Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-10-06
each man intended for the expedition
was armed with q faithful Deckhard

the settlement. The Cherokee Indians
were on the borders, watching an op-
portunity to descend with the torch
and tomahawk upon the neighborhood.
On the morning Of the 26th Of Septem-
Der, preparations were made for the
advance. 10 victory or to death, was
the feeling Of every breast. They were
rough men externally; but they had
brave and tender hearts. Charles Nc
Dowell moved amongst the multitude
with all the grace and ease Of nobility.
John Sewer was full Of impulse and an
energy that never tired. Isaac Shelby
had little to say. His knit brow meant
speedy action. William Campbell show
ed by his stern dignity, that he was
born to be free. The officers propos-
ed, before they set out, that the COM
pany be called together and the divine
blessing be asked. A prayer, solemn
party designed for the expedition
mounted their horses, and the rest re-
turned to their homes. With anxious
hearts did these wait until the result
was heard.
The troops left Sycamore shoal on
the twenty-sixth. They were all
mounted and unencumbered by bag
gage of any kind whatever They ex-
pected to support themselves, on the
way, by their rifles, or by forcing the
tories to feed them and their horses.
The force consisted Of one thousand
and forty men, as follows: From Burke
and Rutherford counties, North Caro-
lima, Colonel Mcdowell, 160 men. From
Washington county, North Carolina,
(now Tennessee). Colonel John Sewer,
240 men. From Sullivan county, North
Carolina, (now Tennessee), Colonel
| Isaac Shelby, 240 men. From Washing
ton county, Virginia, Colonel William
Campbell, 400 men.
The Sycamore Shoal is near the head
Of the Watauga. From this point
they pursued nearly an eastern direc-
tion, across the Yellow Mountain; af-
terward their course was nearly south.
The first night they spent at Matthew
Tolbot's mill. The second day two Of
their. men deserted and went ahead to
the enemy. On the 30th Of September
they reached the foot of the mountain
on the east side. Here they were john
ed by three hundred and fifty men
from Wilkes and Surry counties under
the command of Colonel Benjamin
Cleveland and Major Joseph Winston.
themselves concealed that they might
join in with any party going against
the enemy. The first Of October-the
second day after the junction with
Cleveland-was so wet that II was
thought advisable not to move. Fergu-
son was thought to be at Gilbert Town,
and as the guns in those days were all
flint and steel locks, 1t was indiscreet
to approach an enemy with wet guns.
Up to this time there was no COM
manding officer. Shelby perceived that
there was great defect in their or
ganization, and, during the rain, called
onI1nnf1 NJ "a
now in Colonel Charles McDowell's re-
gion, and advancing against an enemy
with which he had lately been con-
tending. He was, moreover, the senior
officer, and It was natural that he
would be expected to take the COM
mand Of the whole. No one doubted
Chas. McDowell's patriotism or brave
ry; but 1t was thought that he was
not the man to command q partisan
corps on an enterprise like that In
which they were at that time engaged.
Shelby proposed William Campbell as
commander-in-cllief for the present,
and that messenger be sent to head
quarters, wherever that might be, for
commanding officer, who should take
charge Of the whole corps. This prop
osition was readily assented to by all,
and Colonel Chas. Mcdowell volunteer
ed to go to headquarters after a gene
raj officer and his brother, Joseph Nc
Dowell, took command of his men un-
til he would return.
Here, for time let us leave these
patriotic mountain men, until we can
bring up the other forces who were .
prominent actors in the battle of Kings
Mountain. After Sumters defeat at
Fishing Creek, on the 18th Of August,
he and Colonel Edward Lacy, with q
small portion Of Sumter's command,
passed over into Mecklenburg, North
Carolina. They camped on Clem's
Branch. Lacy was sent by Sumter in
to York and Chester counties, to gath
er up the Irish Of that region, who
were known to be true Wings, and al
ter's army that was scattered at Fish
ing Creek.
After Lacy's return to Sumter's en-
campment, on Clem's Branch, Colonel
James Williams, who, as we have seen,
was made brigadier- by
Governor Rutledege shortly after the
battle Of Musgroves Mill, arrived in
camp, and having shown his commits
sion, claimed the authority to take
command of all the South Carolina
troops in that section. On the 8th Of
September, Williams had been ordered,
or rather requested" by Abner Nash,
SoNCllol VI 3Noi Ia Sdi oi1iidy " 81 2iAIo
Caswell county and such other counties
as he might think proper, and raise. a
body Of volunteer horsemen, not to ex-
ceed one hundred" With these and a
few other troops, Williams came to
Sumter's Camp, on Clem's Branch.
The South Carolina soldiers Of Sum-
ter's command positively refused to
submit to Williams as general. They
preferred Sumter. The main objection
that the soldiers had against Williams
was that having at one time been the
commissary Of Sumter's command, he
had acted in some way or other so as
to gain the ill-will and even the hatred
of many Of the men. What the facts
in the case were, 1t Is impossible, at
this late date, to learn with sufficient
accuracy to warrant us in saying who
was to blame, Williams. or the men.
No doubt, both were, to some extent,
in the fault. Be this as it may, diff
flculty sprung up between Sumter and
Williams, and but for the presence of
the enemy, 1t might have ended in
something serious.
Whilst the difficulty was pending 1t
was learned that Rawdon and Tarle-
ton, with a large force, were making
preparations for attacking them. It
was concluded by both parties, that
they would cross the Catawba River
at Bigger's ferry (now Wright's) Hav-
ing crossed the river a council Of Of
ficers was called to settle the difficulty.
Colonel William Hill, who was wound
ed at Hanging Rock, was made chair
man of the council. Whilst the council
was discussing the matter Rawdon and
Tarleton appeared on the opposite
bank Of the river. and commenced fir
ing at them across the river. It was
evident that the enemy would not al
low them time to look into the matter,
and their existence depended upon per-
feet harmony among themselves. It
was agreed to refer the whole matter,
with all the facts in the case, to Cover
nor Rutledge. then at Hillsborough,
North Carolina Tn the meantime