Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-05-09


before, to be taken prisoners by Col.
Tarleton's dragons.
. In ITO Lacey received colonePs
commission, he organized and COM
manded regiment of infantry which
was in active service to the end OF
the war, mostly under General Sum-
ter's command. He was nearly two
years at one time from home. While
he was absent the Tories either took
or destroyed all his property not leav-
Ing his wife even one cow to give
milk for her children. The only horse
he owned. at the close Of the war, was
a fine black charger that had belonged
to Colonel Ferguson, and on which
Ferguson was riding when killed at
the battle of Kings Mountain.
Captain Christian Huck, or Hook,
as he was more generally called,
Tory, and In fact originally lawyer
from Philadelphia, commanded two
hundred British regulars, one hundred
dragons. one hundred mounted In
fantry and perhaps five hundred To-
ries, and for some time had been with
his army at Whites Mill on Fishing
creek, in Chester District, South Car
olina. He was desolating the coun-
try around and committing outrages
on the unoffending people. On plum
dering expedition, some Of his men
killed an inoffensive young man nam
ed Strong. He was quietly, on Sunday
morning, reading his Bible when ruth
Iessly shot down. About the same
time they burned Parson Simpsons
dwelling. also Mrs. McLure's A short
while before Huck's men had burned
the iron works Of Col. VIM. Hill; he
was casting ordnance and cannon
balls for the Patriots. The burning OF
the iron works was very great mis-
fortune to the farmers for as far as
forty or fifty miles. 1t seemed as II
they might be forced to return to the
use of wooden ploughs. (D
Huck's behavior so incensed the
people, that Lacey, Bratton. Mcclure,
and others, beat up for volunteers,an
got together nearly all the fighting men
available, amounting to nearly four
hundred. About the same time, Col
onels Hill and Neil, with one hundred
and thirty-three men, left Sumter at
Clenis Branch, crossed over the Ca
tawba into York, with a view Of rais-
ing more men for Sumters camp.
Hearing of the intended assault upon
Huck's corps, they Joined the Patriots.
Their force being now augmented to
more than Ave hundred men, they de-
termined to drive Huck from the Mills,
and out of the settlement
The plan of the Wings was to steal
march upon the Royalists, and make
an attack by night; accordingly, they
were directed to assemble near the
Mills, at sundown, on July 11th, A. D..
1880. Having tied their horses in the
woods, a quarter Of q mile from the
Mills, and formed themselves into pla-
toons of six, (2) and they marched
towards the Mills In perfect order.
However, before reaching the Mills,
they met Captain Mcclure and his par
ty. who had been sent to reconnoitre;
they told Lacey, who was In the front
platoon, that Huck had that day taken
up the line of march, and had removed
his whole army to Bratton's. In the
lower edge of York District, a distance
Of twelve miles. After short CONSUL
tation. the word was given. march to
your horses" but before the command
had passed half way back through the
platoons, It was changed to. run TO
your horses" This caused a great
confusion and excitement. About 150
men mounted their horses, and did not
stop until they reached Charlotte, N.
-, distance Of forty miles, A second
consultation was held; 1t was left to
a general vote, and unanimously re-
solved to pursue Huck with the men
who remained. and try to surprise him
before day. There were now In the
party only; $50 men.
The Wings mounted their horses ana
followed the trail Of the British army.
On their way they passed the home OF
old Mr.. William Adair, a man, for that
period of wealth, and noted as boun-
tiful liver Here they halted to get
some refreshment, the old man told
them that Huck had gone by that even
ing, and had taken every eatable on
the place: that he had not meal enough
to make himself a noe cake Lacey
said to him, by the Lord! Uncle Bill
ly, we will make them pay for all this
before sun rise" The old man replied:
Ned, you are a hot-headed fool,
60 what can $50 raw militia do with
nearly 1000 British soldiers? Mr..
Adair had two sons, James and John
Adair, then In the ranks under Lacy.
Another son. William Adair was In
the Continental service.
A mile farther on, was the nome OF
Col. Edward Lacey's father. he had
come not long before the breaking out
of the Revolution to South Carolina
and was AN uncompromising rory
Colonel Lacey detailed four men to
guard him all night ordering them II
1t was necessary to tie him, so as to
be sure to prevent his going to the
enemy and giving them information
of the intended surprise. Old Lacey
by some artilce contrived to elude
the guards, and started for Hucks
camp which was only two miles from
his home. However, he was pursued
overtaken, brought back and absolute
" tied in his bed until morning.
The Wings came to where they sup
posed the British were encamped'
tied their horses in the woods, ana
again counted their men. Ninety had
dropped off. while they were on HucK 8
trail. Although there were but 2oo
men left, they were still determined TO
Q.) This reminds the writer of John
Miller OF Rutherford county. N. e., a
true Hiberian Whig, who was noted
for his piety, originality and fervor.
He was asked by one Of his elders to
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