Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-19
S0UFa eaR0hma M
Yt&E REVOLUTION
How the Spirit of Liberty Was Kept Alive By an
UncOnquerable People.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM. ID. ID.
From the Yorkville Enquirer Of 1876.

INSTALLMENT NO. VII.
Biography of General Robert Howe.
Our plan allows us the amplest lat
itude. Whatever will throw light up
on the history of South Carolina, we
claim as legitimately within the scope
Of our undertaking. With this un-
derstanding, 1t Is our intention, from
time to time, tC give a brief DO
graphical sketch of those heroes who
struggled for American independence.
OF the private life of him whose
name heads this sketch, comparative
ly nothing can be said. General Rob-
ert Howe was born in Brunswick,
North Carolina. 1t would be inter-
esting to give a sketch Of his early
history; but this we cannot do. Like
many other great men, he sprang In
to public life, not by degrees, but at
leap. Sometimes men control the cir
cumstances by which they are sur
rounded, and become great in spite OF
their surroundings. During the Revo-
lutionary period Of American history,
the circumstances made the men.
Merchants, mechanics, farmers, law
yers, physicians and literary amateurs
were called from their various avoca-
tions and placed in command Of arm
les. It was an age Of heroes. For
long time the political storm had been
gathering. Boys drank In the spirit
of resistance with their mothers milk.
Robert Howe was a patriot by ali the
instincts of his nature, and by the
force of education.
In 1873, we find him In the house OF
commons Of his native state. The
Virginia legislature had passed certain
resolutions with reference to the en-
croachments of England upon the
liberties of the American colonies.
The legislature of North Carolina ap-
proved these resolutions, and ap-
pointed a committee of correspond
ence. Robert Howe was a member of
this committee.
In 1875 the Provincial congress of
North Carolina, ordered two regi-
ments Of five hundred men to be rails
ed. James Moore was appointed colo
mel of the first regiment, and Robert
Howe, colonel of the second.
At this time, John Murray, more
commonly known as Lord Dunmore.
the last royal governor Of Virginia,
was laying waste the lower section of
the state Of which he was governor.
He had proclaimed martial law, and
issued a. proclamation in which he de-
clared the state free. In his army he
had a mixed multitude of British reg
ulars, vile and abandoned Tories and
negroes, who had been stolen or en-
ticed from their masters, under the
pretence Of freeing them; but really
that they might be put into forts and
made to do the dirty work of Dun
more and his abettors.
Dunmore secured the country In
search of Mrs. General Washington.
He stole Holts printing press, and
carried away captive two Of his print
ers. Finally, he made his headquar-
ters at Norfolk, and placed garrison
of negroes, Tories, and British regu-
lars, at what was called THE Great
Bridge" on Elizabeth river. Colonel
Woodford was sent against this mot
ley band. With a body Of Minute
Men, he met them, and by the aid of
brave and skiilful subaltern officers,
and brave and obedient men, the
plunderers were routed. The battle OF
1.-The Great Bridge" was fought before
daylight on the 9Th of December, 1775
Five days afterward, Robert Howe,
with his North Carolina regiment
Joined Colonel Woodford and took
| command of all the troops.
Dunmore, after the affair at 1.-The
Great Bridge" abandoned his fortifi-
cations at Norfolk, and with his white
troops took refuge on his ships. The
poor, deluded negroes were turned of
and left in a most deplorable condi-
ton. Some wandered back to their
old homes, and many starved.
The supply of provisions on board
Dunmore's ships was very limited
In fact, he was forced to send parties
on shore to provide supplies for each
day. Colonel Howe watched his move
ments closely These foraging parties
were cut off, and besides, a constant
| Rra intn he
the upper stories of the houses. Dun
more and his band of outlaws were
soon threatened with famine. Just
when Dunmore was in the greatest
distress a British frigate entered the
harbor. This timely circumstance re-
vived the dropping spirits Of Dun
more. The captain of the frigate was
sent by Dunmore to Colonel Howe
instantly cease firing upon the ship
and furnish those on board with 6
supply of provisions. The naughty
governor threatened, in the event hi.
would lombard the town. Howe bold
ly returned for a reply that he would
neither cease firing on the ships, mol
furnish the men on board the vesse
with supplies. Dunmore prepared
to put his threat into execution. Or
the last day of 1875 an order was SEM
to remove the women and children
and before daylight Of the New Year
two vessels--the Dunmore and Liver
pool-commenced to lombard Nor
folk. A party. at the same time, were
sent on shore to set the town on fire.
| The population of Norfolk, at thai
time, was about 5000. During the
two years previous to the lombard
ment by Dunmore, it had grown uI
very rapidly. Most Of the houses
were wooden buildings, and many OF
them were filled with pitch and tur.
pentine. The wind was favorable fol
| the incendiaries. Soon the flames
spread in all directions. and the bonn.
bardment was kept up by the ships
The city was reduced to ashes, and
the inhabitants turned adrft in mid
winter Dunmore accomplished moth
ing more than the destruction of the
town. This was very great, amount
/ FTlz