Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-06-19

feeling of every breast. They were rough men
externally, but they had brave and tender
hearts. Charles Mcdowell moved amongst
the multitude with all the grace and ease Of
nobility. John Sewer was full of impulse and
an energy which never tired. Isaac Shelby
had little to say. His knit brow meant speedy
action. William Campbell showed, by his
stern dignity, that he was born to be free.
The officers proposed, before they set out, that
the company be called together and the divine
blessing be asked. A prayer, solemn and ap-
propriate, being offered up, the party designed
for the expedition mounted their horses, and
the rest returned to their homes With anx-
ious hearts did these wait until the result was
heard.
The troops left Sycamore Shoals on the
twenty sixth. They were all mounted and un-
incumbered by baggage of any kind whatever.
They expected to support themselves, on the
way, by their rifles, or by forcing the tories to
feed them and their horses. The force con-
sisted of one thousand and forty men, as fol-
lows: From Burke and Rutherford counties,
North Carolina, Col. Mcdowell, 100 men.
From Washington county, North Carolina,
From Sullivan county, North Carolina, (now
Tennessee) Col. Isaac Shelby, 24O men. From
Washington county, Virginia, Col. William
Campbell, 400 men.
The Sycamore Shoals is near the head of
the Watauga. From this point, they pursued
nearly an eastern direction, across the elbow
mountain; afterward it was nearly south.
The first night they spent at Matthew Toll
bert's mill. The second day, two of their men
deserted and went ahead to the enemy. On
the 30th of September they reached the foot
of the mountain on the east side Here they
were joined by three hundred and fifty men
from Wilkes and Surry counties, under the
command of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland and
Major Joseph Winston. Cleveland and Wins
ton were keeping themselves concealed that
they might join in with any party going against
the enemy. The first of October-the second
day after the junction with Cleveland-was so
wet that it was thought advisable not to
move. Ferguson was thought to be at Gilbert.
Town, and as the guns in those days were all
flint and steel locks, it was dangerous to ap-
proach an enemy with wet gums.
Up to this time there was no commanding
officer. Shelby perceived that there was a
great defect in their organization, and, during
the rain, called council of the officers. They
were now in Col. Charles McDowell's region,
and advancing against an enemy with which
he had lately been contending. He was, more
over, the senior officer, and it was natural that
he would be expected to take the command Of
the whole. No one doubted Charles Mellow
ell patriotism or bravery but it was thought
that he was not the man to command parti-
san corps on an enterprise like that in which
they were at that time engaged. Shelby pro-
posed William Campbell as commander-in-
chief for the present, and that messenger be
sent to headquarters, wherever that might be,
for commanding officer, who should take
charge of the whole corps. This proposition
was readily assented to by all, and COL !Chas.
Mcdowell volunteered to 60 to headquarters
after general officer, and his brother, Joseph
Mcdowell, took command Of his men until he
would return.
Here, for time, let us leave these patriotic
mountain men, until we can bring up the 9TH
er forces who were prominent actors in the
battle of Kings Mountain. After Sumter's
defeat at Fishing Creek, on the 18th Of Aug
ust, he and Col. Edward Lacy, with small
portion of Sumter's command, passed over into
Mecklenburg, North Carolina. They camped
on Clem's Branch. Lacy was sent by Sumter
into York and Chester counties, to gather up
the Irish Of that region, who were known to
be true Wings, and also to collect all that he
could Of Sumter's army that was scattered at
Fishing Greek.
After Lacy's return to Sumter's camp, on
Clem's Branch, Col. James Williams, who,
as we have seen, was made Brigadier Cen
eral by Governor Rutledge shortly after the
battle of Musgrove's mill, arrived in camp,
and having shown his commission, claimed
the authority to take command of all the
South Carolina troops. in that section. On
the 9th of September Williams had been order
ed, or rather requested" by Abner Nash,
Governor of North Carolina, Ito 60 into Cas-
we'll county and such other counties as he
might think proper, and raise body Of vol
unteer horsemen, not to exceed one hundred" "
With these and few other troops, Williams
came to Sumter's camp, on Clem's Branch.
The South Carolina soldiers of Sumter's COM
mand positively refused to submit to Will
lianls as a general. They preferred Sumter.
The main objection that the soldiers had
against Williams was that, having at one
time been the commissary Of Sumter's COM
mand, he had acted in some way or other so as
to gain the i'll will and even the hatred Of many
of the men. What the facts in the case were,
it is impossible, at this late date to learn with
sufficient accuracy to warrant US in saying
who was to blame, Williams or the men. No
doubt both were to some extent in the fault.
Be this as it may, a difficulty sprung up be-
tween Sumter and Williams, and but for the
presence of the enemy, it might have ended in
something serious.
Whilst the difficulty was pending, it was
learned that Rawdon and Tarleton, with a
large force, were making preparations for at
tacking them. 1t was concluded by both par
ties, that they would cross the Catawba river
at Bigger's ferry (now Wright's. Having
crossed the river, a council Of officers was
called to settle the difficulty. Col. William
Hill, who was wounded at the battle OF Hang
ing Rock, was made chairman Of this council.
Whilst the council was discussing the matter,
Rawdon and Tarleton appeared on the oppo-
site bank of the river, and commenced firing at
them across the river. It was evident that
the enemy would not allow them time to look
into the matter, and their existence depended
upon harmony among themselves. 1t was
agreed to refer the whole matter, with all the
facts in the case, to Governor Rutledge, then
at Hillsborough, North Carolina In the
mean time, however, Sumter was to retire
from the army until the decision Of Rutledge
was heard. Williams would remain in COM
mand of his North Carolina troops and Colo
nels Hill and Lacy would take command Of
the South Carolina troops.
Colonels Winn, Middleton, Thomas and
Hampton, were sent as commissioners to Gov
ernor Rutledge; and Lacy and Hill, in the hope
of forming junction with General William
Davidson, led the army up the Catawba, and
crossed at Tuckaseege ford. Governor Nash,
of North Carolina, had instructed Colonel Will
liams (then GeneraD to proceed in any direc-
tion and operate against the enemy. His in
structions were very general, leaving the whole
matter to the discretion of Williams himself
Whilst the army, then under the command of
Hill, Lacy and Williams, were on the east side
of Catawba river, in the neighborhood of Tuck
aseege ford, Williams scouts brought the infor-
nation that body of the back mountain men
were already on the east side of the mountain,
on their way to fight Ferguson. They imme-
diately crossed the Catawba, at Beattie's ford,
with the intention of going in pursuit of Fer
guson. Here they were Joined by Majors Gra-
ham and Hambright, with about seventy-five