Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-08-10


patriots. When they we're burned, the Wings
in all the upper section Of South Carolina,
and Of the adjoining counties Of North Caro-
lima, regarded it as a sore calamity. Some
idea of the value set upon these works can be
obtained from the following anecdote: Some
time, whilst the struggle for independence
was going on, the good people Of portion Of
Rutherford county, North Carolina, set apart
day for public prayer. tch-Irishman,
by the name of John Miller, an elder in the
Presbyterian church, was called upon to lead
in prayer. With reverence, and in his native
tongue, the venerable man proceeded as fol-
lows: "Good Lord, our God, thou art in
Heaven. We have great reasons to thank
thee for the many favors we have received at
thy hands; for the many battles we have won.
There is the great and glorious battle OF
Kings Mountain, where we kilt the great Gin-
eral Ferguson, and took his whole army; and
the great battles of Ramsour's Mill and Will
liamson's and the ever.memorable battle OF
the Coopens, where the proud Gineral Tarle-
ton run doom the road helter-skelter; and good
Lord if ye had no suffered the cruel tories to
burn Belly HeVs iron works, we would "a
have asked any mair favors at thy hands"
Not only was iron for agricultural purposes
made at Hills works, but also ordnance for
the army.
The party entrusted with their destruction
set out from Williford's Mill, on Fishing creek,
and proceeded up the Catawba as far as the
place now known as Indian Hook. Here
they commenced the work Of destruction. On
the plantation now owned by William n.
simril, there lived at that timsd man by the
name of James Simril. In the orchard of
William N. simril stood the barn Of James
simril. This, together with four horses, was
burned by the tories. This accomplished,
the party set out for the iron works.
On their way, they forced man by the
name of Henderson, (the same man that was
accustomed to kill deer at the Adickes corner
in Yorkville,) to show them ford on the
creek below the works. The people had
been, for some time, expecting that an attempt
would be made to destroy the works, and had
taken most of the cannvl balls and thrown
them into hole in the creek not far below
the works. These balls are in the creek yet.
After Henderson had piloted the party across
the creek, and given them all the information
they desired, they stripped him and whipped
him severely, and then went off and left him
tied to tree.
William and Robert Hill, sons Of Colonel
William Hill, part owner Of the iron works,
determined that they would resist the attempt
of the British to burn their fathers property.
Although but boys they prepared swivel,
which carried pound.ball, and mounted it
on top of stump on the high hill north OF
Allison creek. When these brave boys learn
ed that the British we're apploaching. which
fact was announced to the whole neighborhood
BY the burning Of simrips barn, they took
their stand behind their swivel and waited tor
the advancing foe. They thought that the
tory party would advance to the iron works
from the direction of Allison Greek Church.
In this direction they had pointed their loaded
swivel, and in this direction they looked iof
the tories. Before they were aware, the par;
ty noiselessly advanced up the creek and they
were surrounded. They we're made prisoners
for the time, and their swivel was taken by
the tories and thrown into hole in the creek.
Some time after the war ended, some one was
fishing in the creek. His hook became en-
tangled, and whilst freeing the hook, he found
the swivel Some twenty-five years since,
this swivel was over charged and bursted.
Fragments of still remain at Mr.. Alexander
A. Barron's, near Clay Hill.
On the road leading from Dallas to Rock
Hill, about ten miles from the latter place, be-
tween Rocky Allison creek and the residence
of Mrs. Gillespie, lived Colonel Samuel Wat
son, the grandfather Of Rev: Samuel L.
Watson, the present pastor Of Bethel congre'
CATION. The house was, for that time, sub
staptial building, being constructed OF brick
and stone, with, as was the case with most OF
the houses of that time, a cellar beneath.
From all accSnnts, Colonel Watson was
man of sterling integrity, and true Wing.
In consideration of his uprightness, he was
made, by common consent of his Wing neigh
bors, kind Of commissary, and his house
was depository for any supplies that the
Whig organizations might have on hand.
Salt was very scarce in the country, and any
quantities of this article that might be captur.
ed from the British were sent to Colonel
Watson to be distributed. A peck was, by
some arrangement, allowed at one time, to
each woman whose husband or sons might be
in the army. Women were accustomed to
mount their horses and ride from the lower
edge of Chester county to Colonel Watson's,
after their share of salt.
After the defeat af Huyck at Williamson's,
the mother of Captain John Mcclure, in COM
pany with some Of her neighbors, set out Tor
Colonel Waton's Mrs. Mcclure was, at the
time, between seventy and eighty years OF age.
When the party of women come to the grave
of Huyck, Mrs. Mcclure said to Mary John.
ston, the grandmother of james Johnston OF
Blackstocks, Chester county, South Carolina
"Mary as old as am, I feel like getting down
and dancing on that grave; but that would
be wrong. God is just, and will avenge his
own cause"
As Tarleton and his men passed through
the country in search of the heroes of Kings
Mountain. they visited the house of Colonel