Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-03-08

his pursuit Of Colonel Buford. With
some difficulty he crossed the Santet
river at Laneau's ferry. The difficulty
arose from the fact that all the ferries
on the river had been destroyed by the
Americans-some, probably by Colo.
mel Buford-for 1t seems that Corn.
wallis learned, on crossing the river
on the 22nd, that Colonel Buford had
left that point ten days previous.
Immediately on getting all his
troops across the Santee, at Laneau's
ferry, CORVALLIS set out in hot pur.
suit Of Buford, following in his tracks
On the 9th, at Nelson's ferry, on the
Santee, CORVALLIS detached Colonel
Tarleton with a command consisting
Of forty cavalry-one hundred and
thirty of the legion; one hundred
mounted infantry, and three-pound-
er, to pursue the American colonel
The whole force Of Tarleton, exclusive
Of the three FOUNDER, was two hundred
and seventy, all Of which were either
cavalry or mounted infantry. The pur-
suit by this detachment began on the
27th Of May. Camden was reached on
the next day. Here Tarleton learned
that Colonel Buford had left Rugeley's
mill, on the 26th, and was Fastening
to join body Of troops on their way
from Salisbury to Charlotte. At
o'clock on the morning Of the 29th,
Tarleton's detachment was again In
motion. At daylight, Rugeley's mill
was reached, where it was learned that
Colonel Buford and his command were
about twenty miles distant.
1t was manifest that Colonel Buford
thought he was entirely out of dam
ger, and, as the weather was very
warm, moved forward very leisurely.
He seemed to have halted for some
days at Camden, and then went to
Rugeley's mill. At o'clock In the
afternoon of the goth of May, Tarle-
toms detachment overlook him. At
Rugeley's mill. however, Tarleton sent
Capt. Kinlock to summon Colonel Bu-
ford to surrender. To this summons
Colonel Buford returned the following
reply: Il reject your proposal, and
shall defend myself to the last ex-
tremity"
The place where Tarleton overlook
Colonel Buford, Is about ten miles, by
the road, nearly east Of Lancaster, the
county seat Of Lancaster county. Al
though 1t is more than Ill years since
the battle-if battle 1t may be called
was fought, scarcely any change has
taken place on the battle-ground. The
road runs where 1t did then, and with
the exception Of small amount Of un-
dergrowth, the trees which were the
silent witnesses Of the slaughter, stand
there today.
The land on which Colonel Buford
was defeated, is now the property of
Rev. P. M. Plyler Of Tradesville, few
miles distant, in q northeastern direc-
tion. Colonel Tarleton gives a strictly
accurate description Of the battle
ground in these words: "An open
wood" It is, with the exception Of a
small amount Of underground, an open
wood teday..e-a-,ss-,ss-as. - e'atss'' 49,
In full view Of Colonel Tarleton and
Colonel Buford, the advanced guard of
Tarleton captured four Americans who
were in the rear of their line. Wheth-
er or not Colonel Buford had placed
videttes In his rear for the purpose of
learning the approach Of the British
is not certainly known, but 1t seems
that he had not, and that after re-
ceiving the summons to surrender, con-
tinued his march. This is what Tar
Teton says he did:
Immediately on taking four Of the
Americans prisoners, both Tarleton
and Buford began to put their forces
in position for action. Tarleton's de-
scription of the order of his own troops
and also that Of Colonel Buford, Is
perhaps correct, and Is as follows.
OF Colonel Buford he says: He chose
his post in an open wood, to the right
of the road. He formed his infantry
in one line, with a small reserve. He
placed his colors in the center, and he
ordered his cannon, baggage and wag-
ons to continue their march," OF the
disposition Of his own troops, Colonel
Tarleton says: He confided his right
wing, which was composed Of sixty
dragons and nearly as many mount
ed infantry, to Major Cochran, desir-
ing him to dismount the latter to gall
the enemy's flank before he moved
against their front with his cavalry.
Captains Corbet and Kinlock were d.
rected with the Seventeenth dragons
and part Of the legion, to charge the
centre Of the Americans, while Lieut..
Colonel Tarleton, with thirty chosen
horse and some infantry; assaulted
their right f1anl: and reserves" Such
was the order of the battle observed by
two Of the commanders as stated by
Colonel Tarleton.
The British commander had rushed
his detachment forward with great
rapidity, having marched 1O5 miles in
flfty-four hours. Many Of the horses
had broken down or become so tired
that their progress was slow. These
with the three FOUNDER which was still
behind when the plan Of battle was
arranged, were ordered to take posi-
ton when they arrived, on a small en-
inence which commands the road. This
was designed as a rallying point in
case Of repulse. which Tarleton seems
to have apprehended.
These two forces were within 300
yards of each other when the arrange
ment of battle was made by the Brit
ish, yet the Americans did not fire a
gun. AS soon as the British command
er got his forces put in position, he
moved forward to the attack. When
at the distance Of fifty yards from the
American front. the Continental troops