Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-17
CHAPTER X-CoNTINUED.

active operations against the enemy
He wished first to accustom his men
to the restraints OF wholesome disci-
pline, as we'll as to make his own po-
sition perfectly secure in every res
pect. For this latter purpose he es-
tablished a system Of sleepless vigil
lance, and organized corps Of patrols
and videttes so effective that 1t was
impossible for party of British troops
to move in any direction without his
immediate knowledge. In this he was
greatly aided by the country people,
who, satisfied that they had at last
found a protector repaid him tenfold
by freely and promptly communicat-
ing every species of information that
might aid his operations.
In numerous encounters with small
parties Of the enemy, Colonel Burr
had fair opportunity Of testing the
mettle of his men, and he was graf
flied by observing that they feared no
danger and counted no odds when he
was their leader. AS soon as he was
fully satisfied that they could be re-
lied on in any emergency, he resolved
to employ them on a more dangerous
service than any in which they had
yet been engaged. In the lower part OF
the country the British had erected a
block-house as a rallying point for
their foraging and plundering parties;
this, again, was protected by strong
ho5xy oF savaroi thousand trOOnS most
ed some two or three miles off. To
destroy this block-house would be to
deprive them Of a safe and convenient
place of retreat, and increase the dan
ger of their forays to such an extent
as to make it probable they would be
abandoned altogether. He had, accord
ing to his custom carefully inquired
about 1t, and only waited for dark
and rainy night to put in execution the
plan he had formed. 1t was not long
before the weather proved as propitious
as he could desire, and, selecting forty
men, properly equipped and instructed,
just after nightfall he began his march
for the scene of action. At 2 o'clock
in the morning he arrived in the vicin-
ity of the blockhouse. Here he divid-
ed his force into two parties the one
commanded by Capt Black, to whom
his instructions had been previously
communicated, and the other by him.
self. The garrison was buried in sleep
and the shivering sentinels were more
intent upon protecting themselves from
the bitter blasts of northern winter
than in looking out for an enemy of
whose presence they did not dream.
Suddenly the thick darkness was il
Illuminated by flashes of light, and loud
and clear rang voice upon the
night air, Charge, and smoke the
numbering bandits from their den!"
There was a simultaneous rush, short
ladders were planted against the block
house, showers of hand-grenades were
poured through the portfolios, and the
drowsy garrison started from their
slumbers to find themselves surround
ed on all sides by fire. The assault had
been too sudden and too we'll planned
to admit of resistance, and the Brit
arms, yelled Justify for quarter. This
was at once granted, the prisoners Sc
cured, and a rapid retreat commenced.
The ruddy hue painted upon the heav-
ems by the burning block-house gave
early notice at the British camp of the
danger of their friends, and a strong
body of horse, followed by another Of
infantry, was dispatched without delay
to their assistance. But long before
they could reach the scene, their enter
safe beyond the reach of pursuit. A
heap of burning Goals and blackened
stones greeted their arrival, but no
human being was left to point out the
pathway of the destroyer.
The next day Colonel Burr sent up
his prisoners to General McDougall,
and received in return the warm plau-
dts of his veteran commander. To the
common soldiers he had now become
an idol His unwearied exertions to
procure them shoes, blankets, and 9TH
er comforts, his tender solicitude for
the sick and wounded, the unvarying
urbanity of his department, and his
perfect readiness to endure whatever
he required others to undergo, created
an enthusiastic love for his person
that was only surpassed by their un-
bounded confidence in his military
abilities. The very strictness of the
discipline he enforced made his other
qualities stand prominently out on the
canvas, and they respected and loved
him the more from the fact that they
dared not triie with his orders. Brave
men they could find anywhere-hu-
name men, though not so abundant
were yet no rarity; it was the unioI
of courage and humanity, animated by
tireless activity, and regulated by the
highest intelligence, that seized upon
their affections, and, to their eyes, in
vested the young officer with the attri-
butes of a demigod.
The capture of the block-house was
soon followed by an enterprise upon
larger scale. Governor Tryon, Of house
burning memory, came out of New
York at the head of two thousand men
His main object was to destroy GER
tain salt works on Long Island sound
but coupled with this he had 1t i'm view
to drive off cattle, and indulge his
men generally in their favorite recrea-
ton of robbery and murder. Colone
Burr. though far inferior in the num-
ber of men he could prudently with
draw from their posts, determined tc
make the governor pay for his amuse-
ment. A messenger was accordingly
dispatched to General Putnam, who
was nearer to the enemy than himself
advising that officer of his intention tc
get into Tryon's rear and compel hin
to give battle or surrender AT the
same time he earnestly requestd the
general to make such demonstrations
in front as would draw Tryon's atten'
ton from his own movements. and ia
cilitate the object he had In view. BY
means of false information, the British
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