The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-07-31

with holiness, and let the voices of eartl
and of heaven accord, with sweet har
mony, in the grand Ju6itGte Dec OF the
people of God.
REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS.
The Bloody Scouts and Their AIassacres In
Spartanburg.
Hon, B. F. Perry in the Spartanbrg Spartan
The 10th of May, 1871, will ever be
memorable in the traditionary history O.
the Spartan District, as it was first nam
ed forsi horrors and assassinations.-
Perhaps there is not another instance il
the whole of our struggle where SO many
cold -blooded assassinations were commit
ted on the same day, without the sem
blance of excuse orjusti6cation. Itwas 6
savage butchery, not in q battle or manly
contest, but in the homes of victims, anc
in the presence of their families. The
murderers, too, had to resort to acoward.
ly and treacherous stratagem, in order tc
accomplish their fendish purposes.
For some time previous to this memo
rable day, the Wings of Spartanburg
had been enjoying the smiles and bless,
ings of peace and security. But all al
once, and without the least warning OF
suspicion of danger, like the massacre oi
st. Bartholomew, they were visited by 9
noted band of tories, under the command
of Capt. Bill Young. This tory captain
and his bloody scouts were from the
District of Laurens, then known as 8
part of Craven County. They first made
their appearance at James Miller's, q
prominent Whig in the upper part OF
Spartanburg. They had thrown aside
the tory badge, which was sprig of pine
top, and most treacherously fastened to
their hats a piece of paper, on which
was written the Whig motto."Liberty
or DEATH" in large capital letters.
They were everywhere taken on first
sight for q company of "Li6erty men. "
An old man and staunch Whig, by the
name of james Knox, who happened to
be at Aliller's when the tory assassins
made their appearance, eagerly went out
to meet them with the extended hand of
friendship and good faith. He was in
stantly cut down by the sabre ofa horse
man, and horribly mangled even after he
fell. Miller, who saw this fatal adven-
ture at a distance, quickly made his es-
cape unperceived by the bloody scouts.
Knox lived until the next day, although
his head YVES said to have been literally
hewn to pieces. He was carried into the
house by the wife and daughters of Mr..
Miller, who endeavored to dress his
wounds as well as they could, and ad-
minister to him all the comfort in their
power.
The next house visited by Capt. Young
and his scouts was that of John Barry's,
who had long borne the commission of q
Captain in the service of his country, and
who had been a most active and Jealous
Whig from the commencement of the
Revolution. Fortunately Capt. Barry
was not at home, and he thus escaped
the fate which had just befallen poor
Knox. Whilst the tories were in front OF
Barry's house an6 on the eve of leaving
it, William Caldwell rode up, supposing
the company to be what their badges
purported, on the side of liberty and
their country. He was instantly fired at
by one of the scouts, and the ball passed
through his horses jaws. Notwithstand-
ing, however, this severe wound which
his horse received, he was able to make
his escape in spite of all pursuit. MIR.
Caldwell was still living at the time Of
nv visit to the battlefield of the Cow
pens, in the enjoyment of good health
and much respected by all who knew
him for his moral worth and Revolution
ary services. The report of the gun fired
at Caldwell was heard by James Alexan-
der, to whom I am indebted for all the
particulars of this memorable day. MIR.
Alexander was going to find out the
cause of the gun being fired, when he
met young lady flying from the house,
who informed him that the tories were
there. He changed the direction of his
course pretty quickly, but not before he
was perceived by the bloody band,
They Immediately gave him a pursuit,
and would unquestionably have overta.
ken him if he had not jumped from his
horse and ran across foot-log over the
creek.
"The bloody scout then, went to John
Nicols', who was an old man and. kept
mill, but o true Whig, and ever ready to
do all he could to serve his country. All
the respect shown mis- gray hairs was an
attempt to despatch him by the sword
instead of the pistol. His hands and shoul,
ders were terribly cut and mangled, but
he recovered from his wounds and lived
many years afterwards. The old man
used to say, however, that his mind was
not the same that it had been.
From Nicols this murderous band went
to Mr.. Howell's where they found John
Caldwell and Thomas Dunlap, two very
active and prominent Wings. These gen.
tlemen were both despatched by pistols
before they were aware of the true char
acter of the scout. From thence they
proceeded to John Woods, a bold, active
Wing, and particularly obnoxious to the
tories. He was also shot dead, without
knowing the true character OF. the scouts
Thence they proceeded to James Woods
gentleman who it seems was still more
obnoxious to their vengeance. He was
taken from his house and put to death
under circumstances of peculiar atroci
ty.
The next bloody deed was the murder
of John Snoddy, whom they met at Ber.
wick's Iron Works. Mr.. Snoddy wa:
crossing the bridge when he saw the
bloody scout, and was induced to suspect
them Notwithstanding the false color!
under which they were marching. He
endeavored to make his escape through
the woods, but was overtaken and sho
dead.
From Berwick's Iron Works they wen
to Fair Forest, and there met Edward
Hampton, a great-uncle of Gov. Wade
Hampton's. He was bold, active anc
distinguished Whig, and said to have
been the best horseman of his age. HI
was shot through the body and killed
and the waistcoat which he nd on anc
through which the bullet passed was pre-
sarved hv his family for a great number