The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-10-22
ANDERSON, C. THURSDAY MORNING. OCTOBER %, 1891

9th, at Nelson's ferry, on the Santee,
CORVALLIS detached Colonel Tarleton
with command consisting of forty cav
alry-one hundred and thirty of the lie.
gion; one hundred mounted infantry,
and three FOUNDER: to pursue the
American colonel. The whole force Of
Tarleton, exclusive of the three pouuder,
was two hundred and seventy, all of
which was either cavalry or mounted in.
fantry. The pursuit by this detachment
began on the 9th of May. Camden was
reached on the next day. Here Tarleton
learned that Colonel Buford had left
Rugeley's Mill, on the 26tb, and was
fastening to join body Of troops on
their way from Salisbury to Charlotte.
At two o'clock on the morning of the
29th, Tarleton's detachment was again in
motion. At daylight, Rugely's mill was
reached, where it was learned that Col.
Buford and his command were about 20
miles distant.
It is manifest that Colonel Buford
thought he was entirely out of danger,
and, as the weather was very warm,
moved forward leisurely. He seems to
have halted for some days at Camden and
and then went to Rugely's mill.
At o'clock in the afternoon of the 29th
of May, Tarleton's detachment overlook
him. At Rugely's Mill, however, Tarle.
ton sent Captain Kinlock to summon
Colonel Buford to surrender. To this
summons Colonel Buford returned the
following reply: II reject your propo'
sails, and shall defend myself to the last
extremity"
The place where Tarleton overlook
Colonel Buford, is about ten miles, by the
road, nearly east from Lancaster, the
County seat of Lancaster County. Al
though it is more than one hundred and
eleven years since the battle-if battle it
may be called-was fought, scarcely any
change has taken place on the battle
ground The road runs where it did then,
and with the exception of small amount
of underground, the trees which were the
silent witnesses of the slaughter, stand
there to-day.
The land on which Colonel Buford was
defeated, is now the property of Rev. P.
M. Plyer, of Tradesville, few miles
distant, in northeastern direction.
Colonel Tarleton gives q strictly accurate
description of the battle ground in these
words: "an open wood" 1t is, with the
exception of small amount of under.
growth, an open wood to-day.
In full view both of Colonel Tarleton
and Colonel Butord, the advanced gnard
of Tarleton captured four Americans who
were in the rear of their line. Whether
or not Colonel Buford had placed videttes
in his rear for the purpose of learning
the approach of the British is not GER
tainIy known, but it seems that he had
not, and that after receiving the summons
to surrender, continued his march. This
is what Tarleton says he did.
Immediately on taking four of the
Americans prisoners, both Tarleton and
Buford began to put their forces in posi-.
ton for action. Tarleton's description of
the order of his own troops and also that
of Colonel Buford, is perhaps correct, as
is as follows. Of Colonel Buford he says !:
"He chose his post in an open wood, to
the right of the road. He formed his in.
fantry in one line, with small reserve.
He placed his colors in the centre, and
he ordered his cannon, baggage and wag-
ons to continue their march," Of the
disposition of his own troops, Colonel
Tarleton says: "He con6ded his right
wing, which was composed Of sixty dra.
goons and nearly as many mounted in.
fantry, to Major Cochran, desiring him
to dismount the latter to gall the enemy's
flank before he moved against their front
with his cavalry. Captains Corbet and
Kiulock were directed, with the Seven
teenth dragons and part of the legion, to
charge the centre of the Americans,
while Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton, with
thirty chosen horse and some infantry,
assaulted their right flank and reserves" :"
Such was the order of the battle observ'
ed by two Of the commanders as stated
by Colonel Tarleton.
The British commander had rushed his
detachment forward with great rapidity,
having marched los miles in 81 hours.
Many of the horses had broken down or
become 80 tired that their progress was
slow. These, with the three FOUNDER
which was still behind when the plan of
battle vas arranged, were ordered to take
position, when they arrived, on small
eminence which commands the road.
This was designed as a rallying point in
case of repulse, which Tarleton seems
to have apprehended.
The two forces were within 300 yards
of each other when the arrangement for
battle was made by the British, yet the
Americans did not fire q gun. AS soon
as the British commander got his forces
put in position, he moved forward to the
attack. When at the distance of 80 yards
from the American front, the Continental
troops prepared to fire, but were COM
manded by their officers to reserve their
fire until the British were within ten
PAGES. When this distance was reached,
the Americans fired, but with scarcely
any effect. The British closed in on the
command of Buford, and in a few mo-
ments the affair ended.
The Americans had 90 ore men than the
British, and they were well provided with
arms and ammunition, but they failed to
use them to any advantage. The whole
| Rritish loss in the battla was five killed