Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-31
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How the Spirit of Liberty Was Kept Alive By an
UncOnquerable People.
By REV. ROBERT LATHAM. ID. ID.

sons detachment and go at once in
pursuit of Sumter.
On the morning of the seventeenth
Of August, Col. Tarleton, with three
hundred and fifty men and one cannon
was sent by CORVALLIS in pursuit Of
Sumter, with directions to act as cir
cumstances might indicate. From
Rugeley's Mill he directed his course
through the woods towards Rocky
Mount, intending to cross the river at
that point, If all things were favorable.
On his way he picked up twenty Amer
lean soldiers, who were escaping from
the battle Of the day before. In the
afternoon, Tarleton learned that Sum-
ter was retreating up the river. At
dark he reached the ferry opposite
Rocky Mount. Sumter's camp fires
were distinctly to be seen. Tarleton
ordered the boats to be secured and
forbid any fires to be kindled by his
break the British sentinels reported
that they saw the Americans decamp-
ing. That the truth of this state
ment might be verified, Tarleton sent
a small party under command Of Capt.
Campbell, across the river. Campbell
was instructed to hold out a white
handkerchief II Sumter was actually
retreating up the river. In the mean
time Tarleton ordered his men to get
ready to cross the river.
So soon as Campbell ard his party
arrived at Rocky Mount, they took a
prisoner and learned that Sumter was
on his way toward the Nation ford.
The white handkerchief was hung out
and soon the British infantry, with
the three-pounder, were in the boats
and the cavalry were swimming across
the river. The first thing that Tarle-
ton did after crossing the river, was
to send out a squad of men to search
for Turnbull and Ferguson. Hearing
nothing Of them the men returned.
Sumter had in his command about
eight hundred men, one hundred Of
whom were Continentals. His move
ments were greatly retarded by the
spoils captured on the fifteenth at Fort
Cary. Tarleton had only three hundred
and fifty men and his men and horses
had been doing hard service for sever
al days and were in a poor condition
to execute anything brilliant. Both ar
mics moved up the Catawba river.
Sumter in perfect Ignorance. :. Of the
presence Of a foe. was retreating to-
wards Charlotte, North Carolina.
There he expected to form junction
with Davie.
Tarleton was in hot pursuit watching
for some favorable moment to dash In
upon the unsuspecting Sumter. At
12 o'clock, Tarleton crossed Fishing
creek Here he found the greater part
Of both his men and horses so exhaus-
ted by the intense heat Of the day, that
1t was necessary to select those able
to undergo farther service. One hun
dred Of the dragons and sixty infantry
were selected to continue the pursuit
The remainder Of the troops, with the
three FOUNDER were posted advantage
ously, SO that having refreshed them
selves they might be ready, in case Of
necessity to cover the retreat Of the
detachment.
The one hundred dragons and sixty
foot soldiers moved forward with great
caution. 1t was miserable force to
make an attack upon Sumter. Had he
only known that he was pursued by
such band, he could have easily an
initiated 1t in a very few moments.
For five miles after crossing Fishing
creek, Tarleton saw nothing to indi-
cate the presence of his foe, but his
freshly made tracks. Two Of Sumter's
videttes, who were concealed in the
woods, fired upon the van Of Tarleton's
cavalry and killed one of the legion.
His comrades rushed in fury upon the
two Americans and cut them to pieces
with their swords. The presence Of
these videttes indicated the nearness
of the American army. A sergeant
and four men were sent to the top OF
a hill near by. They were seen to
lie down upon their horses and motion
to Tarleton to come forward. Tarleton
spurred his jaded horse and rode to
the top of the hill.
On the opposite hill he saw the Amer
lean camp. On the east was the Ca
tawba; on the west, Fishing creek;
I'm front and near was a ravine. The
camp was on the crest Of narrow
ridge. Here Sumter had encamped on
the night after the attempt to take the
British post at Rocky Mount. 1t was
A strong position, and had Sumter on
ly known that Tarleton was In the re-
gion with only one hundred and sixty
men he would, no doubt have put an
end to that Briton's career. 1t was
ordered otherwise. Sumter was worn
out with watching and his men were
hungry and tired. Major Crawford Of
Lancaster was OTTceT OF lne udy dhu
he, rather than Sumter is to blame
for the careless manner in which the
camp was guarded.
When the videttes fired upon Tarle-
tons advance guard and killed one Of
his legion, Sumter sent out patrols to
learn the cause of firing. The patrols
returned and reported that it was only
the soldiers killing beeves. Sumter had
also sent out a squad of men to patrol
the road to Rocky Mount. These men,
tired and hungry and besides like mil
itIa generally. disobedient to orders had
returned without examining the roads
for any considerable distance.
When Tarleton discovered Sumter's
camp, the guns were stacked and ev-
erything presented a fit opportunity
for a brilliant achievement. The off,
GERS on account of the heat had taken
off their superfuous clothing. Sumter
was asleep. Some of the men were
slaughtering beeves, others were cook