Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-06-29

1t would be doing injustice to the memory
of Major Davie, not to mention another at
tack which he made upon the British in the
same region. About FIVE miles from Hanging
Rock, is a place called the Flat Rock. II
takes its name from a fiat rock which covers
near twenty acres of ground. A space cover
ing four acres is naked, nearly fat, with pits
a few inches in depth sunk in the surface
These pits are said to have been dug at an
early period, by the Indians, for the purpose
of holding water. Whilst Major Davie was
securing the country between Waxhaw creek
and Hanging Rock, he learned that wagon
train, loaded with supplies for the garrison at
Hanging Rock, was passing between the lat,
ter place and Camden. The supplies consist
ed of rum, provisions and clothing. The
guard consisted of an escort Of cavalry and
volunteer loyalists. Davie determined to at
tack this supply train. On the twentieth OF
July, at Flat Rock, he came up with it and
captured the whole party. After securing the
prisoners and destroying the wagons, rum and
provisions, he mounted the prisoners on the
captured horses, and set out, at dark, for bis
camp. Captain Petit, with the guides and
detachment of cavalry, led the advance
William Polk, with detachment of cavalry,
took charge of the prisoners. His place was
in the centre. The rear guard was under the
command of Davie himself. Thus far, the
whole affair had been complete success.
About midnight, just as the rear guard had
entered a long lane, the van discovered some
British concealed behind the lane-fence, in a
corn-6eld. Major Davie had calculated that
he would be pursued by the British, and an
attempt made to rescue the prisoners He
regarded this lane as favorable locality for
such an enterprise, and had strictly charged
Captain Petit to advance into the lane and
examine it before the main body came up.
This, from some oversight, Petit failed to do.
So soon as the British were discovered they
we're challenged, but gave no answer. On
being challenged a second time, they answered
with volley of small arms. The whole
Whig force was in the lane. The fire of the
enemy commenced on the right and extended,
in running fire, down to the rear. Davie,
who perceived at once, the condition of things,
rushed to the front and endeavored to push
the men through the lane as quickly as posi-
BILE; but the advance party, under Petit, not
knowing that the enemy were in their rear,
turned back and could not be induced to ad-
vance. This caused the whole force to pass
the ambushed enemy again. All that Davie
could do was to retreat until he got out Of the
reach of the enemy's fire, and then file off
and pass their patrols. This he did very suc-
cessfully, under the circumstances. The less
of the Wings was not great. The fire of the
ambushed force was, through mistake, mainly
directed against the British prisoners. These
being mounted, two on a single horse, suffered
fearfully. Lieutenant Elliott was killed, and
Captain Petit and two men wounded. Davie
and his party reached their camp next morn
ing without any other loss.
After the lighting at Rocky Mount and near
Hanging Rock, the forces under Sumter and
Davie were not discouraged. On the contra
ry, although no decisive victory had been
gained at either place. both men and officers
were anxious to meet the British and loyalists
again. On consultation it was determined
that the respective forces, under Sumter and
Davie, should meet at Landsford on the Ca
tawba on the fifth of August. The Mecklen'
burg militia, under Colonel Irwin and Major
Davies corps, with some volunteers, all
amounting to FIVE hundred, including officers
and men, met, according to arrangement,
Colonels Sumter, Lacy and Hill. at Lands
ford, with three hundred men. Here con-
sultation was held, with reference to what
British post would be next attacked. The
consultation was very unmilitary in one par
ticular. Usually, only the officers consult
when and how the enemy shall be attacked ;
but in this consultation the men claimed all
the Importance that usually attaches only to
the officers. Both officers and men concluded
that, all things considered, Hanging Rock
presented the most favorable point for an at
tack by force such as was then assembled.
No doubt the facts pertaining to Hanging
Rock post were better understood by Davie
than any other officer present. He and his
corps had been in its vicinity often, and on
two occasions to the great detriment of the
loyalists.
The post at Hanging Rock was garrisoned
by Colonel Bryan's North Carolina loyaists,
part of Colonel Brownies Georgia and South
Carolina loyalists; the infantry of Colonel
Tarleton's legion, and the Prince of Wales
American regiment. The whole amounted to
about eight hundred men, mostly loyalists'
and all under the command of Major Garden.
The disposition of the British forces was
judiciously made. Hanging Rock creek was
in the rear; on the right flank was the Brit
ish regulars on the left flank was the North
Carolina tory regiment. The centre was held
by part Of Tarleton's legion and Hamilton'8
regiment of loyslists. The centre was separa,
ted from the left flank by skirt of woods.
Such was the position held by the troops in
the centre, that it could not be assailed with
out exposing those who attacked it to des'
tructive fire. The troops in the centre were
provided with three FOUNDER, and were pro-
tected by deep ravine. Captain McCullock
commanded the centre
About dark on the evening of the fifth Of
August, Sumter, Davie, Lacey, Irwin, Hill
and the troops under them, set out from the