Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-03-08
BUFoRD's DEFEAT.
Story Of Historic Massacre In Lam
caster County.

The following story of the massacre
of the patriotic force Of Colonel Bu-
ford by Colonel Tarleton, in Lancaster
county during the American revolu-
ton, was written for The Yorkville
Enquirer by the late Rev. Robert
Latham, D. D., and was first published
in the issue Of this paper Of Septem-
Der 80, 1891. 1t Is being reppublished
now by special request in order to
stimulate interest in the famous
battle-ground more especially with
a view to raising subscriptions for the
purchase of the land-about two acres
so the historic spot, together with
the monument thereon may be prop
erly taken care Of:
Nearly every neighborhood In the
upper counties Of South Carolina is
memorable on account of some tragical
affair which occurred in 1t during the
years 1880 and 1881. On the 26th Of
December, 1779, Sir Henry Clinton
with a corps of more than 5000 Brit
ish soldiers, we'll provided with every
thing necessary for the efficiency Of
such q force, cleared the harbor Of
New York and directed his course to-
wards South Carolina Four things
the mildness Of the climate, the rich
ness Of the soil, the nearness to Geor-
gia, and the distance from General
shington-suggested South Caroli-
ma to the British commander as the
f1ttest region, In all North America, In
which to crush out Of existence the re-
bellion against the British govern
ment. His conclusion, judging from
the past history OF the contest and
present condition Of the colonies, was
correct. The war of the rebellion had
been raging, with all the ierceness the
contending parties were able to effect
for a period of more than four years,
and not q single decisive battle had
been fought.
The forces of Sir Henry Clinton, de-
signed to operate in the south, were
conveyed by Vice Admiral Arbuthnot
The voyage was not a prosperous one.
A storm scattered the fleet; some Of
the ships were captured, one ordnance
vessel foundered, most of the artillery,
and all Of the cavalry horses perished.
1t was not until near the middle Of
February that the forces were landed
and ready for action.
| With promptness, energy and skill
the British commander began to exc
cute the work which he had under
en-. The country, far and near, was
secured by armed parties for the pur-
pose of securing horses to supply the
place of those lost on the voyage.
Notwithstanding the many difficulties
which beset the British commander on
all sides, he began, with a large force,
the work Of throwing up redoubts In
front of the city of Charleston. The siege
began on land on the night Of the 1st
of April, the British ships Roebuck,
Richmond. Romulus. Blonde, Virginia,
Raleigh, Sandwich and Renown, closed
In upon the city, and with the land
forces cut 1t off entirely from commu-
nication with the country at every
point, except that which faced the
Cooper river.
The American forces were COM
manded by Brigadier General Benja-
min Lincoln. On the 10th Of April, the
commanders of the British land and ma
val forces, jointly summoned the
American general to surrender. Cen
eral Lincoln replied that Sixty days
have passed since it has been known
that your intentions against this town
were hostile, in which time has been
afforded to abandon it; but duty and
inclination point to the propriety Of
supporting 1t to the last extremity"
On the rejection of the summons,
the British batteries were opened and
continual firing kept up until the
18th Of May when the city was sur
rendered on the same terms as those
offered on the 10th Of April.
| AS Charleston was the largest, and
in every respect the most important
town in the state, its capture was re-
garded by the British, and by many Of
the inhabitants of the state, and a
considerable number Of inhabitants Of
Charleston itself, as equivalent to the
reduction of the whole state. No less
than 21O Of the inhabitants Of the city
petitioned the commanders of the Brit
ish forces to be readmitted to the
character Of British subjects, and In
the same petition, declared their dis
lapprobation Of the doctrine Of Amer
lean independence. Time has dealt
gently with this petition and its sign
ers. Both have been preserved.
The fall of Charleston was a terri
BILE calamity to the struggling colonies,
but it was regarded a grand success
for the British. The loss to the Amer
leans, in prisoners alone, was 5,61S.
besides near 1000 seamen. That the
besieged might be able to resist the
lbesiegers, all the cannon and fire arms
Of every description in the colony, had
been transported to the city. All this
fell into the hands Of the British.
To announce the fall Of Charleston,
the Earl Of Lincoln was sent to Eu-
rope. On the reception of the news,
all England was jubilant. So soon as
Charleston surrendered, Sir Henry
Clinton set about to establish a civil
government in the city and state.
Having reduced as he supposed, Char
lesion to a state Of subsection to the
king of England, he returned to New
York, taking with him a part Of his
army, while the remainder was placed
under CORVALLIS. Before taking his
departure, Sir Henry Clinton planned
three expeditions. One to move up the
Savannah river to Augusta; another
to pass through the country to Nine
ty-Six; and the third, commanded by
CORVALLIS, to pass through the east
ern part of the state in pursuit of Col
onel Abraham Buford. 1t Is with this
last that we are at present concerned.
During the siege Of Charleston,
troops from different sections Of the
state, and from other states, were
sent to assist the besieged in repelling