Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-11-27
TffffE PARTISAN
A Romance of the American Revolution
Byw GILMORE sIMMS

I fatigable as unsparing. He plunge'
headlong into fight, with courage th'
most unscrupulous, with little refiec
ton, seeming rather to confide in th'
boldness and impetuosity Of his onse
than to any ingenuity Of plan, or care
full elaborateness of manoeuvre. Adj
to this that he was sanguinary in th'
last degree when triumphant, and VIZ
shall easily understand the sources o.
that terror which his very name wa!
found to inspire among the undrilled
and, in half the number Of instances
the unarmed militia which opposed
him. "Tarleton's quarters" was the
familiar and bitterly derisive phrase
by which when the Wings had oppor'
tunities Of revenge. his bloodthirsty
treatment Of the overthrown and cap
tive was remembered and requited.
The entire colony in his possession
all opposition, worthy the name, at ar
end-the victor, the better to securt
his conquest, marched an army
throughout the country His presence
for the time, had the desired effect
His appearance quelled disaffection
overawed all open discontents, and his
cavalry, by superior skill and rapidity
of movement, readily dispersed the
little bands Of Carolinians that here
and there fell in his way. Nor was
this exhibition of his power the only
proceeding by which he labored to Sc
cure the fruits of his victory. With
an excellent judgment, he established
garrisons in various eligible points OF
the country in order to overawe by his
continual presence; these stations were
judiciously chosen for independent and
cooperative enterprise alike; they
were sufficiently nigh for concert
sufficiently scattered for the general
control of an extensive territory. Rocky
Mount, Ninety-Six, Camden, Hanging
Rock. Dorchester, and a large number
of military posts besides, were thus
created; all amply provided with mu-
nitions Of war, well fortified, and garri-
soned by large bodies of troops under
experienced officers.
These precautions for a time COM
PEELED submission. The most daring
among the patriots were silent-the
most indulgent Of the loyalists were
active and enterprising. To crown and
secure all. Sir Henry Clinton, who was
at this period chief OF
the southern invading army, proclaim
ed q general pardon, with some few ex-
ceptions, to all the inhabitants, fol
their late treasonable offences-prom-
Using them a full reinstatement OF
their old immunities. and requiring
nothing in return but that they should
remain quietly in their homes. This
specious and well-timed indulgence had
it's due effect; and, in the temporary
panic produced by Lincoln's defeat, the
fall of the metropolis, the appearance
of an army so formidable as that OF
the British, and the establishment OF
military posts and fortresses all around
them, the people generally put on
show of acquiescence to the authority
Of the invader, which few in reality
felt, and which many were secretly but
resolutely determined never to sub
NIT to.
Thus much Is necessary, In gener-
al point of view, to the better compre-
hension Of the narrative which follows
The reader will duly note the situation
of the colony Of South Carolina; and
when we add, that the existing condi-
ton of things throughout the Unior
was only not so bad, and the promise
Of future fortune but little more IA
vorable, all has been said necessary tc
his proper comprehension of the dis
couraging circumstances under which
the partisan warfare of the south be-
gan. With this reference, we shall bt
better able to appreciate that deliberate
valor, that lnyielding patriotism
which in a few spirits, defying danger
and above the sense Of privation
could keep alive the sacred fires o.
liberty in the thick swamps and dense
and gloomy forests of Carolina-askins
nothing. yielding nothing. and only
leaving the field the better to re-entel
1t for the combat. Let us now pro-
ceed to the commencement Of our prop
er narrative.