The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-08-21

some weeks thereafter he repeated
his success in the rout and
death Of Colonel Ferguson
and Captain Huck with their
large detachments Of British and To-
ries, thus giving the cheering Incl
dent of the first check to the British
arms in the State. His prestige in
creased greatly at the battle OF Hang
ing Rock a few days thereafter, when
he destroyed the whole regiment of
the Prince Of Wales, and large
band of Tories under Col. Brian. A
month later We find him victorious at
Musgrave's Mills on the Enoree. In
deed. the simultaneous success Of
Sumter and Marion in this despond-
ent period heartened the American
cause, and drove CORVALLIS again
into the field, causing him to write
that he would "be glad to hear that
Sumter is not in a condition to give US
further trouble; he certainly has been
the greatest plague to this country
and that '.but for Sumter and Marion
South Carolina would be at peace.
We soon again hear Of Sumter's
brilliant exploit in cutting CORVALLIS
line of communication, and capturing
his supply train, which, however, was
neutralized by the surprise and defeat
of Sumter by Tarleton at Fishing
Creek a few days thereafter. Sumter
made his escape, and went immedi-
ately to York to recruit; and was
ready to participate in the memora-
BILE battle of Kings Mountain. With
in a short time his star was again in
the ascendant; and the people were
l'quichly thrilled by his capture of
Maj. Weymiss on Broad road. Tarle-
ton at once undertook to retrieve
this defeat only to find himself out
generated, and his whole command
destroyed by Sumter at Black Stock
Hill. After the commencement Of
this fight Sumter changed his: plan Of
battle, thus exhibiting his military
genius in turning unexpected exigen-
cies to his advantage. Yet the VIC
tory was saddened by the dear price
Of a severe wound which he received
in the breast, and which disabled him
for some months.
Immediately upon the recovery Of
his health he resumed his work. The
British considered him their worst
enemy. They burned his home, and
turned his wife and son out Of doors.
| But these misfortunes only strength
ened his inf1exible will and fired his
inspiring activity. The battle OF the
Cowpens. displaying the brilliant
strategy and execution Of Daniel Nor
gan, now came to give high hope to
the country; and the battle Of Gull
ford Court House followed to turn
the tide of the American Revolution.
CORVALLIS plan Of campaign was
now broken. With his Southern army
he was to effect a junction with
Clinton in Virginia, thus crushing
between the two British armies the
small force. But Cowpens and Gull
ford Court House rudely shattered a
scheme which was adopted by Grant
and Sherman a century later. The
battle Of Guilford was claimed by the
British, but Charles Fox with drama
tic eloQuence. declared that another
such victory would destroy the Brit
ish army Thus were CORVALLIS
troops hurriedly and unwillingly re-
moved from the Carolina's, and his
surrender in October following
brought to the full conscience OF
the American people the patience, the
sagacity and the strategy Of Washing
ton in accomplishing one Of the
worlds greatest achievements, with
which Sumter's name and fame and
glory Will ever be indissolubly asso-
ciated.
The termination of hoStilities. how
ever, did not end Sumter's public life.
His courage, his probity, his candor.
his freedom from vicissitudes of
opinion or purpose, his opulent faith
in the practical efficiency Of self-gov-
ernment. and his military fame, gave
his an immediate and sure place in !
the confidence Of the people.
In his mission to England in 1852 |
for the Cherokee Indians he had ex-
hibited at an early age an aptitude |
for public affairs. and his entrance |
into the continental congress after
the Revolution must have been made |
with confidence that he was not un-
fitted for legislative service.
In civil life he still clung to the
great principles underlying the Revo-