Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-10-23
From the Yorkville Enquirer Of 1876.
INSTALLMENT XIII.
Marion and His Men.-Capture OF
Fort Watson.

Fort Watson.
Shortly after the defeat Of General
Gates at Camden, General Marion be-
gan to operate Independently in the
southeastern section of the state OF
South Carolina. For some time Lieu
tenant Col. Lee and he were together,
but on the removal Of General Greene's
forces from Hicks creek near Cheraw.
Marion was left alone. Sometime his
forces numbered several hundred;
at other times they amounted to no
more than a score.
The headquarters of Marion and his
men was Shows Island. The place Is
in Williamsburg county, short dis
tance below the confluence Of Lynch's
creek and the Great Pee Dee. On the
north, east and south Shows Island
is flowed round by the Pee Dee;
whilst on the west 1t Is bounded by
Clark's creek and impossible swamps.
The island itself is high river swamp
and at the time of the Revolution was
covered with canes. From north to
south it is about three miles long, and
from east to west it is about two miles
broad. Nature fortified it and render
ed 1t admirably adapted to the pur-
poses for which Marion and his
men selected it, From this stronghold
the gallant partisan often lead his few
but faithful followers against the To-
ries and British.
In the exploits Of Marion and his
men there is more Of romance than
in the deeds of any other partisan
corps that was in existence during the
Revolutionary war. The military rec
ord Of no officer is better than that Of
Francis Marion. He never was sur
prised; he never made a serious blum
der and he never was driven from the
field OF conflict. He fought according
to no military rules. Wherever he
found his foe he dashed in upon him,
fought until his ammunition was ex-
hausted, and then retired. No officer
IL is but just to remark. was ever more
faithfully and energetically aided by
his subalterns than was Marion. Among
these may be mentioned as worthy OF
honorable distinction, Peter Horny,
the James brothers, Henry Mouzon,
John McCauley, William McCottry
Gavin Witherspoon, Joseph Scott, John
Baxter. John Swinton and John Erwin
These are not all. The Postells, the
Bacots and many others have carved
their names on the tablets Of the ma
tion's memory.
Major Horny led a brigade of caval-
ry. All the implements Of offense and
defense in this brigade were Of the
most primitive character. The saws
were taken from the mills and being
placed in the hands of ordinary black
smiths, were converted into swords.
From the middle of November 1880,
to the middle Of April. 1881, Marion
and his men kept the British and To-
ries in and around Georgetown in a
state Of constant alarm. No great and
decisive battles were fought; but at
Georgetown. at Socastee Swamp, at
Whites Bridge, at Wiboo Swamp, at
Mount Hope, at Black River Bridge, at
Sampit Bridge, and at various other To-
calities, battles were fought by Mar
ion or his subalterns which had a ia
vorable effect upon the American
cause. In all of these battles, small as
they were, the American cause gained
something: while in all of them the
British and Tory loss was very consid-
cradle.
On the fourteenth Of April. 1881,
Lieutenant Colonel Lee joined General
Marion in one of the many swamps Of
Black river, in Williamsburg county.
The plans Of General Greene were un-
folded to Marion by Lee and without
a moments delay these two officers
agreed upon a scheme for immediate
operations. 1t was at once determined
to make an attack upon Fort Watson.
This place was garrisoned by about
one hundred and twenty men, two
thirds of whom were regulars; the
other third was loyalists. Lieutenant
Mckay. a young man. but brave and
and energetic officer, was in command
of the fort.
Fort Watson was in Sumter county,
on the left bank Of the Santee river.
From Kingstree the county seat of
Williamsburg. it is distant nearly
west about thirty-five miles and south
of Sumterville about thirty miles. The
spot upon which the fort was erected
was a mound nearly fifty feet high,
Here 1t was thought the Indians had
in times past deposited their dead
The garrison was supplied with water
from Scott's lake.
Fort Watson could not be regarded
in the modern sense of the word, a
strong place. 1t was a simple stock
ade with no cannon. 1t was notwith-
standing an important place. 1t was
a link in the chain of fortifications
which the British had established
through the country and along the
rivers. for the purpose Of keeping open
their communications with Charleston
The fall of Fort Watson would necessi-
tate the evacuation of Camden. De-
termined if possible to reduce it, Mar
ion and Lee set out on the morning OF
the 18th OF April for the locality.
Colonel Watson. in honor of whom
the fort had been named, was at thai
time on Catfish creek, near the site OF
the present town of Marion. Captain
Gavin Witherspoon. with a small body
of men was left TO watch Watson's
movements. On the evening of The
fifteenth, Marion and Lee reached the
neighborhood of Fort Watson and OF
the morning of the 10th their forces
were stationed preparatory to regular
siege. Marion sent in flag demand
ing an unconditional surrender of the
fort This Mckay promptly refused.
The supply of water was soon Gu
off, but Mckay soon sunk we'll within
the stockade. to a depth below the lev
ell of the lake and then cut ditct
from the lake to the well. The suppl!
of water was cut off for only three
days. This perplexed both Marion an(
Lee. They had thought that so soOr
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