Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-03-08
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A Romance of the American Revolution
BY w. GILMORE SIMMS

ter, with the horses, were escorted 10
a sufficient distance in the WOOD, De-
yond the reach Of strife, and where
they could convey no intimation by
their voices to the approaching enemy.
Here a guard was put over them, with
instructions to cut down the first lndl-
vidual who should show the slightest
disposition to cry out or to fly. A
command, otherwise so sanguinary,
was necessary, however, in the cir
cumstances. This done, Singleton dis
patched his scouts, headed by Hum
phries, whose adroitness he we'll knew,
on the road leading to the enemy;
they were to- bring him intelligence
without suffering themselves to be
seen. He next proceeded to his own
Immediate disposition of forces for the
hot controversy, and approved him a
good disciple of the Swamp Fox In the
arrangement. The ambush was FORM
ed on two sides of the spring, the men
being so placed as to possess the ad-
yantages of the cross-fire without De
ing themselves exposed to the sl1ght-
est danger from their mutual weap-
ons. All approach to the waters was
thus commanded, and Singleton, trust
ing to the advantage obtained from
the surprise and the first fire, instruct
ed his men to follow him In the charge
which he contemplated making, i'm
mediately after the discharge or their
pieces. In the way of exhortation ne
had but few words; he resembled
Marion in that respect, also; but those
words were highly stimulating.
Men, 1 have the utmost confidence
In you; you are no towards. and an,
sure will do your duty. do not call
upon you to destroy men, but mon
sters; not countrymen, but those VINO
have no country-who have only
known their country to rend her DOW
els and prey upon her Ttals. You
will only spare them when they are
down-when they cry, enough. There
must be no "Tarleton'S quarters mind
you; the soldier that strikes the man
who has once submitted, shall be hung
up Immediately after; for though they
be brutes and monsters now, yet even
a brute has a claim upon mans mer-
CIV when he has once submitted to be
tanned. Go now, men, each to MS
place, and wait the signal. I will give
it at the proper moment myself. II
shall be but one word, and when you
hear me say, 'Nown let each rifle
make it's mark upon an armed Tory.
Shoot none that have not weapons In
their hands-remember that; and
when you sally out, as you Will imme-
diately after the discharge and while
they are in confusion, let the same
rule be observed. Strike none that
throw down their arms-none that do
not offer us resistance. Enough, now;
the brave soldier needs no long exhor-
tation. The soldier who fights his
country's battles has her voice at his
heart, pleading for her rescue and re-
lief. Remember the burnt dwellings
of your country-her murdered ana
maltreated inhabitants-her desolate
fields = her starving children - and
then strike home! Your country Is
worth fighting for, and he who dies
In the cause of his country, dies In the
cause Of man; he will not be forgot
ten.. Go. and remember the word.
There was no shout, no hurrah; but
eyes were bent upon the ground, lips
knit closely in solemn determination;
and Singleton saw at glance that
his men were to be relied on.
"They will do" he muttered to him
self, as, seeing them all properly shell
tered. threw himself at the foot Of a
tree, a little removed from the rest,
and only accompanied by the boy,
Lance Frampton. We have seen the
increasing intimacy between the lad
and his commander; an intimacy en-
couraged by the latter, and earnestly
sought for by the boy. He studiously
kept near the person Of the partisan,
listened to every word he uttered,
watched every movement, and care
fully analyzed, so far as his immature
capacities would admit, every feellng
and thought Of his superior Frem
this earnest and close contemplation
of the one object, the boy grew to
be exclusive in his regards and slight
Sin0 of hanQ
and the same with his minds ideal.
and a lively imagination, and warm
sensibilities, identified his captain, In
his thought, with his only notion OF
a genuine hero. The more he studied
him, the more complete was the re-
semblance. The soft, symmetrical,
strong person-the high but easy car
riage-the grace Of movement and
attitude-the studious delicacy of
speech, mingled, at the same time,
with that simple adherence to pro-
priety. which illustrates genuine man.
illness. were all attributes of Single
ton and all obvious enough to his ad-
mirer.
How 1 wish I was like him!" said
the boy to himself as he looked where
Singleton's form lay before him under
the tree. IF I was only sure that |
could fight like him, and not feel
afraid, when the time comes! on!
how I wish 1t was over".
Had the words been uttered loud
enough to be heard by the partisan,
the mood of the boy would have been
better understood by his commander
than It was, when the latter heard
the deep sigh which followed them.
Singleton turned to look upon him as
he heard 1t, and could not avoid being
struck with the manifest detection in
every feature Of his countenance. He
thought it might arise from the lone
illness of his situation, his recent loss
Of a tender mother, and the distress
ing condition of his father, of whom
they had seen nothing since their de-
parture from the swamp. True, the
brother of Lance was along with
them, but there was little SYM
pathy between the two. The elder
youth was dull and unobservant,
while the other was thoughtful and
acute. They had little intercourse be-
yond an occasional word Of question
and reply: and even then, the inti-
macy and relationship seemed imper-
feet. These things might, nay, must
necessarily produce in the boys mind
a sufficient feeling of desolation, and
hence, in Singleton's thought, his de-
preston seemed natural enough. But
when the sigh was repeated, and the
face. even under the partisan's glance,
wore the same expression. he could
not help addressing him on the sub
ject.
why. how now, Lance-whats the
matter? Cheer up, cheer up. and get
ready to do something like man
Know you not we're on the eve oi
battle."
"Oh. sir, 1 can't cheer up" was the
half-inarticulate reply. as the emotion
of the boy visibly increased. and a
tear was seen to gather in his eyes
So much emotion was unusual in one
whose mood was that of elastic en-.
thusiasm: and the pallid cheek and
downcast look stimulated anew the
anxiety of the partisan. He repeated
his question curiously, and, at the
same time, rising from his place OF
rest. he came round to where the boy
was standing, leaning against his tree
Whats the matter with you boy
what troubles you-are you sick?'
"Oh, no, sir-no, sir-Im not SICK
lin very well-but sir"
But what?"
only sir. I've never been In bat
tie before-never to fight with men
SIR
well. What of that Lance? What
9 Sraanlzl,