Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-09-08

VIII you IHONSs COiOllci, Llu uo" oiioi
we organizer"
For the present, we had better lead
our own volunteers and take 1t hunt
ing fashion-every man independent
till we hear from Gates. propose
however. deferring any action I'm the
matter till we meet with Cleveland and
Williams" replied Campbell.
well. when shall we move?" asked
Sewer, restlessly. pacing to and fro
1.-The gathering is now complete. II
you don't mind, the game will slip
through your fingers"
Patience, Sewer. patience, man." re-
piled Campbell. 1T is not always the
swiftest step that Is the surest. Fergu-
son is yet too near my lord over yon-
der In Charlotte. Give Williams time
to bait him a little longer"
Let Williams coax him a step or
two farther SOUTH" said the prudent
Mcdowell. "Our numbers will then be
more complete. and we can match the
blood hound in swiftness as we'll as
keenness."
I'm tired of this wait, wait. wait"
replied the impetuous Sewer. 1--WE
surely are now a match for him."
How many men have you, Sevier?'
asked the practical Mcdowell.
1.-TWO hundred and forty" replied
Sewer, las hardy North Carolina boys
90
And you, Shelby"
"The same number: and TIL match
my Sullivan boys against Sewers
Washingtons, for hardihood and cour-
age" replied Shelby. Every man OF
them has had an experience in Indian
warfare that prepares him for the
hardships Of soldier"
80" said Mcdowell, 1--WE have four
hundred and eighty. You have four
hundred Virginians; Campbell and my
Whig refugees make about one hun
dred and sixty more"
And Ferguson has between eleven
and twelve hundred men, and only
about one hundred and fifty Of them
regulars. I think we may venture.
What say you to moving, Shelby?" said
Campbell, excited with the prospect OF
action.
I'm ready to start at the crack of
day." replied Shelby sententiously.
Then. we'll go. What say you, Nc
Dowell?" said Sewer, hastily fearing
his wiser prudence would counsel de-
lay. '..... -.... ........-...
"I would propose" replied Mcdowell,
rather to hover In the enemy's neigh
borhood, than advance directly toward
him. Their force is yet too formida-
BILE: not so much In numbers or dis
cipline," said he, noticing Sewers
quick frown. but we must remember
they are elated from recent victory,
only 70 or 80 miles from CORVALLIS,
and they are In position to make
their way In safety to the main army,
and we thus endanger ourselves by
alarming them. and injure our own in
terest. We must also recollect that
they are we'll provided with munitions
Of war: they are flush with hope and
Is well enough to encourage our men
by talking Of the certainty Of success
the impossibility Of defeat; but we who
are entrusted with their lives and for
tunes. must calmly contemplate every
exigency Of the case. The enemy
swarms In all our strongholds. South
Carolina is literally under British, nay
worse. under Tory rule. CORVALLIS
system of Imprisonment. confiscation
and hanging, threatens to make his
word true Of 'subduing the whole
country south OF the Delaware before
winter" Look at the pitiable condi-
wilderness Of the Allegheny, encum-
bered by a troop Of women and chill
dren. who, having suffered from the
cruelty Of the savage and the more
ruthless fury of the Tory, prefer the
rigors OF the mountains. to their own
desecrated and ruined homes. And. II
1t were not that Ferguson Is so COM
pletely absorbed in the pursuit Of our
gallant comrade. what hope would
there be for us! Our safety, as we'll
as our success. lies in the confidence
of the enemy which leads him to neg
lect the most ordinary precautions of
a commander Then, comrades, let us
not destroy, by our imprudence, this
fancied security, and so lose our last
hope In Carolina, and leave Clarke to
the mercles of the butcher who spares
neither age nor sex"
And you will still counsel delay?'
asked Sewer, inwardly chatting at the
prudence that admitted no reply.
NO" replied Mcdowell, II propose
20 move at once, but slowly, till we can
effect a junction with Williams, who
Is still In his encampment at Fair
Forest. coaxing Ferguson south.
believe Clark's situation to be critical
and the sooner we strike the better;
but we must choose the opportune mo-
ment"
Gentlemen, what say you to moving In
the morning?" said Shelby, with mil
itary brevity.
Agreed" replied the officers; and at
once dispensing through the camp they
gave motive Of the decision to march.
Early In the morning Of the follow
ing day, the little army were in active
preparation for their march. There
was no sound OF noise and revelry In
that camp. Every mans soul was filled
with high purpose: every nerve was
strong with a firm resolve. Buckling
on the wallets their wives and moth
ers had filled: slowing carefully away
the bullets their sisters and daughters
had moulded: with their we'll wiped
rifles, these noble patriots. with the
lofty bearing and calm determination
Of high souled purpose, turned to bid
farewell to women, whose pallid cheeks
and fearless eyes spoke a brave and
answering heroism. Children claspeo
the fathers neck in fearful, but ST.
lent wonder and awe at the sternness
that gave no answering caress. little
knowing the heaving. bursting heart
that was chained In that icy firmness
The mother, parting from the boy who