Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-01


themselves to prepare for an open anc
avowed rupture with the English gov
ernment. The city Of Charleston was
put in state of defence and the forts
which commanded the entrance to the
city were seized.
No hostile blow had as yet beer
struck in South Carolina, but evil
IDENTIFY the moment was fast fastening
Military companies were seen paradine
in every section Of the state, and al
though the people were sensible Of
their own weakness and the strength
and resources Of England; still they
determined to have their rights let II
cost what it might On the departure
of Governor Campbell, John Rutledge
was made president Of the Council OF
Safety, with the general instruction
which was on important occasion giver
to the trustworthy amongst the ole
Romans. See that the Republic suffers
no injury" was the instruction he re-
ceived and promptly did he meet the
emergency or the case.
During the year 1775 the British
government was active in making prep
arations for reducing the thirteen
colonies into subsection. Two days
before Christmas Sir Peter Parker sail
ed from Portsmouth. England. His
fleet consisted of eight armed ships
carrying in all, about three hundred
guns. Accompanying the fleet was a
large land force, designed to act In
conjunction with the fleet. Sir Peter
met with delays on the coast Of Ire
land, and the weather was bad, so that
he did not reach Cape Fear in North
Carolina until the first Of May. Al
Cape Fear the fleet met General Clin-
ton. The season was fast advancing
and the troops were becoming sick
Clinton and Parker concluded that
nothing could be effected In that re-
gion. All that they could learn res
pecting General Howe's situation, was
through the American newspapers
which was to them at least very un-
satisfactory After a months delay
at Cape Fear 1t was determined to
make an attack upon Charleston, South
Carolina. This city lay in the field OF
operation assigned to CORVALLIS and
Sir Peter Parker.
Unfortunately for the British and
fortunately for the Americans, the
whole plans of the British government
were discovered In time to give the
Americans an opportunity to prepare
to oppose them. A boat bearing dis
patches from Lord Dartmouth to Gov
ernor Eden. Of Maryland, was captur-
ed by James Barron. These dispatches
revealed the whole plans Of the enemy
Brigadier General John Armstrong
had been sent early in the year 1775 to
Charleston: and after the evacuation
of Boston, General Washington sent
out Major General Charles Lee to
watch the movements of Sir Henry
Clinton. On the 4th of June, Lee ar
rived in Charleston. On the same
day, Sir Peter Parker's fleet made its
appearance off the bar.
So soon as Major General Charles
Lee arrived in Charleston. Governor
Rutledge formally placed all the forces
under his command. An order was is
sued for the militia of the country to
hasten to the defence of the city. This
order was promptly obeyed. The forces
now at his command amounted to near
six thousand. They were disposed OF
in the following manner. The first
regiment of South Carolina regulars
were placed at Fort Johnston, on James
Island: Colonel William Moultrie was
placed in command Of the recently
constructed fort on Sullivan's Island
Col. Thomas with a body Of ritiemer
was placed on the east end of Sulli-
vans Island. General Lee with a
strong force took position on Had
drelPs Point, now Mt. Pleasant. Gov
ernor Rutledge retained the command
in the city.
The British land forces, under the
command of Clinton, were put off or
Long Island. This island Is separated
from Sullivans Island by Beach Inlet
They were told that it was possible al
some times to wade across this inlet
Clinton with his forces being landed
commenced to fortify themselves, ano
Sir Peter Parker commenced to make
preparations to cross the bar. 1t was
known that this could not be effected
by the large ships in their present
condition. The large ships were light
ened as much as possible by taking or
some of their guns, and still the cross
ing of the bar was attended with con-
siderable delay.
The arrangement of the troops wa:
made mainly by Governor Rutledge ant
the South Carolina authorities. Gen
eral Armstrong was a man of but very
moderate abilities, and Major Genera
Charles Lee was a strange man. HI
was a man of whom the most contra
dictory opinions might be formed HI
was brave but not cool; he was patri
otic but selfish. A Welchman by birth
but no land could claim him as cit
izen. He neither feared God nor re
garded man and was passionate!y fon(
of war because it enabled him to sati
ate his wicked passions. From tn
moment that he arrived in Charleston
until the hour the attack was mad
upon Fort Sullivan, he was as rest
less as a Gagged hyena. He curse'
Fort Sullivan as a mere slaughter pei
and was constantly insisting upon Gov
ernor Rutledge to withdraw the troop
from it. Rutledge wrote to Moultri
that he would sooner cut off his righ
hand than make such an order. LIE
attempted to construct a bridge o
boats. by which the troops in Fort Sui
livan might retreat; and not having
sufficient number of boats, he attempt
ed to complete the bridge with barrels
This bridge was a failure. He toll
Moultrie that a couple of British frig
ates would knock his pen about hi
ears i'm thirty minutes. Very well,
replied MOultrie, I'VE will then figh
them behind the rubbish"
Fort Sullivan was wisely regarde