Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-03-29
Previous to the arrival of Greene, Rawd'

Previous to the arrival of Greene, Rawdor
had sent out Colonel Watson, with four OF
five hundred men, to watch the movements ot
Marion. On the 21st, General Greene heard
that Colonel Watson was marching, with all
possible dispatch, up the Santee, in order te
join Rawdon at Camden. Greene at once
concluded that it was incumbent on him te
prevent the junction of RawdoD and Watson
To effect this, it was deemed advisable to in
tercept Watson at considerable distance from
Camden. General Greene, with sufficient
number of men, set out forthwith to accom-
plish this design. He crossed Sand Hill
creek, and on the 22nd encamped east Of
Camden on the road leading to Charleston
Finding that the artillery could not be trans
ported across the swamps, it was sent back
under Colonel Darlington, in the direction o.
Lynch's creek. Here, it was thought, il
would be safe from the enemy. General
Greene soon learned that be had been falsely
informed respecting the movements of Colo
mel Watson. This being the case, he return
vd " uUDkirk's HilNl on .he 22sd-G Colonel
Darlington and the artillery arrived on the
morning Of the oath. ..... ..
Although General Greene had no appre'
hension that Lord Rawdon would attack him
nor did he design making any aggressions on
the enemy until after the arrival of Sumter
still bis army was encamped in order for bat
tie. The Waxhaw road, the road leading
through the Waxhaw settlement to Salisbury
passed directly over Hobkirk's Hill. On the
west of the road, was encamped Huger's Vir.
ginia brigade on the east of the road, was
Colonel Williams Maryland brigade. The
light troops. under Kirkwood, formed pick
ct line in front. In the rear was placed Col
Washington's cavalry and the North Carroll.
ma militia. In the rear of Williams and be.
tween the two lines was the reserves under
Gen. Greene himself. On the left, or east Of
the American camp, less than mile distant
was Little Pinetree creek on the right, OF
west, was the Naterse river. less than tive
miles distant. TIE position was favorable fol-
resisting an attack. The American army was
encamped in a line extending across the neck
of land which lies between the Wateres river
and Little Pinetree creek.
On the 23rd, Captain Mckay, the COM
mandant of Fort Watson, at Wright's Bluff,
on the Santee, in Clarendon county, was fore.
ed to surrender to Lee and Marion. A num-
Der of the prisoners captured had, at one time,
been in the American army. In order that
they might escape the doom which awaits the
deserter, they stated that having fallen into
the hands of the enemy, they Joined the Brit
ish army that they might have better op-
portunity of again entering the service Of their
country. Among this class of prisoners was
drummer by the name of Jones, native Of
Maryland. Jones, together with the prisoners
who had once been American soldiers, were
sent to General Greene. They arrived at the
American camps sometime during the 24th.
Some time during the same night. Jones de-
serted and made good bis escape to the ene-
my. From him, Lord Rawdon learned the
condition of things in the American camp.
He learned that Fort Watson had capitula-
ted, that Greene was daily expecting strong
reinforcements under Sumter, and that he was
without supplies. He was also told that Col.
Darlington was absent, with the artillery, from
Grsene's camp. Darlington had returned to
to camp when Jones left, but unknown to the
latter.
In view of all the circumstances by which
he was surrounded, Lord Rawdon concluded
that something must be done to sustain the
sinking cause of the British. Of CORVALLIS
be knew nothing, and he saw that unless
some stop was put to the progress of the
American partisan leaders, be would soon be
cut off from Ninety.Six and Charleston, and
be forced, for the want of supplies, to surren.
der. On the morning Of the 25th, he armed
every man who was able to carry gun.
Even the musicians and drummers we're or
dered into ranks. His Notifications and
baggage were committed to the care of the
sick and tories who had congregated in the
town. =. ...-
About two o'clock in the morning, Raw.
don, with all his available force, marched out
of town for the purpose of attacking the
Americans. Every move was made with the
utmost silence. Taking the road leading to
Pinetree creek, be filed to the left, leading his
forces close to the stream. The whole region,
north and northeast of Camden, was at that
time dense forest. Such was the order pre-
served by the British forces, that the Ameri-
cans did not discover their approach until a
portion of them had gone beyond the pickets,
and were opposite the Americans left flank.
The picket line, commanded by Captain Ben
SOD, of Maryland, and Captain Morgan, Of
Virginia, supported by the remains of the
Delaware regiment under Kirkwood, did not
discover the advance of the enemy until they
had arrived within less than five hundred
yards of the American camp. Had it not
been for the peculiar nature of the ground,
the Americans would have been completely
surprised. -: e.. ...... g..
Colonel Darlington had brought in with
him an abundant supply of provisions, and
rations had been issued to the soldiers but q
short time before the British made their mp
pearance. General Greene and his suite were
leisurely eating their breakfast, under The
shade of the trees near Martins spring, q
short distance east of the road. Some of the
soldiers were cooking, others we're washing
their clothes, and many of them we're lying