Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-31

men whom l represent Will never
submit to any such conditions" Ar
desoif swore like a flend and threat
ened vengeance upon him and the
rebels whom he represented.
So soon as James declared that
neither he nor his friends would sub
NIT to unconditional surrender, he
leaped out of the door, mounted his
horse and dashed away to Indian
town church. His course was ap-
proved by his neighbors and three
cavalry companies were raised to de-
fend the country against the British.
The captains of these three COM
panies were John James, Henry
Mouzon and John Macaulay. In
this community there was at the
time, a company commanded by
William McCottry. These companies
were organized perhaps in July.
So soon as the British learned that
the people of Williamsburg were
still In state Of rebellion, Leuten-
ant Banastre Tarleton was sent
from Charleston to kill in the bud,
the patriotism Of the Scotch-Irish Of
Williamsburg. On the eth Of Au-
gust, Tarleton crossed the Santee at
Lenud's ferry and pushed on, crossed
Black river a short distance below
Kingtree. Maj. James was on
Lynche's creek He sent McCottry to-
Kingstree, but Tarleton was gone be-
fore McCottry's arrival. 1t seems
that a rumor was afloat in the coun-
try that Col. Washington with a
large cavalry force, would soon be
In the Williamsburg region. Tarle-
ton took advantage Of this rumor
and passed himself off as Col. Wash
ington and completely deceived the
people.
From Kingtree he set out in Amer
lean uniform for Camden to join the
army at that point. James Bradley,
one of the first settlers Of the coun-
try and at that time venerable old
man, was fooled by Tarleton's Amer
lean uniform. Tarleton told the pa
triarch that he was Col. Washington
and that he was seeking an opportu-
nifty to attack the British. Mr..
Bradley who was a man Of influence
and had a perfect knowledge Of ev-
erything connected with the immedi-
ate country, told in the simplicity OF
his heart and innocence Of his soul,
Everything he knew. Tarleton pre-
tending to be Col. Washington pre-
vailed upon the old man to act as
his guide across the swamps of
Black river. When Tarleton had ac-
complished all he desired, he threw
off his disguise and avowed himself
as Tarleton.
No man can approve Of such an
act 1t was mean and inhuman.
James Bradley was put in irons and
taken to Camden. For some diabol-
ical purpose, he was, frequently dur
ing his long confinement at Camden
taken out to witness the barbarous
execution Of his countrymen and Of
ten was the threat made that his
time would be next. To the honor
Of the old man he ever replied: Il
am ready at any time TO die for my
country" In May, 1871, James
Bradley was released; but he bore
the marks of the irons upon his legs
to his grave.
On his march from Kingtree to
Camden, Tarleton burnt and de-
stroyed everything in his way. All
the houses on the plantation Of Capt.
Henry Mouzon together with their
contents, were burnt to ashes. The
house of James Bradley was also
burnt as we'll as the houses Of Will
liam and Edward Plowden.
These acts of cruelty prompted
the three companies organized in
July and McCottry's company, to send
for Francis Marion. The largest OF
these four companies was McCottry's
and it contained only seventy-five
men, when organized before the fall
Of Charleston. These four compa-
nies, together with some twenty-five
or thirty men and boys with Marion
when he was commissioned briga-
dier general, constituted what was
known as "Marion's Brigade" We
must not confound Marion's brigade
with Marion's regiment. The latter
consisted Of nine hundred companies
and ceased to exist on the fall Of
Charleston.
After parting with Gates army at
some point between Deep river and
Camden, General Marion hastened to
the region between Camden and
Charleston. With that zeal and energy
for which he was noted during all his
life, he began the work Of destroying
the boats upon the rivers. The object
of this destruction as stated before
was to prevent CORVALLIS from re-
treating to Charleston. Gates calcu-
lated on nothing less than the complete
determination of all the British troops
in the region Of Camden.
So soon as 1t was learned that Mar
ion was on the Santee the Wings
focked to him. The four Williamsburg
companies were all mounted and sent
under command of Col. Peter Horny
into the region of country around
Georgetown. General Marion with a
few men directed his course towards
the upper Santee.
On the 18th of August, he heard of
Gates defeat at Gum Swamp on the
day before. The news of this defeat
was carefully concealed by Marion
from his men, lest 1t might make the
already sad, sadder. That night his
scouts brought him information that
large British force. with a considera-
BILE number of prisoners were in the
neighborhood of Nelson's ferry. This
was just what Marion desired. He
wanted to do something to revive the
spirits of his men. The fact Of Gates
defeat, he knew they would soon learn
and under no more favorable circum-
stances could this fact be learned than
when releasing those who had been
captured by the enemy. Mo doubt
Marion had another object in view.
Most naturally would he conclude that