Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-10-19
Nisturp pf s. Garuliua.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
Early Settlement of South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
MARION AND HIS MEN.

BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
MARION AND HIS MEN.
When, on the twenty-ffth Of July, 1850,
General Gates joined the army under De
Kalb, on Deep river, and took command OF
the forces sent by Congress to assist the
South, Francis Marion was in camp. For
short time he had been enjoying the hospital
ity Of De Kalb and profting by the conver-
sations Of. that brave and experienced soldier.
Marion had with him about twenty followers
some men and some boys; some white and
some black. The dress of all was most un.
slightly. Their coats were nearly worn out,
and the men themselves were weather beaten.
All-Marion as we'll as the rest-wore little
home made lssshar- esp,s which made them
look most ludicrous. When they rode into
De Kalb's camp, the continental soldiers
raised shout. The ragged garments, little
leather cap and unpromising appearance of
the men, filled the camp with merriment.
When Gates took command of the army,
Marion was introduced to him but that proud
officer seems to have discovered nothing in
Marion worthy of his notice. Governor Rut.
lege, of South Carolina, was also in Gates
camp and recommended Marion, but Gates
was above being advised, either with respect
to men or measures. To get rid of Marion
and his ragged men, Gates sent them, after
commencing his march to the rear Of Corn
wallis, to burn the boats on the Santee. The
diversion which Marion and his men caused
was becoming troublesome to the officers, and
Marion and his men, although they loved
their country, still were glad to be sepa-
rated from companions who made no other
use Of, them than to make sport of them.
AS an offset to this disagreeable state of things
BY which Marion and his few men were sur
rounded, he received an invitation from the
Wings Of Williamsburg county to come and
assist them in repellingthe inroads of the en-
envy. The inhabitants of the region border
ing,on Kmgstree, knew more about Marion
than General Gates did, and they were anx-
ious that he should be their leader. Gates
and his army were on the march in the direc-
tion Of Camden when Marion received this in
vitstion. Governor Rutledge, Of South Car
olina, was with the army Of Gates. So soon
as Rutledge heard of the request sent up by
the Wings of Williamsburg, he commissioned
Marion as Brigadier General.
Let us 60 back and inquire what it was
that prompted these men to send for Marion.
In 1882, the year that Marion was born, the
region of country that now bears the name of
williamsburg, was settled by colony of
Scotch-Irish. These people left their native
land that they might get rid of the onerous
; burdens laid upon them by the ~nnrightenns
exacticns of cruel landlords and the proud
asd dictatorial clergy Of ths-EEssssa
: The Huguenots, te which race Marion belong
ed, we're driven to America by the cruel and
relentless prosecutors who lived in the days OF
Louis the Fourteenth. We may readily con-
clude that the Huguenot settlers on the San
tee, sympathized with the Scotch-1rish settlers
on Black river. They lived in harmony as
neighbors, and together they rushed to the
front in 1776, to drive the British from the
State. Side by side, they had fought the wild
Indians side by side they fought under Moul-
trie in Fort Sullivan and at Savannah; and
with Gen. Lincoln, many of both the Hugue-
nots and Scotch Irish, surrendered. The rea.
son why the people of Williamsburg invited
Francis Marion to take command of them,
was they knew him and had confidence in
him, both as a soldier and a patriot. That
which prompted them to organize at this Pc
riod was this:
When Charlestown was surrendered, many
of the williamsburg militia were made pris-
oners. These prisoners were paroled and per-
mitted to return to their homes. Major John
James, the son of William James, one of the
first settlers of the township, had been sent
back by Governor Rutledge, from Charleston
to Williamsburg, to train the militia. When
General Lincoln surrendered, Major John
James was at his home in the neighborhood
of Indiantown Church. Major James, and
all those citizens of Williamsburg who we're
not in Charleston at the time of the surrender,
we're, by proclamation issued by the British
commander, required to take up arms in sup
port of the English government. This was
simply requiring them to turn out and fight
their countrymen. This proclamation thor
oughly aroused the settlers in the vicinity of
Kingstree and Indiantown Church.
At that time, British officer by the name
of Ardesoif, was in command of Georgetown.
The people of Williamsburg township met
and appointed Major John James to visit Ar
desoif, and learn from him what was the true
import of this royal proclamation. James,
ever ready to serve his country, mounted bis
horse and rode down to Georgetown. Suspect.
ing that the interview between himself and
Ardesoif might not be of the most pleasant
character, he took the precaution to hitch his
horse near the door. On entering the Office
Of the British commander, he, in true Irish
style, announced his business aid asked, in a
manly tone of voice, on what terms he and
Others, similarly situated with himself, must
submit. Ardesoif haughtily replied, "On no
other terms than unconditional surrender. y
"But," remarked Major James, will we not
be allowed to remain at home in peace and