Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-10-12


ton, before Lee and Campbell could bt
dislodged. In fact, 80 soon as the Brit
ish came within range of the rides o.
lCampbell,s men, these hardy sons o.
the mountains poured in spch con-
stant and eff',ctual fire, that 1t wa!
thought at one time the British righ
would not be able to reach thE first linz
of the Americans.
The British left under Webster
pressed forward and attacked the Vir'
ginians under Lawson. These stood
their ground manfully. Lee and Camp.
bell set upon by the whole IF Leslie's
division was forced to give way Of
be slaughtered to man. The base
flight Of the North Carolini1ns left tht
way open for the advance OF the roya:
artillery. On the flight Of the first linf
of the Americans, gap was formed
between Leslie and Webster. Thii
was soon closed by o'Hara fling tc
the right and resting his right wing
upon General Leslie's left.
| The whole British force except the
cavalry. with determined courage and
splendid discipline now attacked the
virginians under Lawson and Stevens
The most of the men under Stevens
were Scotch-Irlsh from Rockbridge and
Augusta counties, Virginia. One COM
pany was principally members Of the
congregation Of the Rev. James Wad.
dell, the blind preacher whose melting
eloquence Is so graphically and tender
ly described by Writ in his British Spy
To prevent any one In his brigade
from leaving, Stevens had before the
battle commenced, placed forty rife
men, twenty PAGES in the rear with
strict orders to shoot any one Of the
brigade who should dare to leave his
post. These brave Virginians to cheil
| lasting credit. stood like well tried
veterans. although pressed by the
whole British force. Colonels Wash
ington and Lee kept the fianks secure
The contest was hard and the result
doubtful. Balls were flying thick as
hail, and men on both sides were fall.
ling thick and fast as leaves from for
est tree In I'm autumn morning after
La biting frost
Colonel Washington In order to sue
cor the hard pressed Lawson, sent Col
onel Lynch to attack Websters flank
Webster was already sorely pressed
O,Hara with the grenadiers and Sec
ond battalion Of guards were now or
dered into line to assist Webster. The
thirty third regiment was turned upon
Lynch and Webster with fixed bayo-
nets rushed forward against Lawson
Over powered and unable. like most
militia to stand the sight Of the cold
steel, Lawson's men and soon those
under Stevens gave way and fell bach
to the line of the Continentals.
In the first conflict Of the Virgin
ians with the British, the brave Stew
ems was shot through the thigh. He
remained on the field but his efficiency
was impaired. This contributed nc
little to the success of the British.
During this conflict between Web.
ster and the Virginians on the left, the
infantry of Lees legion and CampbelPs
l"mountain men," struggled with unre.
Initting ardor against Colonel Bose's
Hessian regiment. Lee and Carnplpell's
rifienlen kept Norton and Bose SC
closely pressed that their forces could
not be brought to bear upon the secont
line Of the Americans.
The first and second lines OF the
Americans were broken, but Genera
Greene still had hope that the day wat
not lost. Washington and Kirkwoot
were at their posts ready and anxious
to render support to the Contlnentals
under Huger and Williams. The Con.
tinental troops were not discouraged
but on the contrary were full Of vigoi
and ready for the conflict. Genera
Greene passed along the line and ex-
horted his troops to stand firm and dc
their duty like men.
The British seemed to be determined
to conquer or die. CORVALLIS did no,
stop for one moment to consolidate his
forces. Webster. unsupported and witt
only a part of his command, advanced
over the ground occupied by Steven.
and Lawson at the outset to attack the
Americans third line. The GROUND
over which Websters command hat
to advance was uneven and hence par
of his command fell behind. With more
zeal than prudence, he rushed to with
In close fire of the Continentals. Ht
came In contact with the first Mary
land regiment commanded by Colone
Gunby and Lieutenant Colonel How
ard. The forces Of Webster had beer
weakened In their conflict with tht
Virginians and when they were set up
on by Gunby, supported by Hawes
regiment of Virginians and Kirk
woods company Of Delawares, they
were obliged to give way. Webster
led his troops back across a rayine ant
on a favorable eminence awaited tht
remainder of his command. Soon Lieu
tenant Colonel Stuart with the frs
battalion of guards followed by the re-
mainder Of Webster's command, swep
across the field near the court house
Stuart discovered the second Marylant
regiment, under Ford on the left o.
the first under Gunby. and concealed
from the first by grove OF trees, rush
ed forward to attack 1t. Ford's reg
iment was supported by Captain Fin
ley with two six-pounders.
Colonel Williams being elated on &C.
count Of the good conduct Of his frs
regiment under Gunby, had no doub
but that the second would conduct It.
self as gallantly as the first had done
With this expectation he began to con-
centrate his forces for the purpose o
utterly annihilating Stuart's command
To the astonishment Of williams, TIT
regiment under Ford gave way at th'
first shock and fed, leaving the two
six-pounders to the enemy. Stuar
pushed forward in pursuit OF Fordi
regiment. Gunby being left unem
ployed by the departure of Webste
over the ravine and seeing the figh
of Ford and pursuit Of Stuart, turned
his regiment upon Stuart, when des
| h,