Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-24
INsTALLMENT XIV.
Battle of Mussrove's Mill.

INSTALLMENT XIV.
Battle of Mussrove's Mill.
Soon after the battle of Cedar
Springs, a junction was formed by. Col
Bratton of York: Col. Williams OF
Laurens; Col. Shelby of Tennessee;
(then North Carolina or Virginia), Col
Clarke Of Georgia, together with Ham
mond, Mccall and Liddle Of the Nine
ty-Six brigade. Each Of these officers
had a few men who followed him and
voluntarily regarded him as their COM
mander. Shelby and Clarke had the
largest force and each of them had
only about one hundred men. The
force under Williams was the next
largest and the commands of Ham
mond, Bratton, Mccall and Liddle con-
sisted of few of their neighbors, who
were banded together for the purpose
of offense and defense. Clarke was evil
IDENTIFY the leading spirit. Not that ne
was the best officer or bravest man;
but since the fall of Georgia, he and
the men in his command had suffered
greatly and were thirsting for venge-
ance. Col Clarke's house was first
plundered and then burned, and his
family ordered to leave the state.
Many of his men had shared similar
fate. The cruel treatment which they
had received at the hands Of the VIC
torious foe, had goaded them to des-
peration. Clarke was burning with
rage and he longed for an opportunity
to chastise the enemies Of his country.
He was constantly on the lookout for
small parties of British and Tories.
The junction of these troops from
regions far distant from each other,
was formed near the headwaters OF
Broad river in Cleveland county, North
Carolina. Gen. Mcdowell, with
small force, was encamped on Broad
river near the Cherokee ford. Nc
Dowell was the highest officer in COM
mand in that region Of country and his
camp was by common consent, regard
ed as a place Of general rendezvous.
Prudence dictated to Mcdowell to
move his camp as frequently as pos
sible. His safety and the safety of
the region, demanded this.
The American forces having been
successful in the enterprises against
the Tories under Patrick Moore, and
the British and Tories under Dunlap
at Cedar Springs, determined to con-
tinue what had been so favorably be-
gun. Their intention of making an
other raid into the country then occu-
pied by the enemy, was communicated
to General Mcdowell. then in camp
near Smiths ford, on Broad river. This
officer approved of the plan and prom
ised cooperation.
In order that the movements OF the
enemy might be ascertained, two indi-
viduals were sent out to make tour
of observation through the territory
now embraced by the counties of South
Carolina, west of Broad river and north
of Hamburg. These individuals soon
discovered that party of two hundred
Tories were encamped on the Enoree
river, at Musgrove's mills. 1t was de-
termined to set out as soon as possi-
BILE and attack them. Gen. Mcdowell
was consulted and gave his hearty ap-
proval Of the projected movement.
Musgroves mills are in the north
east corner Of Laurens county on the
Enoree river. These mills have since
1880 passed through several hands and
been known by various names. At
present they are known as Yarbor-
ough's mills.
The Tories were encamped on the
south side of the Enoree. Opposite
them was rocky ford and regarded as
very bad. This gave the Tories ground
to conclude that they could not be
by an enemy from the
mountain region. On the 10th Of Au-
gust, the day that Gates was defeated
near Camden, the partisan leaders OF
the Americans were informed Of the
Tory encampment. On the afternoon
of the 18th, they set out and short
time before night crossed Broad river
at Smiths ford. Here they halted, fed
their horses and refreshed themselves.
On the night of the 10th, Col. Brat
ton with the troops under his imme-
diate command, set out to visit his
own neighborhood, intending to join
the party before they would reach the
Tory camp. Either because he found
something to do in the vicinity of his
own home or which Is more probable
because the troops under Clarke, Shell
by and Williams marched directly on
to Musgroves mills, Bratton did not
rejoin them until the battle was over
About sun down Shelby, Clarke and
Williams with their respective COM
mands, set out for the Tories on the
Enoree. The distance was about forty
miles. Gen. Mcdowell accompanied
them for a short distance and then
returned to his camp near Smiths
ford.
Between the camp of Mcdowell and
the Tory camp on the Enoree, Fergu-
son with his whole force had stationed
himself 1t was absolutely necessary
for these partisan leaders to keep clear
of Ferguson.
At sun down, on the evening Of the
18th Of August, 1880, day made MEM
orable by the surprise of the brave
Sumter at Fishing creek, the detach-
ment of about six hundred horsemen
set out through the woods to make
march of forty miles in the night. In
order to evade Ferguson they took a
road which led them by the Briton's
camp in safety. The party had good
guides by whose assistance they
reached the neighborhood of Mus
groves mills just at dawn Of day.
The party had hoped to be able to
surprise the Tories but on approach
ing the neighborhood of the camp, they
we're met by a strong patrol force Of
the enemy. A skirmish of short dura-
tiCn took place. when the enemy re-
treated across the river. Whilst the
skirmishing was going on Whig from
the neighborhood, came to Col. Shelby
and informed him that the Tories had
been strongly reinforced on the pre-