Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-15


teenth of February crossed Broad riv-
er in what is now Oglethorpe county
Georgia. Pickens, Clark and Dooly
were in his wake, but he seemed to have
been ignorant of the fact. The Amer
lean force numbered only three hun
dred On the 14th of February, Boyd
glad that he was out of reach, as he
thought, of the troublesome Wings
halted on Kettle Creek. The horses
were turned out to Craze, and num-
Der of the fine beeves which he and
his men had stolen, were driven up
and slaughtered. The men were bus
lily engaged in preparing a bountiful
meal. In this condition the Wings fell
upon them. Pickens commanded the
centre, Dooly the right wing and Clark
the left wing. On the approach of the
Wings, Boyd's pickets fired and fled to
the camp. In a moment all was In
great state of confusion. Boyd and
his men began to retreat, or rather to
run in disorder The battle lasted
about two hours. Boyd was mortally
wounded, and seventy-five Of his fol-
lowers lay dead on the ground, and
about the same number were taken
prisoners. The rest fled in every di-
rection. The Americans lost, in killed
and wounded, thirty-two. The Tory
prisoners were taken to South Carolina,
and there tried for high treason and
condemned: but only five, who were
regarded as the most desperate of the
gang, were executed. This was the
beginning of a series Of evils which
ended in the total ruin of the Tories
and their cause. 1t made them timid.
They saw that there were men who
would dare to fight and capture them.
and then condemn and hang them for
high treason, Notwithstanding the
presence of the British troops in the
state.
Things began now to assume a diff
ferent aspect. The Tories were dis
spirited and the Wings were encourag-
ed. From the beginning of the Rev
olutionary war there was no concert
among the Tories in action, and no
ability to endure reverses. The con-
trary was true respecting the Wings.
1t was the intention Of the British
when Colonel Campbell was first sent
to Savannah, to proceed northward in
the conquest of the country. 1t was
known that so soon as 1t was thought
practicable, the state of South Carolina
would be invaded. General Lincoln had
been placed in command of the South
ern army. His headquarters were at
Purysburg.
Troops had been collecting in the
region of South Carolina, near Angus
to- Generals Ashe and Rutherford
were in South Carolina at this time.
The former was with Lincoln at Purys-
burg with fifteen hundred men, and
the latter was stationed at Black
Swamp, a few miles above Ebenezer
Creek. Rutherford was in command
of seven hundred men. General Will
hanson was encamped with about
twelve hundred men, on the South
Carolina side of the Savannah, nearly
opposite Augusta. Lincoln was anx-
ious to strike the enemy whilst his
troops were fired with zeal, on account
of his discontinue of the Tories under
Boyd. To effect this design, he order
ed General Ashe, with his North Caro-
lima militia and what troops remained
of the Georgia Continentals, to march
from Purysburg and reinforce General
Williamson. 1t so happened that Gen.
eral Ashe arrived at General William
sons camp on the evening Of the 18th
| of February. The battle of Kettle
Creek took place the next day. The
arrival Of Ashe and the news Of the de-
feat of Boyd, induced Colonel Camp
bell to break up his camp at Augusta
He was evidently alarmed. The evil
dence of this was the fact that he left
large amount Of his provisions, am
munition and some of his arms. Abou,
and it seemed as if it was his inten-
ton to make a stand. This, however
he did not do, but continued his march
to Savannah.
On the 10th of February, General
Lincoln sent an order to General Ashe
to pursue Colonel Campbell as far as
Brier Creek. On the 25th, General
Ashe crossed the river, and two days
D,.;n 10
that Colonel Campbell had destroyed
the bridge over this stream. General
Rutherford was encamped about five
miles above, on the opposite side ot
the Savannah. Colonel Marbury, with
few Georgia cavalry, was posted a
few miles up Brier Creek. Ashes
forces amounted to less than two
thousand men. Having given direction
crossed the Savannah river, for the
purpose of consulting General Lin
coin. On the 5th of march he return
ed and was disappointed to find the
bridge over Brier Creek not repaired
Hands were set to work with all pos
sible speed, but it was too late.
A despatch from General Williamson
announced the fact that General Pre-
vost had crossed Brier Creek and had
already gained the rear Of Genera
Ashe. Provost had made a circuitous
route. and, unobserved. gained his OBJ
ject In a deplorably unprepared con-
dition, the American forces were at
tackled and routed. The North Caro-
| lima troops fled at the first fire. The
whole army soon became panic struck
and fled in every direction. Some
rushed to the Savannah river, oveI
which some swan, others crossed or
RATS, and many were drowned. The
gallant General Elbert and many of his
men were taken prisoners. The Brit
ish lost only sixteen men. Nearly all
the artillery, provision, ammunition
and baggage of the Americans, to-
gether with five hundred stand of arms
fell into the hands of the British, OF
were lost.
The real loss to the cause of the
Americans cannot be estimated. Both
Carolinas were now opened up to the
inroads of Indians from the west and
Indians and Tories from Florida. In