Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-03-08
CHAPTER XXXIV.

Who, for the struggle, pines and pants
And never knew alarm.
Then let the foeman come and feel
How dread the blow his hand can deal,
When freedom nerves his arm.
An hour after these movements, and
no one would suspect, from the dead
silence that prevailed throughout the
region, that it ever had been occupied
by such wild and registering fellows as
those with whom we have just had
dinner. Proctor's scouts might find
everywhere the proof Of their occupa-
ton, in the beaten ground, the broken
utensils, and the embers of recent
fires. But of the occupants themselves
there were no signs.
singleton, meanwh lie, sent his scouts
forward at a securing pace. He led
his little command more slowly, but
still at a gait which would render pur-
suit difficult by a force larger than his
own, or less admirably mounted. One
secret of the success of Marion's men,
was in the excellence Of their horses.
which were always we'll chosen from
the best stables in the country. Our
partisan made them show their legs.
Aiming to make the Nelson's Ferry
road as soon as possible, he struck di-
rectly across the country, under the
guidance of Humphries and Davis,
who knew every turn and twist, short
cut and blind path, leading, through
the forests OF this neighborhood.
Speaking comparatively, however,
they sped along but slowly, leaving
the scouts considerably in advance.
They had made no great progress
when night began to settle down upon
the party. With the approach Of dark
ness, Singleton cast about for Sc
cluded spot in which to form tenn
porary encampment. This was hnaliy
found in a thick wood to which they
inclined out of sight and hearing from
the road. The scouts had received
their instructions to fall back with
the setting in Of dusk, and report
their discoveries; all OF Which was
done. Here, without building fires,
they took a brief and supperless rest
until the moon rose, when the troop
was again set in motion, and posting
forward along the prescribed route.
With the dawn Of day, they found
themselves, according to the calcula-
tions of the guides, within few miles
only Of the Ferry road. A little more
caution was now necessary TO their
progress They were in travelled re-
gion, and the scouts were doubled.
The troup entered the road an hour
or so after sunrise, without meeting
with any interruption or object wor-
thy their attention. In this manner
they proceeded for some hours, seeing
no human being. The whole route,
however. was marked by the devasta-
ting proofs Of war, which were thick
on every side Of them. The broken
fences, the shattered or half-consum-
ed dwellings, the implanted and un-
ploughed fields, all in desertion. spoke
fearfully for its attributes and pres
ence. But suddenly, towards noon,
the scouts were met by countryman,
his wife and two children, flying from
the foe. 1t was difficult to convince
them that they had not fallen in with
another; and they told their story, &C
cordingly, in fear and trembling.
They told of a Tory named Amos
Gaskens, a notorious wretch before
the war, who had raised party and
had been devastating the neighborlng
country throughout st. Stephens and
st. Johns, Berkeley. His numbers
were increasing, anu SlOPPSu c. A'N
excesses. On most of the plantations
through which he had gone, every
house was burned to the ground, the
stock wantonly shot, the people plum
dered. and either murdered. forced 10
follow their captorS, or compelled 10
fly to places of refuge the most wild
and deplorable. The little family they
had encountered had been thus dis
possessed. They had only saved
their lives by timely notice, which a
friend among the Tories had gwen
them of their approach. They insisted
that Gaskens could not be many miles
off, and would certainly meet them be-
fore noon, as he was on his way to
Charleston with his prisoners and
seeking his reward.
Singleton determined to prepare for
him a warm reception, and having as
certained that the force under Gas
kens fully doubled his own, he laid his
plans to neutralize this superiority by
the employment Of the usual cunning
of the partisan. According to the ac-
count of the flying countryman, there
was a beautiful little spring some
three miles higher, not more than a
stones throw from the roadside: this
was the only good drinking water for
some distance. and, as IT was well
known to wayfarers, 1t was concluded
that Gaskens would make use OF 1t as
a place of rest and refreshment. Here,
Singleton determined to place his am
buscade: and as it was necessary to
reach II some in advance of his enemy,
he pushed his troop forward at a
quicker pace. They reached the spot
in time, and gliding out of the road,
were soon in possession of the desired
station.
The spring was one of those quiet
waters that trickle along the hollow
which they have formed, and with so
gentle a murmur, that, though, but
brief distance from the road. no pass
ing ear. however. acute, could possibly
detect it's prattling invitation. The
water was cool and refreshing; the
overhanging trees gave it a pleasant
and fitting shelter, which scarcely rem
dered necessary the small wooden
shed which had been built above 1t by
some one of the considerate dwellers
in the neighborhood. War, in its Vio-
lence, however destructive else, had
spared, with a becoming reverence.
the fountain and the little roof above
IL. The whole spot was exceedingly
pretty: wild vines and fiorid grapes
clustered over it; little clump Of wild
flowers grew just at its porch; while
a fine large oak. standing on the brow
of the little hill at the bottom of
which the fountain had it's source.
took the entire area into sheltering
embrace The wild jessamine. and the
thousand Haunting blossoms Of the
southern forests, grew profusely about
the place: and in that hour of general
repose in Carolina during the summer
months-the hour of noon-when all
nature is languid; when the bird hush
es his fitful note. or only
Starts into voice a moment. and Is
STILL"
when man and beast, reptile and in
sect, alike seek for the shade and pant
drowsily beneath it's shelter-this little
hollow of the woods, and the clear
stream yelling over the little basin
around which its dwelling-place had
been formed, and trickling away in a
prattling murmur that discoursed twin
harmonies to the sluggish breeze that
shook at intervals the tree above It
seemed eminently scene chosen foI
gentle spirits. and purpose grateful
to the softest delicacies of humanity
Yet was it's sacred and sweet repose
about to be invaded. War had pre-
pared his weapon and lay waiting In
the shade.
Having chosen his ground. Single