Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-04-20

John Ramsay, after the departure of
stead of rejoining his regiment, return
ed to the Fair Forest camp, where he
remained with Williams until the an
swer from CORVALLIS was received.
The tidings of this answer he under
took to convey to Butler, and he again
set out for his fathers house. John
felt himself now regularly enlisted In
the service Of the prisoner, and hav-
ling found means to communicate his
present employment to General Sump-
ter, he obtained permission to remain
in it as long as his assistance was of
value. The service itself was q CRATE
full one to the young trooper; 1t accord
ed with the generosity of his character
and gratified his personal pride by the
Itrustworthiness which 1t implied; but
more than this, 1t brought him into OPP
portunities of frequent meeting with
Mary Musgrove, who, passio9ately be-
loved by the soldier, was not less ar
dent than he in her efforts to promote
| the interest Oh
The state of the country did not al
low John to be seen in daytime, and
he and Mary had consequently ap-
pointed a place of meeting, where In
the shades of night they might COM
mune together on the important sub
jects OF their secret conspiracy. Night
after night they accordingly met at
this spot, and here all their schemes
were contrived. Mary sometimes came
to David Ramsay's dwelling, and the
old mans counsel was added to that
of the lovers. Christopher Shaw and
Allen Musgrove were not ignorant of
what was in contemplation, but 1t was
piece of necessary policy that they
should appear to be as little connected
with the prisoner as possible. Chris
topher, therefore, pursued his duties
| as assistant quartermaster or purvey-
or to the little garrison under Mac
donalds command, with unabated as
siduity.
The plan of Buffers escape was John
Ramsay's. He had been anxiously
lawaiting an opportunity to attempt
this enterprise for the last fortnight
but the difficulty of concerting opera
tions with the prisoner had retarded
his movements. This difficulty was at
last overcome, and, for few days
past, the plan had been arranged, All
that was left to be done was to -ap-
point the hour. Christopher Shaw and
Mary, alone of the miller's family, were
made acquainted with the details.
Christopher was to provide a horse
and a suitable disguise for Butler, and
these were to be ready at tuft Of
willows that grew upon the edge of
the river some quarter Of a mile above
the mill, whenever Mary should an
nounce that John was ready to act.
Ramsay's horse was to be brought to
the same spot. The preparatory sig
nails, already mentioned, were all
agreed upon and understood by the
parties. Butler was to escape to the
ROOF, and thence by the boughs Of a
large oak that grew hard by the mil
ler's dwelling. A sentinel was usually
posted some fifty PAGES from this tree,
and Il was a matter of great perpleXity
to determine how his vigilance was to
be defeated. This difficulty, John re-
solved, should be overcome by a stern
measure; the man was to be silenced,
| If necessary by a blow. John RAM
say was to steal upon him in the dark,
and if signs of alarm were given, he
was to master the sentinel In such a
manner as the occasion might require,
being furnished by Butler with a purse
of gold, if such a form of influence
might be necessary.
Such is the outline of the plan by
which Buffers disenthralment was to
be attempted.
Mary Musgrove, before she retired
| to her chamber sought Christopher
Shaw and made him acquainted with
the appointment of the hour, and then
left him to manage his own share of
the enterprise. 1t was near ten at
night and Christopher, who had
charge of Allen Musgrove's stable, in
order to avoid the suspicion of being
seen stirring at a late hour, immedi-
ately set off to saddle the horse.
One of the wagon team, well known
in the family by the name of Wall
Eye. was selected for this service,
and being speedily accoutred, was
| conducted to the willows, where he
was tied fast to a tree, and remained
until the hour of need. The young
miller soon returned, and 1t was not
long afterwards that the household
and it's military companies were
wrapped in the silence of unsuspect-
ing repOse.
Butler, at the hour Of the custom
ary visit of the watch had gone to-
bed: and feigning sickness, had been
allowed to burn a light in his room
| during the night. His chamber door.
also. by special favor, was closed; and
| the night advanced without suspicion
or distrust from any quarter. At two
o'clock the last sentinels were reiev-
ed. and the form had been gore
Through of inspecting the prisoners
chamber. To all outward show, But
Ter was asleep; the door was again
shut, and all was still The time for
action now arrived. Butler rose ST.
lently from his bed, dressed himself,
and putting his shoes into his pock-
cts stole i'm his stockinged feet to the
little gable window at the further end
of his apartment. Here he remained,
gazing out upon the night with fixed
attention. The moon had set, and the
sky was overcast with clouds, adding
a fortunate obscurity to the natural
darkness of the hour. By still great
er good luck after few moments the
wind began to rise and rain descend.
Everything seemed to favor the enter
prise. The shadowy form Of the sem
tinel, who was stationed on this side
of the house. was dimly discerned by
Butler through the gloom; and it was
with joyful satisfaction that he could
perceive the soldier as the rain fell In