Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-03-22
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A Romance of the American Revolution
BY w. GILMORE SIMMS
CHAPTER XII.


Meanwhile, the hero of Saratoga
q man who, at that time, almost equal
ly with Washington, divided the good
opinion Of his countrymen-arrived
from Virginia and took command OF
the southern army. The arrival OF
Gates was a relief to the brave Ger
man soldier, Baron De Kalb, who pre-
viously had the command. The situa-
ton of the army was then most en-
barrassing. 1t lay at Deep river, in
the state Of North Carolina, in ster-
lie country, filed either with luxe
warm friends or certain enemies. The
executive of the colony had done but
little to secure aid or cooperation Tor
the Continentals. Provisions were
procured with difficulty, and the mill
tia came in slowly, and in unimport-
ant numbers. The command OF Ine
state subsidy had been intrusted to
Mr.. Caswell a gentleman who has
been described as being without the
qualities which would make good
soldier. but with sufficient pretensions
to make a confident one. He stroVe
to exercise an independent command,
and, on various pretenses, kept away
from a junction with De kalo, In
whom his own distinct command must
have been merged. Even upon Gates's
arrival. the emulous militia-man kept
aloof until the junction was absolutely
unavoidable, and until its many ad-
Vantages had been almost entirely
neutralized by the untimely delay in
effecting 1t. This junction at length
took place on the fifteenth day OF Au-
gust nearly a month after Gates's as
Sumption of the general command.
We repeat here what was the army
criticism upon Caswell; but this
should be taken with some grains of
allowance. Caswell had previously
shown himself a man of merit, and
had done good service.
A new hope sprang up in the bos-
oms Of the Continentals with the arriv-
al of a commander already so highly
distinguished. His noble appearance,
erect person, majestic height and car
riage, and the bold play Of his fea-
lures, free bouyant, and intelligent In
high degree, were all calculated 10
confirm their sanguine expectations:
In the prime of life, bred to arms, and
having gone through several terms or
service with character and credit, ev-
erything was expected by the troops
from their commander. Fortune, too,
had almost invariably smiled upon
him; and his recent success at Sarato-
ga success which justice insists
should be shared pretty evenly with
Arnold-the traitor Arnold-and oth-
ers equally brave, but far more worthy
had gone greatly towards inspiring
his men with assurances, which, II is
not necessary now to say, proved illu-
sorry. Nor was De Kalb, to whom
General Gates intrusted the command
of the Maryland division OF the army,
including that also from Delaware
without its influence in the affections
of the Continentals. He was a brave
man. and had all his life been SOL
dier. A German by birth, he was in
the service of the King of France, and
was already a brigadier, when trans
ferred to America in the revolutionary
struggle. Congress honored him with
the commission of a major-general,
and he did honor to the trust-he per-
ished in the execution Of its duties.
The command given to Gates was
so far a shadowy one. With the Mary
land and Delaware regiments II con-
sisted only of three companies of ar
tillery under the command of Lieuten-
nt-Colonel Darlington, which had
Just Joined from Virginia, and small
legionary corps, of about sixty caval-
ry and as rIany foot, under Colonel
Armand, a foreigner. But the general
was not to be discouraged by this show
of weakness, though evident enough to
him at the outset. He Joined the army
on the 25th of July, was received with
due ceremony by a Continental salute
from the little park Of artillery. and
received the command with due po-
likeness from his predecessor. He
made his Acknowledgements to the
baron with all the courtesy or nm
ished gentleman, approved and con-
firmed his standing orders, and, this
cone, to the surprise of all, gave the
troops instructions to hold them In
readiness to move at moments warn
ing.
This was an order which manifested
the activity Of their commanders S
mind and character; but 1t proved no
little annoyance to the troops them-
selves, who we'll knew their own con-
dition. They were without rum or ra-
tions-their foragers had failed to Sc
cure necessary supplies in SUFFICIENT
uuantity-and nothing but that high
sense of military subordination which
distinguished the favorite line OF Con-
tinentals under DeKalb's direction,
could have prevented the open utter
ance of those discontents which they
vet could not help but feel. De Kalb
Ventured to remind Gates of the dif-
ficulties of their situation. A smile,
not more polite than supercilious, ac-
,companied the reply of the too conf
dent adventurer.
"All this has been cared for, gene
raj. l have not issued orders without
duly considering their bearing, and
the unavoidable necessities they bring
with them. Wagons are on the road
with all the articles you name in sur
ficient quantity, and in a day or TWO
these discontents will all be SatiShed.
Your line is not refractory, l hope?'
Never more docile, 1 beg your eX-
cellency to believe, than now. Inc
troops I command know that subordi-
nation. not less than valor, is the duty
Of the soldier. But human nature mas
its wants, and no small part OF my
care is, that | know their suffering
not from their complaints, sir. for
they. say nothing-but from my own
knowledge of their true condition, and
Of what their complaints might very
we'll be-"
ed: and in order to contribute actively
to that end. it is decided that we
march tomorrow"
Tomorrow, sir, Your excellency
is aware that this is impracticable un-
less we move with but one-half of our
baggage. for want of horses. Colonel
Williams has just reported a large de-
ficiency."
With evident impatience, restrained
somewhat by a sense Of politenesS,
Gates turned away from the baron to
Colonel Otho Williams, who was then
approaching, and put the question to
him concerning the true condition OF
the army WIFI ISSdiu ~ hOtS'p' a iiS
cheek of the old veteran, De kalb, grew
to a yet deeper hue than was its ha-
bitual wear and his lips were com
pressed with painful effort as ne
heard the inquiry. Williams confirm
ed the statement. and assured the gen
eral, that not only portion or the
baggage. but a part of the artlller!
must be left under the same deficiency
i'm the event of a present movement
And how many field-pieces are
thus unprovided, Colonel Williams?
Two. sir, at least. and possibly
more"
Gates strobe away for few mo
ments. then returning quickly as II II
that time he had fully discussed the
matter in his own mind he eXclalm'
ed
''They must be left; we shall bt
able to do without them. We mus
move tomorrow. gentlemen, without
loss of time. taking the route over
Buffalo ford towards the advance pos
of the enemy on Lynch's creek. we