Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-04-01
KINGS MOUNTAIN.
BY MRS, MARY A. EWART.
CHAPTER VII.
SiplIs now breathed
Sigis now breathed
Tnu,terable, which the spirit Of prayer
Inspired and winged for heaven with Speedcr flight
Than luudeSt

bright and sunny day, III one OF the valleys
of the beautiful Watauga. 1t is lovely spot
The torrent, emerging from the bosom Of the
mountains, comes bounding along like silver
thread, then suddenly spreads itself into a
broad shallow stream, making a ripping SYM
phony to the distant roar of bass above. The
gentle slope on Que side, is shaded by the ma
tive growth of beech and maple, and the rich
verdure of the sward makes a soft carpet,
swaying to each breath Of the pure mountain
breeze On the opposite side are bold and
rocky precipices, with narrow idle-paths
traced over their precipitous sides. This was
the rendezvous Of noble band OF soldiers,
and here lay the patriots camp. No martial
music, no tents, no sentries, no pomp; none OF
those gorgeous trappings of war surrounded
the devoted men. The revelle was the matn
song of the birds their tattoo the soft whis-
per of the whippoorwill and the cry Of the
katydid their tent the blue heavens above
them, the waving boughs their canopy, the
velvet sward their couch. Their sentries were
the barrier mountains around them and their
own fearless and honest hearts and with these
guards they rested in security from their TOE.
Ere the mountain peaks hid the declining
sun, at least thousand men were gathered IN
this quiet valley-some on foot and some on
horseback dressed in the fringed hunting
shirt of the mountaneer, and bearing on their
shoulders their trusty rifles, while others were
yet descending the perilous paths; and the
tread and plash of their horses as they struck
the pebbly bottom of the strong current
blended richly with the natural music around
them And not only stalwart men were there
but the gray haired and the aged came to
give the patriarch's blessing to their sons, to
counsel a prudence that their enthusiastic
boldness needed and others came offering,
gratuitously, the product Of their farms, and
furnishing, unostentatiously, all that was in
their power to offer Women were mingled
with the groups. The mother, gazing with sad
and noble pride upon her sons; the wife with
mourntul tenderness upon her husband; the
sisters heart swelling in triumphant affection
as she gazed on the stalwart figure of broth
er the daughter sighed in dread for the wei
fare of father and the maiden. in timid
wonder at the ardor of the lover, who seems to
forget there is danger and death in the coming
struggle. Every pulse beats high with hope,
and every heart yearns for the battle. Nov.
ing from group to group, might be seen four
or five men, who, from their martial bearing
ami their air Of command, might well be
Judged to be leaders in this movement. One
of these, who seemed to be invested with more
authority than the others, in a stern and dig
ni6ed manner, was discoursng on the perils
of the times.
"The paltry tax was not what drove US to
this rebellion" said he; "but taxation without
representation led US to inquire into the ma
ture of civil liberty and our connection with
Great Britain. We denied the British right
of taxation. Then the way was open for an
investigation Of the restrictions of our COM
merce and the disadvantages of our subordi-
nate station 1t was ri ght Of the subjects to
meet together and petition for redress Of griev-
ances. Our committees, our congresses, were
all constitutional, and deserved to be recog-
nized by the power from whom we claimed
national protection. But the answer to our
petitions were insults and in juries and when
stung by these, we would defend ourselves.
We are robbed, imprisoned and butchered
With Il refinement of cruelty, our oppreSsors
instigate our countrymen, our neighbors, our
friends against us and ties Of nature, good
will and confidence, which hold society to.
gether, are, in a great degree, destroyed.
This distinction Of whig and tory-what is it
but brother against brother, brought on by
their own system Of piratical robbery? Con-
gress pays for all articles consumed in their
camps, which the royalsts, failing to do, all
expense incurred by them is robbery. But
all distress between 1775 and 1880 is not to
be compared with the calamities suffered by
our people since the surrender of Charleston.
Our enemies seem not only to have forgotten
the laws of war, but the princi Piles of human
ity Every act of cruelty and injustice is sane
tilted, provided the actor calls himselfa friend
to the King, and the sufferer is denomlnated
a rebel. Each day brings news Of some fresh
act of atrocity, and each act exceeds the last
in cruelty. If ever there was a sinner ripe
for Judgment, the licentious and cruel tergu-
son is the one. But his course is well nigh
rum" said Campbell, looking proudly around
his mountain band "and trust the web we
are weaving around the giant, will serve to
crush the tory ascendancy in our Carolina.
"It has been well said, by one of the old
country's greatest statesmen, and one who has
been our best advocate in parliamentary hall, "
said Mcdowell, with magisterial dignity,
that liberty, such as deserves the name, is an
honest, equitable, difusive and imperative
principle. 1t is a great and enlarged virtue,
and not a sordid, selfish, and illibcral vice.
1t is the portion of the mass Of . citizens,
and not the naughty liceuse of some po, 'r
divdual or some predominant faction
"Ah" replied the usually taciturn Shelby,
eff even Christianity has failed 10 teach our
oppressors that, they will not be apt to heed
the lesson from patriots lips"
"Then, we will teach them by the good
swords of the hardy dwellers on the Watau-
ga, by the unerring knife Of the sons Of the
Nolichucky, and the patriots Of the forks OF
the Holston!' cried the impetuous Sewer
"but when will you move, Colonel, and how
shall we organize?'
"For the present, we had each better lead
our own volunteers and take it hunting fash
ion-every man independent till we hear
from Gates. | propose, however, deterrlng
any action in the matter till we meet with
Cleveland and Williams" replied Campbell
"Well, when shall we move?' asked Sewer
rcstlcssly pacing to and fro. "The gathering
is now complete Ifyou don't mind, the game
will slip through your fingers
Patience, Sewer, patience. man. replied
Campbell at is not always the swiftest step
that is the surest Ferguson is vet too near
nv lord over yonder in Charlotte. Give
Williams time to bait him a little longer"
"Let Williams coax him step or two far
thcr South" said the prudent Mcdowell
"Our numbers will then be more complete
and we can match the blood hound in swift
ness as well as keenness."