Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-13
HORSE SHOE
ROBINSON
A Tale of the Revolutionary Struggle In
Upper Carolina.
BY JOHN H. KENNEDY.

avoidance of service in the conquered
province.
1.-The last charge against you Is
fully proved. Not a word Of counter
evidence has been offered. Strictly
speaking, by the usages of war, this
would not be an offence for the notice
of military tribunal. The perpetra-
tors of it would be liable to such vim
dictive measures as the policy of the
conqueror might choose to adopt
That we have given you, therefore, the
benefit of an inquiry, you must regard
as an act Of grace, springing out Of our
sincere desire to do you ample justice.
The nature of the offence imputed and
proved is such as, at this moment
every consideration Of expediency de-
mands should be visited with exempla-
ry punishment. The friends Of the
royal cause, wherever they may re-
side, shall be protected from the wrath
of the rebel government; and we have
therefore, no scruple in saying, that
the attempt upon the person Of Mr.
Philip Lindsay requires signal retri-
button. But for this last act, the court
might have been induced to overlook
all your other trespasses. Upon this,
however there Is no hesitation.
such being the state of facts ascer-
tained by this tribunal, its function
ceases with it's certificate of the truth
of what has been proved before 1t.
The rest remains to me. Without the
form Of an investigation, l might, as
the commanding officer of corps on
detached service, and by virtue Of spe-
cial power conferred upon me, have
made up a private judgment in the
case. l have forborne to do that, until,
by the sanction of a verdict of my
comrades, l might assure myself that
l acted on the clearest proofs. These
have been rendered.
MY order, therefore, Is in accord
ance with the clear decision Of the
court,-and, speaking to a soldier, /
use no unnecessary phrase of condo
lence-that you be shot to death. Time
presses on us and forbids delay. You
will be conducted to immediate execu-
ton. Major Frazer" he said turning
to one of his officers, ito your discre-
ton l commit this unpleasant duty"
Then, In a tone of private direction, he
added, Let it be done without delay;
pomp and ceremony are out of place
in such a matter. 1 wish to have 1t
despatched at once"
II would speak," said Butler, re-
pressing the agitation of his feelings,
and addressing Innis with a stern SOL
emnity, mot to implore your mercy,
nor to deprecate your sentence: even
if could stoop to such an act Of sub
mission know my appeal would reach
your ears like the idle wind but have
private affairs to speak Of"
"They were better untold, sir" inter-
rupted Innis with an affected air Of in
difference. 81 can listen to nothing
now. We have other business to think
of. These last requests and settle
ments of private affairs are always
troublesome" he muttered in a tone
just audible to the officers standing
near him: they conjure up useless
sympathies."
II pray, you. sir" interposed st. Jer-
myn.
1T is in vain, I cannot hear it, ex-
claimed the commander, evidently
struggling to shake from his mind an
uncomfortable weight. These are wo-
mans request! Gods mercy! Now
does this differ from death upon the
field of battle? soldier is always
ready. Ha! What have we here?" ne
exclaimed, as a trooper rode up to the
group. Where are you from? What
aews?"
"A vidette from Rocky Mount" an
swered the horseman. II am sent to
inform you that, yesterday, Sumpter
defeated three hundred of our people
on the Catawba, and has made all that
were alive, prisoners, besides capturing
fifty or sixty wagons of stores which
the detachment had under convoy for
Camden"
The first inquiries that followed this
communication related to Sumpter's
position, and especially whether he was
advancing towards this camp.
He is still upon Catawba tending
northwards," replied the vidette.
Then we are free from danger" in
terrupted Innis. II am stripping the
feathers from a bird today that is
worth half of Sumpters prize" he
added. with a revengeful smile, to an
officer who stood by him.
During this interval. in which the
commander of the post was engaged
with the vidette. the guard had con-
Quoted the prisoner back to the house
and Innis. freed from the restraint OF
Buffers presence. now gave way TO the
expression of a savage eXultation al
the power which the events of the
morning had given him. to intiict pun
ishment upon one that he termed ar
audaciouS rebel 1.-The chances jump
ed well with u.s." he said, when they
enable us to season the joy of these
ragged traitors. by so notable deed aS
the execution of one of their shrewdes,
emissaries. This fellow Butler has
consideration amongst them, and for
tune too: at least he had it but thai
has gone into better hands; and, tC
say truth. he has a bold and mischiev-
Gus spirit. The devil has instigatec
him to cross our path; he shall have
the devils comfort for it, The whole
party taken did you say?"-
Every man, sir" replied the vidette
How many men had this skulkint
fellow, Sumpter at his back?"
"They say about seven hundred
And did the towards strike to sever
hundred rebels?"
"They were tangled with the wag'
onS." said the soldier. "and were set OIL
unawares. on the bank of the river a
the lower ferry"
AYE. that's the way. An ambus
cade. no doubt-a piece of cOwardl!
bush fighting. Fresh men against poo
devils worn down by long marching