The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-07-31
REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS.
The BLOODY Scouts and Their AIassacres In
Spartnnburg.

The Bloody Scouts and Their A1assacres liz
Spartnnburg.
Hon. b. Z. Perry in the SpartanJurg Spartan
The 10th of May, 1881, will ever bt
memorable in the traditionary history O
the Spartan District, as it was first nam
ed for its 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 or justification. 1t was O
savage butchery, not in battle or manly
contest, but in the homes of victims. and
in the presence of their families. The
murderers, too, had to resort to acoward-
ly and treacherous stratagem, in order tc
accomplish their fiendish purposes.
For SOME time previous to this memo
rable day, the Wings of Spartanburp
had been enjoying the smiles and bless.
ings of peace and security. But all q,
once, and without the least warning OF
suspicion of danger, like the massacre oi
st. Bartholomew, they were visited by a
noted ban6 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 a
part of Craven County. They first made
their appearance at James Miller's. a
prominent Whiy in the upper part OF
Spartanburg. They he'd thrown aside
the tory badge, which was a sprig of pine
top, and most treacherously fastened to
their hats piece of paper, on which
was written the Wing motto-"Libcrty
or DEATH" in large capital letters.
IhpU vnra ovaruuboro f,1-o~ - c-.A
sight for company of "Liberty men,"
An old man and staunch WbiG. by the
name of James Knox, who happened to
be at A1iller's when the tory assassins
inade their appearance. eagerly went out
friendship and good faith. He was in
stantly cut down by the sabre ofa horse
man, and horribly msngled even after he
fell. Miller, who saw this fatal adven-
ture at distance, quickly made his es-
cape unperceived by the bloody scouts.
Knox lived until the next day, although
his head was 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 visiied by Capt. Young
ana MS scouts was that of John Barry's,
who had long borne the commission of a
Captain in the service of his country, and
who had been a most active and Jealous
Whlg from the commencement of the
Revolution. Fortunately Capt. Barry
was not at home, and he thus escaped
the fate which had just befallen poor
Knnv Whilst 10 =. e
Barry's house and 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 eof the scouts, and the ball passed
through his horses jaws. Notwithstand-
ing, however. this sayere wc.nd which
his horse received, he was able to make
his escape in spite of all pursuit. MIR.
Caldwell was still living at the t ue of
my 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
'ry services. The report of the gun fired
at Caldwell! was heard by James Alexan-
der, to whom / am indebted for all the
particulars of this memorable day. Mr..
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
Co L. Al
creek.
'The bloody scout then went to John
Nicols'. who was an old man and kept O.
mill, but true Wing, and ever ready to
do all he could to serve his country. All
the respect shown his gray hairs was an
attempt to despatch him by the sword
instead OF the pistol. His hands and shoul-
ders were terribly cut and .ngled, but
many years afterwards. The old man
not the same that it had besn.
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 gem
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. actiye
Wing, and particularly obnoxious to the
tories. He was also shot dead, without
knowing the true character OF. thescouts.
Thence they proceeded 20 James Wood j.,
| gentleman who it seems was still more
| obnoxious to their vengeance. He was
taken fion. rs house and put to death
under circums .ances Of peculiar atroci.
ty.
The next bloody deed was the murder
of John Snoddy, whom they met at Ber-
wick's Iron Works. Mr.. Sno9dy was
crossing the bridge when he saw the
bloody scout, and was induced to suspect
them Notwithstanding the false colors
under which they were marching. He
eudeavored IL make his escape through
the woods, but was overtaken and shot
dead.
From Berwick's Iron Works .',av went
to Fair Forest, and there mo ard
Hampton, great-nncle of u ~. Yade
Hampton's. He was bold, active and
distinguished Whig, and said to have
been the best horseman of his age. He
was shot through the body and killed
and the waistcoat which he had on and
through which the bullet passed was pre-
served by his family for great number
of years. and may still be in the possess
ion of some Of his descendants.
After killing Hampton, the day being
pretty we'll spent, and the tories appre-
hensive of the hue and cry of the conn
try, returned TO Laurens. John Barry
raised company of Wings aud went in
pursuit of them. They reached old Ma
jor Franks house, who was tory, and
took all of his horses. David Anderson
acted as commissary, and che iirst case