Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-08-23
Misturp nf 8. Garolina.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
Early Settlement Of South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE OF EUTAN
SPRING.

BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE OF EUTAW
SPRING.
The day on which was fought the battle Of
Eutaw Spring, was intensely hot. Both ar
mics suffered for the want of water. Many
of the Americans were almost naked and en-
tirely bare-footed. The water OF Euta"
Spring was reddened with the blood of the
wounded, who crept there to quench their
thirst. There is tradition that for some
time after the battle, the volume of the water
which bursts from this fountain, was consld'
erably diminished. This decrease in the
amount of water was attributed to the blood
which was mingled with the water. Ho"
much credence is to beg given to this tradition
we will not undertake to say. All that we
aver is that we have seen individuals who
declared, that for some time after the battle
the Eutaw Spring "went nearly dry"
Both parties claimed victory at Eutaw,
The American General received a vote ol
thanks from the Congress ofthe United States
for the "most signal victory" which he had
gained. A British standard was also pre-
sented to General Greene, as ian honorable
testimony of his merits" In addition to this
General Greene was presented with "a golden
medal, emblematical of the battle and vlcto'
ry." General Greene was instructed to pre-
sent the thanks of Congress to his Aids-de'
Camp, Hyrne, Pierce, Pendleton and shu'
brick. Pierce, who bore General Greene's
dispatches, giving an account of the victory
to Congress, was presented with sword.
On one side of the golden" medal present
ed to General Greene, is the profile OF
mau-designed for the General himself, no
doubt. Around the profile are the words
NATHANIEL GREENE EGREG1o DUcI coMITIA
AMER1cANA"-"Th American Congress to
the distinguished leader, Nathaniel Greene" "
On the other side of the medal is the Goddess
of Victory, gracefully gliding down upon the
earth. In her right hand is wreath with
which to crown the victor in her left hand, a
culver. Gently she descends and places her
left foot upon broken shield. The head OF
the Goddess is encircled with the words,
"sALus REe1oNuM AUsrRAL1UM'--"Tbe
Safety of the Southern region" Underneath
her feet are the words "HosTIBUs AD EUTAW
DEBELLAT1s, VIM SEPT, MDccLxxx1"-
"The enemy conquered at Eutaw, on the 9th
of September, 1881"
The Congress of the United States passed a
vote of thanks to the several divisions OF
troops which composed the army of General
Greene.
From all this, we would be led to believe
that the Americans bad, in reality, gained "a
most signal victory" The British, on the
other hand, claim a victory, and rest their
claim upon two facts. They were able to
hold the brick house and palasade garden du-
ring the whole of the contest, and, in the end,
force the Americans to abandon the conflict.
The truth is, neither party gained, at the time,
a signal victory. The ranks of both armies
were fearfully thinned. In no battle, during
the whole revolutionary war, did the Amerl'
cans lose so many officers. Colonels Wash
ington, Howard and Henderson were wound
ed, and Colonel Richard Campbell was killed.
Of the six Colonels, only two-Williams and
Lee-were unhprt. The whole number of
American officers E11ted was seventy-two; the
number of wounded thirty-nine. This, in it.
self, was a severe blow upon the American
army.
The troops on both sides fought bravely.
The British admit that the bayonet, which,
heretofore, had been so much dreaded by the
Americans, had lost all its power to produce
terror in them, and had become, in their hands,
a most deadly weapon. With this weapon in
the hands of the Virginians and Maryland
ers, General Greene drove the British regu.
lars from the battlefield. Evidently, the
Americans were eminently successful until
the hungry and thirsty soldiers entered the
British camp. Here they began to plunder'
and were soon incapscitated for anything.
Aa amusing scene took place in front OF
the brick house. So great was the rush OF the
British to enter the brick house, and so close
ly were they pursued by the Americans, that
the more advanced of the latter reached the
door before the hindmost of the former. The
British were in haste to enter the house, and
the Americans were in haste to reach the
place before the door could be shut. Lieu
tenant Manning and few daring followers,
reached the door almost as soon as Major
Sheridan and his men. One of Manning's
men actually made his way partly into the
house. Sheridan began to push him out, and
Manning, at the same time, to push him in'
Finally, Sheridan succeeded. The door was
Immediately closed and barred. Many of the
British were left out.
Among those was brother of the somewhat
remarkable Colonel Isaac Barre. The broth
er of this Irish Colonel held captains com.
mission. Lieutenant Manning, finding that
he could not force the house, turned his at
tentions to the unfortunate British who were
too late to enter. So soon as Captain Barre
found that he could neither enter the brick
house nor escape, be began, with gibness OF
tongue for which the Irish are noted. and
with solemnity in harmony with his circum'
stances, to recite his titles. II am said he,
"Sir Henry Barre, deputy adjutant general
of the British army captain of the Sind reg
iment; Secretary Of the commandant at
Charleston"
"And my prisoner" interrupted Manning
"You are the very man have been looking
for. Come with me and will take good care