Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-09-04
From the Yorkville Enquirer of 1875
INSTALLMENT xviii
Battle of Fishdam Ford.

iSh commenced to ADVANCE into NOrtI
Carolina, Colonel afterwards general)
Sumter, with the remnant Of his troops
which had escaped Tarleton at Fishing
creek on the 18th of August, was en-
camped on Clem's Branch. On the ap-
proach Of the British, Sumter found
1t necessary to move his camp. He
was not able to resist the onward
movement Of the enemy and wisdom
dictated to get out Of his way as soor
as possible.
Before the movement from Clem's
Branch commenced, Colonel James
| williams with small force which he
had collected in North Carolina, Joined
Sumter. Williams 1t Is said, had but
a short time previous, received brig
adler generals commission from Gov
ernor Rutledge Of South Carolina
williams claimed the right to COM
mand the whole force, but the men un-
der Sumter refused to submit to him
The whole force Notwithstanding the
bad state Of feeling which existed
among them on account of the claim
set up by Williams, marched together
and crossed the Catawba at Wright's
ferry. Rawdon and Tarleton were
pressing them closely. So near were
the two armies together, that the
Americans had scarcely effected the
crossing of the river when the British
appeared on the other side and COM
menced firing. To settle the dispute
between Sumter and williams. con-
vention of, officers, with Col. William
Hill as chairman. was called.
The convention decided to send
tRichard Winn, Henry Hampton, John
Thomas and John Middleton. as COM
missiOners to Governor Rutledge. who
was at that time some where in the
neighborhood of Salisbury, North Car
4 olina. These commissioners were in
structed to lay the facts before Gov
ernor Rutledge and report his decision
In the meantime Sumter was to re-
tire from the army and the command OF
all the troops, except those brought by
williams from North Carolina, devolv-
ed upon Hill and Lacey.
What decision Governor Rutledge
made, IL any at all, never so far as
we know, was made public. The battle
of Kings Mountain occurred soon af-
ter and Williams was mortally
wounded. At Kings Mountain we hear
nothing Of any claim set up by Will
liams as an officer Of higher rank than
/ Campbell or any one else. On the con-
trary, IL any one was first In command
at Kings Mountain that one was by
the consent Of all, William Campbell
of Virginia.
After the battle of Kings Mountain
the troops from western North Caro-
lima and Virginia returned beyond the
mountains. Hill and Lacey led the
remainder of the army down to what
was then Wrighr's (now VIM. Burris)
mill on Turkey creek. Here the pa
triots lay encanped, when Tarleton
who had been sent by CORVALLIS to
look after Ferguson, lay encamped for
two days on the hill west Of Ross
(now Robert Carnes) mill. On the
10th of October, Tarleton was ordered
to Join Cornwallis at the National ford
on Catawba.
Sometime about the first of Novem-
ber or last of October, 1880, Sumter
joined Hill and Lacey, then encamped
at what Is now Burris' mill. The brave
and patriotic Williams was dead and
all cause of dispute among both OFF,
GERS and men was removed. Sumter
by general consent, took the command
and led the troops against the British
and Tories on the west side Of Broad
river. In order to keep open commu-
nication between Camden and Ninety
Six, the. British had erected small
stockade forts at several points In the
counties Of Union and Spartanburg
These posts Sumter and his men an
noyed greatly. They gave the British
and Tories no rest. The heroic Elijah
Clark, John Twiggs and Andrew Pick
ems, with small parties Of Georgians
were in the same region operating in
way similar to that pursued by Sum-
ter. On meeting Clark and Twiggs, II
was determined to unite the South
Carolina forces, under Sumter, with
the Georgians, under Clark and
Twiggs and make an attack upon
Ninety-Six.
| Each Of the three officers agreed to
furnish a certain number Of men,
Sumter found that before he could
meet his engagement with Clark and
Twiggs, he must raise at least one
hundred and fifty men. On consulta-
ton with the officers Of his COM
mand, it was determined to send
number Of individuals on recruiting
expedition into what is now the coun-
ties of York and Chester. The inhabi-
tants of this region Of country were
known to be true patriots, who neither
asked for British protection nor ac-
cepted 1t when offered them. AS the
settlers were all or nearly all, Scotch
Irish descent, four native born Irish
men and Edward Lacey were sent out
to beat up the needed recruits. The
names of the four Scotch Irish recruit
ing officers were Billy Wylie, grand
father Of DR.. A. P. Wylie Of Chester;
Jimmy Johnson, the grandfather OF
James E. Johnson of Blackstock, Ches-
ter county, S. c.; Patrick McGrin and
James Martin. The selection was made
with great wisdom. Billy Wylie was
la man Of great good sense. Joined with
a droll manner; Jimmy Johnson was
a witty Irishman who took everything
easy; Patrick McGriff was brave to a
fault; and James Martin was prudent
Edward Lacey was one Of those i'm
petuous creatures who never do any
thing by halves. Whatever he under
took, he did with all his might; dar-
ingly reckless but admirably suited
for the kind of warfare in which he
was engaged. On the 9Th Of Novem-
Der, 1880. these five recruiting officers
set out to raise one hundred and fifty
men. They were given three days to
accomplish the work. The arrange
ment was that, In the mean time, Sum-
ter would act as il he were about to