Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-04-17
Strips IT gutal Aisturg.
"REMINISCENCES OF YORK.
BY DR.. MAURICE A. MOORE.
From the Yorkville Enquirer, 1870.

-
-
From the Yorkville Enquirer, 1870.
In 1924 Lafayette accepted the invitation
of the United States government and visited
the great republic he had nOurished with
his own blood, in its feeble infancy.
When the news of his arrival in New
York reached our village, the enthusiasm
of the citizens prompted the illumination
of the little town. Every window, facing
on the street, had a lighted candle to each
pane, and those houses which boasted no
sash, ranged rows Of candles, one above the
other, in their unglazed openings, so that
not one could be accused of deed of dark
ness. The streets were light as day, the pop
ulation promenaded them, greeting one
another with kind of gleeful vivacity, for
there wasa great heart throb throughout the
States-then truly united-Of joyous well
come to the nations guest.
The Monday after the news of his arrival,
the people of the country crowded into the
village to hear the particulars of LaFayette's
coming. All minutie relating to the gener-
GUS veteran was of interest, and the gather
ing exceeded even those of sales-day or
court week.
Lafayette first, after his reception in New
York, came to Washington city then trav-
eled east, then south. His tour was one Sc
res of ovations, and it was March, 1926,
before he reached South Carolina.
The uniformed volunteer companies Of
Lancaster, Newberry, Lexington, Fairfield,
Chester and York, went to Columbia to re-
ceive, with all pomp Of circumstance, the
loved foreigner. The Legislature had made
handsome appropriation to pay the ex-
penses of a proper reception; love and pride
Stimulated each section to vie with the 9TH
er, in handsome appearance for the occasion.
York, ambitious to pay all Difference to the
man the State 'delighted to HONOR" made
up very handsome company of mounted
nfantry-numbering eighty men-all we'll
uniformed, under the command of Captain
William Randolph Hill. The compliment
tary position of surgeon, was given TO the
writer of these "reminiscences.
A bright spring day saw us take up our
line of march, in the highest spirits.
"Jest and youthful jollity,
Quibs and cranks and wanton wiles,
Mods and becks and wreathed smiles,'
echoed from every heart and lip. We stop
ped at Chester on the first day for dinner, at
the hotel of George Kennedy, Esq. After
thus refreshing man and beast, we contin-
ued our way till, as the shades Of evening
deepened, our officers began to think of a
halt. We stopped at one or two well-to-do
farmhouses but on account Ofthe number de-
string it were denied anything like accom-
modations. 1t was nearly eleven o'clock
at night when we stopped again at MIR.
Mobley's, on Wateree Creek. Again was
the refusal given us. The large corn cribs,
filled with generous grain, was too tempt
ing spectacle to the men as they looked
down on their hungry and somewhat jaded
horses. 1t was impossible to reach Wins
boro' until long after midnight, and here
was as good place as any other. The
choice was therefore given 1.-THE lord of the
manor" to measure out corn for our horses
and be paid for it or the men would throw
down the cribs and take it. Such an alter
native quickly forced him to compliance; :;
and not to do the thing by halves-as we
prepared to feed on our saddle blankets he
reused up his negroes, of whom there quite
a number, for he was q man OF wealth, and
made them bring up various troughs from
different lots and pens, and we had nearly
enough to provide. our horses well. The
men, of course, quartered themselves in
fence corners, Out-houses or wherever they
could find place to lay their heads, for his
house being but cabin with one room, OF
course he could not lodge the goodly COM
pany. Donom Witherspoon and myself,
more fortunate than our comrades, secured
the only spare bed, and bringing in, for
fear of accident, our saddles, and Wither-
spoon, in addition pair of saddle bags, we
put them under our bed for safe keeping,
and were soon locked tightly in the arms
of Morpheus. A few hours before day we
awoke with the cry of fire ringing in our
ears, and found the room in which we
were lying Illuminated. Our first confused
thought was that the house in which we
were lying was the ,one burning. Spring
ing up in our self absorption of one idea,
1 cried for my saddle, my friend for his sad
die bags, thinking of our Columbia parade
instead of the farmers loss. 1t was, how
ever, only negro house, and the large body
of men rushed up and in few moments
extinguished the flames before much dam
age was done. AT daylight we were on
the move, having taken the precaution to
send on ahead two of the company to Wins
boro' to order breakfast prepared for us.
When we got there, we were divided into
two squads-forty to each hotel. Fasting
had given US good appetites-
"Dire was the clang of plates, of knife and fork
That merc'less fell like tomahawks to work.
One of our number distinguished himself
by eating thirteen eggs. The board was
we'll spread; all played a good knife and
fork and made no apologies, and in buoyant
trim we re-mounted. Witticisms were cut
on small occasions, and with good natured
gibes and pleasant jests, we relieved the
tedium of the road. Before sun down we
drew near Columbia. At the edge OF town
we saw two gentlemen coming. toward us
who, from their uniform, we knew were
of the committee of arrangements, sent out
to meet the militia companies. galloped
forward to the Captains side as they drew
near, and, in heraIdic style, announced
Captain Hill, of York;" A courteous
greeting given, Captain Hill was assigned
to the upper part Of the market house, as
quarters for his company.
Columbia was croWed from garret to Gel
lar. Visitors from every section of the
State had flocked in, and hotels and private
houses were all filled to overfioWing. For
weeks ahead, rooms were engaged at the
hotels, and it was impossible, if you had
not taken this precaution, to get an apart
ment at one. All knew such an occasion
would never come again.
"The dumb men thronged to see him and the
blind
To hear him speak,
About noon, the next day after our arri-
val, the troops were marshaled out to re-
ceive the distinguished visitor, who came
that day from Camden. Relays of horses
had been appointed on the road to enable
him to make the jaunt in the most expedi-
tious and least fatigueing manner. Having
the position of an officer, but being fettered
by no command, l was at liberty to separate
myself from my company, SO pushed on to
gain the earliest possible view of the hero.
About mile out of Columbia the compa-
nies were formed and halted. Governor
Manning g-then the Executive-with his
staff, awaited to receive Lafayette. An
elegant open barouche, drawn by two beau
tiful horses magnifcently caparisoned, stood
ready to convey him to the city. Soon the