The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-11-04

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of about 300 Continentals, the rear of the
Virginia line." This probably Was only
the nucleus to which many others con-
nected themselves temporarily. How
near Colonel Baford had approached
Charleston is not certain, but the probs-
blity is that he had reached the neigh.
borhood of Monks Corner. On the 18Th
day of March, Cornwallis began the pur.
suit of Colonel Buford. With some diff
fculty he crossed the Santee at Laneau's
ferry. The difficulty arose from the. fact
that all the ferries on the river had been
destroyed by the Americans-some,
probably, by Colonel Buford-for it
seems that CORVALLIS learned, on cross
ing the river, on the 22ud, that Colonel
Buford had left that point ten days pre-.
vious.
Immediately, on getting all his trocps
across the Santee, at Lancsu's ferry
CORVALLIS set out in bot pursuit of BIZ
ford, following in his track. On the
9th, at Nelson's ferry, on the Sautee,
CORVALLIS detached Colonel Tarl.lnn
with command consisting of forty cav
airy hundred and thirty of the lie
gion; one hundred mounted infantry,
and three FOUNDER. to pursue the
American colonel. The whole force OF
Tar!eton, exclusive of the three FOUNDER,
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 26th, and was
Fastening to join a body of troops on
their way from Salisbury to Charlotte.
At two o'clock on the morning of the
29th, Tarlet9p's detachment was again in
| motion. At daylight, Rugely's min -was
reached, where it was learned that Col
Buford and his command were about 20
miles distant.
1t 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 3 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 1t 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 today.
The land on which Colonel Buford WAS
defeated, is now the property of Rev. P.
M. Plyer, of Trsdesville, few miles
distant, in a northeastern direction.
Colonel Tarleton gives 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 vopd to-day.
In full view both of Colonel Tarletou
and Colonel Buford, the advanced guard
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
tainly 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.
| ,ooos ond ooov1u 90 nnonv rnnuntad in. +.