Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-06-14

tcts with these sailylng parties were nerce
and bloody. It was no child's play. Braye
men rendered desperate by their surround
ings, were met by brave men in whose bosoma
the fires of hatred had been covered for years.
In no instance were these sallying parties OF
the British successful. Failure did not, how
ever, dishearten them, but only render them
more desperate. The hopes Of the American
General and American soldiers were growing
brighter and brighter each hour. while on the
other hand, dark and gloomy forebodings fill,
ed the mind of the brave Cruger. Evident
ly, the crisis was fast approaching. 1t was
only matter of time, if things continued as
they were, when the last garrison in the inte-
rior of South Carolina would be forced to
surrender.
In war, as in everything else, appearances
are often deceptions. The best laid plans,
pushed with the most consummate skill, often
are blighted in the moment of their final &C.
complishment. On the 18th of June, Gener.
al Greene received dispatch from General
Sumter. containing the startling intelligence
of the landing at Charleston, on the 3rd, OF
portions of three regiments, detachment OF
the Guards, and considerable number of
volunteers, all under the command Of Colo
mel Gould. These forces were designed for
CORVALLIS, but that officer, in order that
South Carolina might be retained in posses
sion of his Majesty, assigned them to the
succor of Rawdon. ....
So soon as the Irish troops landed, Raw
don, who was in camp at Monks Corner, re-
paired to Charleston to make preparation for
the relief of Ninety.Six. Previous to this
time, he had not heard of the fall of Angus
ia, nor of the investment of Ninety-Six. His
fears, however, for both these posts were
great; but with the force then at his COM
mand, beset as he was by Sumter and Marion,
he was unable to render Cruger and Brown
any assistance. On the 7th Of June, Rawdon
set out from Charleston for Ninety-Six. Soon
after leaving Charleston, the troops left by
Rawdon at Monks Corner. Joined those led
by Gould. The whole consisted of seventeen
hundred infantry and one hundred and fifty
cavalry. On the way, few others Joined
him, so that on arriving at Orangeburg, his
command amounted to more than two thous-
and. Rawdon soon heard of the fall of Au-
gusta and the siege of Ninety-Six.
On hearing of the advance of Rawdon, the
first thing that suggested itself to the mind Of
General Greene, was to meet and disperse the
force advancing to relieve Cruger, and then
return and force Cruger to surrender. To eff.
feet this design, Marion, who was in the low
country, was ordered to place himself in front
of Rawdon. General Sumter was ordered to
collect all the forces on the Congaree and join
General Greene at some point between that
river and Ninety.Six. General Pickens, to-
gether with all the cavalry under Colonel
Washington, were sent to join Sumter. Al.
though the plan of first beating Rawdor was
undertaken, it was soon discovered that it
could not DO put into execution. The concen-
tration of the forces under Sumter was neces-
sarly too slow, and the movements of Raw.
don too rapid to put in execution such a plan
1t was determined next, by Gen. Greene, to
raise the siege and lead his forces into some
safe retreat. To this, both the officers and
men in the American camp objected. Some
were anxious to wipe out old stains others
we're desirous to give an exhibition of their
skill and prowess; whilst many, rendered reck.
less by crueltes and suffering inflicted by the
enemy, were longing for an opportunity to
satiate their vengeance. 1t was manifest to
all that the post must be taken by assault or
abandoned. Rawdon was moving forward to
its relief with all possible dispatch.
In the meantime, neither party had slack
ened its labors. The work of the besiegers
was pressed forward, whilst the besieged Ia
bored night and day in strengthening their
Notifications. The American marksmen of:
ten drove the artilerists from their guns. 1t
was attempted to burn the houses Of the vii
lage with arrows, as was done at Fort Motto ;
but Cruger promptly had the houses stripped
of their roofs Major Green, who command.
ed with distinguished ability the star re.
doubt, on seeing the advance of the American
third parallel and the erection of q Maham
tower, covered his parapet with sand-bags
leaving an aperture between the bags for the
use of his rifemen. 1t now became evident
to all that an error had been made in not d.
recting the main force to the reduction of the
stockades that guarded the spring.
In order to cut the enemy off from their
supply of water, Colonel Lee proposed to Gen.
Greene the propriety of attempting to set the
stockade fort on fire. On the 18th, whilst q
dark and portentous cloud was rising in the
west, Lee asked Gen. Greene permission to
make the attempt to set this stockads fort on
fire. The request was granted, and sergeant
and nine infantry, belonging to Lees Legion.
were Immediately selected for the perilous
undertaking. This intrepid little band was
furnished with combustible material and d.
rected to advance to the stOckade fort by the
most concealed route. At the same time, the
batteries in every quarter opened terrific
fire upon the enemy, designing to produce the
impression that general assault was about to
be made upon the star redoubt. The gal
liant sergeant and his faithful little band made
their way amid the raging of the storm and
the thunder of the cannon until they had
reached the stockade fort, and we're in the
act of applying the fire. At this critical mo-
ment they were discovered, and the sergeant
and five of his men were instantly killed. The
other four escaped unhurt, notwithstanding
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