Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-17


teen men, to reconnoiter, and, possible, entice
the garrison from the fort. When Cap
tain Brown arrived near the fort, he discover
ed number of men running in the direction
of the fort from house about four hundred
yards distant. He saw, at once, that these
individuals had been surprised. A dash was
made upon them, and the whole party cap
tured. Among the party was Colonel Rem
wick, who had attacked Colonel Hardin while
passing over the causeway. Also Colonels
Lechmere and Kelsal. From these prisoners
it was learned that they had left the fort in
command of Major DeVaux, the brother-in'
law of Lechmere, and gone to this farm house,
which was used for hospital, for thepurpose
of visiting their sick and wounded.
Fort Balfour was yarrisoned by one hum
dred and ten men, we'll armed. The garrison
was we'll supplied with every thing necessary
to stand a long seige. Besides, it was furnished
with cannon and an abundance Of small arms
and ammunition. Colonel Hardin had no no.
ton that be was able, with his eighty men,
poorly provided with the equipments Of war,
to reduce the fort. All he contemplated be.
ing able to accomplish, under the circumstan-
ces, was to keep the garrison within the fort
and thus prevent its depredating on the sur
rounding country. On coming up and find.
ing that Captain Brown had captured the Of
6cers of the fort, be was encouraged to make
the attempt. Without wasting q moments
time, he scattered his men through the woods
so as to make as great show as possible.
DeVeaux was panic-stricken. BE had no
means of forming even conjecture as to the
strength of the Americans. ana
Hardin made tia point to place the cap
tured officers Of the fort so that they were in
full view of the garrison. This had the effect
to throw Major DeVeaux into very uncom-
Portable state of mind. Hardin had no can
non, but he so maneuvred his troops that
DeVeaux could not discover the fact. When
Colonel Hardin got everything in proper con.
dition, he sent in flag to Major DeVeaux,
demanding an immediate and unconditional
surrender Of the fort and garrison. Only
few moments were spent in discussing the
terms of capitulation. It was agreed that
the fort, with all its contents, should be sur
rendered, without reserve, into the hands of
the Americans, and that the garrison should
deliver themselves up as prisoners on parole.
The work was soon contaminated. The gar
rison marched out of the fort, tied their hor-
ses to the abatis, and laid { wn their arms.
Colonel Hardin, with his men, rode between
the garrison and the fort, and took possession
of the arms and horses when, to the dismay
of the British, it was found that one hun
dred and ten men, strongly fortified and fur
nished with artillery, had surrendered to a
body of eighty cavalry, without cannon or any
other means by which to lay siege to the place
or in any way injure it. ~
In the fort the Wings found large num-
ber of their personal friends and neighbors.
Some were confined, whilst others had been
forced to enter the ranks of the enemy. These
were released and they Immediately entered
Colonel Hardin's command. The effect upon
the southwestern section of the State, was
similar to that experienced by the southeast
ern section on the capture of Fort Motto.
The cloud of gloom which had so long been
hanging over this section Of the State began
to move away, and the cheering rays of hope
began to beam upon the country.