Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-01-17
Straps ot 4utal Mi5turg.
"REMINISCENCES OF YORK.
BY DIR. MAURICE A. MOORE.
From the Yorkville Enquirer, 1870.

From the Yorkville Enquirer, 1870.
It was in the summer of 1776, battalion
composed mostly of men from York, was
ordered to oppose the Cherokee Indians,
who had been induced through the machi-
nations of two Scotchmen, Alexander Cam
eron and John Stewart, to espouse the
British side, and raise the war-club. This
body of men was under the command Of
Major Frank Ross. 1t was in July they
took up their line of march, and before they
arrived at the "Block House," in the
northeastern part of Greenville district,
the residence of Colonel Height, an Indian
trader, they met with the exciting inteli-
gence of the murder of Col. Height-a
Whig-the pillaging of the station, and the
abduction Of Mrs. Height and her two
daughters, by the sagages In addition to
these awful tidings, they heard the tale of
the murder of son of Col. Height, which
caused the heart of each brave soldier to
beat with sympathy and desire to avenge
these Outrages.
Young Height had heard Of the base pur
poses of Cameron and Stewart which con-
templated rising of the Indians; and
having from boyhood known the chiefs of
the Cherokees intimately, he hoped to have
influence enough to undo the work of the
willy Scothmen, and fearlessly went alone
to the Keowee towns, for the purpose OF
persuading them against taking the war
path. He was too late. The evil spirit
was not to be exercised, and not only were
his efforts as peacemaker among them un-
the unotfending youth, who had contiding-
ly gone in their midst. His early death
was the more sad, because of the broken
life and wrecked hopes that fell upon an
other. He was affianced to Susan Paris,
the daughter of another Indian trader,
whose post was at another "blOck house,"
situated where the town of Greenville, 5.
c., now stands.
After the deed of blood, like the wild
animal sIneared with crimson gore, the in
satiate thirst OF their appetites for more,
must be appeased. The Cherokees set out
to carry horror and desolatiOn along our
frontier settlements. One of their first en-
campments was at the house of Paris. He
being a tory, they looked upon him as a
friend and confederate, and told him Of
their plan to kill his father and destroy all
his property. The heart of gentle Susan
Paris was fairly paralyzed by the unex-
pected blow of her lovers death. But wo-
man-like, she forgot her own woes to avert
disaster and sorrow from others. Those
threatened now were doubly dear by their
common loss. She quickly fell upon a plan
to save them. From her father, on account
of his politics., she knew she need not look
for assistance. Therefore, unaided, she
must achieve her design. AS soon as dark
came, she took horse from the stables, and
all womanly fears being swallowed up in
her great apprehension for the fate OF her
friends through the dark, wild forest-paths
b,,v ;nl all 10 nf
the threatened calamity in time to enable
them to escape it. Sad indeed, to relate,
her act of herOism was in vain. The 1ndi-
ans knowing the relations existing between
Susan Paris and the murdered man on dis
covering horse had been taken from the
stable, and guessing who had done it, sur
missed her design and destination. They
hurriedly gave the alarm to the others,
broke up their encampment, went through
a nearer way, and when she arrived, a
bleeding, lifeless form, and smoking ruins,
told her agonized heart her efforts to save
were fruitless.
Major Ross pushed on with his command, y,
in the hope of rescuing Mrs. Height and
her daughters from their captivity: As sthey
passed Paris Station, it was with difficult
ty he could restrain his men from visiting
on Paris the fate of the dead trader. But
the Heights, and sympathy for her sor-
rows, induced them to hold her father and
his property sacred and pass him unmo-
Tested.
Some miles beyond Reedy River, the bat
talon Joined General Williamson, who had
twelve or fifteen hundred men under his
command. The combined forces proceeded
rapidly, and as they drew near the Keowee
towns, every effort was made to avoid fall
ing into any ambuscade which might be
laid by their cunning foe. An advanced
guard was composed of one hundred and
twenty-five men, with an addition OF
twenty-five Catawba Indians, who were
valuable auXiliaries in such campaign as
this.* They were were placed in the front
ranks, and with the characteristic caution OF
their mode Of warfare, would often pause
in the march, and examine with the great
est care the bark on the tallest trees, to as
certain if they had been recently ascended;
for it was the practice of the southern In
dians, in their warfare, to have certain
number Of "climbers" to look out, as well
as runners" to bring in news.
1t was not long before they descended
a cove. Here the Catawbas made halt,
and pointing to the wild pea-vine, and
rank weeds freshly broken and trampled
upon, which gave evidence that some num-
bers Of feet had recently traversed this place,
they advised that the advance-guardss should
remain here until the main body Of the
army came up. But the whites were impa-
tient to go on; and although the Indians
insisted on going no further, they were
finally overcome by persuasion, and again
took up the line of march. The trail now
descended into small valley covered with
grass, situate between two bald mountains
and by a gushing rivulet. Following the
course of the branch awhile, they came to
the spring, around which large smooth
rocks were lying in abundance. The quick
eye of the savage warrior was caught dl-
rectly by few corn-feld beans scattered
here and there, which, attracting their at
tention, minute survey showed them on
a flat rock the footprint of naked foot.
1t being noon-day, and the rock fully eX- \.
posed to the scorching rays of July sun, it
was incontrovertible proof that the enemy
was near at hand. The Indians now re-
fused to 90 on till the remainder Of the
army came up, which by this time was
two or three miles in the rear. This refusal
of the Indians to advance caused a parley OF
half an hour or more, when a proposition
was made by young Frenchman, an aide
de-camp of Moultrie's, named st. Pierre,
who was volunteer in the expedition, that
the captain of the advance-guard should
lead on the men. The Captain hesltated 10
take the responsibility of so hazardous an
undertaking. 81 will leadn' at last exclain-
ed the impetuous ST. Pierre, "if the rest Will
follow" TO this all readily acceded. Ac-
cordingly he went forward, following the
plainly-marked trail, this led directly up
bald mountain, with no growth, except
rank grass and wild pea-vine, highertha d
mans head.
In sinple file with trailed arms, and in