Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-02-17

recognize Provincial Assembly as q legally
constituted body, and would. not treat with
For several months after Governor Camp
BELLS arrival, nothing occurred between him
and the people to disturb the progress Of prep
aration for war which the people were making
Either from policy, or believing that the thing
would ultimately amount to nothing, Govern
or Campbell commissioned the officers of the
volunteer companies which were raised fol
the purpose of resisting the encroachments o.
the British parliament. At the same time
Governor Campbell was secretly stirring uE
the people in the back country to resist the
acts of the Provincial Congress. His success
in distracting the minds of the people amount
ed to very little, except in that portion OF the
State between the Saluda and Broad rivers
This opposition did more good than evil. II
showed the friends of the Provincial Assem-
bly, their real strength, and the royalists their
real weakness. Zeal and energy were infused
into the minds of the former, whilst the latter
became disheartened.
The friends of the Provincial Assembly
were not ignorant of the secret intrigues Of
Governor Campbell. Adam Mcdonald, q
staunch Wing and member of the Committee
of Safety, prevailed upon some one to intro
duce him to Governor Campbell, under the
name of Dick Williams, a messenger from the
back country and a royalists. To this feign'
ed Dick Williams, the Governor made very
important disclosures. He informed Dick
that be had but recently received information
from England that large number of troops
would soon be in the country, and that the
colonies would be forced to submit to British
legislation. The duped Governor was not
long in finding out his mistake. He was soon
waited upon by number of gentlemen, and
amongst them the veritable Dick Williams
His correspondence with England was de-
manded. He refused but became alarmed
for his personal safety and went on board the
lamar. This was in September, ITO, and
the last time that royal Governor set his
foot on South Carolina soil.
To instruct, as we'll as encourage, the people
of the back country, the Rev. William len
nant and William Henry Drayton, were sent
out in ITS. They left Charleston on the sec.
ond of August, and passed up through the
centre of the State. On the Sabbath, Mr..
Tenant would first preach the gospel to the
people, and then deliver a political speech.
Having arrived at Kings Mountain, they
then visited the western section of the State
and returned to Charleston after an absence
of about two months Thus, it may be said
that every effort was made to inform the ig'
norant and to correct the errors of those who
had been misinformed. Every event which
for several years, had transpired, had direct
tendency to ALLEVIATE the minds of the masses
of the people of South Carolina from Great
Britain, and cause them to bestir themselves
to prepare for an open and avowed rupture
with the English government. The city o.
Charleston was put in state Of defence, and
the forts which commanded the entrance tc
the city were seized.
No hostile blow had, as yet, been struck ir
South Carolina; but, evidently, the moment
was fast Fastening Military companies were
seen parading in every section of the State
and although the people were sensible of theil
own weakness and the strength and resources
of England still they determined to have
their rights, let it cost what it might On the
departure of Governor Campbell. John Rut
ledge was made president of the Council Of
Safety, with the general instruction which was
on important occasion given to the trustwor
thy amongst the old Romans. "See that the
Republic suffers no injury" was the instruc'
ton be received; and promptly did he meet
the emergency of the case.
During the year 1775, the British govern
ment was active in making preparations fol
reducing the thirteen colonies into subsection
Two days before Christmas, Sir Peter Parker
sailed from Portsmouth, England. His feet
consisted of eight armed ships, carrying, in
all, about three hundred guns. Accompany:
ing the feet was large land force, designed
to act in conjunction with the fleet. Sir Peter
met with delays on the coast Of Ireland, and
the weather was bad, so that be did not reach
Cape Fear, in North Carolina, until the first
of May. At Cape Fear, the feet met Gener'
al Clinton. The season was fast advancing
and the troops we're becoming sick. Clinton
and Parker concluded that nothing could be
effected in that region. All that they could
learn respecting General Howe's situation
was throug gh the American newspapers, which
was, to them at least, very unsatisfactory
After months delay at Cape Fear, it was
determined to make an attack upon Charles
ton, South Carolina. This city lay in the
field of operation assigned to Lord Cornwallis
and Sir Peter Parker.
Unfortunately for the British and fortu'
natutely for the Americans, the whole plans
of the British government we're discovered in
time to give the Americans an opportunity to
prepare to oppose them. A boat, bearing
dispatches from Lord Dartmouth to Cover
nor Eden, of Maryland, was captured by
James Barron. These dispatches revealed the
whole plans of the enemy. Brigadier'Gen
al John Armstrong had been sent, early in
the year ITS, to Charleston; and after the
evacuation of Boston, General Washington
sent out Major-G General Charles Lee to watch
the movements of Sir Henry Clinton. On
the 4th of June, Lee arrived in Charleston.
On the same day, Sir Peter Parker's fleet
made its appearance off the bar:
So soon as Major.G General Charles Lee ar
rived in Charleston, Governor Rutledge for
mally placed all the forces under his COM
mand. An order was issued for the militia
of the country to hasten to the defence of the
city. This order was promptly obeyed. The
forces now at bis command amounted to near
six thousand. They were disposed of in the
following manner: The first regiment Of
South Carolina regulars were placed at Fort
Johnston, on James Island; Colonel William
Moultrie was placed in command Of the re-
Gently constructed fort on Sullivan's Island
Col. Thomas, with body Of riAemen, was
placed on the east end of Sullivan's Island
General Lee, with strong force, took position
on Haddrells Point, now Mount Pleasant
Governor Rutledge retained the command in
the city.
The British land forces, under the COM
mand of Clinton, we're put off on Long Is