Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-31
From the Yorkville Enquirer Of 1876.
INSTALLMENT XIX.

On the approach Of General Gates, the
Wings Of every section of South Car
olina began to throw off. the cloak Of
disguise. AS DeKalb passed through
Virginia and North Carolina, the Wings
of these states were filled with JOY and
the loyalists began to fear and trem-
BILE.
Sumter had for sometime been
securing the country between Camden
and Ninegy-Six and Marion was
watching the region between Camden
and the Atlantic, making the swamps
between the Santee and the Pedee hid
ing places for himself and his men.
Both Sumter and Marion at this time
were colonels of the South Carolina
line. Both were very brave men and
although very different from each 9TH
er in personal appearance and temper
ament, were admirably adapted for the
kind of warfare In which they had en-
gagged. They were near the same age,
but in physical strength, Sumter was
superior to Marion. Appropriately,
Sumter was called "the game cock"
and Marion "the swamp fox" Sum-
ter was as impetuous as a storm and
not over scrupulous. Marion was eau
tious. The former never thought about
danger, the latter neither sought 1t
nor avoided 1t. Both had the same OBJ
ject In view-tha ruin Of the British
and Tories and the freedom Of their
country; but as warriors they chose
different modes to secure the same
thing Both Sumter and Marion were
of Huguenot extraction.
We have already met Sumter at
Rocky Mount and Hanging Rock, and
in future we will frequently meet both
him and Marion, together with An
drew Pickens, James Lyles, and a host
of others, who took the field as partisan
leaders.
When General Gates encamped at
Rugeley's Mill, the camp of Sumter was
not far distant. Neither Sumter nor his
men could be still. He was constantly
on the look out for something to do.
Learning that troops were passing
from Ninety-Six to Camden for the
purpose of reinforcing CORVALLIS, and
that a large wagon train Of supplies
was also on It's way from Ninety-Six
to Camden, he concluded that with a
few more men than he had and some
pieces of cannon, he could without any
loss capture the supplies. He made
known his intentions and wants to
Gen. Gates at Rugeley's Mill, on the
fourteenth of August. Gen. Gates
since he had on that day been Joined
by Gen. Stevens with seven hundred
Virginians, Immediately detached four
hundred men and three Founders. un-
der the command Of Colonel Woolford,
for the purpose Of reinforcing Sumter
The camp of Sumter at this time was
on Waxhaw creek In Lancaster county
Sumter and Woolford were ordered to
unite their forces and carry out the
intentions of Sumter. Early on the
morning of the fifteenth of August, the
forces of Woolford having Joined Sum-
ter, all the crossings of the Wateree
river for some distance above Camden
and for five miles below it, were seized
by Sumter.
During the previous night the Brit
ish had for some reason, removed all
the guards except from what was then
called Wateree ferry, opposite Cam
den. At this point a guard was sta
toned on both sides of the river. On
the west side was a small fortifica-
ton called Fort Cary. 1t was COM
manded by Col. Cary. A party OF
Sumter's men surprised the guard,
killing seven and taking thirty prison.
ers. among whom was Col. Cary HIM
self.
Up to this time Sumter had not
lost a single man. The British from
the east side of the river, fired upon
the Americans across the river, but
did no damage. The wagon train, In
quest of which Sumter had set out,
was in the immediate neighborhood OF
Fort Cary. In short time, without
any loss, Sumter was in possession OF
thirty-eight wagons loaded with army
supplies, together with their escort In
a short time afterwards six more wag-
ons and seventy prisoners were captur-
ed. In all, he captured forty-four wag-
ons loaded with army stores Of various
kinds and three hundred prisoners and
did not lose a single man.
After the battle of Hanging Rock,
Davies division, which formed part
of Sumte@'s command, was ordered
to escort lie wounded to Charlotte.
So soon as Davie had performed this
duty, he hastened back to join Gates
at Rugeleys Mill. He arrived after
Gates had set out for Camden, but by
marching all night he met the fleeing
troops of Gates about four miles from
the scene of conflict. Here he learned
from Gen. Huger Of the defeat OF the
American army. Davie at once con-
CluuSu lildl ouiiltcl "ao iBho'o's -
the fact and would be cut off did he
not get out of the reach of the enemy
at once. Captain Martin with two dra-
goons, was sent at once by Davie, to
inform him of the sad results OF the
battle and to advise him to hasten to
Charlotte, North Carolina, when they
could again form a junction.
On the night of the sixteenth, Capt.
Martin reached Sumter's camp and
found that the latter was totally ignor-
ant Of what had taken place. iHe was
encamped with forty-four wagons and
three hundred prisoners, many Of whom
were sick He at once broke up his
camp and set out up the river, expect
ing to cross at the Nation ford or
some other place in that neighborhood.
Unfortunately for the brave Sum-
ter and his heroic band, the British
commander did not become so elated
on account of his victory over the ne
ro Of Saratoga, as to forget them.
Both CORVALLIS and Tarleton were
capable of making the most out or
victory. On the evening Of the six
teenth of August, when Gates discom-
flied army was fleeing in wild con-
fusion, CORVALLIS sent a messenger to