Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-12-04
CHAPTER ".

thy counsel we'll,
And fear not. We shall mate with
them in time
And spoil them who would strike US
And confidently strong-have arms
Good fellows in the wood. that will
not fly
When blows are to be borne"
By a short path the stranger and his
companion moved from the bridge to
the place Of gathering. 1t was not lone
before they found themselves in the
thick Of the crowd. upon the green out
in front Of the church, from the portals
of which the heavy roar Of the drum
commanded due attention from the
populace. The proclamation which the
commander Of the garrison at Dor
chester now proceeded to read to the
multitude. was Of small importance
It's contents were we'll calculated
to astound and terrify the Car
olinians who heard 1t. It was one OF
the many movements Of the British
commander, unfortunately for the cause
of royalty in that region, which, more
than anything besides, contributed to
arouse and irritate that spirit OF re-
sistance on the part Of the invaded
people, which 1t should have been the
studious policy of the invaders to mol
lify and suppress. The document In
question had been just issued by Sir
Henry Clinton, declaring all paroles or
projections granted hitherto to be null
and void. and requiring the holders OF
them. within twenty days. to resume
the character of British subjects--tak-
ing up arms In the promotion Of his
majestys cause against their brethren,
under pain Of being treated as rebels
to his government.
The motive If Sir Henry for move
ment so exceedingly injudicious, may
be only conjectured from the concur
rent circumstances Of the time. The
Continental army. under De Kalb, was
on its way to the south-Gates had
been ordered to command it-and this
intelligence, though not generally
known to the people Of Carolina could
not long be withheld from their pos
session. 1t was necessary to keep
them from any cooperation with their
approaching friends, and no more ef-
fectual mode, simply considered by it
self. could have been suggested to the
mind Of the Briton than their employ
ment under his own banners. This
apart, the invasion Of the adjoining
states Of Virginia and North Carolina
had been long since determined upon.
and was now to be attempted. Troops
were wanted for this purpose, and no
policy seemed better than to expend one
set Of rebels upon another. 1t was also
necessary to secure the conquered
province: and the terrors Of the hang
man were providently held out, in or
der to impel the conquered to the MI
nor risk of the bayonet and shot.
The error was a fatal one. From that
hour the declension Of British power
was precipitately hurried in Carolina
the peoples loss OF confidence in those
who had already 50 grossly deceived
them. as the condition Of the protection
or parole called for no military service
from the citizen who took II. He was
simply to be neutral in the contest;
and. however unworthy may have been
the spirit consenting even to this con-
dition. 1t cannot be denied that foul
deception had been practiced upon
them. The consequences were inevita-
BILE; and the determined hostility Of the
foe was coupled, on the part Of the
Carolinians. with a wholesale scorn
of the want of probity manifested by
the enemy they were now not so un-
willing to encounter.
From the church porch the procla-
nation was again read to the assem-
bled multitude. The crowd was va
riously composed, and various indeed
was the effect which 1t produced among
them. The stranger and his compan-
ion, at q little distance, listened closely
to the words Of the instrument: and
q smile Of Joy not unmarked by Davis,
played over the features Of the former
as he heard it read. The latter looked
his Indignation; he could not under
stand why such a paper should give
pleasure to his comrade, and could not
forbear, in whisper, demanding the
occasion Of his satisfaction.
1T pleases you, stranger? I see you
smile!"
1T does please me-much, very
much" responded the other quickly
and with emphasis, but in a whisper
also.
What" with more earnestness, saie
the countryman-"What. does 1t please
you to listen to such villainy as this;
do not understand you"
Not so loud, comrade; you have
neck, and these fellows a rope: besides
there's one to the left of us whose look:
like not"
The other turned in the direction sig
nifed, and saw the propriety Of HI:
companions caution, as he beheld with
in a few feet the harsh features OF the
notorious Captain Huck, furiou!
and bloody Tory leader, we'll known
and held In odious estimation, through
out the neighborhood. The stranger
went on. still Whispering
Look pleased, friend Davis. If yol
can; this Is no time. to show any ou
false colors to the enemy. I am pleas
ed, really, as you think. and have m!
reason for being so, which you shal
know in good time. Take breath ant
listen"
The paper was finished. and the de-
tachment moved on its way to TIT
Royal George Tavern" the crowt
generally following; and there 1t wal
again read. Our two friends kept to-
gether, and proceeded with the multi
tude. The stranger was eminentl!
watchful and observant; he noted wei
the sentiment of Indignation which al
faces manifested; there could be n
doubt Of that expression. The sobe
farmer. the thoughtless and gay-heart
ed planter Of the neighborhood, tn