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

procure lists of each and to see thai
my orders are carried into execution
To Col. Ferguson's standard while
encamped, the Tories focked in large
numbers. Companies and regiments
were organized and many officers
commissioned for the royal service
! The younger men were thoroughly
drilled by Col. Ferguson and his sub.
ordinates in military tactics and fitted
for active service. No one could have
been better qualified for this business
than this distinguished partisan whom
Sir Henry Clinton selected for this
work. He seemed a born commander
His large experience in war, and par
ticularly for military discipline, su-
peradded to his wonderful personal
magnetism eminently fitted him for
unlimited influence over his men and
the common people within his region,
1t was not due to his personal appear
ance nor his daily life. He was never
married and his private life was one
full Of reproach. He always dressed
we'll, but he was not favored with a
commanding presence. He was Of mid
die stature, slender make, possessed
Of a serious countenance-yet 1t was
his peculiar and particular character
istic to gain the affection Of every man
under his command. Like the people
of the late King Edward VII. they low
ed him both because Of his faults and
also in spite Of them.
He would sit down for hours and
converse with the country people on
the state Of public affairs and point
out to them, from his view, the ruin
Gus effects Of the disloyalty Of the ring
leaders of the rebellion and uphold the
good intentions both of the royal army
and royal government. He told them,
to use his own word, I'VE come not to
make war on women and children, but
to relieve their distresses," and he tru-
ly believed 1t.
A Hard Worker.
He was as indefatigable in training
them to his way Of thinking as he was
in instructing them in military exHr-
cises. This condescension on his part
was considered wonderful in an officer
of the king and went far to secure the
respect and obedience Of all who came
within the sphere Of his almost magic
influence. He believed implicitly that
he had right on his side, and, If he
erred, would not you and have done
as he did?
When words failed or the men were
out Of reach, he wrote to them, and
this is a sample Of the letters he ad-
dressed to them:
"Denard's Ford, Broad River, Tryon
Co., Oct. 1, 1880.
Gentlemen: Unless you wish to be
eat up by an inundation Of barbara
ans who have begun by numbering an
unarmed son before an aged father
and afterward Topped Off his arms and
who by their shocking cruelties and
Irregularities give the best proof o.
the cowardice and want Of discipline
I say II you wish to be pinioned, rob-
bed and murdered and see your wives
and daughters in four days abused by
the dregs of mankind; in short, If you
wish or deserve to live and bear the
name Of men, grasp your arms In a
moment and run to camp. The Back
water men have crossed the mountain.
Mcdowell, Hampton, Shelby and
Cleveland are at their head so that
you know what you have to depend on.
II you choose to be degraded forever
and ever by set Of mongrels, say 80
at once and let your women turn their
backs on you and look out for real men
to protect them.
Patrick Ferguson,
Major list Regiment"
To coerce the Wings to submission
and embody the Tories and train
them, Ferguson kept moving about the
country and sending out his detach-
ments in every direction. At one time
he camped for a time on the planta-
tion Of Col. James Williams, about q
mile west of Little river. This camp was
located near the intersection Of a road
leading to Laurens court house, which
was about sixteen miles distant. In
the Union district he camped on the
south side Of Tiger river, about half
a mile below Blackstock's ford. Once
he moved to Fair Forest settlement,
once to the Gist plantation, thence to
Cunninghams.
Dsspised by Both Sides.
It must be admitted that these To-
ries were often lawless bands Of mill
tia who consumed, laid waste, plum
dered and destroyed and 1t Is not
strange that they were soon heartily
despised alike by the British officers
under whose command they were and
by their countrymen, the Whigs. This
dislike extended to the commander
himself and on him was laid the blame
for it all. He became the object Of
especial venom and against him per-
sonally was many battle waged.
He became the most hated man In
the army and the Continentals regard
ed him as q firebrand deserving any
foul treatment, meriting any indignity.
One writer Qrwin) Institutes his COM
parison between Ferguson and Tarle-
ton: "Tarleton was dashing, tireless,
unmerciful; Ferguson, was fit asso-
ciate for Tarleton. in hardy scram-
bling partisan enterprise, equally in
trepid and determined but cooler and
more open to impulses of humanity"
He was known as and called Bull
dog Ferguson" and this was indica-
tive of his iron will, his answering
determination to pursue a course to
the end, his answering tenacity of
purpose in what he undertook to do.
And so Ferguson was not the man
to be diverted from his purpose by any
feeling against him, or any act of
treachery and inhumanity. With him
it was king and country first, though
he knew also that the crown had hon.
ors and rewards for faithful service