Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-09-08
ELLEN CAMPBELL
KINGS MOUNTAIN
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VII.
SiRhs now breathed
Jnutterable which the spirit Of prayer
INSPIRED and winged for heaven with speealei
Than loudest oratory.
T0N,a pARAnIaE LOST.

Inspired and winged Ior heaven Win SPseN's'
h'sn' Than loudest oratory.
MILLIONS PARADIsE LOST.
The 25th Of September dawned a
bright and sunny day, in one OF the
valleys of the beautiful Watauga. II
is a lovely spot! The torrent, emerg-
ing from the bosom Of the mountains,
comes bounding along like silver
thread, then suddenly spreads itself into
a broad shallow stream, making a rip
piing symphony to the distant roar OF
bass above. The gentle slope, on one
side, Is shaded by the native growth
OF beech and maple, and the rich YER
dure Of the sward makes a soft carpet
swaying to each breath Of the pure
mountain breeze On the opposite side
are bold and rocky precipices. with
narrow bridle-paths traced over their
precipitous sides. This was the rem
devious of a noble band Of soldiers, and
here lay the patriots camp. No mar
tial music, no tents no sentries, no
pomp; none Of those gorgeous trap
pings of war surrounded the devoted
men. Their reveille was the matin song
of the birds; their tattoo the soft whis-
Der of the whippoorwill and the cry OF
the katydid: their tent the blue heav-
ems above them, the waving boughs
their canopy. the velvet sward their
couch. Their sentrles were the bar
rier mountains around them and their
own fearless and honest hearts; and
with these guards they rested in Sc
curity from their foe.
Ere the mountain peaks hid the de-
clining sun, at least a thousand men
were gathered In this quiet valley
some on foot and some on horseback
dressed In the fringed hunting shirt
Of the mountaineer, and bearing on
their shoulders their trusty rifles, while
others were yet descending the perilous
paths; and the tread and plash OF
their horses as they struck the pebbly
bottom Of the strong current, blended
richly with the natural music around
them. And not only stalwart men
were there, but the gray headed and
the aged came to give the patriarch's
blessing to their sons, to counsel
prudence that their enthusiastic bold
ness needed; and others came Offering,
gratuitously, the product OF their
farms, and furnishing, unostentatious-
ly, all that was in their power to offer.
Women were mingled with the groups.
The mother, gazing with sad and noble
pride upon her sons; the wife with
mournful tenderness upon her hus-
band: the sisters heart. swelling In
triumphant affection as she gazed on
the stalwart figure Of brother: the
daughter sighed In dread for the well
fare Of a father; and the maiden In
timid wonder at the ardor Of the lover
who seems to forget there is danger
and death in the coming struggle.
Every pulse beats high with hope, and
every heart yearns for the battle
Moving from group to group, might be
seen four or five men, who, from their
martial bearing and their air Of COM
mand, might well be judged to be
leaders in this movement. One Of
these, who seemed to be invested with
more authority than the others, In q
stern and dignified manner, was dis
coursing on the perils Of the times.
THE paltry tax was not what drove
us to this rebellion" said he: but tax
alton without representation led us to
inquire into the nature Of civil liberty
and our connection with Great Britain.
We denied the British right Of taxa
ton. Then the way was open for an
investigation of the restrictions Of our
subordinate station. 1t was a right
OF the subjects to meet together and
petition for redress of grievance. Our
committees, our congresses, were all
constitutional, and deserved to be rec
ognized by the power from whom we
claimed national protection. But the
answers to our petitions were insults
and injuries: and when stung by these,
we would defend ourselves. we are
robbed, imprisoned and butchered.
With a refinement of cruelty. our op-
pressors instigate our countrymen our
neighbors, our friends against us; and
ties Of nature, good will and confidence.
which hold society together, are, in a
great degree, destroyed. This dis
tinction Of Whig and Tory-what Is 1t
but brother against brother. brought on
by their own system Of piratical rob-
berry? Congress pays for all articles
consumed In their camps, which the
Royalists, falling to do, all expenses in
Cured by them Is a robbery. But all
distress between 1775 and 1880 is not
to be compared with the calamities
suffered by our people since the sur
render of Charleston. Our enemies
seem not only to have forgotten the
laws of war. but the principles Of hu-
manity. Every act of cruelty and in
justice Is sanctified, provided the actor
calls himself friend to the King, and
the sufferer Is denominated a rebel.
Each day brings news Of some fresh
act Of atrocity, and each act exceeds
the last in cruelty. II ever there was
a sinner ripe for judgment, the licen-
tious and cruel Ferguson Is the one.
But his course is we'll nigh rum" said
Campbell looking proudly around his
mountain band land trust the web
we are weaving around the giant. Will
serve to crush the Tory ascendancy In
our Carolina"
1T has been we'll said, by one Of the
old country's greatest statesmen and
one who has been our best advocate
in parliamentary hail." said Mcdowell,
with magisterial dignity. that liberty,
such as deserves the name, is an hon.
est, equitable. diffusive and imperative
principle. 1t Is a great and enlarged
virtue, and not a sordid. selfish, and
iliiberal vice. 1t Is the portion OF the
mass Of the citizens, and not the
naughty license Of some potent indi-
vidual or some predominant faction"
"Ah!" replied the usually taciturn
Shelby, III even Christianity has fail
ed to teach our oppressors that, they
will not be apt to heed the lesson from
a patriots lips"
Then we will teach them by the