Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-09-07
SOUTH eaR0 R0kt&h M
FtE RENaUfD&
How the Spirit of Liberty Was Kept Alive BY an
Uncomfortable People.
By REV. ROBERT LATHAM. ID. ID.

place him between his own forces and
| the garrison at NinetySix. Had he
succeeded In. this design, 1t Is difficult
| TO see how Sumter could have escaped
n calamity worse than that which had
befallen him at Fishing creek, few
months before.
On the night of the nineteenth, Tar
Teton camped In the vicinity of Enoree,
near the mouth Of Duncan's creek.
Sumter and his forces, with the excep-
tion of the detachment sent under Col
onels Taylor and Chandler, were not
far distant; Williamson and Ham,
mond, with their derachments had re-
turned and joined Sumter on the nine
teenth. Whilst Tarleton lay encamped
near the Enoree on the night Of the
nineteenth. one of his soldiers deserted
and entering Sumter's camp about
midnight. communicated to the Ameri-
cans the fact that they were hotly pur-
sued by Tarleton. The British were
confident that they would surprise and
cut off Sumter and his whole corps
during the next day.
The next morning Sumter set out
leisuroly on his retreat before Tarle-
ton, because Of the continued absence
OF Taylor and Chandler. At dawn Of
day on the twentieth, Tarleton pushed
forward and by 10 o'clock he learned
that Sumter was only short distance
ahead Of him.: On arriving at the Emo
rec, he learned that Sumter had cross
ed about two hours before. The Amer
ican partisan had left small detach-
ment for the purpose Of assisting Tay-
lor and Chandler, should they come up.
The advanced guard Of the British
cavalry made q charge upon the de-
tachment left by Sumter at the ford
IF the Enoree. In this skirmish the
British were partially successful. The
Americans were forced to retire and
join the main. force.
When about half mile from Black
stocks house, Sumter determined to
halt and wait for the detachment under
Taylor and Chandler. During the halt,
the horses were fed and the men re-
freshed themselves. The halt was only
for few minutes. The retreat had
scarcely been resumed. when Taylor
and Chandler came up, and at the same
moment the American videttes fired
into the advance guard OF the British.
Taylor and Chandler had succeeded in
capturing a considerable quantity Of
-four and other supplies from the enc
my. These they were so fortunate as
to secure from the scouting parties Of
Tarleton's army. Sumter now saw
that he must prepare for battle. This
he was anxious to avoid, but further
retreat under the circumstances was
Of doubtful propriety. The Tiger was
In his front and Tarleton In his rear.
Weighing all the circumstances, he de-
termined to risk an engagement and
in the event he was not successful, to
cross the Tiger during the night and
continue his retreat. No time was to
The lost. Tarleton with one hundred
and ninety cavalry and eighty mounted
Infantry was in sight. The place where
Siumters forces were was favorable to
the employment Of a partisan force.
1t is in the extreme southwestern
corner Of Union county on the south
bank Of the Tiger river, about one mile
from the line between the counties OF
Union and Spartanburg and five or six
/ he
and Union counties. At that time a
man by the name Of Blackstock's lived
at the place. Hence the name Of the
ford on the river and the name Of the
battle ground. -...... ....
| The two forces were now in full view
of each other Tarleton had his men
marshalled for a charge and Sumter
had his arranged for a retreat With
all possible speed, the Carolina Game
Cock" set about to put his forces in
position to receive the charge Of the
enemy In this important work he was
greatly assisted by Major James jack
son Of Georgia.
In front of Blackstock's house and
between the two forces ran q small
stream, a branch of Tiger river. The
course of this branch was a semi-cir-
Gle, the concavity being towards the
British. The banks of this small
stream were covered with thick under
growth North of this branch was a
hill, rising abruptly from a branch.
On this hill was Blackstock's house.
A lane made of logs notched into each
other, led up to the house. Near the
house was a large log tobacco house
and a hog pen constructed Of logs.
The tobacco house. hog pen and dwell
ing house, Sumter filled with troops.
Men were also stationed behind the
lane fence. The opening between the
logs of the houses and fence enabled
Sumter's men to shoot the enemy as
they came up, whilst the logs protect
ed them from the balls Of the British
soldiers. One wing Of the American
force was secured by the Tiger river,
and the other was protected by the to-.
bacco barn. The road leading to
Blackstock's ford, on the Tiger, pass
ed through the centre Of the American
forces
When Ts.rleton saw that Sumter was
prepared to give him battle, he order
ed the detachment of the sixty third
regiment and part Of the cavalry to
dismount, in order to rest their horses.
1t was Tarleton's intention to wait un-
til the remainder of his troops would
come up.
1t is in place to remark that the
lighting commenced at one o'clock
when the advance guard Of the British
crossed the Enoree. At four o'clock,
Tarleton left his main forces and has
tened forward with his detachment of
cavalry and light infantry. His object
was to prevent Sumter from crossing
the Tiger before dark or to attack
him whilst crossing. A short time be-
fore five, the near approach of Tarle-
ton brought Sumter to halt.
When Sumter discovered that Tar
Teton had divided his forces, he deter