Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-01-23
HORSE SHOE
ROBINSON
A Tale of the Revolutionary Struggle In
Upper Carolina.
BY JOHN p. KENNEDY.

Is no virtue in the forged steel which
these rebels have felt before"
1.-The battle is not always to the
strong" said Lindsay, nor is the craft
of soldiership without its chances"
If we had listened, my friend" said
Tyrrel, Ito musty proverbs, Charleston
would have this day been in the secure
and peaceful possession Of the enemy.
All that you say against our present
scheme was heretofore urged, though
not with such authority, perhaps,
against the invasion Of Carolina. And
yet how prettily have we gainsaid the
prophets! Look at their principal
town surroundered-all the country
strongholds delivered up-the people
flocking to our standard for protection
and the whole province lifting up a
voice Of gratitude for the deliverance
we have wrought them. They are
even now arming themselves in our
behalf, whilst the shattered fragments
Of the rebel force are flying to the
swamps and their mountain Businesses.
Why should not the same game be as
we'll played in Virginia? Trust me,
Mr.. Lindsay, your caution somewhat
overleaps that wholesome moderation,
which l do not deny is necessary to
check a too sanguine reckoning. Come,
good sir, lend us a more auspicious
counsel Sir Henry relies much upon
your wisdom, and will not with good
heart, forego your service"
"Sir Henry has sadly disturbed my
repose," returned Lindsay. ITO tell the
truth, l have no stomach for this bus
mess. Here, am native to the prov
ince: l have found old friends separ-
ated from me; early associations torn
up by the roots; and the elements
which fed my strongest personal at
tachments poisoned, by this accursed
spirit of revolution. l would hide my
head from the storm and die in these
shades in peace"
1T is not for Mr.. Philip Lindsay. nor
such as he," replied Tyrrel, Ito desert
his sovereign in his hour of need"
God forgave me for the thought,
Mr.. Tyrrel, but it remains yet to be
proved who most faithfully serve their
sovereign; they who counsel peace, or
they who push war to its fatal ex-
tremes. There lives not a man within
the realm of England, to whom would
yield in devotion to the glory Of our
country. Once make it clear to my
Judgment that we may hope to regain
the lost allegiance Of this province by
the sacrifice of life and fortune, and,
dearly as I cherish the welfare Of
those around me, l will obey the first
summons to the field, and peril this
worthless existence of mine in bloody
fight. Yea, if need be, I WILL with
my own hand. apply the torch to this
peaceful abode, and give it over a
smoking ruin to the cause"
II know you too WE'LL" replied Tyr
rel, "to doubt the sincerity of your
words. But Is it not obvious that the
war must inevitably tend to this field?
Having gained the Carolinas, should We
turn our backs as soon as we have
reached the confines of Virginia? On
the contrary does not every obligation
of honor impel us to maintain and pro-
tect our friends here? The conquest
of Virginia is an easier enterprise than
you deem it. II the Continentals can
muster ten thousand men, we, assured
ly may double that number, counting
our provincials levied in the south. We
have money and all the means Of war.
whilst this crippled congress has drain
ed from the people their last groat;
their wretched troops will disband from
mere want of supplies. They may ex-
pect no aid from the north! for there
Sir Henry will furnish them sufficient
motive to stay at home! We come an
imated by victories, full of mettle and
vigor. they meet us broken by defeats,
detected and torn to pieces by mutiny.
Never did treason or rebellion array it.
self with more certainty Of punish
ment than this"
81 have read" said Lindsay, chow
John Hampden resisted the exaction of
twenty shillings Of ship money, and for
that pittance dared the displeasure of
Charles and his Star Chamber; how he
voted the impeachment of the judges
who were supple enough to warrant
the imposition; how, in this cause, he
Il hn nd
scabbard; how he brought Strafford to
the block for levying war against the
commons of England; and through all
that disastrous time, have 1 read that
Charles promised the cavaliers splen-
did victories, and derided the feeble
means of those who were in arms
against him; yet Hampden shrunk not
from the struggle. To me it seems
there is strange resemblance between
the congress now sitting at Philadel-
phia and the parliament of 1910; and
this George Washington might claim
kindred with John Hampden. will
not seek for further likenesses."
IF read that history right" replied
Tyrrel, "Hampden met his reward at
ChalgrOve and Cromwell turned his
crop-eared parliament out Of doors
We may, perhaps, find a Chalgrove on
this continent-and Sir Henry Clinton
will most probably save the wiseacres
at Philadelphia from the intrusion OF
an upstart Cromwell"
1T would be too bold in US to count
on that, Mr.. Tyrrel. l am the enemy
of these men and their purpose, but
cannot deem otherwise of them than
as misguided subjects of the king
frenzied by the imagination of griev-
ances. They are men of good intel
lects and honest hearts. mislead by
passion. | would that we could give
their tempers time to cool. l would
even now, preach moderation and CON-
promise to his majeSty's ministers"
THE die is long since cast said
Tyrrel. "and all that remains now Is
to take the hazard of the throw. Al
this moment. whilst we debate. FRIEND
and foe are whetting their swords fol
deadly encounter on the fields OF
Carolina. 1t is too late to talk Of 9TH
er arbitrement. Assuredly, my gooc
| Friapd our destiny Directs uS TO this