Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-12-02
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THE SCOURGE OF THE CAROLINAS.
In 1775, when in his twenty second year
Tarleton was gazetted as cornet in the King
Dragon Guards. In 1776 be obtained per,
mission from the Colonel Of his regiment to
volunteer for service in North America, where
"the insolent rebellion of Great Britain's un
grateful children" as it was regarded in this
country, had just burst into flame. His
FIRST act, after landing in New York, was to
surprise and capture General Charles Lee,
who, being an Englishmau by birth, had
upon the outbreak of the American rebellion,
resigned his British commission and joined
the cause of the insurgent colonies. Gen.
Lee was looked upon with singular antipathy
by the officers of the army which he had de-
serted, and in 1779 and 1880 Tarleton's
health was the most popular toast that it waI
possible to propose at mess dinner in Eng,
land, or at any of the public meetings held to
celebrate what was then regarded in this
country as the approaching collapse of the
rebellion.
A century has passed since those days, and
it is necessary at present for an Englishman
to visit the States of North and South Caro-.
lima in order to appreciate the terror still
awakened in those regions by the name of
Col. Tarleton. Fiction has added to the
daring, unscrupulous deeds in which be was
the principle actor, and we are acquainted
with no volume which is more pregnant with
materials for military romance than one
from the pen Of Rev. DR.. Caruthers, entitled,
"Interesting Revolutionary Incidents and
Sketches Of Character, chiefly in the Old
North State" which is the local name for
North Carolina. In this, and in other works
of like kind, Col. Tarleton. stands before US
as be appeared to the dwellers on the from
tiers of North and South Carolina, through
which he carried fire and sword. "Tarleton,"
says contemporary writer, possessed form
that was perfect model of manly strength
and vigor. He stood rather above the mid
die height, and had face almost femininely
beautiful. Without a particle of surplus
flesh, his rounded limbs and full broad chest
seemed moulded from iron, yet at the same
time, displayed all the elasticity which usu-
ally accompanies elegance of proportion"
We we're admitted by the same writer to the
spectacle of a combat between Tarleton and
violent horse, which no one else dared to
mount. The untamable brute was a coal
black stallion, magnificent in shape and ap-
pearance, and with an eye that seemed to
defy control. He was led by two grooms to
the front of Tareton's tent, and at bound
the Colonel threw himself into the saddle
without touching the stirrup. For an instant
the animal seemed paralyzed with terror
then, with perfect yell of rage, he bounded
into the air like stricken deer. The un.
daunted rider piled the scourge and rowel
without mercy until, with scream Of pain,
the tortured and vanquished animal flew like
an arrow across the level ground in front Of
the encampment. 81 have witnessed many
stirring scenes" says the writer, "during the
Revolution and since, but never one half
so exciting as the strife between that savage
man and savage horse" The war in the
Carolinas was a conflict between guerrillas
rather than between armies, and in it Tarle.
ton distinguished himself by raids which he
executed under cover of night. The country,
sparsely settled, was full of "tories," as they
were then called, or loyalists who sympathized
with the English, and of "rebels," u. like Marion
and Sumter, who were match for their enc
mics in the field. Such were the distances
over which Tarleton and his little band of
picked horsemen travelled by night, that no
rebel ever lay down to rest without dreading,
lest he might hear the tramp of horses and
the oaths Of dragons before morning broke.
A characteristic story Of the Colonels prov.
ess is still told. In the upper country Of
North Carolina, there once lived a rebel
named Keitt, who, aided by few congenial
spirits had worsted every party Of English
soldiers that approached his lonely dwelling
in the woods. Taking half a dozen we'll
mounted troopers with him, Tarle!on resolved
to surprise the desperate, and after ride Of
more than 100 miles he stood before the door
offs log cabin just after midnight. Keitt was
at home and alone, and, in response to a loud
command bidding him "surrenderin the kings
name" he discharged his rifle through loop:
hole, sorely wounding Tarleton's horse and
narrowly missing the riders thigh. Before
the rebel could reload, Tarleton had sprang
through an open window and grappled with
his assailant. The struggle was short and
Keitt, whom Tarleton respected for bis brave.
ry, escaped the fate ususually meted out to
rebels-a short shrift and long halter-and
was carried back prisoner to the English
camp.
Stories of such desperate acts of personal
daring as this preceded Colonel Tarleton to
England, and upon the close of the Ameri.
can war none of the officers who had worn
the Kings uniform was more popular among
his countrymen at home than the son of the
Liverpool merchant. He was admitted upon
terms of the closest intimacy to the little
coterie of the Prince of Wales friends, and
was sent to Parliament by his native town as
its member. In the House of Commons he
distinguished himself among the ranks Of
the opposition, which never ceased to wage an
active and unscrupulous war against the King
and Mr.. Pitt.-London Telegraph
SENSIBLE ADVICE.
A distinguished writer, speaking of the
duties which parents owe to their children,
says: "a mother makes great mistake
when she does not constantly court the conf.
dence of her daughter. The daughter should
share all her secrets with her mother. Many
home has been blighted, and shame has
come to many household because the moth