Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-14

English. The river crossed, Tarleton
Joined CORVALLIS. He found his lord
ship, sick and the British troop in a
miserable condition. Their supplies
had been taken from them, and they
were afraid to venture into the coun-
try to secure the actual necessities Of
life What corn could be secured from
1.-THE surrounding country, they grated
into meal.
| During the sickness Of CORVALLIS,
the command of the British forces de-
volved upon Lord Rawdon. In order
to save the troops from starving this
officer ordered the forces to move be-
Iyond Sugar creek. So soon as the roy
al forces commenced moving, the
Mecklenburg militia began to assail
them. The Hornets Nest club watched
every movement of the royal troops
Even the gallant Tarleton could not
drive away the invincible Wings. The
British sentries were shot down at
their posts and foraging parties were
cut Off With his majesty's forces 1t
was a critical time. The Scotch Irish
blood was warm and fear had seized
upon the British.
The question sprung UP in the minds
OF both officers and men: Where
shall we be safe?' Tarleton was sent
out by Lord Rawdon in search of a
safe retreat. To go back to Camden
would be to expose all the British
forces in the Ninety-Six region to the
fury of the Wings. To go to Ninety
Six would similarly expose ali the
eastern section of South Carolina.
Some place must be sought, central
between Camden and Ninety-S Six.
Multitudes of trembling loyalists and
Tories were anxious for Cornwallis to
fix his headquarters near their dwell
ing, that they might be shielded from
Whig vengeance by the presence Of
the royal army.
So soon as CORVALLIS was able to
be moved the whole British army
crossed Catawba river at Lands Ford.
Passing through the country in a
southwestern direction, he crossed
Tinker's creek, few miles above its
junction with Fishing creek. Then
changing his course from a southwest
ern to northwestern he passed be-
tween Tinkers creek and Fishing creek,
as far as whites mill. Here he made
another change in his course. From
Whites mill, (now Williford's) he set
out in a south western direction and
continued his march as far as the site
Of the present town of Chester. Here
he made another change in his direc-
tion and steering a course little east
of south, he passed down the road
leading from Chester to Winnsboro.
past Purity, Pleasant Grove and Hope
we'll churches. After a circuitous
march Of two weeks, the army Of the
British, still commanded by Lord Raw
don, arrived on the 29th of October,
1880 at Winnsboro.
The distance from Lands Ford to
Winnsboro, in a direct line Is about
thirty miles; yet 1t took the army Of
| CORVALLIS two weeks to accomplish
1t. Under the circumstances, 1T was
performed as expeditions as possible.
The roads were in a desperate condi-
ton and the army had to subsist by
plundering the country. 1t was re-
treat of discounted army through a
country inhabited by uncompromising
foes. 1t Is true, the British had some
friends in the region traversed, but
they could not be depended on in the
hour of danger. All the friends the
British had in the region of country
between Lands Ford and Winnsboro
were a set of unprincipled horse
thieves, some Of whom, after the war,
At the time Of CORVALLIS retreat from
Charlotte to Winnsboro, these Tories
were trembling like aspen leaves.
On the approach of the British,
the Whig men, what few Of them were
at home, took to the woods or Joined
the nearest Whig organization. The
women hid in the thickets what little
provisions they had in their possession.
Tarleton in search Of a flt place for
winter quarters, secured the country
between Broad river and Catawba.
The loyalists and Tories in the British
army were sent out to search the coun-
try for supplies. Had 1t not been for
these the native Britons would have
been forced to look starvation fair In
the face The British soldiers were ig-
norant Of the country and they had
been shot at so often, by unseen foes,
that they were afraid to leave the main
column. The loyalists and Tories had
good knowledge of the country and
besides were less timorous than the
foreign soldiers. By these loyalists the
forest, fields, houses and thickets were
searched for food. BY these plundering
loyalists, bacon was found where 1t
had been hid by the Whig women in
thorn thickets and meal and flour and
rum was found stored away in secret
places. The British officers declared
they had never beheld so fine a coun-
try. A land where bacon grew on
thorn bushes.
Tarleton's keen eye was not long In
discovering the bounds of the Scotch
Irish settlements. When he passed
| the line both he and the whole army
breathed freer. The country assumed
different aspect and he named 1t
Fairfield, name which the county, Of
which Winnsboro is the capital, re-
tains to this day.
| The reason given by Tarleton for
selecting Winnsboro as the site for
winter quarters are briefly given by
himself: Its spacious plantations
yielded a tolerable post; it's centrical
situation between the Broad river and
the Wateree, afforded protection to
Ninety-Six and Camden; and Its vicin-
ity to the Dutch forks, and a rich
country in the rear, promised abund-
ant supplies Of flour, forage and cattle"
There was another reason, which pride
no doubt, suggested to Col. Tarleton
not to make known. The region Of
country around Winnsboro was settled
by true Wings; but in the country
/ oro,,pd tbara ware denS of Tories and