Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-03-15

his forces, would have given him chase at
once, had he not been compelled to wait at
speedwill's iron works for ammunition.
When Greene drew off his troops from the
battlefield at Guilford Court House, he did
not know how much injury he had done the
enemy; neither did CORVALLIS know how
much he had suffered. In some communica-
ton that passed between the two Generals,
shortly after the battle, something was said
by CORVALLIS about the four pieces Of cannon
which had fallen into the hands Of the British.
Greene replied that he had four more pieces
that be would be very glad to let his Majesty
have on the same terms he had obtained the
others.
At Bells mill, CORVALLIS remained two
days, and then removed to Ramsey's mill, on
Deep river, near its mouth in Chatham coun.
ty. Lee and Campbell were close in his rear,
inhicting injury upon him as opportunity was
afforded. CORVALLIS did not permit his
troops to straggle off in detaehments. Even
the daring Tarleton acted with great caution.
CORVALLIS was now as anxious to avoid an
engagement, as was Greene during his retreat
from the Catawba to the Dan. The rear
guard of the British, which was commanded
by Tarleton, was constantly insulted by Lee
and Campbell, but never dared to hazard
even a skirmish. The fact is, Corvallis did
not know but Greene, with his whole forces,
might, at any moment, come down upon him
and ruin him before he could reach. Cross
Creek.
r. It was the purpose Of Cornwallis, on leav.
ing New Garden, to remain at either Bells
OF Ramsey's mill considerable length Of
time, in order that his wounded might recov-
er. This be was not allowed to do. Lee and
Campbell soon made their appearances, and he
was obliged to move. Sa
To facilitate his retreat from Ramsey's
mill, CORVALLIS commenced constructing, soon
after his arrival, a bridge across Deep river.
Greene, whose pursuit was greatly impeded
by the almost absolute destitute condition Of
his commisssry department, ordered Lee and
Campbell to prevent if possible, the compile
tion of the bridge In order to put this or
der into execution, Lee and Campbell crossed
the river ten miles above Ramsey's mill, with
the intention Of dislodging the guard on the
south side. This end of the bridge was guard
ed by two hundred men under the command
of Major. The night was dark and the way
difficult. Still, the Americans, under Lee
and Campbell, reached thespot in due time.
Nothing, however, could be accomplished, for,
during the night, CORVALLIS, suspecting, no
doubt, that an attempt would be made to de-
stroy his bridge, had reinforced the guard and
the American officer desisted from making an
attack. On the same day, CORVALLIS crossed
over the bridge and hastened, as much as the
feeble condition of bis army would permit,
bis retreat to Cross Creek and then to Viii.
mington. Multitudes of his wounded died on
tha- -uay---At -Eliaahssk4e~a, The gallant
Webster died, and there he was buried with
the honors of war. - f
On the twenty. eighth, Greene, at the head
of the American forces, reached Ramsey's
mill. CORVALLIS had left two days before,
Unable as was CORVALLIS to make hasty
retreat, Greene was equally as Unable to has
ten the pursuit. he had accomplished his
object aad defeated the plans Of the British
general, and now be determined to stop the
pursuit and grant the weary troops time to
rest More than rest he could not give them.
The country had been stripped Of provisions.
All the food that Greene's army could pro-
cure, was corn meal and such beef as the coun.
try furnished. The beef was inferior in quail
lity and stinted in quantity. Strange as it
may seem, both men and. officers were in high
spirits
Viewing this whole affair from its COM
mencement at Cowpens, on the 18th Of Jan.
uary, to the 2sth of March, when Greene
halted at Ramsey's mill, master Of all North
Carolina except the single town Of Whining
ton, it is one of the grandest achievements of
the Revolutionary war. From the Cowpens
to Irwin's ferry on the Dan, in direct line,
is near two hundred miles. For more than
ten days, in the dead Of winter, without mon.
ey, without tents. without blankets, without
any food only as it could BE- gathered on the
march, General Greene retreated with an ar
my of uudisciplined militia, hotly pursued by
the veterans of Europe, led by as able and
skillful an officer as was in the British army,
aided by Tarleton and Webster, as brave
men as ever drew a sword. The battles of
Kings Mountain, the Cowpens and Guilford
Court House, inflicted mortal wound upon
the cause of Great Britain in America. Af-
ter the battle Of Guilford Court House, the
sun of Liberty rose and shed its rsfulgent
beams over the whole country. Seven months
afterwsrd CORVALLIS surrendered.
AN ANCIENT MAsoN.-The following ex-
tract from Masonic obituary notice in the
Union Is. c. Times, brings out some striking
facts in the history of an humble life: "James
Orr, the subject Of this obituary, died at his
residence, near Jonesville, s. c., on tA 9th Of
December, 1876, in the ,94th year of his age.
The deceased was born in the town Of Ayr,
Scotland, on the 1st of October, 1888. In
1903 he entered the militia Of Scotland. In
1907 volunteered in Portsmouth, England.
In 1908 went to Portugal in Wellington's
army; and was in all the principal battles in
the Peninsular war. He remained in the
army in Spain and Portugal until 1914 when
-, -.c;v,a ant uvoo oont home IN racrnit He