Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-03-01

Aarifultural ano Commercial 9n1
Y, MARCH 1, Il
led Lees front, but on account Of the recent
change in the movements of the legion, was
now in the rear. Although the squads under
Rudolph and Eggleston we're retiring at
the gallop, Armstrong, for the want Of room,
was forced to retire at walk. Tarleton, not
understanding why Armstrong and his squad
retired 80 slowly, ordered his men to fire.
Their pistols being emptied, Armstrong still
remained as sullen as before. Tarleton now
ordered charge On came the British cav
airy. The front section had nearly reached
Armstrong, when Lee, who had been atten'
lively watching the movements Of Tarleton,
ordered his men to right-a-bout and charge.
Both parties were in long lane with high
fences on each side of the road, the fences
following the windings of the road. Lee
chose this place as favorable to the American
cavalry. The horses in Lees legion were
strong aad in good condition, whilst those be-.
longing TO Tarleton were inferior and in bad
condition. Lee felt confident that could his
cavalry meet Tarleton's in the lane, that he
would be able to trample large number to
death. Only one squad Of each legion met.
So soon as Tarleton saw what Lee was doing,
he ordered a retreat. In this skirmish Tarle-
ton lost number of both men and horses
killed. The Americans lost nothing.
Lee now directed his course towards New
Garden Westinghouse. At this point he ar.
rived just as the sun was rising. The van Of
the British infantry, and Lees cavalry,
reached New Garden meeting house at the
same moment. Both parties prepared to fight.
Lee ordered the cavalry to retreat, and whilst
the cavalry was retiring before the British,
the infantry attached to Lees legion, and the
riaemen under Colonel William Campbell,
rushed up and poured in most destructive
fire upon the enemy. For few moments
the conflict was sharp. Several were. killed
on both sides. Either in this skirmish or in
the one which occurred few hours previous,
Colonel Tarleton was wounded by a ball in
his right hand.
the conflict between Lee and the British
infantry at New Garden meeting house, was
heard by General Greene, and he now began
to make the final disposition Of his troops for
action. On the previous day he had sent his
wagons and baggage to Speedwelrs iron.
works, on Troublesome creek. This place
Greene had fortified since he recrossed the
Dan, and, consequently, it afforded safere-
treat from Guilford Court House, should he
be unsuccessful in the approaching engage.
ment. Greene was by no means sanguine with
regard to the results Of general engagement.
BE was willing to risk it, believing that
should the Americans succeed, the British
army, under Cornwallis, would be hopelessly
ruined; and should the British succeed the
Americans would only be- crippled for short
time. .r.
The road leading from Salisbury to Vir-
ginis, crossing the Dan at Boyd's ferry, pass
ed through Martinsburg to the right, or east
of the Court House. The bearing of the road
was about fifteen degrees east of north. The
bearing of the stream which runs through the
valley south and east of the village, was about
forty.fve degrees east of north. From the
Court House, to the point at which the road
crossed the stream, was about two miles. The
irst line of the Americans was placed across
the road, a little more than mile from the
point where the road crossed,the stream in the
valley. This line was composed of tho North
Carolina militia, commanded by Generals
Butler and Eaton. 1t was q good position,
the men being protected from the fire of the
enemy by the fences which enclosed the fields,
ond hv q orouo of traoe
Captain Singleton, with two six-pounders,
was placed in the road few rods in front of
the first line. The second line, composed Of
Virginia militia under Stevens and Lawson,
was placed across the road, about three hun
dred yards in the rear of the first line. The
division ofStevens was placed on the east Of
the road that of Lawson on the west The
right flank of Stevens rested upon the left
flank of Lawson. This line was protected by
the woods which lay between the fields around
the Court House, and those farther down on
the slope near the valley.
About four hundred yards in the rear Of
the second line, near the court house, in the
field and on the west Of the road, was placed
the third lne It consisted of about fourteen
hundred and fifty Continental regulars, en-
braced in four regiments. The two Virginia
Continental regiments, under Genera Huger,
were commanded by Col. Greene and Lieuten-
ant Colonel Hawes. The two Maryland reg
iments, under Colonel Williams, were com.
manded by Colonel Gunby and Lieutenant
Colonel Ford. Colonel Greene's command
was stationed near the court house, and Lieu
tenant-C Colonel Ford on the extreme left.
Lieutenant-C Colonel Washington, with his cav
airy, the company of Delawares under Cap
tain Kirkwood, and Colonel Lynch, with. a
battalion of militia from Virginia, were post
ed on the right. Lieutenant. Colonel Lse,
with his legion, and Colonel William Camp
bell with his "back mountain men," were
placed on the left. Washington and Lee,
with the forces under them, were instructed
to watch the hanks. In the rear of the whole
and near the court house, were parked two
pieces of artillery, all that General Greene
had except the two six.pounders which were
placed in front in charge of Captain Single
ton Such was the disposition which Gener-
al Greene made of his forces in anticipation
of meeting, in general engagement, the
forces under CORVALLIS. .......
The sun was just rising when the van Of
the British army reached New Garden meet
ing-house. Here, as we have seen, sharp
skirmish occurred between CampbelPs rifle
men and the British infantry. Lieutenant
Colonel Lee perceiving that the enemy was
advancing in force, called off his troops and
retired from. before the enemy to General
Greene's camp and took his place in battle
order.
From the forks of the road, where Lee and
Campbell encountered the enemy, to Guilford
Court House, the distance is between five and
a;x miles The British took the Salisbury