Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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? aH=_-====HH====H=^ lewis m. gkist, proprietor.j 3U Jtibipf rtbf ill Jfantilj Bttospaptr: jfttr tjjt ^promotion af tjit ^afitital, Social, ^gritalfaral ani Contnuraal Jntmsls of fjft Sonlfr. | terms-?$3.00 a yeah, in advance. VOL. 22. YORKYILLE, S. O., THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1876. NO. 29. Jkit Original ^torg. LOST AND FOUND; OR, THE WHITE FAWN OF THE FOREST. BY MRS. HENRY DEA8. CHAPTER III. Ad expanse of blue sky, unchequered by a cloud, looks down, on a sultry September day, upon an arid plain, over which a train of white-cancpied wagons, accompanied by a cavalcade of men on horses, and a few on foot, slowly wends its way. The sun is painfully, cruelly bright It shines with an intensity equal to furnace heat, and the wearv beasts, panting in its beams, can scarcely drag their loads along. Inside the wagons are women and children, some of the former worn and weak-looking, many of the latter infants in arms, all wearing an air, more or less listless and dejected. The men have earnest, anxious faces. On some brows a settled gloom holds sway. Others, though serious, are less despondent-looking, and talk courageously among themselves. "A couple of hours more must bring us to the river," says one. "Even allowing that we m- came so far out of our way, we must have made up for lost time by now." "I don't believe we are within thirty miles of the river," says a nother?one of the gloomy ones. "At the rate at which we are traveling, we can not have regained but fifteen miles, and we were forty out of the way." "It was a cursed mistake," grumbles a third. "I hope it won't end in our perishing of thirst; but I must own I have ray fears." "Pshaw! man, don't talk in that way,'\ says the first speaker, cheerily. This is none other than Eli Scott, the stout farmer, whose acquaintance Edward Graham made in the agent's office in New York, on the day that he went there to enroll his name on the emigrant list. Near him walks our friend Graham, looking grave and thoughtful, but ready, too, with an encouraging word. "Things haven't come to such a crisis as that yet, Captain Joye. We have still water enough and to spare, and I agree with Mr. Scott in thinking we must be tolerably near the river by this time." "We thought so yesterday evening," replied Captain Joye, "but we found ourselves decidedly mistaken. For my part, I-have no confidence in these Indian blackguards?none whatever. I believe they are misleading us oh purpose." "It would be considerably against their interest to do so," said Graham, "aud I fancy they know that as well as we do. I see no reason to suspect them of treachery." Captain Joye shrugged bis shoulders. "All I can say is, I wish we were well out of the scrape," said he. "I confess that I would not feel particularly sorry to find myself in the old homestead in Pennsylvania once more. Lord L.|ihst a fnal .J- ww to ot??-oa-thiswild-goose chase." "You are talking treason, my friend," said Mr. Scott, good humoredly. "Don't you recollect our solemn compact to keep each oth v L! J!. er's spirits up, ana retrain irom maaiug uiscouraging remarks ?" "Yes, yes, that's all very fine," said the captain, testily. "I am not as strong as you are, you see, and this scorching heat weakens my nerves?melts 'em all away. What a blessing a thunderstorm would be!" No one could deny this statement. But, alas! no signs were visible of any such blessing being near at hand. For a fortnight the little company had journeyed on over the barren plain, through this same consuming heat and drought, under the same blinding sunny sky. Their stock of provisions and of water was getting low. No settlement was anywhere visible. As far as eye could reach, extended, like a waveless sea, the unbroken expanse of sandy ground, with its scanty covering of stunted grass and dismal-looking sacra-brush. The streneth of some of the weaker of their number had begun to sink, and they had no proof of the reliability of their guides, a band of friendly Indians who j had engaged to conduct them to the shores of a river, where they would find a good camping ground, and might enjoy a period of rest and refreshment before proceeding farther, and reinforce their supplies from a village near by. This resting-place, so eagerly looked forward to, seemed as remote now as ever; and for the last two days, doubts as to the fidelity of the Indians, or at least, as to their capability of fulfilling their engagement, had begun to creep into the minds