Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-24
S0UFa GIRO 0ktAA M
Fag REpOkvYtO&
How the Spirit of Liberty Was Kept Alive By an
UncOnquerable People.


Il
them were loyalists, and they became
panic stricken at the first fire. With
| out making the least resistance, they
made a dash for their camp. They
were met by Davies cavalry and cut
to pieces.
| Almost In a moment and totally
unexpected they were surrounded by
Davies men. There was no time to
take prisoners, for the whole affair
took place in full view of the British
camp. Having secured sixty-four
horses and one hundred muskets,
and leaving most of the British de-
tachment dead on the ground, Davie,
without the loss Of single man SET
out at full speed for his camp.
There were few more brilliant ex-
ploits than this performed during
was called out to pursue Davie, but
1t proved vain, as he reached his
camp in safety.
1t would be doing an injustice to
the memory Of Major Davie, not to
mention another attack which he
had made upon the British in the
same region. About five miles from
Hanging Rock. is a place called the
Flat Rock. 1t takes its name from
fiat rock which covers nearly
twenty acres Of ground. A space
covering four acres Is naked, nearly
fiat, with pits few inches In depth
sunk in the surface. These pits are
said to have been dug at an early
period by the Indians for the pur-
pose of holding water. Whilst Ma
jor Davie was securing the country
between Waxhaw creek and Hanging
Rock, he learned that a wagon train
loaded with supplies for the garrison
at Hanging Rock, was passing be-
tween the latter place and Camden
The supplies consisted Of rum, pro-
visions and clothing. The guard con-
sisted of an escort Of cavalry and
volunteer loyalists. Davie deter
mined to attack this supply train
On the twentieth Of July. at Flat
Rock, he came up with 1t and cap
tured the whole party. After secur-
ing the prisoners and destroying the
wagons and rum and provisions, he
mounted the prisoners on the cap
tured horses and set out at dark fol-
his camp. Captain Petit, with the
i 1r,tdo, ond q dataobpoapT NJ naualrv
led the advance, William Polk, with
a detachment Of cavalry, took charge
of the prisoners. His place was In
the centre. The rear guard was un-
der the command Of Davie himself
Thus far the whole affair had been
complete success. About midnight
just as the rear guard had entered q
long lane, the van discovered some
British concealed behind the lane
| fence. in a corn field. Major Davie
had calculated that he would be pur-
sued by the British and an attempt
made to rescue the prisoners. He
regarded this lane as a favorable To-
cality for such an enterprise, and
had strictly charged Capt Petit &c
advance into the lane and examine
it before the main body came up
This from some oversight Pet'
failed to do. So soon as the British
were discovered they were chal'
lenged, but gave no answer Or
being challenged a second time
| m
arms. The whole Whig force was ir
the lane The fire of the enemy
commenced on the right and extended
In a running fire. down to the rear
Davie, who perceived at once, the
| condition Of things, rushed to the
front and endeavored to push the
men through the lane as quickly az
possible; but the advance party, un'
der Petit, not knowing that the en-
emy were in their rear, turned back
| and could not be induced to advance
This caused the whole force to pass
the ambushed enemy again. All tina,
Davie could do was to retreat until
he got out of the enemy's fire, and
| then file off and pass their patrols
This he did very successfully, under
the circumstances. The loss Of the
Wings was not great. The fire OF
the ambushed forces was, through
mistake, directed against the British
prisoners. These being mounted
two on a single horse, suffered fear
fully. Lieutenant Elliott was killed
and Capt. Petit and two men wound
ed. Davie and his party reached
their camp next morning without
any other loss.
After the fighting at Hanging
Rock, the forces under Sumter and
Davie were not discouraged. On the
contrary, although no decisive victo-
ry had been gained at either place
both men and officers were anxious
to meet the British and loyalists
again. On consultation 1t was deter
mined that the respective forces, un-
| der Sumter and Davie should meet a,
Landsford on the Catawba on the
| fifth Of August The Mecklenbure
militia, under Col. Irwin and Major
Davies corps, with some volunteers
all amounting to five hundred, In
cluding officers and men, met accord
| ing to arrangement, Colonels Sum-
ter Lacey and Hill, at Landsford with
three hundred men. Here a consul
| tation was held, with reference to
what British post would be next at
| tackled. The consultation was very
unmilitary in one particular. Usual
ly only the officers consult when and
how the enemy shall be attacked;
but in this consultation the mer
claimed all the importance that usu-
ally attaches only to the officers
Both officers and men concluded
that, all things considered, Hanging
Rock presented the most favorable
point for an attack by a force such
as was then assembled. No doub
the facts pertaining to Hanging Roci
post were better understood by Davie
than any other officer present. He
and his corps had been in its vicinity
often and on two occasions to th'
great detriment of the loyalists.
The post at Hanging Rock was gar
risonad hv Col Rryan's North Caro-