Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-11-02

olina. Their stories aroused the patri.
otism and stirred the. spirits Of the
hardy pioneers of the forest.
After the defeat Of Gates at Camden
Cornwallis, as had been done by his
predecessor, Clinton, proceeded at once
to establish civil government In the
upper section Of the state. Tarletor
and Ferguson were ordered to scour the
state. The object was to beat up the
Tories and loyalists and disperse the
Wings. Ferguson, with about 1,0O(
loyalists and one hundred and ten reg
ulars, had been in the Ninety-Six dis
trict for some time. and portions OF his
command had been, on several occa-
sions, badly cut up by the Wings. Pat
rick Ferguson was a major In the Brit
ish army, and brigadier general Of the
Royal Militia of South Carolina. The
second officer in his command was Capt
DePeyster. a loyalist. The Whig colo
nels, Mcdowell, Sewer, Shelby, Clarke
and williams, were known to frequent
this section Of the state. The fact that
small detachments Of Tories had been
attacked and routed by the bold parti-
sans, greatly incensed the British OFF,
cer Meetings of the Tories and 10y
alists were held throughout the Nine
ty-Six district Those who claimed to
be Tories or loyalists, were threatened
with severe punishment If they did not
take UP arms and assist his majesty's
troops In putting down the rebellion
Ferguson now found that the rebellion
which Clinton and his successor, Corn
wallis, thought was crushed out, was
stalking over the land like giant
Wings, Tories and loyalists, found that
each party was in earnest, and a des-
perate effort must be made, or all
would be lost.
On the 18th of Augustine day on
which Sumter was surprised by Tarle-
ton at Fishing Creek-Colonel McDow-
ell was encamped at Smiths Ford on
Broad river. He had learned that a
party Of Tories, near five hundred in
number, were encamped at Musgrove's
Mill, on the south side of Enoree river.
Colonels Williams, Shelby and Clarke,
were detached for the purpose Of sur
prising them. 1t was dangerous un-
dertaking, for Ferguson was encamped,
with his whole force, midway between
Mcdowell and the, Tories. At sun set,
the party moved. and by taking right
hand road, passed Ferguson's camp In
safety. The Tories were commanded
by Col. Innis and Major Frazer Shell
by, Williams and Clarke, arrived at the
Tory camp just at day light. The at
tack was made, and although the To-
ries had been reinforced by six hundred
regulars under Innis, a complete victo-
ry was gained. Flushed with victory, the
conquerors determined to make an at
tack upon Ninety-SiX. Just at this
moment courier arrived, bringing the
sad news that General Gates had been
defeated on the 18th at Camden. They
were urged by Mcdowell to make no
lelay. lest they should be captured by
Ferguson. They. had more than two
hundred prisoners. The men were
tired, and so were their horses. The
-risoners were divided out amongst the
men, giving every three men two pris-
>ners. After they were completely out
f the reach Of Ferguson, Shelby went
home, leaving Clarke and Williams in
charge Of the prisoners. Col. Clarke
having accompanied Col. Williams for
a short distance after the departure of
Shelby. took his command and return
ed home, leaving Col. Williams In
charge Of the prisoners, by whom they
were taken to Hillsborough, North Car
olina. Governor Rutledge of South Car
olina, who, at this time. was in Hills
borough, seeing williams in charge of
so many prisoners and supposing that
he had been the principal actor in the
affair, Immediately gave him a brig
adler generals commission as a reward
for his supposed brave and heroic
exploit
Mcdowell, so: soon as he heard that
Gates was defeated, broke up his camp
at Smiths Ford and marched for the
mountains. His command was scat
tered. Some Of his men went home
whilst others accompanied their COM
mander beyond the mountains. Fer
guson was left in full possession Of the
field. The Wings were plundered OF
their property and driven from their
homes. Many of them were forced to
hide out in unfrequented spots, whilst
not few were caught and cruelty MUIR
dered. The brave and enterprising
British officer pushed his way as far
rs Gilbert Town, near the present site
# Rutherfordton, in North Carolina
South Carolina was now under the
paw of the British lion. Some crouch
ed and begged for quarter: but there
were q few noble spirits-enough tc
save the country-who had sworn fol
their country to live, and for her tc
die. Ferguson was not ignorant of this
fact. He knew the history Of those
men who were beyond the mountains
He knew that. their ancestors, for more
than two hundred years, had beer
fighting for freedom, and he saw thai
the wilds of America had strengthen
ed the love of liberty in their children
He knew that they were Scotch-Ir Irish
and Huguenots by descent. He knew
that they could be crushed into the
earth, that they could be torn limt
from limb, that they could be buried
beneath the earth, but he feared theil
very dust.
He had his spies in the mountain
country, and from them he had learned
what was going on in the valleys o.
Nollichucky and Watauga. These spie'
often brought him the startling news
that their fellows were caught ant
hanged, while others were tarred ant
suffered to return as a taunt to thei
champion leader. Ferguson ragged. HI
cursed the rebels for their daring, ant
he cursed the Tories and loyalists TO
their want of courage.
While Colonel Ferguson lay at Gil
bert Town, he paroled Samuel Phillips
a patriot, whom he held as prisoner
and sent him with a threatening mes
sage to the back mountain men. Tn