Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-10-26

taligo, at that time a village Of three
hundred Inhabitants, situated in Beau
fort county, on Pocotaligo river and
about midway between the Sake
hatchie and Tulifnny. Here on the
morning Of the 18th Of April, 1716, the
Yemassee Indians, encouraged by the
Spaniards, began the first and in some
respects the most dreadful massacre
the early settlers of South Carolina
Experienced. Now in April 1871, Po-
cotaligo was garrisoned by rabble
band Of Tories and British. A fort
| bearing the name Of Balfour had been
erected and at the time was command
ed by Colonel Lechmere.
On their way to Fort Balfour, Col.
Hardin and his little band crossed the
Edisto at Giveham's ferry. They were
informed that body of Tories, under
Captain Barton was collected at Red
Hill. This Tory band was giving the
adjacent country no small amount OF
trouble by its plundering expeditions.
Colonel Hardin detached Major Coop
er Of Georgia with few men and sent
him out to break up the encampment
at Red Hill, while Hardin and the
main body continued to advance In
the direction of Pocotaligo. Cooper
came upon Barton and his Tory gang
as an eagle descends In swoop. upon
its insuspecting prey. The result was
that Cooper and his little detachment
with the loss Of single man. almost
annihilated the Tories. Only few were
permitted to escape. The greater part
were either killed or captured. While
Colonel Hardin was advancing. he was
attacked by a squad Of British cavalry,
commanded by Colonel Renwick. The
Americans were passing over cause
way when Renwick and his party be-
gan the attack. Although disadvan-
tageously situated, Colonel Hardin so
manoeuvered that after a brisk skir-
mish for only few moments, the Brit
ish retired taking with them one man
killed and eight wounded. The Amer
leans suffered no loss in killed and on
ly few were wounded.
On reaching on the 18th Of April, the
vicinity of Fort Balfour, Colonel Har-
din sent forward Captain Tarleton
Brown a native of Barnwell county
with a detachment Of thirteen men to
reconnoiter and II possible, entice the
garrison from the fort. When Captain
Brown arrived near the fort he dis.
covered a number of men running In
the direction Of the fort from a house,
about four hundred yards distant. He
saw at once that these individuals had
been surprised. A dash was made up
on them and the whole party captured
Among the party was Colonel Rem
din while passing over the causeway.t
Also Colonels Lechmere and Kelsal.
From these prisoners 1t was learned
that they had left the fort in command
Of Major DeVeaux, the brother-in-law
Of Iechmere, and gone to this farm
house. which was used for hospital
for the purpose of visiting their sick
and wounded. 90
Fort Balfour was garrisoned by one.
hundred and ten men. we'll armed.
The garrison ives we'll supplied with:
everything necessary to stand long
siege. Besides 1t was furnished with
cannon and an abundance Of small
arms and ammunition. Colonel Hardin
had no notion that he was able with
his eighty men, poorly provided with
the equipments Of war, to reduce the
fort All he contemplated being able
to accomplished under the circum-
stances was to keep the garrison with
in the fort and thus prevent its dep
redating on the surrounding country.
On coming up and finding that Captain
Brown had captured the officers of
the fort, he was encouraged to make
the attempt. Without waiting mo-
ment's time, he scattered his men
through the woods so as to make as
great a show as possible. DeVeaux
was panic stricken. He had no means
Of forming even a conjecture as to the
strength or the Americans.
Hardin made 1t a point to place the
captured officers Of the fort so that
they were in full view Of the garrison.
This had the effect to throw Major De-
VeauX into a very uncomfortable state
Of mind. Hardin had no cannon but he
so manoeuvered his troops that De-
Veaux could not discover the fact
When Colonel Hardin got everything
in proper condition, he sent in flag
to Major DeVeaux, demanding an i'm
mediate and unconditional surrender
of the fort and garrison. Only a few
moments were spent in discussing the
terms of capitulation. 1t was agreed
that the fort, with all its contents
should be surrendered without reserve
into the hands Of the Americans, and
that the garrison should deliver them
selves up as prisoners on parole. The
work was soon consummated. The
garrison soon marched out Of the fort,
tied their horses to the abattis and laid
down their arms. Colonel Hardin with
and the fort, and took possession Of the
arms and horses when to the dismay
Of the British, it was found that one
hundred and ten men, strongly forti-
fed and furnished with artillery had
surrendered to a body Of eighty caval-
ly, without cannon or any other means
by which to lay siege to the place or
in any way injure 1t.
In the fort the Wings found large
number Of their personal friends and
neighbors. Some were confined, whilst
others had been forced to enter the
ranks Of the enemy. These were re-
leased and they Immediately entered
Colonel Hardin's command. The effect
upon the southwestern section Of the
state was similar to that experienced
| by the southeastern section on the cap
ture of Fort Motto. The cloud of gloom
which had so long been hanging over
this section of the state began to move
away and the cheering rays Of hope
began to beam upon the country.
TO BE CONTINUED.