Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-22


on the first assault, had he marched
directly on to the city. On the land
side it was not fortified, and the only
impediment to be overcome was Moul-
trie and his few men. When Moultrie
was on his way to Charleston. near
half his men left and returned home.
This dispirited those who remained
Unfortunately for Provost, and forru-
nately for the capital of South Carroll
ma, he made halt of forty eight hours
at Pocotaligo. The reason assigned
for this delay was some conflicting re-
ports which he is said to have heard.
What these reports were we do not
know.
The people of Charleston were aware
of the threatened attack. and In the
absence of the governor, Lieutenant
Governor Bee, and the council exerted
all their powers to put the city in
state of defence The forces under
Moultrie, Rutledge and Harris arrived
I'm the city on the ninth and tenth days
of May. Provost encamped on the
south bank Of the Ashley river, on the
night of the ninth Of May. The ferries
on the Ashley had been fortified to re-
tard or prevent his further progress.
The forces in the city numbered
about three thousand, one hundred and
eighty. Prevost's force was three
81 siYfv
Provost had a large amount Of troops
and they were better provided for and
In every way superior to those under
the American commanders, If we ex-
cept the fact that the Americans were
fighting for liberty, whilst the troops
under Provost were fighting for con-
quest. Instead Of appointing one COM
mander, both Moultrie and Rutledge
claimed the right to command his own
troops. Colonel Moultrie took the
command of the Continental forces In
the city: whilst Governor Rutledge
claimed the right to command, in per-
son, the militia. 1t seems harsh to
censure those brave men who bore so
much that they might be free and be-
uueath freedom to their children; but
we must remember that they were but
men, and not only liable to err, but
actually did err sometimes. So soon
as the forces arrived in the city, every
one that could handle a pick or use a
spade was put to work. Everybody
went to work. Men and women boys
and girls, worked night and day.
On the morning of the eleventh of
May, General Provost, with nine hum
dred British regulars, crossed Ashley
river and marched within cannon shot
of the American works. During the az
ternoon Of the same day, Count Pulas-
XII, the brave Pole, who had espoused
the cause of the Americans, came from
Mount Pleasant with a body of infan-
try and cavalry. Scarcely had Pulas-
krs troops crossed the Cooper river
nounced that the vanguard Of the Bri-
tish army was crossing Ashley ferry.
With weary horses, Pulaski dashed out
to oppose the approach of the British.
The onset was furious, and the brave
count came near losing his life. After
having lost most of his infantry, and
Colonel Kowatch, the second officer In
command, Pulaski retreated back to
the American lines, under cover Of the
cannon Of the Notifications. Provost
left his heavy baggage, and the main
body Of his army, on the south side OF
the Ashley river.
Immediately on crossing the river
Provost summoned the city to surren-
der The civil authorities replied fa-
vorably. They signified their willing
ness to surrender the city on condition
that it and the state should remain
neutral during the war, and that the
termination Of the contest between
Great Britain and the colonies should
determine the final condition of South
Carolina. This condition Of surrender
was rejected by Provost, and the next
day he advanced within a mile Of the
American works. Here a brisk fire OF
the cannon was opened upon him.
Again he demanded the surrender of
the city The same terms of surren-
der as those offered before were again
made and rejected, Provost insisting
that the garrison should surrender as
prisoners of war Twelve hours were
spent in passing flags between the two
armies. Still the work on the Amer
lean Notifications went on. 1t was
certainly expected by Moultrie that so
soon as the correspondence should
close, that the works would be storm
ed.
The evil of two commanders was in
a most affecting manner demonstrated
to the Americans. Governor Rutledge
discovered a breach in some part Of
the Notifications of the city, and, with
out Major Benjamin Huger and a
party of men, in the night, to repair it.
They were discovered by Moultrie's
men and mistaken for a party of the
eIleIny anu llTeu upoH. MdJoi fDu6el
and twelve of his men were killed.
This was on the night after negotia-
tions respecting the surrender had
ceased. Fearing an attack at any mo-
ment by the enemy, the Americans
kept up the fire, commenced by mis-
taking Huger's party for the British,
until morning. Every one felt certain
that when morning came the British
would storm the American works; but
when morning came the British were
gone. In the night they had recrossed
the Ashley river and were preparing
to go back to Savannah.
The cause of Prevosts precipitate
retreat was the fact that he had inter-
cepted a letter from General Liacoln
TO Colonel Moultrie, dated the 10th Of
May At that time Lincoln was only
fifty miles distant, and he begged
Moultre to hold out until he would ar
rive with the main body OF the Amer
lean army. Provost intercepted this
letter some time during the night of
the 18th. Wisely he concluded that 1t
would be perilous for him to suffer
a.