Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-06-08
.isturp nt $. Garolima.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
Early Settlement of South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
BATTLE OF RAMsOUR'S MILL.
W.

in the case were soon communicated to Dir
Henry Clinton, the commander-in'chiefof Of the
British forces in America. Over the affair at
Waxhaw, the British were jubilant. After
the fall of Charleston, they thought the State
of South Carolina was subdued. Now they
were sure of it. On the third Of June, Sir
Henry Clinton wrote that there were very few
people in South Carolina who had not return
ed to their foraer allegiance to the British
government. On the fifth of June, Sir Henry,
full of bright hopes, and cheered by the pros
poets that the thirteen colonies would be, in
short time, made, as formerly, part and par
eel of the British government, set out with
the main body of his army for New York.
The British army in the South was left un'
der the command of Lord CORVALLIS. Be-
fore leaving for New York, Sir Henry Clinton
issueda proclamation, in which the paroles of
citizens were nulli6ed, and all were required
to take up arms for the purpose of crushing
out as speedily as possible, the rebellion. No
neutrality wasallowed. Whoever was not for
the British government, was to be regarded
as against it. Citizens we're required to enter
the British army and assist in subduing their
fellow citizens. This, when viewed in one as.
pect, was wise step; but when viewed in
another aspect, was very unwise. Sir Henry
Clinton, no doubt, thought the people ofsouth
Carolina were in sympathy with the govern
ment of England. At least. he thought, from
all the external signs of the times, that the
great majority of the people of South Carolina
had despaired of the success Of the colonies.
His past experience ought to have taught him
differently. The people we're not subdued.
They were only quiet Those who had rebell-
ed against the government of England were
still, in heart, rebels Necessity was forcing
them to remain in neutral state Besides,
multitudes of individuals had left the State
and were, in connection with the citizens of
other States, preparing for renewing the con.
Aict. Pickens, Sumter, Mccall, Hammonds
Hampton, Liddle and Rutledge, together with
multitudes of other South Carolinians of little
less note, had sought voluntary exile for a time.
The same course had been pursued by Hawley,
Clarke and Dooley, Of Georgia. Like Alfred,
one of England's early monarchs, these men
had secreted themselves amongst the "back
water" men, and were waiting, like Alfred,
for a proper occasion to pounce down upon
the invaders of their country.
Both Clinton and CORVALLIS were mistaken.
South Carolina was not subdued. Her pat
riots only made virtue Of necessity and Kept
quiet. The massacre of Buford's command
drove the inhabitants of the Waxhaw settle
ment in various directions. Most of them
sought shelter and protection amongst the
Wings of North Carolina, in the regions ada
cent to Charlotte. The widowed mother of
Andrew Jackson, with her two sons, found a
home in the house of widow Wilson, in Sugar
Creek congregation. In this Wing region
the tale of their suffering was told. The mas.
sacre of Bufords command was narrated, and
the "hornets' nest" region was thoroughly
aroused. Generals Rutherford and Davie
called out the militia, and the Rev. DR.. Nc
Whorter poured his patriotic soul into a
speech to them. Everybody was full of pat
riotic sentiments, and anxiously desired fit
time to strike blow, to defend the rights of
their country, and avenge the blood of their
massacred countrymen. General Davie hav
ing been wounded in the thigh at the battle
of Stono, on the 10th of June, 1779, had now
sufficiently recovered to take the field. With
: a part Of bis cavalry, he undertook to recon-
noitre the country between Charlotte and
Camden. The militia were dismissed, with
instructions to put their arms in proper repair
and be ready to meet General Rutherford at
q moments warning.
North and South Carolina were originally
one, and under the royal government Of
England; and to-day they remain twin sis
ters. The region about Charlotte and the
upper section of the State of South Carolina,
was settled by people from the same coun-
try, by people entertaining the same politi-
cal notions and the same religious creed, and
worshipping God in the same way. For more
than two hundred years, they have preserved
their type clear and we'll marked. The strug'
giles and triumphs of South Carolina were
the struggles and triumphs of North Carroll.
ma. When Charleston surrendered, both
wept. When Buford's command was butch
cred, both were incensed. When Ferguson
fell and his command was annihilated at
Kings Mountain, representatives Of both
States we're there and the joy was mutual.
The object of the British officers was to
station garrisons in various sections of the
State of South Carolina, gather up and en-.
body the loyalists, and as soon as the crops of
wheat were harvested in North Carolina,
march into that State and put its inhabitants
under the yoke. CORVALLIS was anxious to
form junction with the loyal Scotch in the
region of Fayetteville Here the romantic
Flora Mcdonald had landed in 1775, and
espoused, with all her soul the cause of George
the Third. Unfortunate woman, she in turn
hazarded her life both for the house of Stuart
and the house of Hanover; and, in her own
language, was "no great gamer by it."
When Sir Henry Clinton set out for New
York, Lord CORVALLIS returned to Charles
ton, leaving Lord Rawdon in command at
Camden. Knowing that the Waxhaw coun-
try was nest of determined Wings, and also
fertile region of country, Lord Rawdon e.
tablished garrison on Waxhaw creek, about
thirty miles south of Charlotte. The militia
of the counties of Mecklenburg and Rowan
were called out by General Rutherford.