Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-09
HORSE SHOE
ROBINSON
A Tale of the Revolutionary Struggle In
Upper Carolina.
By JOHN p. KEN NEDY.

to assume one Of its attributes"
That we pause to inquire" replied
Innis "is a boon of mercy to you. The
offence of rank rebellion which you and
all your fellow -madmen have confess
ed, by taking up arms against your
king, carries with 1t the last degree OF
punishment IT, waiving our right to
lnfiict summary pain for this transgres-
sion. we stay to hear what you can say
against other and even weightier
charges. you should thank us for our
clemency But this is misspending
time. Read the paper to the prison
er," he added, addressing one of the
officers at the table.
The paper was read aloud. The first
presented a charge against the prison
er for violating the terms Of the pa
role given at the capitulation OF
Charleston. The specification to sup
port this charge was that, by the
terms of the surrender, General Lin
coin had engaged that the whole gar
rison should be surrendered as prison
ers of war, and that they should not
serve again until exchanged. The pris-
oner was described as an officer OF
that garrison. included in the surren-
der, and lately taken in the act OF
making war upon his majesty's sub
jects.
The second charge was, that the
prisoner had insinuated himself, by
false representations, into the territory
conquered by the royal army; and that
in the quality Of spy. he had visited
the family of a certain Walter Adair,
with a view to obtain a knowledge of
the forces, plans, movements, and de-
signs Of the various detachments en-
gagged in his majesty's service in the
neighborhood Of Broad river.
And, third and last, that he, to-
gether with certain confederates, had
contrived and partially attempted to
execute plan to seize upon and carry
away a subject Of his majestys gov
ernment, Of great consideration and
esteem-Mr. Philip Lindsay, namely,
of the Dove Cote. in the province of
Virginia. That the object of this en-
terprise was to possess himself Of the
papers as we'll as of the person Of the
said Philip Lindsay, and, by surren-
dering him up to the leaders Of the
rebel army, to bring upon him the
vengeance Of the rebel government,
thus exposing him to confiscation of
property and even to peril of life.
Such was the general import and
bearing of the accusations against the
prisoner, expressed with the usual
abundance of verbiage and minuteness
of detail. Butler listened to them, at
first, with indifference, and with a de-
termination to meet them with inflex-
ible silence; but, as the .enunciation of
them proceeded, and the extraordinary
misrepresentation they contained were
successfully disclosed, he found his
Indignation rising to height that al
most mastered his discretion, and he
was on the point of interrupting the
court with the lie direct, and Of involv-
ing himself in an act Of contumacy
which would have been instantly decis-
i've Of his fate. His better genius.
however, prevailed, and smothering his
anger by strong effort Of self-control,
he merely folded his arms and abided
until the end, with a contemptuous and
proud glance at his accusers.
You have heard the allegations
against you, sir" said Colonel Innis;
what say you to them?"
What should an honorable man " re-
piled Butler, SAY to much foul as
pensions? The first and second
charges, sir, 1 pronounce to be frivo-
lous and false. AS to the last, sir,
there are imputations in 1t that mark
the agency of a concealed enemy, lost
to every impulse of honor-a base
and wicked liar. Confront me with
that man, and let the issue stand
on this-if l do not prove him
to be, in the judgment Of every
true gentleman. of your army, an afro
cious and depraved slanderer, who
has contrived against my life for sell
fish purposes, ! will submit myself to
whatever penalty the most eXasperated
of my enemies may invent 1t was my
purpose, sir, to remain silent, and to
refuse. by any act of mine, to acknowl-
edge the violation Of the rights Of war
by which l have been dragged hither.
Nothing could have swayed me from
that determination, but the iniquitous
falsehood conveyed in the last accusa-
ton"
I'VE cannot handy words with one
in your condition" interrupted the pres
ident of the court. II must remind you
again, that our purpose is to give you
a fair trial, not to listen to ebullitions
of anger. Your honor is concerned in
these charges, and you will best con-
suit your interest by patient demean-
or in your present difficulties"
Il am silent" said Butler, indignant
ly, taking his seat.
Let the trial proceed" continued
lne president. 1Ou VIII llOl ueHS, lie
said. after an interval of reflection
that you are a native of Carolina?"
II can scarcely deny that before
you,' replied Butler, "who, in my alb
sence, as report says, have been busy
in the investigation of my affairs"
There are bounds. sir, to the for
bearance Of a court" said Innis, stern
ly. Il understand the taunt. Your es-
tates have been the subject of consid-
Grafton before another tribunal; and
If my advice were listened to, the pro-
cess relating to them would be short
one"
You are answered." returned But
Ter.
Nor can you deny that you were ar
officer belonging to the army under the
command of General Lincoln"
Butler was silent.
You were at Charleston during the
siege?" inquired one of the court.
In part" replied Butler. 81 left it ir
March. the bearer of dispatches tc
congress"
And you were in arms on the might
of the thirteenth, at GrindalPs Ford 2
continued the same questioner.