The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-08-17
South Carolina, Fort Larey,

you left South Carolina last. The en-
emy has had possession of all | pos
Scssed and am told had come to a con-
clusion of the division of the negroes
and plantations and under cover of
the British which made them think
all quite safe. They had taken off
only five negroes and they on Fer
guSOn'S defeat, were left TO them
selves and chose to come home ami
on Tuesday evening, the 7th of last
month, General Sumpter arrived at
the Fish Dam ford on Broad river
and the next morning about 1 o'clock
were attacked by the British, part
of Tarleton's corps. Their number
from the best information were about
26O, our number consisted of about
300 and upwards. They attacked us
with their cavalry in front, however,
after contest of about an hour the
enemy saw cause to quit the ground
with the loss Of % killed, wounded
and taken. Thei commanding officer,
Major Winns wounded and taken
among the rest. They had seven killed
on the ground and four died of their
wounds that evening. We lost five
men killed and six wounded. My boz
Moses, whom SO esteem, believe, is
mortally wounded, as he is shot be-
tween the body and shoulder and bay.
onetted in three different places in
the body. The next day we advanced
as far as Tiger river and after cross
ing it encamped on the south sid" !;
then we had our neighborhood under
cover, which occasioned small open-
ing for those who had recovered or
had property that they wished out of
the way of the enemy to make a
venture. Capt. Charles Sims con-
cluded to run negroes for Virginia. I
prevailed on him to agree to try to
take mine with his and told him to
take them to you if possible but in
case it should happen other ways to
place them as safe as he possibly
could It'll he could see you-which he
said he would be sure to do if he got
his negroes in safe as he would go
by your Uncle Glenn's where you
board. I also told him to be sure
to tell you that if you could possibly
save the negroes from the enemy that
all and every one of them should be
your absolute right and property. 1
am informed that Capt Sims has left
the negroes on the Adkin opposite
the Moravian town. If it should be
the case perhaps he may leave his ne
groes on the way or stay with them
so long that you may lose yours;
therefore as 1 have this opportunity
by Major Stogden who tells me he is
going into Virginia Immediately with
all the speed he possibly can and
through the neighborhood where you
are, he has promised me either to call
at Mr.. Glenn's and deliver this letter
to you with his own hand or to be
sure and send it to you by a safe
hand-and if it should be the first ac-
count you have had of the negroes |
would recommend to you both to push
Immediately to where the negroes are
and run them with all speed into Vir-
ginia and the safest you can be in
formed Of us. | would wish you to
save them if possible as they have
been taken and retaken and will GER
tainly be so much saved to yourselves
and unexpectedly, and if it should so
happen that you should secure the ne
groes and we gain our independence
would wish you two to make an equa,
division with your brothers and sis
ters, and, if it should be the will of
providence that | DO survive the war
and it shall terminate in our favor,
which / ever have and do yet believe
it will, ] shall and do relinquish all
my right claims and pretentions to all
and every one of the negroes | did
formerly or do now own to you as
aforesaid, all the other part of my es-
tate except my land has fallen into
the hands of the enemy. They drove
off at one time between ninety and
hundred head of cattle to Winnsbor-
ough. They have also got all my
sheep and the greater part of my
hogs, plantation tools, household fur
niture and every other article that
was of any value, so | am properly
situated for a soldier and am deter
mined to see the event of our cause
or fall in the attempt.
There is one piece of news | have
omitted, which was the Battle of
Blackstocks on Tiger river, which
happened u le" Gays after l saw
Capt. Sims. Col. Tarleton attacked us
about an hour. and half by sun in
the evening. The action continued til
almost sundown when we beat them
off the ground; we had four killed
and Gen. Sumpter badly wounded.
Capt. Gabriel Brown was killed dead
to my left hand and Gen. Sumpter to
my right. Both happened from one