Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-06

him-he had met the greatest oppor-
tunity Of his life.
Under the royal warrant he chose
100 select men for his command
whom he took unwearied pains to in
struct in the dexterous use Of his new
ly invented rifle and in military tao
tics. In the spring Of 1777 he en-
barked for America in a much covet-
ed service.
Joining the army under Sir Henry
Clinton, he was placed at the head
of a corps of rifiemen, picked from diff
ferent regiments and soon after par
ticipated in the battle of Brandywine
under Sir William Howe.
Gave His Right Arm.
Capt. Ferguson encountered some OF
the storied American sharpshooters in
this battle and found them almost as
skillful as himself. Here he received
a dangerous wound which so shattered
his right arm as to forever afterward
render 1t useless. In truth, he gave
| his right arm" to his country.
| When satisfied that he never would
regain full and free use Of 1t. he
wasted no time in grieving over Its
loss, but practiced unremittingly and
soon became expert in the use Of the
sword with his left. Another evidence
OF his great determination and perse-
verance.
| In a private letter from Capt. Fer
! guson to his kinsman, DR.. Adam Fer
| guson, he details a very curious incl
dent which occurred while he lay In
the skirt Of wood in front Of a d.
vision.
I'VE had not lain long," says Capt.
Ferguson, when a rebel officer re-
markable by a Hussar dress passed
toward our army within 100 yards Of
my right flank, not perceiving us. He
was followed by another dressed in
dark green and blue mounted on bay
horse with a remarkably high cooked
hat. l ordered three good shots to
steal near and fire at them, but the
idea disgusting me. I recalled the or
der. The Hussar in returning made a
circuit, but the other passed within 100
yards Of us, upon which I advanced
from the wood toward him. Upon my
calling he stopped but after looking at
me, proceeded. again drew his at
| tention and made signs to him to stop,
leveling my piece at him, but he slow
ly cantered away. AS I was within
that distance, at which at the quickest
firing 1 could have lodged half a dozen
balls In him before he was out Of my
range, had only to determine. But'it
was not pleasant to fire at the back of
an offending individual who was ac-
| quitting himself very coolly Of his
duty, so I let him alone. The day af-
ter had been telling the story to some
wounded officers who lay in the came
/ room with me when one of the sur
geons, who had been dressing the
wounded rebel officers, came in and
| told us that they had been telling him
that Gen. Washington was all the
morning with the light troops and only
attended by a French officer in Hus-
sar dress, he himself dressed and
mounted in every point as above de-
scribed. am not sorry that did not
know at the time who 1t was" And a
British writer suggestively remarks In
this connection: Unfortunately Fer
guson did not personally know WASH
| ington-otherwis the rebels would
have had a new general to seek"
Different Viewpoints.
| OF the several succeeding special
enterprises Of Ferguson there is a wide
| difference Of opinion. Irving de-
nounces a particular one Of them as a
"marauding expedition worthy Of the
| time Of the buccaneers" but Sir Henry
| Clinton, British commander, reported
| this same one to the home office as
'signal success under the direction of
the very active and jealous officer,
Ferguson" and Admiral Gambler pro-
nounced it a spirited service" The
point Of view makes the difference.
However, Capt. Ferguson steadily In
| creased In the confidence Of his supe-
| riors and even extorted the admiration
| of the Americans for his valor and en-
terprise, admiration which shortly be-
came hatred Of the most envenomed
kind.
| On the 25th of October, 1779, he was
promoted to the rank Of major OF the
Second battalion of the Seventy first
regiment, Highland Light infantry
composed Of Frasers. Campbells. Nc
Arthurs, McDonalds and many others
Of the finest Scotch and English lads.
When Sir Henry Clinton fitted out
his expedition against Charleston at
the close Of 1779, he selected Maj. Fer
guson to share in the important en-
terprise. A corps Of 300 men called
the American volunteers" was as
signed for his command and he was
given the rank of lieutenant colonel.
But under Ferguson's royal commits
sion he had other work to do for
England besides that which he per-
formed in his chosen military pursuit
Many of the colonists were half-heart-
ed Tories, many thought British rule
good, many forsaw only defeat and
disaster in the separation from Eng
lands protecting care. True, there
were taxes hard to pay, true, there was
no fair representation and the times
were difficult and the oppression of the
lords hard to be borne, but many
thought it better to endure present
distresses than to fly to ILLS they knew
not Of"
On Dangerous Work.
Lord CORVALLIS knew that there
were many who would rally to the
royal cause with the case laid before
them in a persuasive manner and the
way made plain for them to espouse
Il openly the ioyalist cause. There were
many communities where not Roy
alist could be found and where only
dwelt men who loved the colonies and
the homes they had made. But there