Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-10-09
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How the Spirit of Liberty Was Kept Alive By al
UncOnquerable People
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM. ID. ID

nearest ferry, then passed to the right
and fell into the road leading to the
ferry a mile below, and again inclining
to the right fell into the road leading
to the ford. When day broke, the
Americans following directly in the
enemy's trail. were within two miles
Of the ford. The cavalry accelerating
their speed. pushed on to the river,
leaving the infantry to follow. When
they came in sight Of the river, the
rear guard Of the British were de-
scending the hill to the ford. The
main body had just crossed, and taken
a position to protect the rear.
Again for the third time in twenty
four hours, Tarleton had been nearly
within the grasp Of Lee and Pickens
and each time escaped. Within sight
Of the escaping foe, consultation was
held by Lee and Pickens with regard
to the propriety Of marching rapidly
up the Haw and crossing at the near
est ferry and then falling behind Tar
Teton with the view Of crippling him.
It was thought however, on more ma
ture deliberation that CORVALLIS had
in all probability learned what Lee and
Pickens were doing and would send
suceor to Tarleton. Fearing that the
pursuit might result In needless ex-
posure, they desisted from pursuing
the wary foe; and marching up the
west bank Of the Haw, encamped and
refreshed their troops in the first set
tlement that was able to afford them
supplies.
Tarleton reached the camp of Corn
wallis, without having experienced any
great loss, but he had failed complete
ly to effect the purpose for which he
had been sent out. The object which
he had in view was to encourage the
loyalists, between the Haw and Deep
rivers and act as a kind Of escort to
boro. Poor Pyle as we have already
seen, fell into the hands of Lees legion
and was at a single blow, eXterminat-
ed. Never was any body Of men more
unfortunate than that which was COM
manded by Pyle. Whatever interest
in the British government the pres
ence Of Colonel Tarleton had inspired
in the inhabitants of the country be-
tween the Haw and Deep rivers, the
defeat Of Pyle more than counteracted
IL. The hopes Of the loyalists were
ready to die. CORVALLIS saw that
something must be done Under the
circumstances, he concluded to march
his whole force into the region lately
abandoned by Tarleton. On the twen-
ty-sixth Of February he left his camp
on the Emo. and marching his troops
through Hillsboro, encamped on Ala
nance creek. on the twenty-seventh,
in the neighborhood Of what Is called
Shrinking Quarter"
On the twenty-second, as we have
seen, General Greene commenced to
cross the Dan and lead his troops back
into North Carolina. The work was
completed on the twenty-third. Two
reasons induced General Greene to take
this step-the preventing Of Corn
wallis from embodying the loyalists
and Tories Of the country and employ
ing his own troops. 1t was then as
II Is now, and ever will be that no
small number Of the human family are
ready to attach themselves to the side
that seems to be in the ascendency.
Like dumb driven CATTLE" they are
wholly under the control Of others.
Both CORVALLIS and Greene knew this.
II CORVALLIS remained in quiet pos
session Of North Carolina, multitudes
Of passive creatures would flock to his
standard; and whilst they would add
nothing to the real strength Of his
army, they would prove a continual
source of annoyance to the true Wings
Of the country. General Greene knew
that his appearance in the country
would either induce some Of these
miserable creatures to espouse the
American cause or 1t would I'LL them
with astonishment and render them
neutral The character Of many Of
Greene's forces also made a move nee
essary. With them arms was not a
profession-it was necessity. They
had no love for lying up in camp and
drilling. They had in obedience to the
promptings of principle entered the
army to fight. Not that they loved
fighting, but they hated tyranny.
When actively engaged they were con-
tented: but when idle in camp they
were restless and inclined to be insub-
ordinate. Hence when General Greene
gave the order to cross the Dan and
return into North Carolina. joy BEAM
ed in every eye.
directed his course towards the Haw,
which he crossed near its source and
camped between Troublesome creek
and Reedy Fork. So soon as it was
ascertained that CORVALLIS had quit
ted his position at Hillsboro, Greene
placed between himself and Cornwallis,
a corps similar to that which had been
placed between them on the retreat.
The command Of this force was given
to the vigilant Col. Williams. To this
corps, as in the retreat, number of
able and experienced officers were at
tached. Amongst them were Lee,
Campbell, Pickens and Preston-men
all as brave as Caesar and true as
steel. This force hung around the
British; at one time cutting off their
supplies. and capturing their foraging
parties; at another time capturing
their pickets and thwarting the prog
ress OF the main body.
For period Of more than ten days.
both generals kept their armies in con-
tinual motion. Greene changed his
camp every day. One day he was on
one side Of the Haw, on the next day
on the other. CORVALLIS was perplex-
ed. He could obtain no certain infor-
nation respecting Greene's plans. The
loyalists and Tories were hopelessly
discouraged. During the short stay OF
CORVALLIS at Hillsboro and on the
Emo no less than seven companies OF
loyalists had been enrolled. These
were disbanded and scattered to the