Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-06-01
Aisturp ut 8. Garolina.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
EarIy Settlement of South Carolina.
BY REV, ROBERT LATHAM.
THE BATTLE OF WAXHAW.

BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
THE BATTLE OF WAXHAW.
So soon as Charleston fell into the hands
of the British, the commander-inchief Of
his majesty's forces in America, determined
to push his conquest until all the territory
south of the Potomac would be PROSTATE At
the feet of the British lion. Never since the
beginning of the war, had the prospects for
the British been so bright and the affairs of
the colonies in so discouraging condition.
The first object of Sir Henry Clinton was to
send strong force into different sections Of
the State of South Carolina, and gather up
recruits for his regiments from the tories and
loyalists of the interior of the State, and pro-
tect the State against "cruelty and oppres-
sion," as he called the rule Of the Wings.
This accomplished, the troops were to march
into North Carolina, subdue it, and then into
Virginia, when the rebellion of the colonies
would be crushed out. So soon as the civil
government of South Carolina was put into
working condition, Clinton contemplated re.
turning to the North and leaving Lord Corn
wallis in command of the Southern division
of the British forces. This was wise ar
rangement. The plans of Clinton were well
conceived, but he greatly mistook the charac'
ter of the people he had to deal with. There
was no better officer in the British army than
Lord CORVALLIS.
Whilst Clinton was busily engaged in the
work of reconstructing the city of Charles
ton, that portion of the British army designed
for the interior of the State moved off in three
divisions under Lord CORVALLIS. At Dorches'
ter, one division, under the command of Lieu
tenant Colonel Brown, set out for Augusta,
Georgia; another, under the command of
Lieutenant Colonel Balfour, moved off for
Ninety Six; and the third division, under
Lord CORVALLIS himself, lf,marched for Camden.
When it was learned that Charleston had
fallen into the hands of the British, Colonel
Buford, with force of about four hundred
continental soldiers, some cavalry, and two
field pieces, retired to Camden. This really
was the only armed force of any Importance
in the State of South Carolina at that time
This captured and the work of subjugating
the State was complete. At least so. thought
the British.
Corvallis point of destination was North
Carolina. Brown and Balfour were ordered
to fortify Augusta and Ninety-six. On his
way to North Carolina, CORVALLIS determin-
ed to capture or cut off Buford's command.
When, however, 3uford heard of Corvallis
approach, he moved off leisurely from Cam
den in ths -di.sotiea- Of Charlotte, Nerth Gss
olina. CORVALLIS hearing of this, detached
Colonel Bannister Tarleton with about seven
hundred men, consisting of cavalry and light
infantry, for the purpose of overtaking Buford.
No man was better fitted for such an enter
prise than Tarleton-brave to fault and
full of energy; ippetuous as tornado, but
at the same time with mind cool and calcu-
lating No man was ever more to be feared
than Colonel Tarleton. He was charged with
cruelty, and no doubt he was cruel, but all
war is cruel. Tarleton always made victo-
ry complete. To out-general him as Morgan
did at Cowpens, was no small honor to any
man to Outright him or Patrick Ferguson
was as much praise as could be bestowed upon
any officer.
Impatient of delay, Tarleton left his light
infantry behind and pushed on with one hum
dred and seventy dragons. On the twenty.
ninth of May, he came up with Colonel
Abraham Buford about nine miles north of
Lancaster village, in Lancaster county. The
American forces were encamped on Waxhaw
creek, near Waxhaw Presbyterian Church.
Before Buford was aware of the approach of
the enemy he was surrounded by Tarleton's
cavalry.
Of this affair there are two versions. One
is that Buford offered to surrender on the
terms granted to Lincoln's army in Charles
ton. This Tarleton rejected. The other and
more probable version is that Tarleton sum-
moned Buford to surrender on the same terms
granted to the American army at Charleston.
This Colonel Buford rejected in the following
words: "S1R: reject your proposal and
shall defend myself to the last extremity"
Tarleton, during the time that flags we're pass.
ing back and forth was, it is said, making
preparation for battle. This was contrary to
the usages of war.
So soon as Colonel Buford rejected Tarle.
toms proposal, the cavalry of the latter dash.
ed in upon the Americans and cut them to
pieces in a moment. Buford's men we're in
no position. They had received no orders
and did not know what to do. Some COM
menced to fire upon the enemy, whilst others
threw down their arms and begged for quar-
ters. Of the Americans, one hundred and
thirteen were killed on the ground; one hun
dred and fifty were so mutilated with the sa'
bres of the British dragons that they were
unable to be removed, and 6fty-three were
made prisoners. The British loss was FIVE
killed and fifteen wounded. Colonel Buford,
with his cavalry, and near one hundred Of the
infantry escaped. Bufords whole command
was totally ruined.
There is something mysterious about the
whole affair. Colonel Buford must have act
ed with no decision, and it would appear that
Tarleton acted with an amount of cruelty rare
" heard Of No doubt both commanders were
censurable. Colonel Buford was surprised,
and so agitated that he did not know what to
do, and Tarleton, for various reasons, was
anxious to make his victory complete one.