Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-16

you to warn them that others may fal
into our hands; and that If the ensign
be not delivered up, there may be
dreadful retaliation"
81 know not, sir, of what or whom
you speak" replied Butler; land 1t is
due to my honor to say, that I will not
be induced, for the sake of saving my
| life. to interfere with any operations
which the soldiers Of congress may
have undertaken in the cause OF the
country. In this sentiment admonisf
Colonel Innis that I desire to be put
in possession Of no facts from him
that may be communicated under such
an expectation. And having made this
determination known to you, I will add
to it that, from the same motives,
will answer no questions you can pro-
pose to me. You may spare yourself
therefore, the useless labor Of this WIS.,
it. Ny life is in your hands, and
have already experienced with what
justice and clemency you will use your
power when you dare"
"a more humble Tone" said 1nnis'
with a bitter smile, ~ think would
better suit your circumstances" And
with this remark the commandant
haughtily walked out Of the apart
ment.
The next morning, whilst Butler was
taking his breakfast, which had been
brought to him by one Of the soldiers
of the guard, he heard a loud cheer
ing from the troops that at that hour
were on parade in the plain. This
was followed by the discharge OF a
feu de joie from the whole line, and
flourished of drums and trumpets.
What is that?" he inquired eagerly
Of the soldier, who, forgetful, In the
excitement of the moment, Of the or
der to restrain his intercourse with the
prisoner, answered.
"They have just got the news from
Camden; two days ago Cornwallis de-
feated Gates, and cut his army to
pieces. The troops are rejoicing for
the victory, and have just had the
dispatches read"
Butler heaved a deep sigh, as he
said, "Then all is lost, and liberty is
but name! 1 feared it; God knows,
l feared it."
The soldier was recalled to his duty
by the sentinel at the door, and Butler
was again left alone.
This was a day Of crowding events.
The tidings of the battle Of Camden,
gained on the sixteenth, and which had
early this morning reached 1nnis.
threw a spirit Of the highest exulta-
ton into the camp. The event was
considered decisive of the fate Of the
rebel power; and the most extrava-
CANT anticipations were indulged' by
the loyalists, in regard to the complete
subjugation Of the Wings Of the south
ern provinces. The work of confisca-
ton was to be carried out to the most
bitter extreme, and the adherents OF
the royal government were to grow
rich upon the spoils Of victory. The
soldiers of Innis were permitted to
give way to uncontrolled revelry; and,
from the first promulgation of the
news, this became a day devoted TO
rejoicings. Innis himself looked upon
the victory at Camden with more sat-
isfaction, as it gave him reason to be-
lieve that the sentence pronounced
against Butler might be executed,
without fear of vengeance threatened
against the Ensign st. Jermyn. He
was, however, exceedingly anxious to
see this young officer released from
the hands of the enemy; and had de-
termined to respect the threat as long
as there was any doubt that it might
be performed. The personal consider
alton Of Captain st. Jermyn, his sta
ton as an officer of Importance, and,
above all, the great influence Of his
family, in the esteem Of the royal lead
ers, made it an object Of deep concern
to Innis to save the ensign, by the
most scrupulous regard to his present
difficulties. His power to do so SEEM
ed to be much increased by the late
victory.
In the afternoon of the same day
further rumors were brought to lnnls'
camp, importing that Sumpter had
been attacked on that morning upon
the Catawba, by Tarleton, and COM
pletely routed. The prisoners and
baggage taken on the fifteenth, had
been regained, and Sumpter was flying
with the scattered remnant of his
troops towards North Carolina. AT
the same time an order was brought
to Innis to break up his camp ana
move northwards. This only added to
the shouts and rejoicing Of the troops
and drove them into deeper excesses.
The war they thought, was coming
rapidly to an end, and they al
ready anticipated this conclusion by
throwing off the irksomeness OF
military restraint. The officers
were gathered into gossiping and con-
vivial circles; and laughed, In un-
restrained feelings of triumph, at the
posture of affairs. The private SOL
diers, on their part, initiated their
leaders and formed themselves into
knots and groups, where they caroused
over their cups, danced and sang. All
was frolic and merriment.
In the midst Of this festivity, por-
tion of Connelly's troopers, who had
now been absent forty eight hours, ar
rived and made an immediate report
to Innis. The purport of this was, that
they had found Ensign st. Jermyn In
the possession of a detachment OF
Whig cavalry near the Saluda; as
soon as they deserted him, which they
did, some three hundred PAGES dis
tant, knowing him by his scarlet uni
form, they prepared to attack this par
ty of Wings; but the ensign perceiV-
ing his friends at hand, had already
by brave effort, disentangled him
self from his keepers, and taken on
into the open field. The scouts, there
fore, instead of attacking the wings
directed all their attention to secure
the ensign's retreat by holding
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