Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-05-20
ging's Muautain Neroes
COL. BENJAMIN ROEBUCK.
BY GOV. B. F. PERRY.

TANKS VI lllo, SoHe uleu aIo ooih hooieineh 1,
whilst in the most polished, refined society,
there are others born with scarcely single
virtue. To be brave, honorable, magnapi-
nous and patriotic, the man must be so by
nature. These high qualities are what no art
can acquire, or education give. How often do
we find the rarest virtues, as we'll as the rarcst
genius, in the humblest ranks of society
Shakespeare, Burns, Franklin and innumera-
Bile others, who have cast halo of glory
around their names, are happy illustrations Of
the latter assertion.
Col. BENJAMIN Roebuck, the subject of this
biographical sketch. was an instance of an
humble and uneducated man, possessing all
the great virtues which can adorn the human
character. He was brave amongst the bra
vest, patriotic, nagnanimous, amiable and
honorable He was the beau ideal of a SOL
dier and gentleman with his companions in
arms. He inspired Them with respect and ad.
miration on all occasions and under all cir.
cumstances. They had implicit confidence
in his courage, prud ace and justice. He
was modest, unselfsh, and unambitious. He
sought only to serve his country and defend
her independence and liberty This was his
sole ambition, and ne discharged every duty
of life with honor ar 1 integrity. He sought
no popularity or off, ial position. When the
latter was given him, and he thought he could
discharge its duties % the interest of his coun'
try, he did not REFUSE it. He shrank from no
danger or responsibility in the discharge OF
his duty. He fought through the whole of
the Revolutionary war, commanded regl-
ment in several important battles, was the
idol of his command and yet his name is not
mentioned in history, and his virtues, patriot.
ism and public services are only remembered
in tradition.
Many years ago, almost half century
since, | met a gentleman OF Spartanburg,
| whose father was the intimate companlon-ln-
arms of Col Roebuck, and the lieutenant.
colonel of his regiment, who gave me tull
account of the services and character OF this
modest and unassuming patriot and colonel
of the Revolution. must confess that 1t
made deep impression on my mind, and SET
me to making further inquiry about Colonel
Roebuck. The more | heard of him the
more l admired his character as man and
an officer, and I pronounced him, in one OF
nv Revolutionary Incidents, published many
years ago in the magnolia" one Of natures
noblemen and the bean ideal of a brave officer.
| met great many men, who had served
under Colonel Roebuck, at the anniversary OF
the battle of the Cowpens, in 1882. They all
spoke of him in the same exalted strain, as
man, an officer, and patriot. The name, too,
'cervus capriolus,"a species of deer, with erect
horns elegant shape, remarkably nimble and
found in the mountains, made an impression
on nv mind. 1t seemed to me beautiful
name, and as euphonious as that of Plantage-
net, the name of an ilustrous line Of English
sovereigns, which Signi6esa broom in Norman
French.
After the fall of Charleston, in May, 1880,
the condition of South Carolina was generally
regarded as hopeless. The British forces
were scattered all over the State, and there
was no regular army to oppose them. Mr..
Madison introduced resolutions in the Cont
mental Congress to treat with Great Britain,
by surrendering South Carolina and Georgia
as Royal Provinces! An address was pre-
sented to Lord CORVALLIS, signed by several
hundred citizens Of Charleston, congratula.
ting his lordship on she conquest of the State
The timid and time serving went and took
British protection. The tories, who were
mostly men of no moral or political princi'
pie, but who had espoused the Royal cause
for the sake of plundering and robbing, were
greatly encouraged by the condition of at
fairs, and committed the most atrocious acts,
all over the country Dark indeed were the
prospects of independence and liberty, every
where. But there were a few Doble spirits,
like Sumter, Marion and Roebuck, who new
er despaired of their country, or relaxed in
their effort to serve her in the darkest period
of her distress and dependency. They raj.
lied around them few of their bravest and
most devoted partisans, and sought every op
portunity of fharrassing the English and fight.
ing the tories.
Colonel Benjamin Roebuck was born in
Virginia, a State from which most Of the
early settlers Of the upper part of the South
Carolina came, whilst the lower country was
settled two.thirds Of century earlier by i'm.
migrants from England, France, Ireland and
Scotland. His father moved from Virginia
with his family some years previous to the
American Revolution, and settled near
Blackstocks, in Spartanburg District. He
was, like all such emigrants, in moderate cir
cumstances, and came to South Carolina to
better his condition. Benjamin was quite
young, at the time of his fathers removal,
and his education consisted of reading, writ
ing and arithmetic, enough to develop a
great and good man, where talents and vir-
tues are innate. AS he grew up to mans es
tate, the Revolution broke out, and he es
poused the cause Of his country with ardor
and 6rmness. His patriotic associates rallied
around him, and looked to him as their lead
er, as we'll in war as in peace. He was the
terror of the tories in that section Of the
State, who were mostly plunderers, horse.
thieves and assassins. Many were the skirm
ishes which he and his noble band of followers
had with these la less banditti, who cared
for neither King or country.
The first regular battle in which he was
engaged was on the 18th day of August, 1880,
under that gallant partisan officer Colonel,
Williams, of Ninety.Six, who rendered up
his life for his country at Kings Mountain.
This battle was fought at Musgrove's Mills,
on the Euoree River. Col. Williams had
been active in collecting and anmating the
friends of liberty and independence Colo
mel Innis of the South Carolina Royalist was
wounded and his entire command dispersed.
This was almost the first check the British
received after the fall of Charleston, and did
much to inspire the dropping spirits Of the
Wings in that section of the State, with the
hope of their country's ultimate success.
In less than two months after the battle
of Musgrove's Mills, Col. Williams led his
little band of patriots in search of Col. Fer
guson and his tory recruits. At the Cow
l. -. L. nd