Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-06-14


garrison of Ninety-six. The young lady was
the daughter of q patriot, and she had a broth
er who had heartily espoused the cause of the
Wings This woman the British bribed to
communicate to the commander at Ninety
Six, the fact that succor would soon arrive.
Rawdon was at Orangeburg when he sent his
emissary to contract with this woman. She
communicated the facts. in the case to a young
loyalist in the community. Dressed in citi-
zen's clothes, this loyalist appeared, on the af:
ternoon of the 18th, riding along the Ameri.
can lines, south of the village, talking careless.
ly to the soldiers. No notice was taken OF
him, as the country people were accustomed to
visit the American camp daily. So soon as
he reached the road leading to the village, he
straightened himself in the saddle and put.
ting spurs to his horse, dashed through the
American line and into the village The sen.
tinels and guards nearest him, fired upon
him, but he escaped unhurt. When out of
danger, he took a letter from his person
and triumphantly waved it back at the Amer
leans. The garrison received him with shouts
of Joy. The gate was opened for his admis-
sion, and he was conducted to headquarters
with loud and prolonged huzzahs. Cruger al
ready brave, was, on the reception of the
intelligence that Rawdon was advancing to
his aid, rendered confident.
Both the besieged and besiegers began to
press matters with great vigor. Each knew
that the contest must come to close within
few days. On the left, the third parallel
was completed, also two trenches and a. mine
which reached within few feet of the enc
my's ditch. On the right, the trenches were
within twenty yards of the enemy's works.
The garrison was nearly cut off from the
spring and rivulet and suffering had already
begun. Rawdon had, by inclining to the
right. passed Sumter, and such was the rapid
ity with which the British general marched,
that Sumter could never gain bis front. The
only American party which harrassed Raw.
don on his march, was Colonel Middleton,
with three hundred cavalry and mounted mi
litia. Colonel Middleton had been sent from
the Congaree to hang upon the rear of the
enemy, capture stragglers, and, particularly,
to cut off the foraging parties of Rawdon.
This partisan corps, after giving the enemy
considerable trouble, was, unfortunately, led
into well-planned ambush and charged up
on BY Major Coffin at the head of body of
the royal cavalry Middleton and his party
were so completely scattered that they never
made their appearance again.
The Americans were of the opinion that
thirty hours would be sufficient to reduce,
without assault, the garrison at Ninety.six !;
but they dared not wait so long q time, lest the
arrival of Rawdon would expose them to to-
tai overthrow. In view of the circumstances,
it was determined to attack the place by a
general assault. .~'-..a. a....
Midday on the 18th of June, was appoint
ed as the moment when, at given signal, the
forces would advance to othe assault Long
poles with iron hooks were prepared with
which to pull down the sand bags on the ene'
my's forti6cations, and material was collect.
ed for the purpose of filling up the bitches.
Lieutenant-C Colonel Campbell of the first Vir-
ginia regiment, with a detachment from the
Maryland and Virginia brigades, was direct
ed to lead the attack on the left; Lieutenant
Colonel Lee, with his Legion of infantry and
Kirkwood's Delaware regiment, were charged
with the attack on the right. Lieutenants
Duval, of Maryland, and Seldom, of Vir-
ginia, led the forlorn hope on the left Cap.
tain Rudolph, of Lees Legion, that on the
right.
The signal for attack was to be given from
the centre battery. At eleven o'clock, the
third parallel was manned and the sharp.
shooters took their position in the Maham
tower. On the firing Of the first cannon,
which was the signal for the assailants to pre-
pare for action, the American columns enter.
ed the trenches. The men were full of en-.
thusasm. At the hour of twelve, the second
cannon was fired and simultaneously, and in
good order. the assailiDg columns, under Lee
and Campbell, advanced. Cruger, if not ex-
pectng the assault, was fully prepared for it.
The parapets cleaned with pixies and bayo'
nets, and, through the apertures between the
sand bags, the riAemen Of Major Green
moved down the ranks of the assailants. On
an intermediate battery, Cruger had placed
his three pieces of cannon. These, as cir.
cumstances seemed to demand, he sometimes
directed upon the column led by Campbell,
and sometimes on that led by Lee. Cruger's
mind was cool and prompt, and his men we'll
trained and desperately brave. The cannon
was used with telling effect upon the Ameri-
cans. Colonel Campbell and bis brave Mary.
landers and Virginians pressed forward
amidst showers of leaden hail. No one finch.
ell. With the hooks, the soldiers we're drag
ging the sand bags on the enemy's parapets
into the ditch below. The moment was near
at hand when Campbell would ascend the
parapet and terminate the contest in hand
to hand conflict. Major Green, who com.
manded the star redoubt, discovering the
progress which the Americans we're making,
and fearing the results of hand-to-hand
fight between the garrison and assailants on
the parapets, determined to try the bayonet
in his ditch as we'll as on his parapet. At q
sally port, he sent out, with small detach-
ments, Captain French, of Delancey's corps,
and Captain Campbell, of New Jersey. Ia
king opposite directions in the ditch, Camp.
bell soon encountered Duval, and French,
Seldom. The conflict was dreadful. The
Americans had to encounter the enemy on
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