Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-08-24
RSDAY, AUGUST "a, 1876.

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the surrounding country, they grated into
meal.
During the sickness of CORVALLIS, the
command of the British forces devolved upon
Lord Rawdon. In order to save the troops
from starving, this officer ordered the forces
to move beyond Sugar Creek. So soon as the
royal forces commenced moving, the Mecklen-
burg militia began to assail them. The "Hor.
nets Nest" Club watched every movement of
the royal troops. Even the gallant Tarleton
could not drive away the invincible Wings.
The British sentries were shot down at their
posts, and foraging parties were cut off. With
his Majesty's forces it was critical time.
The Scotch.Irish blood was warm, and fear
had seized upon the British.
The question sprung up in the minds Of
both officers and men: "Where shall we be
safe :" Tarleton was sent out, by Lord Raw
don, in search of safe retreat. To 60 back
to Camden would be to expose all the British
forces in the Ninety-Six region to the fury Of
the Wings. To 60 to Ninety-six, would SIM
ilarly expose all the Eastern section of South
Carolina. Some place must be sought, CEN
tral between Camden and Ninety.Six. Mul-
titudes Of trembling loyalists and tories were
anxious for CORVALLIS to fix his headquarters
near their dwelling, that they might be shield
ed from Wing vengeance by the presence Of
the royal army.
So soon as CORVALLIS was able to be moved,
the whole British army crossed Catawba river
at Lands Ford. Passing through the country
in South Western direction, he crossed Tink-
er's creek, few miles above its junction with
Fishing creek. Then changing his course,
from South. Western to North-W Western,
he passed between Tinker's creek and Fish
ing creek, as far as Whites mills. Here he
made another change in bis course. From
Whites mills, (now Willifords) he Get out in
a southwestern direction, and continued his
march as far as the site of the present town of
Chester. Here he made another change in
his direction, and steering course little
east of south, he passed down the road lead.
ing from Chester to Winnsboro, past Purity,
Pleasant Grove and Hopewell churches.
After circuitous march of two weeks, the
army of the British, still commanded by Lord
Rawdon, arrived, on the 29th of October,
1880, at Winnsboro.
The distance from Lands Ford to Winns-
boro, in direct line, is about thirty miles;
yet it took the army Of CORVALLIS two weeks
to accomplish it. Under the circumstances,
it was performed as expeditiously as possible.
The roads were in a desperate condition. and
the army had to subsist by plundering the
country. It was retreat of discom6tted ar
ny through country inhabited by uncom-
promising foes. It is true, the British had
some friends in the region traversed, but they
could not be depended on in the hour of dam
ger. All the friends the British had in the
region of country between Lands Ford and
Winnsboro, were set of unprincipled horse
thieves, some of whom, after the war, expiated
their crimes on the gallows. At the time of
Corvallis retreat from Charlotte to Winps-
boro, these tories were trembling like aspen
leaves
On the approach of the British, the Wing
men, what few of them we're at home, took
to the woods or joined the nearest Wing or
ganization. The women hid in the thickets
what little provisions they had in their pos.
session. Tarleton, in search of fit place for
winter quarters, secured the country between
Broad river and Catawba. The loyalists and
tories in the British army were sent out to
search the country for supplies Had it. not
been for these, the native Britona would have
been forced to look starvation fair in the face.
The British soldiers were ignorant of the
country, and they had been shot at so often,
by unseen foes, that they were afraid to leave
the main column. The loyalists and tories
had good knowledge of the country, and,
besides, they were less timorous than the for.
eign soldiers. By these loyalists the forests,
fields, houses and thickets were searched for
food. By these plundering loyalists, bacon
was found where it had been hid by the Wing
women in thorn thickets, and meal and -four
and rum, was found stored away in secret
places. The British officers declared they
had never beheld so fine country. A land
where bacon grew on thorn bushes.
Tarleton's keen eye was not long in discov-
ering the bounds of the Scotch-Irish settle
ments. When he passed the line, both he
and the whole army breathed freer. The
country assumed different aspect, and he
named it Fairfield, name which the county,
of which Winnsboro is the capital, retains to
this day.
The reason given by Tarleton for selecting
Winnsboro as the site for winter quarters, are
briefly given by himself: "Its spacious plan
tations yielded a tolerable post its centrical
situation between the Broad river and the
Wateree, afforded protection to Ninety-Six.
and Camden; and its vicinity to the Dutch
forks, and rich country in the rear, promised
abundant supplies of -four, forage aad cattle"
There was another reason, which pride, no
doubt, suggested to Colonel Tarleton not to
make known. The region of country around
Winnsboro was settled by true Wings; but
in the country around there were dens of to-
ries, and beyond Broad river there was nest
of tories
When the British army passed up the coun-
try, the tories became bold. Their boldness
was increased by the success of the British
arms at Camden and Fishing creek. The
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