Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-27
NO. 60.

Gates learned that the British army
was in his front, ready to give him
battle he called his general officers to-
gether. 1t was now evident to all thai
Gen. Gates had made a miscalculation
He thought his great name would
frightened the British. When the Of
ficers assembled, profound silence pre-
vailed. No one dared, for long time
to make even a suggestion, knowing
thar in all probability General Gates
would do his own way, in any event
Gen. Stevens Of Virginia, at last dar-
ed to break the silence by remarkine
that at was now too late to retreat" !"
Gen. Gates conscious, no doubt that
he had committed a huge blunder in
leaving Rugeley's Mill 80 precipitare-
ly, replied: Then we must fight!
Gentlemen, please take your posts
AS day began to dawn, the two mill
itary commanders began to arrange
their forces for the conflict. The
British general placed the twenty
third and thirty-third regiments in
the front line Of the army on the
right. This advance was commanded
by Lieutenant Colonel Webster. his
right rested on the swamp and his
left extended to the road. The left
front division, composed Of Hamil-
toms and Bryan's loyalists, some Irish
volunteers and a legion Of infantry
was commanded by Lord Rawdon.
The left flank Of Rawdon' rested upon
a swamp. The artillery was placed
near the road. The cavalry were or
dered, on account of the thickness of
the wood to remain In column, and
be ready when an opportunity pre-
sented itself, to dash in upon the
Americans. The British force In
cluding officers and men numbered
two thousand and two hundred.
Immediately after 1t was determin-
ed on the part Of the American gen.
eral to fight, he made the following
disposition of his forces: The right
wing, composed of three regiments of
the Maryland line, was commanded
by General Gist. The Virginia militia
commanded by Gen. Stevens with
some light infantry and Porterfield's
corps formed the left wing. The
North Carolina militia commanded
by Gen. Caswell. formed the centre.
Col. Armand supported the left wing
with his cavalry. The artillery was
placed mainly on the left Of the right
wing near the road. The exact num-
ber of men under the command Of
Gates, II Is perhaps impossible to as
certain with certainty. The British
authorities say that he had two thou
sand continentals and four thousand
militia and state troops. This no
doubt was the number on his muster
roll; but there must have been at least
two thousand absent.
When the light of day approached.
Gen. Gates found some fault with the
position held by Generals Casweli and
Stevens. This he attempted to remedy
by making a change in their positions.
The British officers perceived this and
reported 1t to CORVALLIS. No sooner
did CORVALLIS learn this fact than
he ordered Webster and Rawdon to
make the attack at once. The fight
became general In a few moments, all
along the line. At the first onset the
American artillery opened on the ad-
vancing columns of the British. Col.
Williams and Gen. Stevens pressed up
on the British right. Col Webster see
ing this, brought his force to bear upon
williams and Stevens and soon the
Virginia militia gave way, and fed
in confusion. The North Carolina
militia soon became panic struck on
seeing the Virginians fee any they
fed too. The right Of the Americans
was gallantly defended by Gist and
DeKalb.
The Continental troops and Dixon's
regiment Of North Carolina militia
were left alone to meet the foe. The
Maryland and Delaware troops tough,
with desperate courage. Notwith-
standing the fact that the British were
now flushed with victory and pressed
forward with that impulse, the troops
under DeKalb and Gist stood firm
Colonels Howard and Williams charg.
ed the enemy and broke their line.
The result of the battle was uncer-
tain, Tarleton and Webster had beer
ordered to pursue the fuGtives and
drive them from the field. DeKalt
ignorant Of the real state Of things
in order to follow up the advantage
gained by williams and Howard made
a vigorous charge with his whole
force. CORVALLIS seeing the condition
of affairs, ordered his whole force to
concentrate against DeKalb and Gist
Webster gained their flank and the
brave DeKalb fell, pierced with eleven
balls. He was ignorant to this mo.
ment Of the confusion of the Ameri-
can army. In wild confusion the mil
itia fled, casting from them everything
that would in the least impede their
progress. Gen. Gates followed the
militia as far as Rugeley's Mill vainly
attempting to stop them. He then
hastened to Charlotte.
CORVALLIS gained a complete vic.
tory. The British lost In killed
wounded and missing, including off,
GERS, three hundred and twenty-four
The loss of the Americans was sew
enty-five officers and two thousand
men in killed, wounded and prisoners
eight pieces of cannon and all their
stores. The road from Camden 70
Charlotte was strewed with guns and
military trappings. Gates had ex-
changed his northern laurels for
southern willows.
DIPLoMATIc.-"Mr. Gidsmore." be-
gan the young man. when you pro-