Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-10-02

cOnnoiter the surrounding country. lie had
not proceeded two miles out of camp, when,
on passing through an old Indian field,
covered with high grass, along stream
now known us Little river, they saw stream
ing over the crest of ridge quite near
them over two hundred dusky savages,
rapidly advancing towards them, with rifles
in their left hands and tomahaWks in their
right, hdeOus in war paint and all the pam
oply of Indian warfare. Their chief was
gesticulating wildly and apparently urging
them on. A half-brced named Brennan,
one of the twenty-five scouts, told PlckenS
the chief was telling his warriors to attack
with their tomahaWs, as there were but q
handful of palefaces. The major grasped
the situation alta glance. He commanded
his men, each armed with his trusty rltle,
to fire two at time and then fall into the
grass and reload. They waited until the
Indians were within twenty-five yards of
them, and then PickenS and Brennan fired
and two savages bit the dust. The men
followed each other, firing by twos in rapid
succession. The Indians were aStOunded at
the obstinate resistance of the little band,
and thrown into great confusion. They
threw aside their tomahaWks and resorted
to their rifles as they began to retreat to the
mountains. Pickens' men continued to
pour into them deadly fire. The Majors
rifle soon became chOked, and, Brennan
having been unfortunately shot down, he
secured the latter's rifle, and continued to
use it while there were any Indians in sight.
The firing was heard in Williamson's camp,
and Major Pickens' brother, Joseph, cap
tain in the army, Immediately organized
a force and proceeded to his brothers assist
ance, but before he arrived the Indians had
dispersed and fled. Many Indians must
have been killed, but the exact number
could not be ascertained as they then al
ways carried off the bodies Of their dead
comrades. Pickens lost only a few men,
but had it not been for his cunning tactics,
his whole band must have been slaughtered.
Towards the close of the year l77S, the
British, as a matter CT policy, transferred
the seat Of war from the northern to the
southern portion Of the country, where their
forces under Colonel Campbell obtained a
foothold at Savannah, which they tenacious
ly held until almost the close Of the Revo-
luton; and it was in attempting to dislodge
and drive them out that General Pick
ems won his greenest laurels. The campaign
of 1779 opnened vigorously in this section.
| Both sides were active in their prepara-
tions. The British were rousing the Tories
| that sWarmed in that section, and endeaV-
oring to communicate with the Indians
back of the pioneer settlements. Colonel
and was laying waste the country through
which he was passing to join Campbell and
his forces advancing up the Georgia side OF
the Savannah. Things were assuming a
desperate aspect for the Americans, when
| Pickens made one of his bold, dashing
strokes, which completely changed the stu
alton of affairs. With half the force of the
enemy, Pickens fell upon Boyd's command
at Kettle Creek, February 14th, routed and
scattered them to the winds. The Tories
lost seventy killed, including Boyd, and
seventy-fve prisoners. Pickens' loss was
about thirty-five. This one prompt, bril-
! liant action of Pickens was more fruitful OF
beneficial results than any subsequent action
of the patriots for almost three years. 1t
completely broke the spirit of the Tories,
and undoubtedly saved the whole section
from being subjected at that time by the
British-a pet scheme of theirs, and dan
gerous one, too. Kettle Creek was Pickens'
first important battle of the Revolution.
Campbell, by the defeat Of his ally, was
forced to retreat towards the sea, and finally
returned to Savannah.
From the year 1779 until the close of the
Revolution the South was the scene of great
| activity. In many actions before the event
at Cowpens (January 18th, 17SD, the Amer
leans suffered defeat and were several times
apparently completely subdued. But the
spirit of the patriots, however severly tried.
could not be broken. They remained qui-
eted only long enough to take breathing
SPELL as it seemed, and recruit anew their
army Of followers, and they missed no op-
portunity to strike sturdy blows for free
dom. Marion, Sumter, Pickens and Nor
gan were the most active spirits.
When, in 1880, Washington sent Greene to
assume the command in the South, affairs
took brighter turn for the Americans.
Greene stationed Il portion of his army,
about 1000 men, under General Morgan,
on the flank of the British army under
Lord CORVALLIS, who was about to attempt
a second invasion of North Carolina. Corn
wallis sent Colonel Tarleton to annihilate
Morgan's army, and they met in the battle
of the Cowpens Every school boy knows
the history of the brilliant victory gained
that day by the Americans, and two OF
Bucks county's most distinguished RevO-
lutionary soldiers, Morgan and Pickens,
were the leading spirits in that battle. The
victory of COwpens was to the Americans
then what the victory Of Gettysburg was to
the cause of the Union some eighty years
later Of Pickens' distinguished services
on that field, too great praise cannot be
given. Pic1ens commanded the militia,
which formed the first line; Colonel How
ard commanded the second line, which con-
sisted of ContinetalS, while Colonel Wash
| ingtOn was in the rear with the cavalry.
| TarletOn led the attack of the British in
person. Colonel Pickens ordered his men
| to retain their fire until the British were
within forty or fifty feet Of his line. The
militia were forced to retreat, however, as
were the Continentals, when Colonel Wash
ington made successful cavalry charge
Colonel Howard at the same time rallying
| f>1 {rNn 11,n inn
| fixed bayonets. Then came the greatest
surprise of the engagement when Pickens
rallied his militia and led them a second
time to the attack-whch feat, it is said,
had never before been accomplished with
militia This last act of PickenS made the
victory over the British one Of the most
complete during the war. 1t enabled Nor
gan to capture 800 prisoners, the artillery
and baggage. One battalion and two COM
panies of light infantry, among the finest
English soldiers in the service, were COM
PEELED to lay down their arms to Pickens
and his militia. For his services in this
battle Congress presented him with Il hand
some sword.
After the battle ofCowpens, we find Pick
ems, with Lee and Clark, operating on the Sa-
vannah. They captured Augusta and then
Joined the main army under Greene. In the
severe battle of Utah Springs, Pickens, with
Marion, commanded the Carolina militia.
While gallantly engaging the enemy in the
early part of the action, he receiveda a severe
wound in the breast by a musket ball. This
shot would have been fatal to Pickens had
not the ball struck his sword buckle. This
was the last battle of the Revolution in
which Pickens participated, as the war was
practically ended a month later by the sur
render of Lord CORVALLIS. In the latter
part of this year Q7SD he commanded in