Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-01-30
HORSE SHOE
ROBINSON
Tale of the Revolutionary Struggle In
Upper Carolina.
BY JOHN P. KENNEDY.

neighbors together, and contrfved
keep in awe the ldier-governmen
that now professed to sway the land
They lived on the scant aliment fur
nished in the woods, slept in the tan
gled brakes and secret places OF tn
fen, exacted contributions from TIT
adherents of the crown. and by rapi'
movements Of their woodland cavalr!
and brave blows, accomplished NOR
than thrice their numbers would hav
achieved in ordinary warfare.
The disaffected abounded in the up
per country, and here Cornwalli
maintained some strong garrisons
The difficulties that surrounded tn
republican leaders may we'll be suppos
ed to have been appalling in this re-
gion, where regular posts had beer
established to furnish the Tories Sc
cure points of union, and the certain
ty Of prompt assistance whenever re-
quired. Yet, Notwithstanding the nu'
merical inferiority of the friends Of in
dependence, their guarded and pro
scribed conditions, their want Of sup
port, and their almost absolute desti
tuition of all the necessaries OF mill
tary life, the nation was often rejoicec
to hear of brilliant passages Of arms
where, however unimportant the con-
sequences, the display of soldiershiI
and bravery was of the highest order
In such encounters, or trays they
might almost be called, from the small
ness of the numbers concerned and the
hand -to-hand mode of fighting which
they exhibited, Marion, Sumter, Horny
Pickens, and many others. had won
fame that In a nation of poetical ol
legendary associations would have beer
reduplicated through a thousand chan
nels Of immortal verse; but, alas? We
have no ballads; and many men, who
as we'll deserve to be remembered as
Percy or Douglas, as Adam Bell OF
Clym Of the Clough, have sunk dowr
without even a couplet-epitaph upon
the rude stone, that in some unfenced
and unreverenced graveyard still
marks the lap Of earth whereon theil
heads were laid.
One feature that belonged to this
unhappy state of things In Carolina
was the division of families. Kindred
were arrayed against each other ir
deadly feuds, and, not unfrequently
brother took up arms against brother
and sons against their sires. A pre-
vailing spirit OF treachery and dis
trust marked the times. Strangers
did not know how far they might trust
to the rites of hospitality. and many
a man laid his head upon his pillow
uncertain whether his fellow lodger
or he with whom he had broken bread
at his last meal might not invade him
in the secret watches of the night and
murder him In his slumbers. All went
armed, and many slept with pistols oi
daggers under their pillows. There are
tales told Of men being summoned tc
their doors or windows at midnight
which the incendiary torch had beer
applied. and shot down, In the light OF
the confiagration, by a concealed hand
Families were obliged to betake them
selves to the shelter of the thickets
and swamps, when their own home
steads were dangerous places. The
enemy wore no colors, and was not tC
be distinguished from friends either by
outward guise or speech. Nothing
could be more revolving than to see the
symbols Of peace thus misleading the
confident into the tolls Of war; nor l:
it possible to imagine a state Of society
characterized by a more frightful in
security.
Such was the condition Of the coun'
try to which my tale now makes /
necessary to introduce my reader
Buffers instructions required that III
should report himself to Genera
Gates, and, unless detained for NOR
pressing duty, to proceed with all tn
circumspection which the enterpris
might require, to Colonel Clarke, who
1t was known, was at that time In th
upland country of South Carolina
raising troops to act against August;
and other British posts. He accord
ingly arrived at headquarters, on tn
borders Of the two Carolinas in abou
week after leaving the Dove Cote
The army of the brave and unfortu
nate De Kalb, which had been origi
nally destined for the relief Of Char
lesion. had been increased, by rein
forcements Of militia from Virginia AM
the adjoining states, to double tn
computed strength of the British
forces; and Gates, on taking commant
OF It, was filled with the most loft.
presentiments Of victory. Vainglor
ious and unadvisable, he Is said to hav
pushed forward with an indiscree
haste. and to have thrown himself int
difficulties which a wiser man woul'
have avoided. He professed himself t
stand in no need of recruits to hi
anu bullSI, alNSi eAi
delay of q few days. was left at libert
to pursue his original scheme.
The widespread disaffection of tn
region through which our adventurer
were about to pass. inculcated tn
necessity of the utmost vigilance t
avoid molestation from the numerou
! parties that were abroad Fastening t
the seat of war. Under the almost en-
tire guidance, of Robinson, who wa
familiar with every path in this neigh
borhood Buffers plan was to temper
lie with whatever difficulties Nigh
beset his way. and to rely upon hi
own and his comrades address 70
escape.
The sergeants first object was t
conduct his superior to his own dwell
ing, which was situated on the Cataw
ba. a short distance above the Wax
haws. This was safely accomplishe
on the second day after they had LEI
Gates. A short delay at this place en-
ab!ed Butler to exchange the dress h
had hitherto worn, for one of NOR
hOmely and rustic character, a meas
ure deemed necessary to facilitate hi
passage through the country. Wit
these precautions he and the trust