Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-05-20
ty we'll equipped dragons, and one hundre'

attack, about daylight, and was driven from
the field, in the course Of fifteen or twenty
minutes, with the loss of thirty or forty Of
his men left dead on the ground. Col. Clark
received severe wound on the head, and
had four killed and twenty. three wounded.
In the battle of Cowpens, Col. Roebuck
commanded a regiment. This was fought
on the 18th of January, 1881. Col. Pickens
commanded the militia, Col. Howard the Con.
tinentals, Col. Washington the cavalry, and
General Morgan was in command of the
whole army. The British were under the
command of Col Tarleton, consisting Of one
thousand regulars, whilst Morgan's force was
only eight hundred, and two thirds of them
we're militia. This was one of the most ex.
traordinary battles of the whole Revolution.
DR.. Ramsay, in his History of South Carroll
ma, says, "'The glory and Importance of this
battle resouuded from one end of the CONT
nent to the other 1t terminated the des-
ponding friends of America, and seemed to
be like resurrection from the dead, to the
Southern States
In the summer of 1881, Col. Roebuck de-
termined to break up the headquarters of the
tories and out-lyers at Williams Fort on
Mud Creek, in Newberry District. The
strength of his regiment was only one hun.
dred and fifty men, But with this small
force he and his brave lieutenant, Col. Henry
White, thought they could roust the enemy
by stratagem. There were a few British
soldiers in the fort, and large number OF
lawless tories who had been committing all
sorts of depredations ON the Wings in that
section of the State. Col. Roebuck ordered
a portion of his mounted rifemen to show
themselves in front of the fort, to draw out
the garrison. and make hasty retreat. In
the meantime his infantry were most advan.
tageously posted in the woods, concealed
from the enemy. The maneuvre was sue
cesstul The garrison came out in full force,
commenced hot pursuit, and were fred on
by Col. Roebuck's regiment, with most fatal
effect. After sharp and destructive engage.
ment of few minutes, the tories fled and the
fort was captured. Lieutenant-C Colonel White
was badly wounded, and Capt Robert Thorn.
as, a most gallant and beloved officer, was
killed. This victory gave peace to that sec
tion of the country.
Colonel Roebuck was at the siege Of Ninety
Six, with his regiment, under General Green.
He was there captured by the enemy, and
carried prisoner to Charleston, where he was
confined for a length oftilne, greatly exposed,
and caught cold which terminated in con
sumption. He lived only to see the indepen'
dence of his country established, and death
deprived him Of the enjoyment Of that liberty
for which he fought so long and so gallantIy,
Colonel Roebuck was never married, and
died, as he had always lived, in his fathers
house. 1t is to be regretted that SO pure and
noble gentleman left no descendants to in
herit his virtues, bis name and his fame. But
kindred blood of his flows in the veins OF
many of the most respectable families OF
Spartanburg. The Honorable Simpson Bobo
Il learned and distinguished member Of the
Bar, is the son Of Colonel Roebuck's sister
Nor is his name extinct in Spartanburg dis
trict met one who bore that honored and
euphonious name, in the Confederate army
Immediately after the first battle of Manassas
1t may we'll be asked, why such hero and
patriot, us l have considered Col. Roebuck
TO be, is not better known in history? The
answer is, that there were no writers Of histo
ry in the upper part of South Carolina, du
ring the American Revolution; and history
has ignored the gallant achievements of her
brave and patriotic sons. DR.. Ramsay, in
his history of South Carolina, regrets that no
one has furnished him with a detailed account
of the movements of Sumter and Pickens, as
was done with Marion's brigade. When
recall the names Of Pickens, Butler, Roebuck,
Thomas and Samuel Earle, and many, very
many others, who fought so ga'lantly in the
American Revolution, l am forcibly remind
ed of Gray's most beautiful and touching
Elegy on country church. yard, where many
hero lies buried, unknown to fame.