Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-29
CHAPTER LVIII.
The Conclusion.

assault, CampDel naQ redcneu the
crest Of the mountain, and the loyal
lists had given ground with decisive in
dications of defeat. Ferguson, in the
hopeless effort to rally his soldiers
had flung himself into their van, but
bullet at this instant reached his
heart; he fell from his seat, and his
white horse, which had been conspic-
uous In the crowd of battle, bounded
wildly through the ranks Of the Wings
and made his way down the mountain
side.
Campbell passed onward, driving the
royalists before him. For a moment
the discounted bands hoped to join
their comrades in the rear, and, by a
united effort, to effect retreat; but
the parties led by Sewer and Cleve-
land. cheered by the shouts Of their
victorious companions, urged their at
tacks with new vigor, and won the hill
in time to intercept the fugitives. All
hopes Of escape being thus at an end,
a white flag was displayed in token of
submission; and the remnant OF Fer
guson's late proud and boastful army,
now amounting to between eight and
nine hundred men, surrendered to the
assai!ants.
1t has scarcely ever happened that a
battle has been fought, in which the
combatants met with keener individ-
ual evaporation than in this. The
InI
feelings of Whig and Tory along this
border, here vented itself in the eager
ness OF conflict, and gave the impulse
to every blow that was struck-ren-
dering the fight, from beginning to end,
relentless, vindictive, and bloody The
remembrance Of the thousand cruel
ties practised by the royalists during
the brief Tory dominion to which my
narrative has been confined, was fresh
in the minds Of the stern and hardy
men Of the mountains, who had pur-
sued their foe with such fierce ami
mostly to this his last stage. Every one
had some wrong to tell, and burned
with an unquenchable rage of revenge.
1t was, therefore. with a yell Of tri-
umph that they saw the symbol of sub
mission raised aloft by the enemy; and
for a space the forest rang with their
loud and reiterated huzzas.
Many brave men fell on either side.
Upon the slope of the mountain and on
its summit, the bodies Of the dead and
dying lay scattered amongst the rocks,
and the feeble groans Of the wounded
mingled with the fierce tones of ex-
ultation from the living. The Wings
sustained a grievous loss in Colonel
Williams, who had been struck down
In the moment of victory. He was
young, ardent. and brave; and his
many soldier-like virtues, combined
with a generous and amiable temper,
had rendered him a cherished favor
ite with the army. His death served
still more to increase the exacerbation
of the conquerors against the con-
quered.
The sun was yet an hour high
when the battle was done. The Wings
were formed in two lines on the ridge
of the mountain; and the prisoners,
more numerous than their captors,
having laid down their arms, were
drawn UP in detached columns on the
intervening ground. There were many
sullen and angry glances exchanged,
during this period of suspense, be-
tween victors and vanquished; and 1t
was with a fearful ranking of inward
wrath, that many Of the Wings de-
tected, in the columns of the prisoners,
some of their bitterest prosecutors.
This spirit was partially suppressed
in the busy occupation that followed.
Preparations were directed to be made
for the night quarters of the army;
and the whole host was, accordingly,
ordered to march to the valley. The
surgeons of each party were already
fully employed in their vocation. The
bodies of the wounded were strewed
around; and for the protection OF such
as were not in a condition to be moved,
shelters were made of the boughs of
trees, and fires kindled to guard them
from the early frost of the season. All
the rest retired slowly to the appoint
ed encampment.
Whilst Campbell was intent upon
these cares, a messenger came to sum-
mon him to a scene Of unexpected in
terest. He was informed that a gen.
tleman, not attached to the army, had
been dangerously wounded in the fight,
and now lay at the further extremity
of the mountain ridge. 1t was added
that he earnestly desired an interview
with the commanding officer. Camp
bell lost no time in attending to the
request.
Upon repairing to the spot, his at
tention was drawn to a stranger who
lay upon the ground. His wan and
haggard cheek, and restless eye, show
ed that he suffered acute pain; and
the blood upon his cloak. which had
been spread beneath him indicated the
wound to have been received in the
side. private soldier of the British
army was his only attendant. To
Campbelrs solicitous and kind inquiry,
he announced himself, in a voice that
was almost over mastered by his bod
lily anguish to be Philip Lindsay of
Virginia.
You behold" he said, IAN unhappy
father in pursuit Of his children"
Then, after a pause, he continued MY
daughter Mildred, l have been told is
near me; would see her, and quickly"
God have mercy on u.s." exclaimed
Campbell lis this the father of the
lady who has sought my protection?
Wounded too. and badly, l fear!
Where is Major Butler, who was lately
prisoner with Ferguson" he said. ad-
dressing the attendant-"Go. go. sir"
he added, speaking to the same person,
Bring me the first surgeon you can
find, and direct some three or four men
from the ranks to come to your aid.
Lose no time"
The soldier went instantly upon the
errand, and soon returned with the de-