Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-01-19
Straps uf gatal History.
"REMINISCENCES Of YORK.
Valuable Bits of Local History Pre-
served by a septuagenarian.


q, DIR. Maurice Moore in The Enquirer Of 1870.
COLONEL WILLIAM HILL.
The first iron works erected in the
upper part Of the state stood on Alli-
sons creek, the present site, I under
stand of fiourishing flour mills and a
carding factory. They were owned by
William Hill. These works were most
important enterprise, and an incalcu-
liable benefit to the whole vicinity. The
loss Of them, when burnt by the tories
Of Ferguson's command, was felt by
the farmers and soldiers Of the sur
blow the enemy could have inflicted.
The farmers knew not where to obtain
the implements necessary to till the
soil, and feared they might be forced
to return to the wooden plow. The lat
ter missed the ordnance obtained
from the forge to visit vengeance on
the foe, who was daily harrassing
their friends and country. So more
than one good Presbyterian echoed
Amen" to Elder John Miller, who,
when sometime after the event, being
desired to pray, with all solemn fer
vor said Good Lord, our God who art
in heaven, we have reason to thank
Thee for the many favors received at
Thy hands, the many battles that has
been won. There Is one great and glo-
rious battle Of Kings Mountain, where
we kill the great Gineral Ferguson and
took his whole army; and the great
battles Of Ramseurs and Williamson's,
and the ever memorable and glorious
battle Of the Coopens, [Cowpensl where
we made the proud Gineral Tarleton
run doom [down] the road helter skel-
ter; and Good Lord, If ye had ma suf-
fered the cruel tories to burn Belly
Hells [Billy Hill iron works, we would
ma have asked ony mair favors at thy
hand. Amen"
Hill was a staunch Whig from the
beginning Of the contest. He and -
Neal were elected the colonels Of reg
iment from York. ct was then re-
quired of each regiment to have two
officers Of that grade). He was
throughout the war an active patriot.
He fought at Williamson's. where
Houck was defeated and killed; bore
a most conspicuous part in our effort
at Rocky Mount, and the gallant in
cident I now relate, had 1t been per-
formed by Putnam or some other Yam
kee hero, would have been chronicled
in every common n-school reader In the
United States.
Our men had, after three attempts,
driven the garrison Of Colonel Trum-
houses which served them as a fort,
from which our men could not dislodge
them by assault for want Of artillery.
General Sumter conceived the idea Of
fighting the devil with fire." and call
ed for two men, as a forlorn hope, to
execute it. The volunteers for this des-
perate service were Colonel William
Hill and Adjutant Jenny Johnson.
The duty was to run to a large rock
which stood within the abatis, each
carrying an armful Of light-wood.
When they reached this rock, they
could screen themselves behind it safe
ly, and from thence throw the lighted
wood on the roof Of building adjoin-
ing the log fort. One hundred yards
did these men run in the face Of the
enemy, the guns Of the latter bearing
directly on them the whole distance.
They gained the shelter unhurt. Hill
watched the enemy while Johnson ig-
nited the pine and threw the burning
brands on top Of the nearest house.
The tories soon perceiving their design,
a detail sailed forth and drove them
from their position. They ran back to
our lines not under the fire Of the port
holes only but also that Of the de-
tachment that came out against them.
A merciful providence surely protect
ed them; for their clothes were riddled
with bullet holes, and even locks OF
hair cut from their heads, yet they
were unscathed. A heavy rain fall
ing extinguished the flames thus haz-
ardousy kindled, and Sumter ordered
the firing to cease, gave up the at
tempt and fell back to Landsford.
At the hard fought battle Of Hang
ing Rock" Colonel Hill bore a part
and received a wound in the wrist. In
fact, he and his regiment were under
General Sumter to the end of the rev.
olution, and shared in all his stirring
campaigns, always enjoying the conf
dence and affection of the "Game
Cock"
History still owes to the memory OF
Colonel William Hill an important
debt, for though named in her records,
his sacrifices and efforts In the great
cause of freedom have never yet re-
ceived their due need Of praise. We'll
may the shades Of our partisan leaders
cry
He that doth good to the multitude
Finds that few are truly grateful
I hope a biography Of this valuable
Revolutionary hero may yet be written,
for surely the incident at Rocky Mount
would constitute him one, without the
many other deeds of valor which
wreathe the laurel for his brow. l am
able to give but meagre outline. MY
materials are too imperfect and faulty
INV memory too treacherous to touch
but lightly the theme. Neither does 1t
come within the scope Of these "Remi-
niscences'' to undertake so arduous
task. I therefore leave it to those who
come after me to do the NOBLE Ro-
man justice"
After the act Of 1855, establishing the
county courts, he was elected one OF
the seven judges. By the act of l7sl,
when the number Of county court
justices was reduced to three, William
Hill, Alexander Moore and John Nc
Lanhan were elected by joint nomi-
nation by the senate and house of rep
resentatives," and administered the
law for years, and I do not remember