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

probably very soon after Shelby AM
kee ford. The report Of Alexander wa
in substance, that Major Ferguson will
a detachment Of men variously report
ed from two to five hundred was out
in what is now Spartanburg county
on a recruiting expedition. The objec
of the British officer was to increase
the number Of his cavalry from th'
people Of the country. To effect hi
purpose many individuals who hat
been paroled and promised the priv
ilege of remaining peaceably at home
were impressed.
On receiving this information, Col
Clarke proposed to his men, all Of whom
or at least the majority Of whom, were
Georgians, that they set out at once II
search Of this recruiting party. Thi!
was on the afternoon of the 30th o.
July, 1880. Clarke's command, which
was about one hundred strong-al
mounted-readily agreed to the propo'
sition of their commander. All hand:
went to work and preparations were
soon made for the expedition. Gun:
were put in shooting order and those
that could, replenished their haver-
sacks with food. About sunset they
were joined by Hammond, Mccall ant
Lidde, each with a few men amounting
in all to about eighty. The whole
force now numbered one hundred ant
sixty eight The troops were muster.
ed and the line of march was taker
up through the woods and over more
foot paths. Nothing was heard Of the
enemy during the night. Some time
during the next day, 1t was learned
that a scouting party Of Tories was
plundering through the country, a,
some distance from the main command
under Ferguson. Their horses were
spurred on, with the hope that this
scouting Tory party might be sur
prised and cut off. The camp was
reached, but they failed to surprise the
Tories.
At a distance Of some three miles
Clarke and his men rode round the
Tory camp, taking the road leading
from Bobo's mill, in the direction OF
Berwick's iron works. At the iron
works they were joined by eighteen
recruits. At the house OF Captain Dill
lard, who was with them, they halted
and Mrs. billiard entertained the party
as we'll as she was able with potatoes
and milk. From this point 1T was con-
cluded that the party would change
their direction and cross over to the
road leading from NinetySix to Green
or Cedar Springs. Having marched
through the woods for eighteen miles
they halted at Cedar Springs. Vi
dette's were stationed, with orders to
make no noise should any discoveries
be made; but to dash into camp and
make an announcement Of their dis
coveries. The men dismounted, but
the horses were not unsaddled and
every man was ordered to keep his
bride reins in his hand.
Shortly after Clark and his men left
the house of Captain billiard, Colonel
Ferguson and Major Dunlap, with a
party of soldiers arrived. They asked
Mrs. billiard if Clarke and his men had
been at her house during the day She
replied that they had, but had been
gone for a considerable length OF
time. She was then asked to what
point they had gone. She replied that
she did not know. This as we will
shortly see, was not strictly true. Col
Ferguson ordered Mrs. Dillard to pre-
pare supper for himself and Major
Dunlap Immediately. Making a virtue
If necessity she set to work to execute
the task. Whilst preparing supper
for these two officers, 1t was necessary
that she pass frequently by the place
where they were sitting. In passing
back and forth, she heard them con-
certing measures for the immediate
pursuit of Clarke
The bacon found in the house or al
least a part of it was taken and given
to the soldiers. Supper for the off,
GERS was soon prepared. After 1t was
eaten, the plan was for Major DUNLAP
to take sixty cavalry and one hundred
and fifty mounted riflemen and pursue
Clarke BY some means the British hao
learned the plans of Clarke and the To-
cality where he and his men would
probably camp Mrs. billiard knew
that Clarke had gone in the direction
of Cedar Springs, and she heard one
the British officers inform the Others
that Cedar Springs was the point tc
which the Americans had gone. Sc
soon as Mrs. Dillard had placed the
supper on the table, she slipped out o.
the house and fastening to the stable
she bridled a colt and mounting 1t
without saddle or blanket proceeded
with all possible speed to Ceda1
Springs. Here she arrived about hal
an hour before daylight. The Vidett'
took her at once into the presence o
Col Clarke She was at once recognized
/ and proceeded 10 WARN SldIhc anu III
men of their danger She told then
them they must at once get ready t.
| fight or fly. At the same momen
hanother Whig lady, Mrs. Thomas, ap
prised the Americans of the approach
CT the British.
The command was given to mount
In a moment every man was In nj
saddle and ready to meet the advanc
ing force. Before it was light enougl
to distinguished friend from foe
Dunlap with his Tory band cam
charging into the American camp. H
received a warm reception and instea
of surprising the Americans he himsel
was surprised The contest lasted onl
for a little more than quarter or a.
hour. when the British beat retreat
The Americans followed the flying foe
for more than a mile, when Dunla
was met by Ferguson with a stron
reinforcement. The Americans re
turned to the scene of conflict, picke
I'D their wounded and retreated by tn
way of Berwick's iron works, toward