Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-18

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thirty miles, in the direction Of Fort
Ninety-Six, he had met upon the road
large party of cavalry under the
command of Colonel Williams-and
that that officer had shown great anx-
iety to learn whether certain Whig
troops had been seen near Gilbert
town. The informant added. that
Williams appeared to him to be
strangely particular in his inquiries
about Ferguson"
This intelligence seemed suddenly to
awaken the British partisan from a
dream. He was now one hundred miles
south of CORVALLIS; and, both east
and west Of the line OF communication
between them, 1t was apparent that
hostile parties were assembling, with
q view to some united action against
him. 1t struck him now, for the first
time, that an enemy might be thrown
between the main army at Charlotte
and his detachment, and thus cause
him some embarrassment in his retreat
but 1t was still with the scorn Of a
Ipresumptuous soldier that he recurred
to- the possibility of his being forced
to. fight his way.
'9They are for turning the tables on
me-" he said in tone Of derision, land
hope to pounce upon my back while l
am taken up with this half-starved
and long-legged fellow Of the noun
tains. But 1 will show them who Is
master yet"
In this temper he commenced his re-
treat. which was conducted slowly and
!obstinately; and 1t may be supposed
that Butler, as he involuntarily follow
ed the fortunes of his enemy, contem-
plated these movements with an anx-
ious interest. The common report OF
the camp made him acquainted with
the circumstances which had recon-
mended the retreat, and he. therefore,
watched the course Of events in mo-
mentary expectation Of some incident
of great importance to himself.
At night Ferguson arrived at the
Cawpens, just twenty-four hours In ad-
vance of his enemies. Whilst resting
here he received intelligence Of the
stout array that had lately assembled
at Gilbert town, and which he was
now told, were in full pursuit Of him.
1t was at first with an lncredulous ear
that he heard the report Of the num-
bers Of this suddenly-levied mountain
army It seemed incredible that such
a host could have been convened In
such brief space and with such secret
expedition; and even more unworthy
of belief, that they could have been
found in the wild and thinly- peopled
regions of the Allegheny. His doubts,
however, yielded to his fear, and In
duced him to accelerate his pace.
His first care was to despatch, on
that night, a courier to CORVALLIS. to
inform the general Of his situation and
ask for reinforcements. The letter
which bore this request Is still extant,
and will show that even In the difficult
juacture In which we have presented
the writer of it. his boastful confidence
Ehads not abandoned him. 7.rS-- - 20 .. =
Before the succeeding dawn he was
again in motion, directing his hasty
march towards the Cherokee Ford OF
Broad river. This point he reached at
sundown. His journey had been pur-
sued, thus far. with unremitting indus
try. II his motions had corresponded
to his affected disesteem Of this enc
my, he would here have halted for
rest: but, like one who flies with the
superstitious dread of a goblin follow
er the retreating partisan looked over
his shoulder with an unquiet spirit, and
made a sign to his companions still to
press forward. They crossed the river
at night, and did not halt again until
they had traversed some six or eight
miles beyond the further bank.
The anxiety, suspense, and eager ex-
pectation of Butler increased with
these thickening demonstrations Of the
approach Of a period which he foresaw
must be decisive, not only Of his own
hopes. bur, in a great degree, Of the
hopes Of his country. The retreat OF
Ferguson towards Kings Mountain.
which now lay but few miles In ad-
vance, was a visible and most strik-
ing type Of the vanishing power which
for brief half-year had maintained Its
domination over the free spirits of the
south, and which had aimed. by cruel
and bloody rule, to extinguish all that
was generous and manly In these af-
licted provinces. Contenting myself
with this rapid survey Of events which,
Of themselves possess an Interest that
would If time and space permitted me-
have justified the detail of volume, L
go back to the regular current of my
story.
TO BE CONTINUED.