent, regarded as place of gen.
eral rendezvous. Prudence dictated to Nc
Dowell to move his camp as frequently as
possible. His safety and the safety of the re-
gion, demanded this. ....
The American forces having been success
full in the enterprises against the tories under
Patrick Moore, and the British and tories
under Dunlap, at Cedar Springs, determined
to continue what had been so favorably be-
gun. Their intention of making another
raid into the country then occupied by the
enemy, was communicated to- General Nc.
Dowell, then in camp near Smiths Ford, on
-Bruad river.s= FFhhis Dfiicssa approvsd of rhss
plan, and promised his cooperation.
In order that the movements of the enemy
might be ascertained, two individuals weresent
out to make tour of observation through
the territory now embraced by the counties Of
South Carolina, west of Broad river and
north of Hamburg. These individuals soon
discovered that party of two hundred tories
were encamped on the Enoree river, at Mus
groves Mills. 1t was determined to set out
as soon as possible and attack them. Gener-
al Mcdowell was consulted, and gave his
hearty approval of the projected movement
Musgrove's Mills are in the northeast cor.
ner of Laurens county, on the Enoree river
These mills have, since 1880, passed through
several hands and been known by various
names. At present they are known as Var
borough's Mills.
The tories were encamped on the south side
of the Enoree. Opposite them was rocky
ford, and regarded as very bad. This gave
the tories ground to conclude that they
could not be approached by an enemy from
the mountain region. On the 18th of Au-
gust, the day that Gates was defeated near
Camden, the partisan leaders Of the Ameri'
cans were informed of the tory encampment.
On the afternoon of the 18th, they set out,
and short time before night crossed Broad
river at Smith Ford. Here they halted, fed
their horses and refreshed themselves.
On the night of the 18th, Colonel Bratton,
with the troops under his immediate command,
set out to visit his own neighborhood, intend
ing to join the party before they would reach
the tory camp. Either because he found
something to do in the vicinity Of his own
home, or, which is more probable, because the
troops under Clarke, Shelby and Williams
marched directly on to Musgroves Mills, Brat
ton did not rejoin them until the battle was
over. About sun down, Shelby, Clarke and
Williams, with their respective commands,
set out for the tories on the Enoree. The dis
tance was about forty miles. Gen. Mcdowell
accompanied them for short distance, and
then returned to his camp near Smiths Ford.
Between the camp of Mcdowell, and the
tory camp on Enoree, Colonel Ferguson, with
his whole force, had stationed himse 1t
was absolutely necessary for these partisan
leaders to keep clear of Ferguson.
At sun down, on the evening of the 18th Of
August, 1880, day made memorable by the
surprise of the brave Sumter at Fishing Creek,
the detachment of about six hundred horse
men set out through the woods to make a
march of forty miles in the night. In order
to evade Ferguson, they took road which led
them by the Briton's camp in safety. The
party had good guides; by whose assistance
they reached the neighborhood of Musgrove's
Mills just at dawn of day.
The party had hoped to be able to surprise
the tories, but on approaching the neighbor-
hood of the camp, they were met by strong