of several. It was not a cheering state of affairs. No wonder despondency was gaining the ascendency over them. Even the more courageous and hopeful spirits, while still bearing up bravely, secretly began to fail. Graham, who had sturdily done his part all along, was inwardly disturbed by many misgivings. Anxiety for his wife and child tormented him, and he frequently reproached himself for his rashness in acceding to Mr. Sandford's proposition, thus exposing the two beings so dear to him, to peril and suffering. Fortunately, however, * - 1 - Viil - ? _! I 1 A? J both Mary ana tne mue gin nau couuuueu to enjoy health and strength. The latter, indeed, was so improved by change of air and travel as to be scarcely recognizable. Her puny frame appeared to gain fresh vigor with every mile they advanced, and her little, pale j cheeks had filled out and were tinted with a lovely rosy hue. She had blossomed into remarkable beauty, and her winsome, sprightly little ways and really wonderful intelligence, made her the pet and darling of the whole company. It was more, therefore, the anticipation of what they might have to endure, than solicitude for their present condition, which distressed the fond husband and father, who would cheerfully have undergone any hardships himself, rather than see them tired, in the least degree, beyond their strength. Thoughts of want and sickness, perhaps starvation?of losing their way utterly in this vast trackless waste, and lying down to perish out of the reach of all human help?of their bleached bones being, perhaps, found months j hence by another band of emigrants, like themselves, strewn, unburied, beneath the open sky?forced themselves into his mind. But, for the sake of all around him, and most especially of those for whom his solicitude was so powerfully awakened, he carefully concealed all evidences of this inward anguish, resolving to keep up a show of hopefulness as long as it was possible to do so. It was, therefore, with a smiling face that he now stepped to the side of one of the wagons and accosted its occupants. These coneis ted of his wife and child, and part of the numerous family of Mr. Scott. "Coming on tolj erably comfortable in here, eh? Not very pleasant, this style of getting over the ground! : Mary, love, you look pale this afternoon. I ; am afraid you find the heat oppressive." "Rather," said Mary, with a patient little smile, "but I am no worse off than ray neighbors, and better off than some. Here's poor little Carrie Scott with fever, and suoh a headache she can't sit up at all." "Fever!" Graham looked greatly concerned. "When did it come on ?" "About an hour ago. I think, though, it's ; only the confinement in this close wagon. Oh, Edward, if the sun would only go under a cloud!" "Unluckily there are no clouds for it to go under," rejoined Graham. "I wonder if it always does shine with such persistency out here ? If so, I am not surprised at the thoroughly-baked condition of the soil. It is like walking on a brick floor." "Dear Edward, your feet will be blistered. Why don't you ride ?" "I lent my horse to Phillip, you know. He'll return it, by and by; but he's ailing, poor fellow, and I can't ask him." "Come into the wagon, then. Indeed, ?..'11 ?1] ? U 11 UC an uauu uuv. "Oh, no! I shall take care of myself, never fear. When the sun goes down, maybe the little one would like a run. She's asleep now, is she ?" "Yes, little darling 1 Edward, how thankful we ought to be that she keeps so well." "Indeed we ought. This is a wearisome experience for you both. But when we get to the river, we can all recruit ourselves; and on the other side, I'm told, the traveling will be easier." "Are we near the river now, do you think ?" "We ought to be," said Graham, with a restless glance around. "No signs of it yet, however. These Indian fellows are not as j knowing as they pretended to be, it seems. But they appear confident of being in the right track now." "What an odd creature that big one, Oconosh, is," said Mary. "You can't think what a fancy he has taken to Leila, and she quite reciprocates it." "Doesshe? I gave her credit for better taste. She has quite lost all her shyness of late." ??xr? ;d qa m nnVi XIVS nuuuoi uuw 10 uiuuv ov iuuvu vit Oconosh came up to the wagon yesterday, and held out his arms to her, and she jumped right into them, and commenced playing with the beads he wears on his wrists. He was delighted, and amused her so successfully that it was some time before she was willing to leave him, even to return to me." "When was that? I did not see it." "When you and