Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-21


sent out.
When Shelby and Sewer Joined Nc
Dowell at the Cherokee ford, in July
1880, Col. Clarke was with Mcdowell
Some twenty miles from McDowell's
camp, at Cherokee ford. Gen. Andrew
Williamson had during the Cherokee
war built a fort on the waters Of Pac-
olet river. From all accounts, this
fort was advantageously situated and
strongly built. 1t was surrounded by
a strong abattis and could be entered
only by small gate.
When Lord CORVALLIS sent his
emissaries into North Carolina to
warn the loyalists to be ready for &C
tion on his arrival, certain Patrick
Moore, Of what is now Lincoln county
North Carolina, greatly interested him
self in behalf of the British govern
ment. When CORVALLIS reached Cam
den, Patrick Moore, thinking that the
rived, raised the royal standard. Null
titudes of disaffected Americans in his
fiocked to his standard,
He invited all the loyalists in the re-
gion of country between the Catawba
river and the mountains to join them.
With bright anticipations this Patrick
Moore and his followers set out for the
fort on Pacolet On his march from
Lincoln county to the fort, Moore met
with no interruption. Here he thought
no doubt, he was safe and in favor
able situation to render acceptable
service to George the Third.
Col. Mcdowell determined that Pat
rick Moore should not remain in this
So soon as he was Joined
by Shelby and Sewer, he detached
these two officers and Col. Clarke with
six hundred men, according to the
American account; but according to the
British with two or three hundred
banditti without cannon" The British
account we are disposed to think is
correct, except that they were not
"banditti" They were gentlemen then
and afterwards through life, but the
inveterate haters Of tyrants. At sunset,
Shelby, Clarke and Sewer set out, with
the detachment under them for Patrick
Moore's headquarters. AS day began
to dawn on the next morning, they had
the fort surrounded. Shelby who was
first in command sent William Coke
to demand a surrender of the fort.
Moore replied that he would defend
the fort to the last extremity. The
lines Of the assailants were drawn in
to within musket shot and preparation
made for an immediate attack. To
save the effusion of blood, Moore was
again summoned to surrender. To
this he replied he would surrender on
the condition that the garrison be pa
rolled not to serve again during the
war. This was granted. Ninety-three
loyalists and one British sergeant were
paroled In the fort was found two
hundred and fifty stand of arms, all
heavily loaded. 1t was clear that Pa
trick Moore was neither a good officer
nor a brave man. The British charg-
ed Moore with cowardice. Both the
men and officers were anxious to de-
fend the fort, but Moore after agree
ing to defend it, went out and brought
in the American officers and put them
in possession of the gate.
About the time that Patrick Moore
Major Patrick Feorguson
arrived in the Ninety-Six district. His
consisted of one hundred
choice regulars. The loyalists to the
number of more than a thousand soon
Joined him. His camp soon became
the rendezvous of all the desperadoes
Of the region. His name attracted
swarms of Tories Although his COM
mand at first consisted of only one
hundred British regulars, he soon
found himself at the head Of an army
Of more than two thousand men. The
greater part of these were natives, but
they were decidedly better soldiers
than his regulars. Ferguson was or
dered to take possession Of all the
strong places in the district, enroll and
discipline the militia and in one word,
do everything in his power to strength
en- the royal cause and crush the spir-
it's of the Wings. To effect this object,
public meetings were called and the
men and officers of Gibbs, Plummer's,
Cunninghams. Clairy's, Kings and
ed resolutions that every loyalist
must be ready at a moments warning,
to rush to the contest. Those who
Jagged behind were to be regarded as
the common enemies of the loyal cause,
and were threatened with the confisca-
tion of their property. Those who
failed to join their regiments prompt
ly when called upon, were ordered to
army. Everything appeared bright on
the side of the British. The Wings
were silent from prudence and the
Tories and loyalists were as much
elated as if they had not foe in the
land. The rapidity with which Fergu-
sons army was increased, the zeal OF
the loyalists and Tories in the coun-
tries, together with the acknowledged
ability of Ferguson himself as an Off
Ger. was sufficient to dispirit the
Wings
Such however was not the case. Col
Mcdowell had his eye upon Ferguson
He knew the record of the men in his
command. Many of them had beer
warriors from their youth. They hac
met painted savages at the mouth o
the Kenhawa; they had seen the Brit
ish at Brier Greek, Kettle Creek, Angus
Ia and Savannah. Many of them hac
been made homeless by fires kindlet
by an invading foe. With implicit
confidence in Coils. Shelby and Clarke
Colonel Mcdowell detached them. witt
about six hundred mounted ritiemer
to watch the movements of Ferguson
The instructions given these Officers
were to hang around the camp OF Fer
gusCn and cut off his foraging par
ties Ferguson was in the meantime
watching for an opportunity to cut OF
Shelby and Clarke and these men wer
no less anxious to dash in upon forag