Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-09-07

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American officers and put them in possession
of the gate, = - -, ~, ..,aa5j
About the time that Patrick Moore surren.
dered, Major Patrick Ferguson arrived in the
Niuety.Six district His command consisted
of one hundred choice regulars. The loyal
lists, to the number of more than q thousand,
soon Joined him. His camp soon became the
rendezvous Of all the desperadoes Of the re-
gion. His name attracted swarms ef tories.
Although his command at first consisted of
only one hundred British regulars, he soon
found himself at the head of an army Of more
than two thousand men. The greater part of
these we're natives, but they were decidedly
better soldiers than his regulars. Ferguson
was ordered to take possession Of all the strong
places in the district, enroll and discipline the
militia, and, in one word, do everything in
his power to strengthen the royal cause and
crush the spirits of the Wings. I Q effect this
object, public meetings were called, and the
men and officers of Gibbs, Plummers, Cum
ningham's, Clairy's, Kings and Kirkland's
battalions Of militia, passed resolutions that
every loyalist must be ready, at moments
warning, to rush to the contest. Those who
Jagged behind we're to be regarded as the
common enemies of the loyal cause, and were
threatened with the con6scation of their prop
erty. Those who failed to join their regi-
ments promptly when called upon, were or
dered to be forced into the British regular
army. Everything appeared bright on the
side of the British. The Wings we're silent
from prudence, and the tories and loyalists
were as much elated as if they had not a foe
in the land. The rapidity with which Fer
guson's army was increased, the zeal Of the
loyalista and tories in the country, together
with the acknowledged ability of Ferguson
himself, as an officer, was sufficient to dispirit
the Wings. .
Such, however, was not the case. Colonel
Mcdowell had his eye upon Ferguson. He
knew the record of the men in his command.
Many of them had been warriors from their
youth. They had met painted savages at
the mouth of the Kenhawa; they had seen
the British at Brier creek, Kettle creek, Au-
gusta and Savannah. Many of them had
been made homeless by fires kindled by an
Invading foe. With implicit confidence in
Colonels Shelby and Clarke, Colonel Mellow
ell. detached them, with about six hundred
mounted riAemen, to wstch the movements
of Ferguson. The instructions given these
officers we're to hang around the camp of Fer
guson and cut off bis foraging parties. Fer
puson was, in the meantime, watching for an
opportunity to cut of Shelby and Clarke,
and these men were no less anxious to dash in
upon the foraging parties of Ferguson.
Although Shelby and Clark were sent BY
Mcdowell for the same general purpose, With
the understanding that they would act in con-
cert each seems to have acted separately
and alone but still in such way as to be
mutual aid, the one to the other. This occa-
stoned some confusion in the. narration of the
deeds accomplished by the party. What was
actually accomplished BY Clark and the men
in his command, is sometimes spoken of as
being the joint work Of both Shelby and
Clark with their united commands.
On Colonel Clarke's march from Georgia,
to ioin Mcdowell at Cherokee ford, he de-
tached Samuel Alexander, with squad of
men, to scour the Ninety-Six region and learn
the strength and operations of the British.
Alexander Joined his commander, probably
very soon after Shelby and Clarke left Nc
Dowell's camp, at Cherokee ford. The report
of Alexander was, in substance, that Major
Ferguson, with detachment of men, various
ly reported from two to FIVE hundred, was out,
in what is now Spartanburg county, on a re-
cruiting expedition. The object Of the British
officer was to increase the number of his cav
airy from the people of the country. To Of
feet his purpose, many individuals who had
been paroled and promised the privilege Of
remaining peaceably at home, were impressed.
On receiving this information, Col. Clarke
proposed to his men, all of whom, or at least
the majority of whom, were Georgians, that
they set out at once in search of this recruit
ing party. This was on the afternoon of the
both of July, 1880. Clarke's command,
which was about one hundred strong
mounted-readily agreed to the proposition Of
their commander. All hands went to work,
and preparations were soon made for the ex-
pedition. Guns we're put in shooting order,
and those that could, replenished their haver.
sacks with food. About sunset they were
Joined by Hammond, Mccall and Lidde, each
with few men, amounting in all to about
eighty The whole force now numbered one
hundred and sixty-eight The troops were
mustered and the line of march was taken up
through the woods and over mere foot paths.
Nothing was heard of the enemy during the
night. Some time during the next day, it was
learned that a scouting party of tories was
plundering through the country, at some dis
tance from the main command under Fergu-
son. Their horses we're spurred on, with the
hope that this scouting tory party might be
surprised and cut of: The camp was reached,
but they failed to surprise the tories.
At q distance of some three miles, Clarke
and his men rode round the tory camp, taking
the road leading from Bobo's mill, in the d.
roct;on. of Rerwick's iron works, At the iron