The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-08

"Yonder Is your enemy, and the enemy
OF mankind" Then, with him at their
head, they went up the hill, and from
trees and rocks, and fallen logs, and every
natural protection, poured their well.dl-
rcctcd fire, pausing only TO reload, which
done, they would dash suddenly for some
higher up shelter, their leader every now
and then calling out: "A little nearer,
my brave men, little nearer" Thus
they crcpt up the slope, firing as they
went and every bullet doing its fatal work,
till they stood face TO face with the tories
on the summit, when there ensued a fear
ful handio-hand encounter.
Meanwhile SEWER had led his men up 10
the eastern crest, right against the center,
and most solid masses Of the enemy lie
made them no haranguc, none was needed,
for they were accustomed 10 follow where
he led without thought or question. Ev-
cry man among them had been with him
before In as deadly peril. Straight up the
hill they went, right into the enemy's fire,
pausing only ut the very summit. Here
the barricade OF rocks gave them the same
protection IL gave the enemy and oven
greater, for the British were firing down
hill, and Ui necessity oyershot the mark,
wounding only the trees along the hill
side. In SEWERS little army every man
was a sharp shooter, and when he halted
at the summit and said, Now, boys, sin
Gle out yonr men, take sure aim and
fir !" the havoc that followed was terri
BILE. Tho British went down like bent
grain before a torrent of hail thoy were
piled In heaps, like sea.wccd thrown up by
"a. lad ~
with the carnage.
The little mountainwwnow everywhere
In eruption, bclchine forth smoke and
lightning aud thunder Hut above all the
din rose the shrill whistle Of the British
commander by which he rallied and di-
rcctcd his men IN the battle In his
wounded left hand he carried slim silver
tube, aud its well understood signals con-
ycycd his orders 10 all parts Of the mount
ain.
10 the bloody work went on. IIuddled
closely together, fcrguson's soldiers were
u broad target for the unorring backwoods
rifles. Their ranks were being thinned
rapidly. aud. seeing this, the British leader
mustered his bayoncis Tor supreme effort.
Twice had he driven 'ampbcll down the
hill, and twice had Campbell returned 20
the onset; aud now again with closed
ranks, DE peystcr, his second in command,
forces the heroic prcsbyicrians down the
dccliyity, while along the british lines
gocs mp the shout ''farletOn and his
legion are coming" The weary patriots
hear the shout and their fire snckcns.
The famous legion u terror throughout
the Carolinas. 10 be taken by Il in rear,
with such an enemy in front, might well
appall the bravcst The quick car 81
SEWER catches the sound, aud his keen eye
discerns the danger. Ills brother Robert
has been struck down 10y hs side, three OF
his rincmcn arr stretched dead at his feet,
and his best men are wavering. II N in
deed the crisis OF the battle, for, looking oil
20 the south, he sees that Campbclls no
treat has become q rOut-some OF his men
are iransiiNcd, some have been pushed
hcadonr over the cliffs, and all arr fleeing
| In disorder. They. seem irrcpanbly
broken. That British shout IN their cans,
and the panic Of Camden II about 20 he
repeated Hut SEWER Is never No cool ~
In the moment 81 greatest danger. lie
speaks few words Ia his men, and then
amid the storm Of bullets leaps upon hii
horse aud rushed with his entire left winI
10 the rescue oi Campbell.
Tho pious Presbyterian IL dismountcd
and moving half way between his owl
men and the pursuing British. Ills shir
. y unhuiioncd, red bandanna is abou
, his head, his face IL bcgrimmed will
= smoke and powder, and, ilourishing hi
Q old claymorc about him, he h calling upoi
r his men 10 halt, with oaihs strong cnougl
, Ia mud the mountain irum base 10 sum
b init hut his men do not halt. Tia
o British shout has got into their legs. and
1 drives them faster and further away iror
1 the enemy. Hut Sewer and his riilcmc
ar among them. OF that strange mag
! nciic power by which one can inlusc vi
! spirit Into q thousand, ! suppose no maj
= ever possessed n larger share than this Ii
{ lrcpid soldier Of the backWools Thos
} who saw him In battle have said: eli
: eyes wcrc flames Of flrc, and his word
a electric bolts crashing down the ranks ,
! the enemy" lie now says but little, bt
\ what he does say arrests the dcmoralizc
I crowd I'LL they turn about, and, with m
n brave Campbell aud his own Waiauf
u boys, rush again ilcrccly up the mountain
;. wounded Tory, who was lying hali.wa
4 down the slope, has described their NJ
u pcamncc ~ they now returned TO the OF
n set. They wcre," he SAYS, 'thc mo
l. powerful looking men | ever bchcld-tal
rawhoncd and anowy; such men, M
N body, M were mover seen In the Carolina
p They appeared like 10 many devils fro
NJ the Internal r'gions, NJ fall Of cXciicmc
10 woTc they a. they rushed like onrag,
" lions up the mountain.
III Scyicr watched them ~ They went I
10 the slope, and then, still on horseback a.
=, within short muakct range Of the enem
y, lac moved along among the other wounds
/ L..
VI men gathered strength aud rushed wi
n, renewed courage upon the enemy. ~.
them come on, my men, he said. "6ib
"a and Moore and their Tories, aud 1arlct,
ie and his dragoons 10 boot One more char
nj will end Ferguson, aud then we will iini
NO Iarlcton aud tho Tories"
ng IL was That ride oi SEWER which Won u
he battle.
he Soon, seeing that all was lost, Fergus
n. made a bold dash for SEWERS lines, wi
nd the intention 10 escape down the moul
w ain, but hall dozen bullets from ~ ina
an Walauga riflemen brought him 10 I
ny ground, MORALLY wounded. Then
81 Peyptcr raised a white flag IA. token Of n
"a. render, aud SEWER aud shelby order
me their men 10 ccasc firing. The order v
at obcycd 10y all but one solitary ride. iii
he ping II went every few seconds from
Of further end Of the hill, and its balls
ng with fatal effect among the solid mass
dc British and Tories. The discharges W
from young lad just nj the edge Of
ht, crust. and an officer was sent 10 order b
III 10 stop firing. ~ won't" he answer
~ 'thc rucals have killed my father. en-