Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-10-19


the approach of General Greene. He
was astonished, having heard that Cen
eral Greene was ruined. Such, how
ever, was the strength Of his position
and so strongly was he fortified that
the approach of Greene's army gave
him very little uneasiness. General
Greene after accommodating and finding
that he could effect nothing with his
present force, either by siege or storm,
fell back to Hobkirk's Hill with the in
tention of awaiting the arrival Of Sum-
ter.
Previous to the arrival Of Greene,
Rawdon had sent out Colonel Watson,
with four or five hundred men, to watch
the movements of Marion. On the 21st
General Greene heard that Colonel
Watson was marching, with all possi-
BILE dispatch up the Santee in order to
join Rawdon at Camden. Greene at
once concluded that II was incumbent
on him to prevent the junction Of Raw
don. and Watson. To effect this it was
deemed advisable to intercept Watson
at a considerable distance from Cam
den. General Greene with sufficient
number of men, set out forthwith to
accomplish this design. He crossed
Sand Hill creek, and on the 22nd en-
camped east of Camden on the road
leading to Charleston. Finding that
the artillery could not be transported
across the swamps, 1t was sent back
under Colonel Darlington in the d.
rection of Lynch's creek. Here 1t was
thought, 1t would be safe from the enc
my. General Greene soon learned that
he had been falsely informed respect
ing the movements of Colonel Watson.
This being the case he returned to
Hobkirk's Hill on the 23rd. Colonel
Darlington and the artillery arrived on
the morning of the Gath.
Although General Greene had no ap-
prehension that Lord Rawdon would
attack him, nor did he design making
any aggressions on the enemy until af-
ter the arrival of Sumter, still his army
was encamped in order for battle. The
Waxhaw road, the road leading
through the Waxhaw settlement to
Salisbury passed directly over Hob
kinks Hill. On the west Of the road,
was encamped Huger's Virginia bri-
gade; on the east Of the road was Col
onel Williams Maryland brigade. The
light troops under Kirkwood formed a
picket line I'm front In the rear was
placed Colonel Washington's cavalry
and the North Carolina militia. In the
rear Of Williams and between the two
lines was the reserves under Greene
himself. On the left or east Of the
American camp, less than a mile dis
tant, was Little Pinetree creek; on the
right or west, was the Wateree river
less than two miles distant. The posi-
ton was favorable for resisting an at
tack The American army was en-
camped in a line extending across the
neck of land which lies between the
Wateree river and Little Pinetree
creek.
On the 23rd, Captain Mckay, the
commandant Of Fort Watson, at
Wrights Bluff on the Santee, in Clar-
endon county, was forced to surrender
to Lee and Marion. A number OF the
prisoners captured had at one time
been in the American army. In order
that they might escape the doom which
awaits the deserter, they stated that
having fallen in the hands Of the enc
my, they Joined the British army that
they might have better opportunity
Of again entering the service of their
country. Among this class Of prisoners
was a drummer by the name Of Jones
a native Of Maryland. Jones, together
with the prisoners, who had once been
American soldiers, were sent to Cen
eral Greene. They arrived at the
American camps sometime during the
oath. Sometime during the same night
Jones deserted and made good his es-
cape to the enemy. From him Loro
Rawdon learned the condition Of things
in the American camp. He learned tina,
Fort Watson had capitulated, that
Greene was daily expecting strong re-
Inducements under Sumter and that
he was without supplies. He was also
told that Colonel Darlington was abb
sent with the artillery from Greene's
camp. Darlington had returned tc
camp when Jones left, but unknown tc
the latter
In view of all the circumstances by
which he was surrounded, Lord Raw
don concluded that something must be
done to sustain the sinking cause OF
the British. OF CORVALLIS he knew
nothing and he saw that unless some
stop was put to the progress OF the
American partisan leaders, he woulo
soon be cut off from Ninety-Six anc
Charleston, and be forced for the want
of supplies, to surrender. On the morn
ing of the 25th he armed every man
who was able to carry a gun. Even the
musicians and drummers were ordered
into ranks. His Notifications and bag
gage were committed to the care Of the
sick and Tories who had congregatec
in the town.
About two o'clock in the morning
Rawdon with all his available force
marched out Of town for the purpose
of attacking the Americans. Every
move was made with the utmost 81
lence. Taking the road leading t
Pinetree creek, he filed to the left lead
| ing his forces close to the stream. Th'
whole region north and northeast O
Camden was at that time a dense for
est. Such was the order preserved o!
the British forces that the Americans
did not discover their approach unit
portion Of them had gone beyond TIT
pickets and were opposite the Ameri
cans left flank The picket line, com
manded by Captain Benson of Mary
land and Captain Morgan Of Virginia
supported by the remains Of the Della
ware regiment under Kirkwood, did no
discover the advance of the enemy un
til they had arrived within less thai
five hundred yards of the American
camp. Had it not been for the peculia
nature of the ground the American
would have been completely surprised
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