Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-04-24
CHAPTER XIV.

1
Great agitation prevailed at Macdon-
AIDS post, when the morning disclosed
the escape of Butler. The lieutenant
was conscious that this mischance had
exposed him to the risk OF heavy GEN.
sure, and, as was natural to a man who
could not entirely acquit himself OF
some neglect in the performance Of his
duty, his first measures were taken In
spirit Of peevish and angry severity.
Small parties were sent out to explore
the neighborhood with a view to gain
intelligence Of the direction taken by
the fugitive, with orders to bring him
in dead or alive. The sentinels who
were on duty during the night were ar
rested, and subjected to a rigid exami-
nation on the events Of their watch;
the several members of Musgrove's
family were also interrogated as to
matters touching their own connection
with the prisoner. Nothing, however,
was gathered from these Investigations
that was calculated to cast a suspicion
Of connivance in Buffers liberation,
upon any individual either Of the gar
rison or of the family. 1t was only ap-
parent that the prisoner had availed
himself of the remissness Of the guard
and the darkness of the night, to make
bold descent from the window: and
had succeeded by one Of those lucky
accidents which sometimes battle the
most cautious foresight. The nature
of the attempt did not necessarily sup
pose the aid Of an accomplice, and a
faint hope was, therefore, entertained
that Butler would be found still lurk-
ing in the vicinity of the post.
In the course Of a few hours. the
first parties that had been despatched
in the morning, returned. They could
give no account Of the prisoner; nor
was there any light thrown upon the
escape until, about the dinner hour,
when a portion Of the detachment
which had intercepted Butler and his
comrades in the morning, arrived at
the mill, under the conduct OF the SOL
dier whose suspicious had led to the
pursuit and skirmish which we have
already described. The report Of
these men left Macdonald no room to
doubt the identity Of Butler with the
person described. A further exami-
nation. at the suggestion Of the soldier,
showed that Wall-Eye, the wagon
horse. was missing: and it now became
certain that Butler had been aided by a
party Of the enemy with whom he must
have been in correspondence. The
conclusion was, that with his means Of
flight there could be little doubt of his
being, long before the present period
Of the day, out of the reach Of success
full pursuit. The scheme was laid to
whose name and adventures were al
ready famous in this district; and 1t
was conjectured that Sumpter was Sc
cretly posted in some neighboring fast
ness to give his assistance to the en-
terprise.
With these reflections, Macdonald
felt himself obliged to submit to the
exigencies of the case; point of phil
osophy which he did not practice with
out a very visible chagrin and mortifi-
cation. His men were called together,
and after a short fretfui lecture on
their neglect, and an injunction to a
more soldier-like vigilance in future,
which savored of the caution of lock-
1 h. OF
len, they were dismissed.
About an hour before sundown, Allen
len Musgrove," said Mistress Ramsay,
selves of the confusion and relaxed
events of the morning, set out on
horseback for David Ramsay's dwell
ing, whittier they were led by a natural
anxiety to learn something Of the fu-
gitives.
ITS a pleasure and happiness, AL
len Musgrave," said Mistress Ramsay,
as the miller and his daughter sat
down in the cabin, Ito see you and
Mary over here with us at any time,
but il is specially so now when we have
good news to tell. John and his friend
are safe out Of reach of Macdonald's s
men, and-God be praised!-I hope out
of the way of all other harms. We
have had soldiers lodging in and out
through the day, but not one of them
has made any guess what's gone with
the major; and as for John they don't
seem to suspect him to be on the coun-
tryside. It's all Horse Shoe Robinson
with them. They say that none but he
could have helped to get the major
laway, and that General Sumpter was
the instigator. Well, I'm sure they
were welcome to that opinion, for 1t
set them all to looking over towards
Broad river, which Is as good a direc-
tion as we could wish them to travel"
THE less you seem to know about
II. with any of these inquiring parties,
the better Mistress Ramsay" said AL
len Musgrove, land 1 would advise
you, even here amongst ourselves, to
speak lower David. what do you hear
this EVENING""
Nothing concerning our runaways
since they left us at daylight this
morning" replied Ramsay. Il should
guess them to be somewhere near upon
Fair Forest by this time. You know
Williams is outlying upon the upper
branches of the river? 1t Is more like
hunted deer Allen, than Christian
men. that our poor fellows take to the
woods now God knows what will
come of it,
He knows and has appointed it,
said Musgrove, gravely, land will in
His own good time and with such in
struments as shall faithfully work His
purpose. give the victory to them that
have the right. Man, woman, and
child may perish. and house and home
may be burnt over our heads, and the
: blood of brave men may make the dust
of the road red; yes, and the pastures
rich as If new laid with manure; but
the will of God shall be done and His
providence be accomplished. The