Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-09-21

enty-first regiment, Hamilton's corps
of loyalists and Yagers, the six pound
Iers and all the wagons belonging to
1.-THE army, and march directly to Beat
ties ford. He was ordered to fire his
cannon and do everything in his power
to draw the attention Of the Americans
to him. At one in the morning, Corn
wallis with the main body Of his forces
set out for Cowan's or McCowan's
ford, six miles below Beattie's. This was
a private ford, and CORVALLIS sup
posed that the American officers would
Overlook It, The night was dark and
the roads narrow and muddy. One Of
the three Founders overset in a swamp.
This produced In the darkness no small
confusion. The line Of march was
broken, the men became scattered, and
the gunners in assisting to readjust
the three FOUNDER that had overset,
got separated from their own guns
Just as day began to break the British
reached the river. Everything was in
state of confusion. The three pound
ers were Of no use, from the fact that
the artillerymen were some at one
place and others at another.
From the camp fires on the opposite
side of the river, Cornwallis discovered
that he had erred in supposing that the
Americans would neglect to place a
guard at McCowan's ford. Determined
to cross, CORVALLIS ordered General
O'Hara to form his guards into a col
umn and march into the river. The
| Catawba was considerably swollen and
at this ford more than a quarter Of
mile wide. The bottom Of the river
was rocky and the ford angling across
dered not to fire until they reached the
opposite bank In the brave guards
plunged. In quick succession they
were followed by their fellow soldiers.
The cold water reached to their waists.
Infantry and cavalry moved along
slowly but steadily Davidson and his
men were on the opposite side OF The
ford. So soon as the American SEN
tinel discovered the approach Of the
British, he fired his gun. This aroused
the camp Of Davidson, which was dis
tant some half a mile. The men In
Davidson's command were concealed
among the brushwood Of the forest, op-
posite the ford. Captain, afterwards
General Joseph Graham commanded
company in General Davidson,s corps
of militia. These were the first to
reach the bank Of the river and open
fire upon the enemy. The moment
Captain Graham's men commenced fir
ing upon the advancing British. the
guide who was a Tory, fed. This was
attended with no little confusion, both
to the British and Americans. The
British guards, under O'Hara at this
moment were near the middle Of the
stream. The ford instead of passing
directly across the river turned at the
point at which the British had arrived,
considerably down the river. Colonel
Hall, who was leading the British van,
not knowing this and deserted by his
Tory guide led the troops straight
across. This frustrated the plans Of
the Americans. They were forced to
make a quick movement to the right
and form in the new. The change was
made as quickly as possible; but the
troops under Davidson being militia,
it was not effected until the van Of the
British under Colonel Hall had nearly
reached the bank. In the crossing Of
the river, the British marched in pla
toons. that they might support each
other against the current Of the swol-
len waters.
Although the British were not pre-
vented from crossing, still 1t cost them
very considerably. Colonel Hall was
killed just as he ascended the bank.
The horse on which CORVALLIS rode
was shot while in the river and fell,
plunging his rider in the stream and
died as soon as he had carried his
master across the river Three pri-
Yates were killed and thirty-six
wounded. The American loss was tri-
fling in numbers but severe, from the
fact that the brave and promising
General Davidson was killed. He was
shot by Tory while changing the po-
sition of his troops. So soon as the
main body Of the British succeeded il
crossing the river, the North Carolina
militia, in obedience to the command
of the officers, fed to the woods. The
body of General Davidson was found
after the enemy had passed on. by
Capt. Wilson. 1t was stripped Of every
garment. Captain Wilson took 1t up
before him on his horse and buried 1t
in Hopewell graveyard. The congress
of the United States voted a monu-
ment to this noble man; but no monu-
ment has been erected. His memory,
however. is perpetuated by the college
in Mecklenburg county, North Carroll
no, which bears his name. A county
in the "Old North" state has also been
honored with his name. And more
than all this, his name will be cher
ished until men forget to love liberty.
TO BE CONTINUED.