The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-04-11
BUFORD'S DEFEAT BY
COLONEL TARLETON.
An Interesting Story of the Massacre of Pa
triotic Force During the American Revo-
luton Told by Rev. Latham.


ter county during the American revo-
lution. was written for the Yorkvllle
ENQUIRER by the late Rev. Robert
Latham, D. D., and was first publish
ed in the issue Of this paper of Sep
tember 80, 1891. 1t is being repub-
lished 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 De
property taken care of:
Nearly every neighborhood in the
upper counties of South Carolina IS
memorable on account of some tragl-
cal affair which occurred in it during
the years of 1880 and 1881. On the
26th of December, 1779, Sir Henry
Clinton with a corps of more than
5000 British soldiers, we'll provldeo
with everything necessary for the
efficiency of such force, cleared the
harbor of New York and directed his
course towards South Carolina. Four
things-the mildness of the climate
the richness of the soil, the nearness
to Georgia, and the distance from
General Washington - suggested
South Carolina to the British COM
mander as the fttest region, in all
North America. in which to crush out
of existence the rebellion against the
British government. 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 ferceness the contending par
ties were able to effect for period
of more than four years, and not
single decisive battle had been
fought.
The forces of Sir Henry Clinton,
designed to operate in the South,
were conveyed by Vice Admiral Ar
buthnot. The voyage was not pros
porous one. A storm scattered the
fleet; some of the ships were captur-
ed, 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
taken. The country, far and near,
was secured by armed parties for
the purpose 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 large force, the work of throw
ing 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 up
on the city, and with the land forces
cut it off entirely from communica-
tion 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 naval forces, jointly summoned
the American general to surrender.
General Lincoln replied that Sixty
days have passed since it has been
krown that your intentions against
this town. were hostile, in which time
has been afforded to abandon it; but
duty and inclination point to the pro-
priety of supporting it to the last ex-
tremity.''
On the rejection of the summons
the British batteries were opened and
a 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, it's capture was
regarded 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
British forces to be readmitted to the
character of British subjects, and in
the same petition, declared their dis
appreciation of the doctrine of Ameri
can independence. Time has dealt