Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-06
CHAPTER XIV.
New Difficulties Open Upon Butler.

CHAPTER XIV.
New Difficulties Open Upon Butler.
With the last notes of the reveile
everything was stirring in Innis'
camp. 1t was a beautiful, fresh MORN
ing: a cool breeze swept across the
plain, and each spray and every blade
of grass sparkled with the dew: whilst
above an unelouded armament gave
promise Of rich and brilliant midsum-
mer's. day. The surrounding forest was
alive with the twittering Of birds; and
the neighing of horses showed that this
portion Of the animal creation partook
of the hilarity of the season. From
every little shed or woodland lair, crept
forth parties of soldiers, who betook
themselves to their several posts to
answer at the roll-call; and by the
time, the sun had risen. officers, on
horseback and on foot, were seen NOV
ing ihurriedly across the open plain,
to join the groups Of infantry and cav
airy which were now forming In
various quarters for the purpose Of the
morning drill. Companies were seen
in motion, passing through the rapid
evolutions Of the march, the retreat,
and the many exercises Of service.
Drums were beating, and flies were
piercing the air with their high notes,
and ever and anon, the trumpet bray
ed from the further extremities Of the
field! Picket-guards were seen muster
ing on the edge Of the camp-wearied
and night-worn: salutes were ex-
changed by the small detachments on
service: and here and there, sentinels
might be deserted, stationed at the
Several outlets Of the plain, and pre-
fse6ting their arms as an officer passed
their lines.
The troops that occupied this space
were mostly of the irregular kind.
Some were distinguished by ill-fitted
and homely uniforms: others were clad
in the common dress of the country,
distinguished as soldiers only by their
arms and accoutrements: but amongst
them was also a considerable party Of
British regulars clad in the national
livery Of scarlet. Amongst the officers,
who were in command Of the subordi-
nate departments Of this mixed and par
ti-colored little army, were several who,
from their costume, might be recog-
nized as belonging to the regiments
that had come from the other side Of
the Atlantic.
Colonel Innis himself was seen upon
the parade, directing the movements
Of divisions that. under their proper
officers, were practising the customary
lessons of discipline. He was tall,
thin man, Of an emaciated complexion,
with a countenance Of thoughtful Sc
verify. A keen black eye seemed al
most to burn within its orb, and to
give an expression of petulant and
peevish excitability, like the queru-
lousness of a sick man. A rather awk-
ward and ungainly person. arrayed in
scarlet uniform that did but little
credit to the tailor-craft employed In
It's fabrication conveyed to the spec
tator the idea of a man unused to the
pride of appearance that belongs to a
soldier of profession; and would have
suggested the conclusion, which the
fact itself sustained, that the indi-
vidual before him had but recently left
the walks of civil life to assume a mill
itary office His demeanor however.
showed him to be a Jealous II not a
skil,ful officer He gave close attention
to the duties of his command, and bus
led himself with scrupulous exact
itude in enforcing the observance nee
essary to a rigorous system of tactics.
This officer, as we have before
hinted, had been an active participator
in the proceedings Of the new court
of representations at Charleston: and
had rendered himself conspicuous by
the fierce and unsparing industry with
which he had brought to the Judgment
of that tribunal, the imputed delin-
quences Of some of the most opulent
and patriotic citizens of the province.
Amongst the cases upon which he
had been called upon consultation was
that of Arthur Butler. whose possess
sions being ample, and whose position,
as a rebellious belligerent. being one
Of "flagrant delict," there was but lit
tie repugnance. on the part of the
judges and their adviser. to subject
him to the severest law Of confiscation.
The proceedings. however had been de-
layed not from any tenderness to the
proprietor, but, as 1t was whispered In
the scandal of the day, on account or
certain dissensions, amongst a rev
prominent servants Of the British
crown, as to which Of them the priv
ilege of a cheap purchase should be
extended. The matter was still In sus-
pense, with a view Gas that busybody'
common rumor. allegedD to reward
particular favorite of the higher pow
ers with the rich guerdon Of these
good lands, in compensation for pri-
vate and valuable secret services, rem
dered in a matter Of great delicacy
and hazard-no less a service than that
of seducing into the arena of politics
and intrigue. an opulent and authori-
tative gentleman Of Virginia. Mr.. Phil
ip Lindsay.
In consequence Of the odious nature
of the duty which Colonel Innis had
assumed to perform, he became pecu-
liarly hateful to the Wings; and this
sentiment was in no degree abated
when, relinquishing his occupation as
a counsellor to the court at Charleston
he accented a commission to command
partisan corps of royalists in the up
per county. He was, at the juncture IN
which l have exhibited him to my
reader, new in his command, and had
not vet flashed his maiden sword;' the
day, however was near at hand when
his prowess was to be put to the PROOF.
Such was the person into whose
hands Arthur Butler had now fallen.
After the morning exercises OF the
camp were finished, and the men were
dismissed to prepare their first repast'
the principal officers returned to the