Mr. Scott had gone off reconnoitering, and we had stopped to rest. Don't you remember?" "Ob, yes. Well, I would not let these fellows coax Leila away at any time, if I were They are ouch toiehjr feealu, mi one knows what might happen." Mary turned pale even at this vague insinuation. Oh, Edward ! what do you mean ? They could not?would not?do her any harm 1" KT J- ?4 ?Wnt X UU UUl tUIUH lb V CI J liacijr biiab bUCjr would; don't look so terrihed," said Graham, smiling a little at her disturbed face. "All I meant was, that it's just as well to be prudent, and keep the little one under your eye. That Oconosh seems a good-natured fellow enough; but if he took a special fancy to her, he might carry her off for a plaything." Mary's eyes turned, with a passionate tenderness in their gaze, to the sleeping face of her child, whose little fair head nestled in her lap, as she lay cuddled on a pile of shawls, heedless of the jolting of their rough conveyance ; and softly she encircled that lovely head with her arm, with a gesture that seemed to say, "Nothing shall ever part you from me." Her soul was wrapped up in this baby, this one little ewe-lamb of her affections. Even the love she bore Graham, deep and self-renouncing as it was, seemed less sacred, less intense, than the holy mother-love. Alas ! how powerless she was, even in the strength of that mighty tenderness, to shield the babe from harm?how weak and impotent in the grasp of relentless Fate, who, even then, was weaving around her the toils of a resistless doom! On, wearily on, toiled this dusty, dispirit ed, travel-worn band, ever gazing anxiously into the distance to discover what still eluded their straining eyes. Hours passed, the sun sank in the horizon, and still nothing was visible but the flat unbroken plain. At last they paused. It was time to camp out for the night, and prepare themselves by such repose as they could obtain for the fatigue and uncertainty of another day. Anxious questions were propounded to Oconosh, the chief of their guides, but nothing could be elicited but the same unvarying answer, given with the stolid composure characteristic of his race. "River not far, white man see it by-by. Injun all right. Bring white man safe. Get heap water, heap food, by-by." "We must get there to-morrow, I suppose, must we not ?" "Get there by-by, all right. Injun bring white man safe, he no be 'fraid." "You told us we would be there to day. You see you were mistaken." "Mistake?yes. Never mind, all right. Get to river after while, all safe." Tkio it?qa all fcah'ofanfinn +lia+ nnnlrl Ka Jl IIIO n?0 VIIU OMVIQIMVIIVU IIUUU WUiM l/V obtained. The Indian could not, or would not, make more definite replies. There was nothing to be done but to wait patiently, and | hope. Meantime their solicitude was awa- J kened by the condition of Carrie Scott, a pretty, delicate little girl, of twelve years, whose indisposition had begun rapidly to increase. The fever which had set in at raid-day, came on with violence toward night-fall. Her head ached intolerably, and she complained of severe pain in all her limbs. Her father and mother were distracted by anxiety, especially as they found that the remedies they employed were productive of no beneficial result. She lay on a mattress in the wagon, suffering, but exceedingly patient. Every one came to offer their help, and to try and cheer her up. It was a night of painful suspense, the most trying they had passed yet. It was the first case of real sickness which had occurred among them, and they could not yet tell how severe a one it might prove, or whether there was danger of infection to the rest. "It's the heat, and the stale water, and the poor food that's done it," said Scott, trying to conceal his own despondency, that he might sustain his wife's sinking courage. "She'll get over it when once we get something better to give her, I don't doubt." "If she can hold out that long," said the poor mother, whose fears were deeper than she would betray. "Oh ! she'll hold out ? Why, if we were at home, Bucha fit of sickness as this wouldn't trouble us, to speak of. It's only our present - ? . ^ I. circumstances tbat maae it appear 01 sucn consequence." "Ah! that's just it, Eli. If we were at home, we'd have the doctor at hand, and if it was of no consequence, we'd have the satisfaction of knowing it, and if it should be anything serious, why it could be taken in hand in time. But here in this desert, with nobody to advise us, and no physician to be had, even if we knew what to give?it's mighty hard not to be cast down." "Well, but you must keep