Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-31
s0vFtt eaR0htaA IN
FHE REq0A OFtOR
How the Spirit of Liberty Was Kept Alive By an
UncOnQuerable People.
From the Yorkville Enquirer Of 1875.
INSTALLMENT XVII.
Marion and His Men.


INsTALLMENT XVII.
Marion and His Men.
When on the twenty fifth of July
1880, General Gates joined the army
under DeKalb. on Deep river and took
command of the forces sent by congress
to assist the south, Francis Marion
was in camp. For a short time he
had been enjoying the hospitality OF
DeKalb. and profiting by the conversa-
tions of that brave man and expe-
rienced soldier. Marion had with him
about twenty followers; some men and
some boys; some white and some
black. The dress of all was most un-
slightly. Their coats were nearly worn
out and the men themselves were
weather beaten. All-Marion as well
as the rest-wore little home made
leather cap, which made them look
most ludicrous. When they rode into
DeKalb's camp, the Continental SOL
diers raised shout. The ragged gar
ments, little leather cap and unprom-
ising appearance of the men filled the
camp with merriment.
When Gates took command OF the
army, Marion was introduced to him.
but that proud officer seems to have
discovered nothing in Marion worthy
of his notice. Governor Rutledge OF
South Carolina was also in Gates camp
and recommended Marion, but Gates
was above being advised either with
respect to men or measures. To get
rid of Marion and his ragged men,
Gates sent them, after commencing his
march to the rear Of CORVALLIS, to
burn the boats on the Santee Tne
diversion which Marion and his men
caused was becoming troublesome to
the officers and Marion and his men,
although they loved their country, stili
were glad to be separated from COM
panions, who made no other use OF
them than to make sport Of them. AS
an Offset to this disagreeable state OF
things by which Marion and his few
men were surrounded, he received an
invitation from the Wings Of Williams
burg county to come and assist them
in repelling the inroads Of the enemy.
The. inhabitants of the region border
ing on Kingstree knew more about
Marion than General Gates did and
they were anxious that he should be
their leader. Gates and his army
were on the march in the direction OF
Camden, when Marion received this
Governor Rutledge of South
Carolina was with the army Of Gates.
So soon as. Rutledge heard Of the re-
quest sent up by the Wings of Will
he commissioned Marion as
a brigadier general.
Let us go back and inquire what II
was that prompted these men to send
for Marion. In 1882 the year that
Marion was born, the region Of country
that now bears the name Of Williams
burg, was settled by a colony Of Scotch
Irish. These people left their native
land that they might get rid Of the
onerous burdens laid upon them by the
unrighteous exactions Of cruel land
lords and the proud and dictatorial cler-
gy of the established church. The HUI
guenots, to which race Marion belong
ed, were driven to America by the cruel
and relentless prosecutors, who lived In
the days of Louis the Fourteenth. we
may readily conclude that the Hugue-
not settlers on the Santee, sympathiZ-
ed with the Scotch-Irish settlers on
Black river. They lived in harmony as
neighbors and together they rushed to
the front in 1776. to drive the British
from the state. Side by side they had
fought the wild Indians; side by side
they had fought under Moultrie in Fort
Sullivan and at Savannah; and with
General Lincoln, many of both the HUI
guenots and Scotch-Irish, surrendered.
The reason why the people Of Williams
burg invited Francis Marion to take
command of them, was they knew him
and had confidence in him, both as
soldier and a patriot. That which
prompted them to organize at this pc
riod was this:
When Charleston was surrendered
many Of the Williamsburg militia
were made prisoners. These prison
ers were paroled and permitted to
return to their homes. Maj. John
James, the son of William James, one
Of the first settlers of the township
had been sent back by Governor Rut-
ledge from Charleston to Williams
burg, to train the militia. When
Gen. Lincoln surrendered, Maj. John
James was at his home in the neigh
borhood Of Indiantown church. Mai
James and all those citizens Of Will
liamsburg who were not in Charles
ton at the time Of the surrender,
were, by a proclamation issued by
the British commander, required to
take up arms in the support OF the
English government. This was sim
ply requiring them to turn out and
fight their countrymen. This procla-
nation thoroughly aroused the set
tiers in the vicinity Of Kingtree and
Indiantowh church.
At that time a British officer by
the name of Ardesoif was in COM
mand of Georgetown. The people
of Williamsburg township met and
appointed Maj. John James to visit
Ardesoif and learn from him what
was the true import Of this roya
proclamation. James ever ready to
serve his country, mounted his horse
and rode down to Georgetown. Sus-
pecting that the interview between
himself and Ardesoif might not be OF
the most pleasant character, ne
took the precaution to hitch his horse
near the door. On entering the Of
flee of the British commander, he In
true Irish style announced MS
business and asked in a manly tone
of voice on what terms he and others
similarly situated with himself must
submit. Ardesoif haughtily replied
"On no other terms than uncondi-
tional surrender" But" remarked
Mai. James, "will we not be allowed
to remain at home in peace and
quiet?" NO" replied Ardesoif, you
have rebelled against your king and