Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-08-09

LaurenS, rev miles from Lue euehiJ Cou'P +
On the evening of the 7th. Greene, and th'
main force, reached Burdell's plantation, sew
en- miles from Eutaw spring. Here he en-
camped for the night.
Colonel Stewart seems to have been totally
ignorant of the proximity of the American
army. During the night of the 7th, two
North Carolina conscripts, belonging to Sum
ner's command, deserted and gave Colone
Stewart the first intimation that Genera
Greene was advancing to give him battle
During the day, Stewards scouts had been ul
the Congaree road, but for some reason hao
failed to discover the American army. This
led the British Colonel to conclude that the
North Carolina deserters were spies. Giving
little credence to the information received
from the deserters, Stewart, as usual, sent out
on the morning of the 9th, an unarmed force
to dig potatoes. Captain Coffin, by whom
Stewart had lately been reinforced, was sent
out with small body of cavalry to make OBJ
servation, and, if necessary, recall the potato
diggers.
Just as day began to break on the morning
of the 9Th, the American army, under Gener'
al Greene, was put in motion. The whole
force amounted to two thousand three hupdred
men. Of this number, about sixteen hundred,
including the cavalry, artillery and foot, were
regulars the remainder were militia, few OF
whom had some experience. The rest had
never been in a battle. The whole force
moved forward in two columns. Each OF
these columns was composed of the troops de-
signed to form the lines of battle.
The front line was composed of four battal-
ions of militia. Two of these battalions con-
sisted of North Carolinians, and the other two
of South Caroliuians. The North Carolina
battalions we're commanded by Colonel NAL
medy. Oneof the South Carolina battalions
was commanded by Pickens-the other by
Marion. The whole front line was command
ed by Marion. Three greatly reduced brig
ades of continental troops constituted the Sec
ond line. One of the brigades was from
North Carolina, another from Virginia, and
the remaining one from Maryland. The
North Carolina brigade was divided into three
battalions, and placed on the right. Majors
Blount and Armstrong, and Lieutenant'C Colo
mel Ashe, each commanded battalion-the
whole commanded by General Sumner. The
Virginia brigade, commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel Richard Campbell, was posted in the
centre. This was divided into two battalions,
the commanders of which we're respectively
Major Snead and Captain Edmond. The
Maryland brigade, commanded by Colonel
Otho H. Williams, deputy Adjutant-Genera
was posted on the right Of the second line.
The Maryland brigade was divided into two
battalions, the commanders of which were
Lieutenant Colonel Howard and Major Hard
man. The right wing was covered by Lees
ii1gion; curumundrdd BY 44ho-ssts"to
troops, the several divisions of which were
commanded respectively by Colonels Hamp-
ton, Middleton and Polk-the whole COM
manded by Colonel Henderson-covered the
left wing. The reserve was composed OF Colo
mel Washington's cavalry, and the Delaware
troops under Captain Kirkwood. Captain
Gaines, with two three. Founders, advanced
with the front line, and Captain Brown, with
two six Founders, moved forward with the Sec
ond line. Lees legion, led by himself, and
the State troops, commanded by Henderson,
advanced in front of the whole. Such is a
brief outline of the order in which the Amer.
ican army, under General Greene, moved for
ward on the morning Of the 9th of Septem-
Der, 1881.
.Colopel Stewart, with about two thousand
soldiers lay at Eutaw spring. His line ex-
tended from Eutaw creek, north ofthe Charles
ton road, across the road, for considerable
distance. The line passed in front of the res
dence of William Sinkler.
At eight o'clock, Lee and Henderson came
in contact with Captain Coffin and his "pota-
to dggers." Captain Coffin seems to have
been ignorant of the advance of the American
army. Captain Armstrong was leading Lees
accommodating party. So soon as Coffin dis
covered Armstrong, he dashed forward and
made spirited attack upon him. Armstrong
fell back upon Lee. The Legion and State
troops were soon arranged to receive the at
tack. Lee, supposing that Stewart was ap-
prised of the nearness of the American army,
DISPATCHED courier to General Greene to in
form him of what was taking place. The
American van was now near four miles from
Eutaw spring. Coffin boldly attacked Lee
and Henderson, and was as boldly met by
these officers. Major Eggeston made quick
movement and gained Coffin's rear. Pressed
both in front and rear, Coffin was soon forced
to yield. A large number of his infantry was
killed, and forty, including their Captain,
were taken prisoners. Cofin's cavalry, so
soon as they discovered Eggleston in their
rear, put spurs to their horses and fled in con-
fusion. The unarmed party, which had been
sent out to dig potatoes, fled back to camp so
soon as the firing commenced, and thus es.
capped.
The American van under Lee and Hen
derson, encouraged by the results of this skir-
mish, pressed forward with vigor. About a
mile from the camp of Stewart, they were
met by another detachment of the enemy,
which had been sent to aid Coffin. Both
Americans and British seemed to have been
surprised by this occurrence. Stewart now,
for the first time, seems to have been con-
yinced that General Greene, with his whole
army, was approaching. The British fell
back q short distance, and the main body of