Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-10-02
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How the Spirit Of Liberty Was Kept Alive By al
UncOnquerable People.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM. ID. ID

J.
was ordered for one hour during which
the horses were fed and the men bak-
ed their ash cakes and roasted their
bacon on the Goals. This was not all.
So vigilant was the watch, that each
man only got six hours sleep out Of
forty eight. To prevent an attack at
night, Williams took the precaution to
camp as far as possible from the Brit
ish. So soon as the men entered the
camp. which was always late in the
might, those notion patrol threw them
selves down anywhere to sleep.
During the night Of the twelfth or
morning of the thirteenth, CORVALLIS
determined to change his course and
fall into the middle road. This would
place him directly in the rear Of VIII
liams. The move was made with skill
and so secretly that 1t was not observ-
ed by williams until effected. The
front Of his army was required to con-
tinue as before, whilst he with the main
body pressed from the upper to the
middle road.
On. the morning Of the thirteenth,
Williams set ont as usual at three
o'clock. Parties were sent forward to
Findle fires at which to prepare break
fast The weather was cold and a driz-
ely rain was falling. The wood was
vet and ~much difficulty was expe-
ricH ,ed in tindling the fires. Every
thing was arranged as usual. Lieuten-
mt Darlington who was with patroll-
ing party watching the movements of
the enemy, reported from time to time
that everything was as usual. Just as
the cold and wet and hungry soldiers
had got their ash cakes in the fire and
their bacon on the glowing Goals, a
countryman rode into camp. He had
been sent by a sergeant Of a patrol
party. The man, on being conducted
to headquarters related that only a
short time before the British had fallen
into the road on which the Americans
were, and that CORVALLIS was only
about four miles In the rear. The man
rode a very small pony which was very
much exhausted.
In order to ascertain the truth OF
this statement and allow the men time
to eat their breakfast, Colonel Will
liams requested Lieutenant Colonel Lee
to send back detachment Of cavalry
The countryman was ordered to ac-
company them as guide. This he read
lily assented to do. A squad Of caval-
ry was soon selected and Captain Mark
4 Armstrong placed In command Of them
These had not left camp long before a
messenger came from Lieutenant Car
rington, with the news that the van OF
the British was moving slowly. This
led Colonel Williams to suspect that
some new movement was making In
the British forces. To support Arm
strong, Colonel Lee was sent back with
another detachment. 1t was understood
that the two detachments would unite
and Lee take command Of the whole.
A single horseman was sent on at full
speed to overtake Armstrong and in
form him OF what had been done and
lrequest him to move slowly until the
detachment under Lee would overtake
him. When Armstrong had gone about
4 mile he was overtaken by Lee when
the whole advanced two miles farther.
No enemy was to be seen, and some
began to suspect the veracity Of the
guide. Lee himself concluded that
though he might be an honest man
and true patriot, he was in some way
mistaken. It was concluded that Lee
and the larger number Of the detach-
ment should return to the camp and
finish their breakfast. Captain Arm
strong and three cavalrymen were or
dered to take the countryman as q
guide and proceed to the spot where
he said he had seen the British an hour
before.
The countryman who had willingly
accompanied the detachment up to this
moment now refused to go unless
good horse were given him. This fact
he had previously made. The bugler q
lteardless youth by the name Of Gillies
was placed on the pony Of the country
man and sent back to camp and the
countryman placed on the horse on
which the bugler rode. This was agree
able to both. The little bugler mount
ed the pony and set out for the camp
lof williams and the countryman
mounted on the buglers horse, set out
to find the whereabouts Of the British
So soon as Armstrong left, Lee and
his men rode into the woods so as to
keep concealed from the enemy, should
any be near Armstrong had advanced
but a short distance when the report OF
muskets announced the fact that the
enemy were near by. The American
videttes came dashing in at full speed
pursued by a detachment Of British
dragons. Lee felt no anxiety for Arm
strong and his companions, for he knew
they were we'll mounted; but his anx-
iety for the little bugler, mounted on
the countryman's pony, was great
Waiting until the British passed by
he fell into the road and dashed for
ward after them at full speed. Arm
strong and his men dashed past the
bugler, who was overtaken and barbar-
ously put to death by the British, al
though he begged for quarters. This
was done In the sight Of Lee, who be-
came furiously enraged when he saw
the boy literally butchered when crying
for mercy. The moment Of vengeance
did not linger long. The horses upon
which the British rode were inferior
and their riders were drunk. Exas-
perated by the cruelty practiced upon
the helpless bugler, Lee contrary to his
usual practice, shouted to. his men tc
show the enemy no quarters. In this
affair the British had eighteen killed
and several taken prisoners. Amongst
the prisoners was Captain Miller. Lee
charged Miller with the murder Of the
bugler and ordered him to be hanged
on the spot, but the British van ap-
preaching, it was deferred for the time
Having advanced a short distance