Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-10
From the Yorkville Enquirer of 1876
The Battle of Waxhaw.

INSTALLMENT XIII.
The Battle of Waxhaw.
So soon as Charleston fell into the
hands of the British, the commander
in chief of his majesty's forces In
America, determined to push his con-
quest until all the territory south
of the Potomac would be PROSTATE at
the feet of the British lion. Never
since the beginning of the war, had the
prospects for the British been so bright
and the affairs of the colonies In so
discouraging a condition. The first
object of Sir Henry Clinton was to
send a strong force into different sec
tions of the state of South Carolina,
and gather up recruits for his regi-
ments from the Tories and loyalists
of the interior of the state, and protect
the state against cruelty and oppres-
sion." as he called the rule of the
Wings. This accomplished, the troops
were to march into North Carolina
subdue it, and then into Virginia, when
the rebellion of the colonies would be
crushed out. So soon as the civil gov
ernment of South Carolina was put
into working condition, Clinton con-
templated returning to the north and
leaving CORVALLIS in command of the
southern division of the British forces.
This was a wise arrangement. The
plans of Clinton were well conceived,
| but he greatly mistook the character
of the people he had to deal with.
There was no better officer In the
British army than Lord Cornwallis.
Whilst Clinton was busily engaged
in the work of reconstructing the city
of Charleston, that portion of the Brit
ish army designed for the interior OF
the state moved off in three divisions
under Lord CORVALLIS. At Dorchester,
one division, under the command OF
Lieutenant Colonel Balfour, moved off
for Ninety-Six; and another, under
command of Lieutenant Colonel Brown,
| set out for Augusta; and the third di-
vision, under Lord CornwalHs himself,
marched for Camden.
When it was learned that Charles
ton had fallen into the hands OF the
British, Colonel Buford, with a force
of about four hundred continental SOL
diers, some cavalry, and two field
pieces retired to Camden. This real
ly was the only armed force Of any i'm
portance in the state of South Carolina
at that time This captured and the
work of subjugating the state was
complete At least so thought the
British.
CORVALLIS point of destination was
North Carolina. Brown and Balfour
were ordered to fortify Augusta and
Ninety-Six. On his way to North
Carolina, CORVALLIS determind to cap
ture or cut off Bufords command.
When however, Buford heard Of Corn
wallis approach, he moved off leis-
urely from Camden in the direction of
Charlotte, North Carolina Cornwallis
hearing of this, detached Colonel
Bannister Tarleton with about seven
hundred men consisting of cavalry
and light infantry, for the purpose of
overtaking Buford. No man was bet
ter fitted for such an enterprise than
Tarleton-brave to a fault and full OF
energy; impetuous as a tornado; but
at the same time with a mind cool and
calculating. No man was ever more
to be feared than Colonel Tarleton.
He was charged with cruelty, and no
doubt he was cruel, but all war is
cruel Tarleton always made a victory
complete. To out-general him as Nor
gan did at Cowpens, was no small hon.
or to any man; to Outright him or
Patrick Ferguson was as much praise
as could be bestowed upon any officer.
Impatient of delay Tarleton left his
light infantry behind and pushed on
with one hundred and seventy dragons.
On the twenty-ninth of May, he came
up with Colonel Abraham Buford about
nine miles north of Lancaster village,
in Lancaster county. The American
forces were encamped on WaXhaw
creek, near WaXhaw Presbyterian
church. Before Buford was aware of
the approach of the enemy he was sur
rounded by Tarleton's cavalry.
OF this affair there are two versions.
One is that Buford offered to surren
der on the terms granted to Lincoln's
army in Charleston. This Tarleton re-
jected. The other and more probable
version is that Tarleton summoned Bu-
ford to surrender on the same terms
granted to the American army at
Charleston. This Colonel Buford re-
jected in the following words: Sir;
I reject your proposal, and shall defend
myself to the last extremity" Tarle-
ton, during the time that flags were
passing back and forth was, it is said
making preparation for battle. This
was contrary to the usages of war
So soon as Colonel Buford rejected
Tarleton's proposal, the cavalry Of the
latter dashed i'm upon the Americans
and cut them to pieces in a moment.
Buford's men were in no position. They
had received no orders and did not
know what to do. Some commenced
to fire upon the enemy. whilst others
threw down their arms and begged for
quarters. OF the Americans, one hum
dred and thirteen men were killed on
the ground; one hundred and fifty
were so mutilated with the sabres of
the British Dragons that they were
unable to be removed, and fifty-three
were made prisoners. The British loss
was five killed and fifteen wounded.
Colonel Buford with his cavalry and
near one hundred of the infantry es-
capped Buford's whole command was
totally ruined.
There is something mysterious about
the whole affair. Colonel Buford must
have acted with no decision, and it
would appear that Tarleton acted with
an amount Of cruelty rarely heard of.
No doubt both commanders We're CEN
surable. Colonel Buford was surprised
and so agitated that he did not know
what to do, and Tarleton for various
reasons was anxious to make his vic
tory a complete one. The simple fact