Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-03-01

Soon after the affair at Wetzell's mill, Corn.
wallis, finding that by his constant marching
and countermarching, he was wearing out
his army, exhausting his supplies and still
unable to bring Greene to a general engage
ment, determined to abate the struggle, for a
time, for the purpose of giving his troops
rest To effect this object, be retired down
Deep river, to Bells mill. about fourteen
miles south of the present jamestown, and
about the same distance east of High Point.
General Greene, with the main body of the
Americans, was northeast of Guilford Court
House, at.Speedwells iron works on Trouble.
some creek. The two armies we're now about
thirty miles apart. The movements of the
British were closely watched by Williams.
On the other hand every movement Of the
Americans was closely observed BY Tarleton.
Yhe fight n Wetzell's mill occurred on the
sixth of March. Greene was anxiously await
ing the arrival of reinforcements. These re-
Inducements now began to come in from Vir.
gina under General Lawson; from North
Carolina under Generals Butler and Eaton.
Colonels Campbell, Preston and Lynch had
previously joined Greene.
The American Generalnow began to think
that he was able to meet the British in gen.
eral engagement. From the twenty.third of
February up to the present moment, a period
of fifteen days, all had been excitement. A
false move on the part of either Greene or
CORVALLIS, would have been attended with
the most disastrous consequences During
this period, the two forces were never more
than thirty miles apart-seldom more than
twenty-and often within striking distance.
The vidette corps of the two armies often met
in bloody conflict, whilst the main forces were
only permitted to be lockers on. Williams
and Lee, of the Americans, we're pitted against
Tarleton and Webster, of the British. Corn.
wallis was anxious to test the strength of the
two armies and the valor of the troops by
u general engagement. General Greene saw
this, and determined to ward of general
engagement until such time and place as was
agreeable to his own judgment.
Reinforced, as we have seen. Greene left
his Notifications at Speedwell's iron works
an the twelfth of March, and encamped at
Guilford Court House, in battle array, on the
thirteenth. His determination now was to
give the enemy battle. The infantry in COL
onel Williams corps was called in, whilst
Lieutenant.C Colonel Lee, with his legion, was
left in front of the enemy to watch his move
ments.
CORVALLIS was not slow in discovering the
intentions of Greene. Since the eighteenth
of January-near two months-he had been
endeavoring to meet the Americans. With
out moments delay, be hastened to embrace
the first opportunity. He left Bells mill and
moved all his forces toward New Garden
Westinghouse This place is south Of Gull
ford Court House, and distant four or five
miles. On the evening of the fourteenth,
under an escort consisting of Hamilton's tory
regiment, detachment of one hundred and
fifty infantry and twenty cavalry, the British
general sent back his wagons and baggage,
together with his sick and wounded, to Bells
mill. The next morning, at early dawn. he
determined to advance with his main body
against Greene. His object was to free him.
self of every encumbrance. He was anxious
to engage in the contest, but was by no means
sanguine with regard to its results.
CORVALLIS had confidently expected the
larger number of the inhabitants of the coun-
try to declare boldly for the British, when he
led his army into the region surrounding
Hillsboro. In this he was sadly mistaken.
The incursions of Williams and Lee filled
those of the inhabitants, who we're inclined
to favor the cause of the British, with sorrow
and sadness. Every skirmish, to their minds,
rendered the final result doubtful. The
presence of Cornwallis was nothing. Before
the timid loyaists and cowardly tories could
be induced to respond to his call for volun.
teers, he must strike a blow which would
clearly vindicate his superiority to Greene.
In other words so long as CORVALLIS permit
ted General Greene to command an army
which menaced the camp Of the British Earl
himself, the tories and loyalists determined to
remain as neutral as possible. In order to
vindcate his claims as an officer and to assert
the majesty of the English government, he
promptly responded to the invitation to fight,
given by Greene. q.
The British greatly exaggerated the num-
Der of Greene's men. British historians say
that Greeue's army had been so increased
that it pow amounted to between seven and
ten thousand. This is mistake but it is
not difficult to discover how the mistake was
made. The British obtained this information
mostly from prisoners, who we're not correctly
informed with regard TO the real strength of
Greene's army. Another thing WHICH the
British either did not know or did not take
into consideration ip estimating the number
of Greepe's army, caused them to exaggerste
the number of the Americans. Shortly after
Py]e's defeat. and on the arrival of Colonel