Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-03

and even beyond the mountains,
small but active and determined par
tisan corps were in the field annoying
the British posts whenever a favor
Tarleton, whose military judgment
was scarcely inferior to that of Corn
wallis, was not in favor Of advancing
into North Carolina by the way Of
Charlotte. The place was known all
over England. Every officer in the
British army had heard Of the pug
nacious and pertinacious' disposition
of the people.
CORVALLIS had made every pro-
vision that he could for the under
taking. The several British posts in
the state were put in proper condi-
ton. Gen. Patterson, on account
of bad health. being advised to leave
Charleston, the command Of that
post was assigned to Col. Balfour.
Brown was left in command Of Angus
ia; Cruger Of Ninety-Six; and Turn
bull of Camden. Redoubts were con-
structed to defend magazines and keep
open free communication between the
up country and Charleston. Evidently
when the time arrived to act, the un-
dertaking assumed dignified propor-
tions.. From Camden to Charlotte was
only a short distance and the only
foes who stood in his way had been
twice routed. The territory between
Camden and Charlotte, had been so Of
ten traversed by both armies that 1t
was well nigh desert.
In order that the army might suffer
as little as possible during the march,
from the want Of supplies, Col Tar
Teton was ordered by Lord CORVALLIS
to lead his command over the Catawba
river, at the ferry opposite Camden
and to march up the west bank Of the
river as far as Landsford and then to
cross. CORVALLIS himself with the 7th,
23d, card and list regiments Of infan-
try, the volunteers of Ireland, Bryan's
and Hamiltnn's regiments Of loyalists,
four pieces of cannon, fifty wagons and
a detachment of cavalry, marched up
the eastern bank Of the Catawba riv-
er. The particular route followed by
these British chieftains possesses much
interest to the student Of history. The
difficulty Of tracing 1t, with absolute
accuracy makes it still more interest
ing. From Camden, CORVALLIS direct
ed his course to Hanging Rock. At
Pleasant Hill, a short distance from
Hanging Rock, he took to the left,
passing between where Lancaster vii
lage is now situated and the Catawba
river. One mile and a half above
Landsford was the mill Of John Blair,
the uncle Of Gen. James Blair. Corn
wallis took possession of this mill.
Tarleton followed the trail Of Sum-
ter as far as Fishing creek and then
followed the road leading to Union
church as far as Williford's mill-then
Whites. At Williford's mill, he took
the road leading to Landsford. On the
march, Tarleton took sick and the
command of his corps devolved upon
Major Hanger. On the 22nd Of Sept.
Cornwallis ordered Tarleton to cross
the river at Blair's ford, near Blair's
mill. The sick and a small guard were
left az Blair's mill, the remaining force
moved forward for Charlotte. The
route chosen was up what Is called the
Sugar, more properly Sugar creek"
road.
The distance from Landsford to
Charlotte in a direct line Is about forty
miles. The distance was compare
lively short but 1t was attended with
serious difficulties. Majors Davie and
Davidson were in the field collecting
supplies for the remnant Of Gates army
and in preventing the British scouts
and vanguards from depredating upon
the inhabitants of the country. Many
Of the people fed as the British ad-
vanced and not a few took British pro-
lection.
Men who heretofore had been re-
garded as staunch patriots, on the ap-
proach of the British so far deserted
the cause of their country as to accept
protection from Lord CORVALLIS. OF
this unhappy number was Coils. Eph-
rain and Thomas Polk. Fear, momen-
tary fear, and the desire to save their
property from destruction, impelled
these men to desert the cause of their
country. Afterward when the cause
of their fears was removed and their
property saved from destruction they
renounced their allegiance to the Brit
ish crown. We are sorry that we are
called upon to record this dark spot In
the history of men of high position In
society and exercising great influence
over their neighbors. Those were
times that tried mems souls. The
Polks were rich. They owned large
landed estate near Pineville, on the
Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta rail-
road. The house of Thomas Polk was
only a short distance from Pineville on
the east side of the railroad. With
Davie and his men the thing was diff
ferent. They regarded property as
valueless without liberty.
On the 21st Of September, the day
before Tarleton crossed the Catawba,
Davie learned that some Tories and
British were at Capt. Walkup's (also
written Wahab) plantation, in the
north eastern corner of Lancaster
county. The camp of Davie at this
time was in the Providence country.
Early on the morning of the 21st Of
September, he completely surprised the
Tory party, killing and wounding sixty
of the men and capturing ninety horses
and one hundred and twenty stand Of
arms. This was brilliant affair. Da-
vie lost only one man and marched
sixty miles in a day and night.
So soon as the captured horses and
arms were secured, Davie beat re-
treat Capt. Walkup. who belonged to
Davies corps, stopped a few moments
to speak to his wife and children, who
ran out of the house so soon as the fir
ing ceased. When the British and To-
ries who had fed on the approach of