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

General Gates, the hero of Saratoga, was de.
feated and his army routed near Camden. Two
Fishing Creek, by Tarleton, and his command
scattered.
Such was the general condition of things in
this State and in Georgia. that many brave
men had hid themselves beyond the mountains,
that, like Alfred of old, they might emerge
from these mountain Businesses and rout the
invading foe. These voluntary exiles received
welcome from the patriots of Watauga and
Nollichucky. There they met Isaac Shelby
and John Sewer. Amongst those refugees
was Colonel Clarke, Of Georgia, with about
one hundred of his OverIpowered, but not sub
dued men. These refugees told the tale of
sufferings which they had seen in the States
of Georgia and South Carolina, Their story
of the hardy pioneers Of the forest.
After the defeat of Gates at Camden, Corn
wallis, as had been done by his predecessor,
Clinton, proceeded at once to establish civil
government in the upper section of the State.
TarletOn and Ferguson were ordered to scour
the State. The object was to beat up the to-
ries and loyalists and disperse the Wings.
Ferguson had been in the Ninety-Six District
for some time, and portions Of his command
had been, on several occasions, badly cut up
by the Wings. Patrick Ferguson was Ma
jor in the British army, and Brigadier Gener-
al of the Royal Militia of South Carolina.
The second officer in his command was Captain
DePeyster, loyalist. The Wing colonels,
Mcdowell, Sewer, Shelby, Williams and
Clarke, were known to frequent this section
of the State. The fact that parties Of Fergu-
sons men had, at Musgrove's Mill, at Cedar
Spring, and other places, been attacked and
routed by the bold partisans, greatly incensed
the British officer. Meetings of the tories and
loyalists were held throughout the Ninety
Six District. Those who claimed to be tories
or loyalists, were threatened with severe pun
ishment if they did not take up arms and assist
his Majesty's troops in putting down the rebel
lion. Ferguson now found that the rebellion,
which Clinton and his successor, Cornwalis,
thought was crushed out, was stalking over
the land like giant. Wings, tories and loyal
lists, found that each party was in earnest,
and desperate effort must be made, or all
would be lost.
On the 18th of August-the day on which
Sumter was surprised by Tarleton at Fishing
Creek-Col Mcdowell was encamped at
Smiths Ford on Broad river. He had learned
that party Of tories near five hundred in
number, were encamped at Musgrove's mill,
on the south side Of Enoree river. Colonels
Williams. Shelby and Clarke, were detached
for the purpose of surprising them. 1t was a
dangerous undertaking, for Ferguson was en-
camped, with his whole force, midway be-
tween Mcdowell and the tories. At sun set,
the party set out, and by taking right hand
road, passed Ferguson's camp in safety. The
tories were commanded by Col. Innis and
Major Frazer Shelby, Williams and Clarke,
arrived at the tory camp just at daylight.
The attack was made, and although the tories
had been reinforced by six hundred regulars
under Innis, a complete victory was gained.
Flushed with victory, the conquerors deter
mined to make an attack upon Ninety-Six.
Just at this moment courier arrived, bring
ing the sad news that General Gates had been
defeated orrthe 10th at Camden. They were
urged by Mcdowell to make nc delay lest
they should be captured by Ferguson. They
had more than two hundred prisoners. The
men were tired, and so were their horses.
The prisoners were divided out amongst the
men, giving every three men two prisoners.
After they were completely out Of the reach OF
Ferguson, Shelby went home, leaving Clarke
and Williams in charge Of the prisoners They
Governor Rutledge, Of South Carolina, who, at
this time, was in Hillsborough, seeing Will
liams in charge of 80 many prisoners and sup
posing that he was the principal actor of the
affair, Immediately gavehim Brigadier Gener-
al's commission as reward for his brave and
heroic exploit.
Mcdowell so soon as he heard that Gates
was defeated, broke up his camp at Smiths
Ford and set out for the mountains. His
command was scattered. Some of his men
went home, whilst others, accompanied their
commander beyond the mountains. Ferguson
was left in full possession Of the field. The
Wings were plundered Of their property and
driven from their homes. Many of them were
forced to hide out in unfrequented spots, whilst
not few were caught and cruelty murdered.
The brave but cruel British officer pushed his
way as far as Gilbert Town, near the present
site of Rutherfordton, in North Carolina.
South Carolina was now under the paw Of the
British lion. Some crouched and begged for
quarters but there were flew noble spirits
enough to save the countrywide had sworn
for their country to live, and for her to die.
Ferguson was not ignorant of this fact. He
knew the history of those men who were be-
yond the mountains. He knew that their an
cestors, for more than two hundred years, had
been fighting for liberty, and he saw that the
wilds of America had strengthened the love
of liberty in their children. He knew that
they were Scotch-Irish and Huguenots, by de-
scent. He knew that they could be crushed
lUCO tdIUll, Glldu Ullcy COuu bC WILL AAAAAo
from limb, that they could be buried beneath
the earth but he feared their very dust.
He had his spies in the mountain country,
and from them he had learned what was going
on in the valleys of Nollichucky and Watauga.
These spies often brought him the startling
news that their fellows were caught and hang
ed, while others were tarred and suffered to re-
turn to their champion leader. Ferguson ragged.
He cursed the rebels for their daring, and he
cursed the tories and loyalists for their want of
courage.
Whilst Colonel Ferguson lay at Gilbert Town,
he paroled Samuel Philips, a patriot, whom he
held as prisoner, and sent him with threat
ening message to the back mountain men. The
purport of this message was, that If these pat
riots in Watauga and Nollchucky did not lay
down their arms and return to obedience to the
King of England, he would come over the
mountain and hang the last one of them. This
was not mere boast. He contemplated doing
what he said. Ferguson was no idle boaster.
No sooner had Samuel Philips delivered his
message, than the horrors of past generations
loomed up before the eyes of the patriots OF
Watauga and Nollichucky. The blood of John
Sewer and Isaac Shelby was stirred. Sewer
was eloquent under the impulse of holy re-
sentiment, and the brow of Shelby was knit
with indignation and his whole countenance
indicated stern defiance. These noble men at
once concluded that they would thwart Fergu-
son in his bloody purpose, and if there was any
hanging to be done they would do it.
The plan for raising sufficient number OF
men to accomplish their purpose was soon de.
vised To Sewer was assigned the duty OF
communicating with Mcdowell and the other
officers who were then in voluntary exile be.
yond the mountains Shelby assumed as his
part of the work the writing of letter to Col.
William Campbell, OF Washington county, Vir.
Ferguson was stated, and the plan for his des,