Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-24

These things being agreed upon, the
next thing was to prepare for action.
On small creek, which rises In Spar
tanburg county and empties into Emo
rec river, in. Union county, short dis
tance below the Spartanburg line,
Shelby, Williams and Clarke drew up
their men In semf-circle Col. Shell
by commanded the right; Col. Will
liams the centre; and Col. Clarke the
left. The place chosen for the action
was a wood and served the double pur-
pose of both concealing and protect
ing the men, The men were dismount-
ed and the horses sent to the rear The
troops were ordered to form a breast
work of logs and brush. They were
tired and hungry and in good condi-
tion to make stand.
After men have been marched for
day and night on short rations they
will fight hard. They come to the con-
clusion that the place they are in is as
good as any other and rather than be
driven from 1t, they will die. Such was
the condition of the American forces
that met Colonel Innis at Musgrove's
mills. They had ridden al night on
short supper and had no breakfast.
Hunger and fatigue aroused their pa
triotism.
Captain Inman of Georgia with six
teen men, was sent forward to draw
Col. Innis in to the ambuscade. In
man advanced upon the main body Of
the British and Tories and commenced
to fire. The British in turn advanced
and Inman fell back into the midst of
his concealed friends. The enemy ad
in the centre and the militia on the
wings. With trailed arms and deploy-
ed columns the whole force Of the enc
my pursued Capt Inman until they ar
rived within forty yards Of the Ameri-
leans concealed behind their temporary
breastworks. The signal to fire was
given, according to agreement by Col.
Shelby firing. In a moment destruc-
tive fire was poured into the ranks of
the advancing foe in front and on both
wings. For a moment the advancing
columns recoiled but the regulars soon
rallied and advanced. Another volley
was poured into their ranks The reg
ulars fell back in confusion and the fir
ing became brisk on both sides. So
soon as the Tories saw the British reg
ulars falling back In confusion, they
gave way and fed. The American
troops now began to press on boldly
and the British regulars soon retreated
from the field across the river. The
American troops were ordered to get
their horses and pursue the retreating
foe.
On the battle field lay all the British
officers either killed or wounded. Six
ty-three privates and one Tory cap
tain-Hawsey--lay dead on the ground
and one hundred and sixty prisoners
had been secured.
Whilst the American forces which
had become disordered in pursuing the
flying foe was forming and waiting for
their horses a consultation was held
as to what course would be pursued.
On the suggestion of Col. Williams, 1t
was determined to advance upon the
British and Tory post at Ninety-Six.
These partisan leaders were not long
in coming to conclusions. In this in
stance they thought that there would
be less danger In making an attack i'm
.nediately upon Ninety-Six, than in
passing Ferguson's quarters on their
way back to McDowell's camp on
Broad river. They had gained glo-
rious victory, with tie loss Of only six
or seven men.
The saddest thing about their loss
was the fact that Capt. Inman, who
suggested the stratagem Of skirmish
with the enemy, whilst the Americans
were forming, was killed. Much of
the success which attended the patri-
OTIS on this occasion was due to the
skill with which Captain Inman man
aged the skirmishing and drew Innis
across the river into the midst Of the
main body of the Americans. At the
moment that victory declared for the
Americans, the brave Inman fell life
less corpse. The whole British and
Tory army was scattered to the winds.
Major Frazer, the second in command
was killed and Col. Innis wounded.
The Americans were flushed with
victory. They forgot their hunger and
fatigue and were anxious to push on to
Ninety-Six which was about thirty
miles distant. This was a wise con-
clusion and the undertaking was
worthy Of the men. In war, however.
as in every other department Of hu-
man life, we'll laid plans and wise con-
clusions are frustrated in the moment
when they are near consummation.
The men were mounted and waiting
the command to march. At this moment
a courier arrived or the ground from
Gen. Mcdowell. He bore a letter from
Governor Caswell to Gen. Mcdowell.
1t was dated August 18th, on the bat
tlefield where Gates and CORVALLIS met
in horrid conflict. In a very brief sem
tence, it communicated the sad news
that the army, under the hero Of Sara
toga was completely routed and advis-
ed Mcdowell to get out Of the reach Of
the enemy as soon as possible. Nc
Dowell had sent the letter without note
or comment to Shelby, Williams and
Clarke, that they might govern them
selves as circumstances would indi-
cate Shelby recognized the hand
writing of Governor Caswell. All were
convinced that the letter was no trick
of war Another consultation was
held. The attack on Ninety-Six was
abandoned and 1t was determined,
without a moments delay, to make a
push to keep out Of the reach Of Col
Ferguson.
Tired and hungry as were both men
and horses, they determined to make
their escape They well knew that
Col. Ferguson would be apprised Of
Gen. Gates defeat; they knew that he
was an enterprising officer and would
be at their heels in a short time. The
prisoners were distributed among the
companies giving one prisoner to every
three men. This prisoner the three