Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-09-18
From the Yorkville Enquirer of 1876
INSTALLMENT XXXH.
Moruan's Retreat.

/
Moraan's Retreat.
The most celebrated retreat on rec
ord is that of the ten thousand Greeks
who had espoused the cause Of Cy-
rus, the younger, in his expedition
lagainst his brother Artaxerxes. After
the death Of Cyrus, these ten thousand
Greeks cut their way through an
enemys country and returned to their
native land. So wonderful was this
retreat that It is historically designat-
ed as the Retreat of the ten thou
sand"
Great as was the bravery and skill
Exhibited by the Greeks, the retreat OF
General Morgan from the Cowpens and
the subsequent retreat Of General
Greene through North Carolina and
over the Dan, into Virginia is no less
remarkable. Since 'it is distance that
lends enchantment to the view" we
have no doubt but some day, In the fu-
ture history Of the world, the Morgan
and Greene's retreat will eclipse that
Of Xenophon.
! The battle of Cowpens was fought,
as already stated, on the 18th Of jan
uary, 1881. The conflict began about
8 o'clock in the morning. That same
evening, Earl CORVALLIS was informed
Of Tarletons defeat. On the day af-
ter the battle Of the Cowpens, General
Leslie formed junction with Earl
Cornwallis in York county, on the
plantation Of John Hillhouse, now own
ed in part by Samuel c. Youngblood.
The British camp was in front Of the
residence of Mr.. Youngblood. Colonel
Tarleton encamped on Broad river near
Hamilton's ford. Tradition says that
several Of his soldiers who had been
wounded at the Cowpens died at Ham
ilton's ford and were buried on land
now belonging to Junius w. Thomp-
son. Not many years since, it is re-
lated that those cultivating these lands
exhumed human bones which In all
probability were the remains Of some
soldiers who died from wounds infict-
ed by Morgan's men.
Long after the war was over and
prosperity has effaced the devastation
caused by the British army in its prog
ress through the country, a pair OF
silver sleeve buttons, upon which were
engraved the initials Of British Of
ficer's name, were found near Samuel
IC. Youngblood's. These relics Of the
/ Al. H4riA
the possession of some one in Chester.
To the mind that is fond of revelling
/ in the past, these things possess an in
terest, which can be better felt than de-
scribed. A strange and indescrIbable
feeling pervades the soul when we
stand upon the ground where once
camped British army. Every move
ment made either by the army OF the
patriots or by their enemies is full of
interest.
| On the afternoon of the memorable
day on which Morgan defeated Tar
Teton at the Cowpens, Morgan set out
to cross Broad river. A small detach-
ment was left under the command of
Colonel Pickens to bury the dead OF
both armies and make provisions for
the comfort of the wounded. On the
evening after the battle, Morgan cross
ed Broad river above the South Caro-
lima line, and by forced marches, on
route leading him over the spot where
Kings Mountain station, on the Air
Line Railroad Is now located, he passed
through the lower edge Of Cleveland
and CASTOR counties and crossed the
Catawba at the Island ford. Here
through couriers, an arrangement had
been made between General Greene
and General Morgan for a conference.
Morgan crossed the Catawba on the
29th of January. His march had been
slow, on account Of the number OF
prisoners and baggage captured from
the British at the Cowpens.
So soon as Earl CORVALLIS heard of
Tarleton's defeat, with a heavy heart
he began to make arrangements for
his advance into North Carolina. Dur
ing his stay at Winnsboro and on
his march from Winnsboro to Turkey
creek, he had collected a large num-
ber of horses. These were gathered
up by the Tories, who were generally
experts in horse stealing. An organ
lied band of these depredators infested
the country. Their headquarters was
on the western side of Broad river, In
the present county Of Newberry.
On the night after the battle Of the
lCowpens, General Leslie encamped on
Sandy river, in Chester county. The
: next day Leslie marched his forces In
: the camp of CORVALLIS. 1t had al
ready been determined by Cornwallis
to push forward and II possible prevent
, Morgan from crossing the Catawba
Arrangements were made to mount the
; soldiers and convert the whole British
: forces under his command into light
| infantry. 1t was the dead Of winter
and the roads where there were any
!. were in a wretched condition. The
!. country over which they had to pass
! was broken and roads had to be cut
The country was sparsely settled ano
consequently provisions scarce. Corn
wallis whilst encamped at Hillhouse's
, (now Youngblood's) began to grow dis
heartened and when hr heald OF Tar
, leton's defeat at the Cnwrens MS
hopes of subduing the country almost
: failed He met with few friends
amongst the inhabitants e1d the Wings
would prowl around his camp, shoo'
his sentinels and like Arabs drsh into
the very midst of his camp and plum
= der his quarters
: The house in which Cornwallis hac
his headquarters stood east of the
road, opposite the residence Of Samue
3 C. Youngblood. Ca ono occasion
: courier rode into the camp and tiec
4 his horse to the cheek of the door, II
/ which were CORVALLIS and his aids
The redoubtable Jack McLain seizine
8 the opportunity, rushed up. united th'
/ horse and mounting him rode out o.
!. the British camp unhurt.
\ The 18th Of January, 1881, was
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