Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-03-16
Major Hamilton, vigilant soldier under

at Carr's Fort. This position be had chosen
as convenient, both for himself and the sur
rounding country, for the purpose of admin
istering the oath of allegiance. Pickens and
Dooly united their forces and determined to
besiege Hamilton. They succeededin cutting
off the supply of water from the garrison,
and everything was favorable for a speedy
surrender but about ten o'clock on the night
of the 10th of February, 1779, Pickens re-
ceived dispatch from his brother, stating
that the tory, Colonel Boyd, was on his way
toward the Savannah river.
Pickens thought it important to meet Boyd
as soon as possible. Fort Carr was full of
women and children who had fled thither for
safety. Pickens, not wishing to jeopardize the
lives of these, raised the siege and proceeded
to meet Boyd. They crossed the Savannah
near where Broad river empties into it, oppo-
site the present county of Abbeville. Boyd
hearing of the approach of Pickens and Dooly,
hastened up his march and crossing the river
on RATS, continued his march in the direction of
Augusta. He was pursued by Captain An.
derson, who overlook him in a canebrake.
Boyd lost about one hundred men, whilst the
Americans, under Captain Anderson, lost
only thirty.
This was very encouraging to the Wings,
and frightened Boyd and his Tory band. He
now quickened his gait, and on the morning
of the thirteenth of February crossed Broad
river in what is now Oglethorpe county, Geor-
gia. Pickens, Clark and Dooly were in his
wake, but he seems to have been ignorant of
the fact. The American force numbered only
three hundred. On the 18th of February,
Boyd, glad that he was out of tho reach, as
he thought, of the troublesome Wings, halted
on Kettle Creek. The horses were turned out
to Craze, and number of fine beeves which
he and his men had stolen, we're driven up
and slaughtered. The men we're busily en-
gagged in preparing bountiful meal. In this
condition the Wings fell upon them. Pickens
commanded the centre, Dooley the right wing,
and Clark the left wing. On the approach of
the Wings, Boyd's pickets fred and fled to
the camp. In moment all was in the great
est state Of confusion. Boyd and his men
began to retreat, or rather to run in disorder.
The battle lasted about two hours. Boyd was
mortally wounded, and seventy-6ve of his
followers lay dead on the ground, and about
the same number were taken prisoners. The
rest fled in every direction. The Americans
lost, in killed and wounded, thirty-two. The
Tory prisoners we're taken to South Carolina,
and there tried for high treason and con-
demned but only five, who were regarded as
the mostdesperate of the gang, were executed.
This was the beginning of series Of evils
which ended in the total ruin of the Tories and
their cause 1t made them timid. They saw
that there were men who would dare to fight
and capture them, and then condemn and
hang them for high treason, Notwithstanding
the presence of the British troops in the State.
~-Things began now to assume different as
pect. The Tories were dispirited and the
Wings were encouraged. From the begin
ming of the Revolutionary war there was no
concert among the Tories in action, and no
ability to endure reverses. The contrary was
True respecting The " higs!
1t was the intention of the British, when
Colonel Campbell was first sent to Savannah,
to proceed northward in the conquest of the
country 1t was known, that 80 soon as it
was thought practicable, the State of South
Carolina would be invaded. General Lincoln
had been placed in command of the Southern
army. His headquarters were at Purysburg.
Troops had been collecting in the region of
South Carolina, near Augusta. Generals
Ashe and Rutherford were in South Carolina
at this time. The former was with Lincoln at
Purysburg with fifteen hundred men, and the
latter was stationed at Black Swamp, few
miles above Ebenezer creek. Rutherford
was in command of seven hundred men. Gen.
Williamson was encamped with about twelve
hundred men, on the South Carolina side of
the Savannah, nearly opposite Augusta.
Lincoln was anxious to strike the enemy
whilst his troops were fired with zeal, on &C.
count of his discontinue of the tories under
Boyd. To effect this design, he ordered Gen.
Ashe, with his North Carolina militia and
what troops remained of the Georgia Cont
nentals, to march from Purysburg and rein
force General Williamson. 1t so happened
that General Ashe arrived at General Will
liamson's camp on the evening of the 18th of
February. The battle of Kettle Creek took
place the next day. The arrival of Ashe and
the news of the defeat of Boyd, induced Colo
mel Campbell to break up bis camp at Angus
ia. He was evidently alarmed. The evil
dence of this was the fact that be left large
amount Of his provisions, ammunition and some
of his arms. About fifty miles below Angus
ia he halted and seemed as if it was his in.
tention to make stand. This, however, he
did not do, but continued his march to Sa-
vannah.
On the 10Th of February, General Lincoln
sent an order to General Ashe to pursue Colo.
mel Campbell as far as Brier Creek. On the
25th, General Ashe crossed the river, and two
days after reached Brier Creek. He found
that Colonel Campbell had destroyed the
bridge over this stream. General Rutherford
was encamped about five miles above, on the
opposite side of the Savannah. Col. Marbu-
ry, with few Georgia cavalry, was posted a
few miles up Brier Creek. Ashes forces
amounted to less than two thousand men.
Having given direction for the forming of his
camp, Ashe crossed the Savannah river, tor
the purpose of consulting General Lincoln.
On the 5th of March he returned and was
disappointed to find the bridge over Brier
Greek not repaired. Hands were set TO work
upon it with all possible speed, but it was too
late
A despatch from General Williamson an.
nounced the fact that General Provost had
crossed Brier Creek and had already gained
the rear of General Ashe. Provost had
made circuitous route, and, unobserved,
gained his object. In deplorably unpre'
pared condition, the American forces were
attacked and routed. The North Carolina
troops fled at the first fire. The whole army
soon become panic struck and fled in every
direction. Some rushed to the Savannah
river, over which some swan, others crossed
on RATS, and many we're drowned. The gal