Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-10-06

SnelDy, WllllaInS anu SIdThe, dTTlNeu
at the tory camp just at daylight. The
tories had been reinforced by six hun
dred regulars under Innis, a complete
victory was gained. Flushed with VIC
tory the conquerors determined to
make an attack upon Ninety-Six. Just
at this moment a courier arrived bring
ing the sad news that General Gates
had been defeated on the 18th at Cam
den. They were urged by Mcdowell to
make no delay. lest they should be cap
tured by Ferguson. They had more
than two hundred prisoners. The pris-
oners were divided out amongst the
men, giving every three men two pris-
oners. After they were completely out
Of the reach Of Ferguson, Shelby went
home, leaving Clarke and Williams in
charge Of the prisoners: Colonel Clarke
having accompanied Colonel Williams
for a short distance after the depart
ure Of Shelby, took command and re-
turned home, leaving Colonel Williams
in charge Of the prisoners, by whom
they were taken to Hillsborough, N. G.
Governor Rutledge, Of South Carolina,
who, at this time. was in Hillsborough,
seeing Williams in charge Of so many
prisoners and supposing that he had
Immediately gave him brigadier gen.
erals commission as reward for his
supposed brave and heroic exploit.
Mcdowell, as soon as he heard that
Gates was defeated, broke up his camp
at Smiths Ford and marched for the
mountains. His command was scatter
ed. Some of his men went home, whilst
others accompanied their commander
beyond the mountains. Ferguson was
left in full command Of the field. The
Wings were plundered Of their proper
ty and driven from their homes. Many
Of them were forced to hide out In un-
frequented spots, whilst not few were
caught and cruelty murdered. The
brave and enterprising British officer
pushed his way as far as Gilbert Town,
near the present site Of Rutherfordtcp,
in North Carolina. South Carolina
was now under the paw of the British
lion. Some crouched and begged for
quarter; but there were a few noble
spirits-enough to save the country
who had sworn for their country to
live, and for her to die. Ferguson was
not ignorant of this fact. He knew the
history Of those men who were beyond
the mountains. He knew that their
ancestors, for more than two hundred
years, had been fighting for freedom,
and he saw that the wilds Of America
had strengthened the love Of liberty in
their children. He knew that they
were Scotch Irish and Huguenots by
descent. He knew that they could be
crushed into the earth, that. they could
be torn limb from limb, that they could
be buried beneath the earth, but ne
feared their very dust.
He had his spies in the mountain
country, and from them he had learn
ed what was going on in the valleys of
Nollichucky and Watauga. These
spies brought him the startling news
that their fellows were caught and
hanged, while others were tarred and
suffered to return as q taunt to their
champion leader. Ferguson ragged. He
cursed the rebels for their daring. and
he cursed the tories and loyalists for
their want Of courage.
While Colonel Ferguson lay at Gill
bert Town, he paroled Samuel Phillips,
q patriot, whom he held as a prisoner,
and sent him with threatening mes
sage to the back mountain men. The
purport Of this message was, that IL
these patriots in Watauga and Noll1-
chucky did not lay down their arms
and submit to the King Of England, he
would come over the mountains and
hang the last one Of them. This was
not a mere boast. He contemplated
doing what he said. Ferguson was no
idle boaster. No sooner had Samuel
Phillips delivered his message than the
horrors Of past generations loomed up
before the eyes Of the patriots OF Wa
tauga and Nollichucky. The blood Of
John Sewer and Isaac Shelby was stir
red. Sewer was eloquent under the i'm
pulse of a holy resentment and the
brow Of Shelby was knit with indigna-
tion, and his whole countenance ind1-
Gated stern defiance. These noble men
at once concluded that they would
thwart Ferguson in his bloody purpose,
and If there was any hanging TO De
done, they would do it.
The plan for raising sufficient num-
ber of men to accomplish their purpose
was soon devised. To Sewer was as
signed the duty of communicating with
Mcdowell and the other officers who
were then in voluntary exile beyond
the mountains. Shelby assumed, as
his part of the work, the writing Of a
letter to Colonel William Campbell, of
Washington county, Virginia. The let
ter was written. The threat Of Fer
guson was stated, and the plan Of his
destruction was revealed. In this let
ter Campbell was earnestly requested
to cooperate. This letter was placed
in the hands of Moses Shelby, broth
er of Isaac, and duly delivered. Colo
mel Campbell declined to render assist
ance, stating that his intentions were
to assist in preventing CORVALLIS. from
reaching Virginia. This message was
by Moses Shelby. Colonel
Shelby Immediately wrote another let
ter to Colonel Campbell, in which he
urged him, more strongly, to lend his
assistance. Although Campbell was as
firm and unyielding as mountain, still
he was not blind to reason or deaf to
the calls of duty. He sent Shelby word
that he would come and bring his whole
This was more than was
expected. The place Of general rendez-
vous was Sycamore Shoal on the Wa
tauga; the time, the twenty-fifth OF
At the appointed time, the entire in
habitants Of the back mountain region
assembled at Sycamore Shoal Camp
bell, with his Virginians, was there.
was in earnest. There were
no say uniforms; no costly plumes; no
long trains of baggage wagons; no am
balances; no surgeon; no chaplain. Of
ficers and men were clad in suits made
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