Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-15
HORSE SHOE
ROBINSON
A Tale of the Revolutionary Struggle In
Upper Carolina.
BvJOHN p. KENNEDY.

Ferguson was all intent upon Clarke
little suspecting the power which
could summon up, with such incredible
alacrity, an army from the woods fl
to dispute his passage through any
path of the country; and, profiting by
this confidence of the enemy, Shelby
and his associates were preparing. by
secret movements. to put themselves II
readiness to spring upon their quarry
at the most auspicious moment. In ac-
cordance with this plan, Colonel VIII
liams, who yet preserved his encamp-
ment on the Fair Forest, was on the
alert to act against the British leader
who still marched further south-a1
every step lengthening the distance
between himself and his commander
in-chief, and so far favoring the views
of his enemy. Shelby and his comrades
only tarried until their numbers should
be complete, designing as speedily as
possible after that to form juno
tion with williams, and at once enter
upon an open and hot pursuit Of their
adversary.
Their uncertainty in regard to the
present condition of Clarke, added
greatly to their desire to strike, as ear
ly as possible, their meditated blow
This officer had, few weeks before
commenced his retreat from Augusta
through Ninety-Six with some five
hundred men, closely followed by
Brown and Cruger, and threatened by
the Indian tribes who inhabited the
wilderness through which he Journey
ed. The perils and hardships of this
retreat arose not only from the neces-
sity Clarke was under to plunge into
the inhospitable and almost unexplored
wilderness of the Allegheny by a
path which would effectually battle his
pursuers as we'll as escape the tolls OF
Ferguson; but they were painfully en-
HANGED by the incumbrance Of a troop
of women and children, who having
already felt the vengeance Of the saw
ges, and fearing it's further cruelties,
and the scarcely less ruthless hatred of
the Tories, preferred to tempt the RI
gors Of the mountain rather than re-
main in their own dwellings. 1t Is
said that these terrified and helpless
fugitives amounted to somewhat above
three hundred individuals.
There were no incidents Of the war
of Independence that more strikingly
illustrated. tbs. .heroism which ,grappled
with the difficulties Of that struggle
at Its gloomiest moment, than the pa
tient and preserving gallantry Of these
brave wanderers and their confeder-
ates, whom we have seen lately assem-
bled In arms. History had not yet
conferred upon Clarke and his COM
panions their merited tribute of re-
nown. Some future chronicler Will
find In their exploits a captivating
theme for his pen, when he tells the
tale of their constancy, even In the
midst Of the nations despair; until
fortune, at length successfully wooed,
rewarded their vigilance, bravery, and
skill, by enabling them to subdue and
destroy the Tory Ascendency In the
south.
The enemy, swarming In all the
strong places, elated with recent victory
we'll provided with the muniments of
war, high In hope and proud In heart
hunted these scattered, destitute and
slender bands, with a keenness of
scent, swiftness of foot, and eXaspera-
ton of temper that can only be COM
pared to the av'dity Of the bloodhound.
This eagerness Of pursuit was, for the
present, directed against Clarke: and 1t
is one Of the most fortunate circum-
stances that belong to the events
have been relating, that this purpose
of waylaying our gallant partisan so
completely absorbed the attention of
Ferguson, as to cause him to neglect
the most ordinary precautions for Sc
curing himself against the reverses of
the war;
In this state Of things. Shelby and
his compatriots awaited for the moment
when they might direct their march
Immediately to the attack Of the Brit
ish so!dier-their anxiety stimulated to
a painful acuteness by the apprehen-
sion that Clarke might be overpowered
by his enemies, or that Cornwallis
might receive information of the gath
ering bands, and make a timely move
ment to reinforce or protect his out
post. 1t was In this moment Of doubt
and concern that we have chosen to
present them In the course Of our mar
rative.
The troops had halted about the mid
die of the day, to take some refresh
ment. The ground they had chosen
for this purpose was a narrow valley
or glen. encompassed by steep hills
between which a transparent rivulet
wound It's way over a rough, stony
bed The margin Of the stream was
clothed with grass Of the liveliest ver-
dure and a natural grove of large for
est trees covered the whole level space
of the valley. The season was the
most pleasant Of the year. being at thai
period when, In the southern highlands
the hoar frost Is first seen to sparkle
on the spray at early dawn. The
noontide sun, though not oppressively
warm, was still sufficiently fervid t;
render the shade Of the grove, and the
cool mountain brook in the deep ravine
no unpleasant objects to wearied trav'
elers. Here the whole of our little
army were scattered through the wood
some intent upon refreshing thei1
steeds in the running water, many
seated beneath the trees discussing
their own slender means, and not few
carelessy and idly lettering about th'
grounds in the enjoyment of the mere
exemption from the constraint Of dis
cipline. The march of the troops OF
this day had not exceeded ten o
twelve miles-they might have beer
said to creep through the woods. Still
however they had been in motion eve
since the dawn of day; and as the!
measured the ground with their SLOW
but ceaseless football, there was 81
lent disquiet and an eagerness of ex
pectation, that were scarcely less ia