Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-02-14
DEFEAT OF COL. HOUCK
noted Revolutionary Battle Fought
on York County Soil.
BRAVE WORK At RIGHT MOMENT

When the Wings Pouneed unon
Them, Took Them by Surprise and
Whipped Out Their Forees--vietory
That Helped to Make Kings Noun
tain Possible.
Written for Tho Yorkville Enquirer.
Houck's Defeat or Battle of Will
liamson's Plantation.
This was a notable battle fought on
the soil of York county on the 18th of
July 1880 several months before the
battle of Kings Mountain was fought
in the same county. In both bnttles
British officer, named Ferguson, was
killed. Houck's defeat was significant
in that it was the first American VIC
tory after the fall of Charleston, just
as the battle of Musgrove's Mill was
fought two days after the defeat of
Gates at Camden. After the British
under General Clinton captured Char
lesion, they sent bodies Of troops all
over. the state,N which for time sub
dued and over-awed our people. plac-
ing large forces at Augusta, Camden
and Ninety Six.
There was force Of British under
Colonel Turnbull at Rocky Mount" In
what is now in Fairfield county. Turn
bull issued his order as follows: ITO
Captain Christian Huych, you are
hereby ordered with tho cavalry under
your command to proceed to the
fl ontier of tho province, collecting all
the loyal militia with you in your
march, and with said force to push the
rebels as far os you deem convenient"
In June 1880, party Of Wings un-
der the command of Col. William
Bratton, Major Richard Wlnn, and
Captain John c. McLure attacked and
defeated some Tories IT Mobley's
meeting house in what is now Fair
field county, as a result Of which the
order given by Major Turnbull set out
above, was made. On July 11th, 1880,
Houck, a Tory, with body Of 400
British cavalry and Tories went to the
house of Col William Bratton in York
County and inquired Of Mrs. Bratton
| for her husband. She told him Col.
Bratton was with Sumter. Houck told
her that If her husband would join the
British, that he should have a COM
mission. She replied that her husband
would remain with Sumter even II, II
cost him his life. On hearing this one
Of Houck's soldiers attempted to mur-
| der her, but was prevented by the Of
6cer second in command. Three old
men, James McRandle, Thomas Glen
denim and Robert Bratton, who were
Whig sympathizers, were confined in
corn crib tc be executed the next
day but they were liberated by John
Moore, Jr. during the fight the follow
ing day. Houck and his forces left
Brattons and encamped on William
sons plantation on a creek few hun
dred yards away. Before going to
Bratton's, Houck had pillaged Nc
Lures plantation and Mary Mcclure
rode to Sumter's camp to inform her
people of what was going on. Col.
Bratton and Captain Mcclure started
out with about $50 men and Col. Lacey
got up some volunteers, and these
with Hill and Neel joined the others
making in, ell q force of about 500 who
determined to drive Houck out Of the
settlements, they thinking he was at
Whites Mill toward which point they
marched. Learning that Houck was
at Bratton's they voted to proceed to
that point for the purpose Of attacking
him. Through some mistake in the
orders, $50 Of the men went to Char
lotte n. c. and that left only $50 men
to attack Houck. When they reached
Bratton's place 80 men had dropped
out leaving only about 260 for the at
tack.
After consultation it was decided
that our men should be divided into
two parties-one led by Bratton and
Neel and the other by.Col. Lacey, ap-
| piotSHlHS lIOlll ullleIcllL uiIcCllOHS. IL
seems that Houck had not taken the
ordinary precaution Of having pickets
and sentinels placed and there was a
complete surprise. The attack was
made at early dawn and the surprise
was complete; the men were cut off
from their horses; Capt. Houck who
was caught IL bed, mounted his horse
and acted with great galantry at
tempting to rally his fleeing men till
he was shot dead by John Carroll;
Col. Ferguson Of the British army was
also killed and about 40 Of Houck's
men were also slain. The fence along
the lane afforded the Wings a shelter
from British attack; the British
charging three times only to be re-
pulsed by deadly fire from the rifles
Of our men. After the fall of Houck,
the word to leap the fence and charge
was given to our men, who suited the
action to the word and drove the
enemy before them; mounted their
horses and pursued the flying Royal
lists some dozen miles, inficting ven-
geance for the many atrocities that had