Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-11
CHAPTER L.
A British Partisan.


comes me to prepare my reader for the
conclusion to which, doubtless much
to his content, he will hear that we are
now Fastening. We have reached
period which brings us to take notice
of certain important operations that
were in progress upon the frontifr am
touching the details of which, to avoid
prolixity, must refer to the graver
chronicle of the times. 1t answers my
present purpose merely to apprise my
reader that Colonel Clarke had lately
assembled his followers and marched
to Augusta, where he had made an at
tack upon Brown, but that almost at
the moment when his dexterous and
valiant adversary had fallen with
in his grasp, timely succor
from Fort Ninety-Six under the
command of Cruger. had forced him
to abandon his ground, and retreat to-
wards the mountain districts of North
Carolina. To this, 1t is important to
add that Ferguson had now recruited
a considerable army amongst the ma
tive Tories and had moved to the small
frontier village of Gilbert-town, with
a purpose to intercept Clarke, and thus
place him under the disadvantage of
having a foe both in front and rear.
The midnight seizure of Arthur But
ler and his friends, whilst returning
from Ramsay's funeral, was effected by
M'Alpine. who happened at that mo-
ment to be Fastening, by forced
march. with a detachment Of newly-re-
cruited cavalry from Ninety-SiX, to
strengthen Ferguson, and to aid in
what was expected to be the certain
capture of the troublesome Whig par
tisan.
AS MAlpine's purpose required des-
patch, he made but a short delay after
sunrise at Drummond's cabin, and then
pushed forward with his prisoners with
all possible expedition. The route Of
his journey diverged, almost at the
spot of the capture, from the roads
leading towards Musgrove's Mill, and
he consequently had but little chance
to fall in with parties who might COM
municate to him the nature of the ac-
cident which threw the prisoners into
his possession: whilst the prisoners
themselves were sufficiently discreet to
conceal from him everything that
might afford a hint of Buffers pre-
vious condition.
The road lay through a rugged will
ha iSfo fn ha
eled, before the party could reach Gill
bert-town, was something more than
sixty miles. 1t was accordingly, about
the middle of the second day after
leaving Drummond's habitation. before
the troop arrived at the term of their
journey, a period that coincided with
that of Cornwallis's breaking ground
from his late encampment at the Wax
haws, which we have seen in the last
chapter.
Ferguson was a stout. fearless, and
bluff soldier, and instigated by the
most unsparing hatred against all who
took up the Whig cause. He had been
promoted by Earl CORVALLIS to the
brevet rank of lieutenant colonel,
short time before the battle of Cam
den, and despatched towards this wild
and mountainous border to collect to-
gether and organize the Tory inhabi-
tants of the district. His zeal and ac-
tivity, no less than his peremptory
bearing, had particularly recommend
ed him to the duty to be performed;
and he is. at least, entitled to the COM
mendation of having acquitted himself
with great promptitude and efficiency
in the principal objects of his appoint
ment. He was now at the head of be-
tween eleven and twelve hundred men,
of which about one hundred and fifty
were regulars of the British line. the
remainder consisting of the disorderly
and untamed population of the from
tier.
Gilbert-town was a small village.
composed of number of rather we'll
built and comfortable Lighthouses. 1t
was situated in mountainous but fer
tile district of North Carolina, about the
centre of Rutherford county. And may
venture W N"lllSl uO upOh ~ PO' !
only, that although its former name
has faded from the maps of the present
day under that reprehensible indiffer-
ence to ancient associations, and that
pernicious love of change which have
obliterated so many of the landmarks
of our revolutionary history, yet this
village is still a prosperous and pleas
ant community. known as the seat OF
Justice to the county to which ii be-
longs.
When the troop having charge of
Butler and his companions arrived
they halted Immediately in front of one
of the largest buildings of the village
and i'm a short time the prisoners
were marched into the presence of Fer
guson. They were received in COM
mon room of ample dimensions, fur
nished with a table upon which was
seen a confused array of drinking yes
sells, and a number of half-emptied
bottles of spirit surrounding wooden
bucket filled with water. Immediately
against one of the posts of the door OIL
the apartment, the carcass of buck
recently shot and now stripped of its
skin. hung by the tendons of the him
der feet; and soldier was at this mo-
ment employed with his knife In the
butcher-craft necessary to its prepa-
ration for the spit. Ferguson himself
conspicuous for his robust, athletic, and
weatherbeaten exterior, stood by APP
parently directing the operation
Around the room were hung the hide
and antlers of former victims of the
chase, intermingled with various weap-
ons OF war, military cloaks. cartridge
boxes brides. saddles and other furni-
fufs; ;ddnoting the habitation of par
r9f soldiers. There was general
air: OF disorder and untidiness through
out the apartment which seemed to
bespeak early and late revels, and nc
great observance of the thrift of even
military housekeeping. This impress