Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-08-09
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES ....
OF THE :s.-. -.=
Early Settlement OF South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.

BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
THE BATTLE OF EUTAW SPRING..
During the short period that the Southern
armv. under General Greene, lay encamped
on the High Hills of the Santee, plan was
devised to wrest Wilmington, North Caroll'
na. from the hands of the British. Major
Craig, with garrison of about three hundred
men. held this place in subsection. and by bis
influence and exertion, kept the people OF
North Carolina rent with internal feuds. In
order to effect the object in view, it was neces'
sarv that every movement on the part OF the
Americans be conducted with great secrecy.
The army of General Greene had, whilst
contending with the greatest difficulties forced
the British to give up their occupancy OF all
of South Carolina and Georgia, except the
cities of Charleston and Savannah and their
suburbs. Virginia was overpowered, and the
efforts of North Carolina, in behalf OF tree
dom, to great extent nulli6ed by her own
factions. ..
In order to sustain Virginia, whilst sorely
pressed by the enemy, General Greene wisely
concluded that it was necessary to deliver
North Carolina from the grasp of the foe and
restore harmony of sentiment among her own
people. This could not be done so long as
Major Craig remained in quiet possession OF
the citv of Wilmington. That his plans
might be concealed and his movements mis-
understood. General Greene ordered Colonel
Lee. with his own legion, together with
Kirkwood's Delaware troops and Handy's
Marylanders, to be ready to begin the execu'
ton of the proposed plan of capturing Will
mipeton. That the movement might be COM
pletely concealed from the enemy, Colonel
Washington was directed to lead his cavalry
across the Wateree river, whilst Marion, with
his militia, was detached and sent to the re-
gion of country skirting upon the Combahee.
Colonel Lee detached Captain Rudolph,
with few men, for the purpose of proceeding
to the neighborhood of Wilmington, that the
strength of Major Craig's defences might be
accurately learned, and also to ascertain
whether it was probable that the American
army could cross the Cape Fear river. Ru-
dulph promptly and successfully executed the
task assigned him. He learned that large
number of Craig's men we're sick, and that ne
was unable to man his works properly. he
also learned that small boats could be secured
in sufficient number to transport the Ameri.
can infantry, and that the horses could swim
the river.
Arrangements were made for the advance
of Lees legion upon Wilmington. The route
he WAS to take, and the day for his departure
were settled. The declared purpose of the
expedition was to succor convoy which was
reported to be on its way from Virginia. In
the meantime, General Greene received dis
patch from Genernl Washington, informing
him that it was probable that the French
West India fleet would land somewhere on
the coast of South Carolina, at no distant
period in the future The particular point
at which the French fleet would attempt to
land, was not known. Washington instructed
Greene to make every preparation in his
power, so as to be ready to cooperate with the
French, no matter where they might land.
This induced General Greene to change, to
some extent, his plans of operation and aban-
don, for time, an attack upon Wilmington.
During the period that the army under
General Greene lay encamped on the High
Hills of the Sartee, the British forces lay at
Orangeburg. Lord Rawdon having been
driven, by few undisciplined militia, from
post to post, and forced to confine himself
within narrow bounds, left the army in COM
mand of Lieutenant.C Colonel Stewart and
sailed for Europe. To the camp of Stewart
focked the loyalists and tories from every
quarter of the State Whilst these swelled
bis numbers, they added very little to his ef-
fective farce.
A little more than month had passed since
General Greene had arrived at the High Hills
of the Santee. The weather was still exces.
sively hot but during the short period of re-
pose, the sick and wounded 10 the American
army had been greatly benefited by the pure
water and pleasant climate of the Hills. On
the 2lst of August, General Greene broke up
his camp on the Santee, and set out in search
of his enemy. He led his forces across the
Wateree river at Camden. From this point
he advanced to the Congaree, which be crossed
short distance below the present city of Co.
lumbia At this point General Greene was
reinforced by body Of militia under Pickens,
and small body of infantry under Colonel
Henderson. This last was corps of State
troops recently raised. The Congaree crossed,
General Greene determined to advance upon
his enemy. Lee, with his legion, and Hen
derson with his new body of State troops, were
detached to form the van whilst the whole
force followed within supporting distance.
When Stewart learned that Greene was ad-
vancing, apparently, to attack him, he re-
tired from Orangeburg, to the Eutaw Spring,
on the santee. Here he was Joined by con-
voy, with supplies, from Charleston. Stewart
was aware that the cause of the British in
South Carolina was in critical condition,
but the nearer he approached Charleston the
less we're his apprehensions of danger.
Eutaw spring is in Charleston county, in
St. Johns Berkley Parish From the foot of
a slight elevation, the water gushes out in a
bold stream, and after flowing near one hun
dred yards, it descends into subterraneous
passage, and again, at distance of about