up, Susan, for the child's sake. You have to tend her, you know, and if you break down, she'll be worse off than now." "Give me your baby to mind, Mrs. Scott," said Mary. "I'll take her off your hands, so you can give all your time to Carrie." The wagon occupied by the little invalid was left entirely to her and her mother, the rest of the children, with Mary and her baby, being removed to some of the others. Carrie's fever abated somewhat in the cool hours of the night, but the headache and pain in the limbs continued. She tossed uneasily about, trying in vain to obtain rest. With morning the burning heat returned, and her mother's apprehensions increased ten fold. They started again on their journey, the band of Indians leading the way with their usual indifferent air. One or two of them, however, i appeared to sympathize with the anxiety of Mrs. Scott; and Oconosb, with much gravity, ofTered her the loaD of a sort of amulet, made of painted bark and feathers, which be wore round his neck, assuring her that if she laid it on the sick girl's breast, it would make her "heap better, all right soon." Though she, of course, did not put the least faith in the remedy, she was afraid to decline the offer, thinking it prudent to keep on as good terms as possible with their guides. Slowly and laboriously as before, they toiled on, still vainly looking out for the promised ha^en of rest. Oh ! what a relief it would have been to have spied the cool murmuring water, to drink of it and lave in it their tired limbs! While to rest in the shade of a green tree would have seemed like a taste of Paradise, after long exposure to the burning sun. By common consent, the water that still remained in their bottles, warm and flat as it now tasted, but nevertheless precious, was hoarded up for the invalid, whose consuming thirst constantly craved it, and for the little children of the party, being scarcely touched by the rest. The men would drink, a few drops at a time, of the brandy and other spirituous liquors they had with them, to sustain their strength, doling them out, also, as occasion required, to "the women-and eider children ; hut this siuulrof liquor was also getting low, and it was too valuable to them to be lavishly drawn upon. They still had a good supply of hard biscuit, and enough dried beef to last them, with economy, a few days longer. There was a chance also of their coming across a herd or antelope, or a stray buffalo, and thus obtaining some fresh meat, as they bad already done once or twice before. But unless their supplies could be speedily reinforced, in this or some other way, they all felt that the energy necessary to the successful prosecution of their journey, would soon fail them, and additional illness perhaps be the result. And so this day, like the previous one, passed away, and when it drew to a close they found themselves no better situated, as far as they could see, than on the evening before. And still the Indians, when questioned, stolidly replied? "White man come to river by-by. Injun all right, bring white man safe. White man no be 'fraid." [To bo Continued.] psrterg of f. Carolina. HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP THE Early Settlement of South Carolina. BY REV. ROBERT LATHAN. GEN. SUMTER AT FISHING CREEK. On the approach of General Gates, the Whigs of every section of South Carolina, began to throw off the cloak of disguise. As DeKalb passed through Virginia and North Carolina, the Whigs of these States were filled with joy and the loyalists began to fear and tremble. Sumter had, for some time, been scouring the country between Camden and Ninety-Six, and Marion was watching the region between Camden and the Atlantic, making theswamps between the Santee and the Pedee hiding places for himself and his men. Both Sumter and Marion, at this time, were Colonels of the South Carolina line. Both were very brave men, and although very different from each other in personal appearance and temperament, were admirably adapted for the kind of warfare in which they had engaged. They were near the same age, but I in physical strength, Sumter was greatly su! perior to Marion. Appropriately, Sumter ! was called "the game cock," and Marion "the swamp fox." Sumter was as impetuous as a storm and not over scrupulous. Marion was cautious. The former never thought i about danger; the latter neither sought it nor avoided it. Both had the same object in view?the ruiu of the British and tories and the freedom of their country ; but, as warj riors, they chose different modes to secure the ! same thing. Both Sumter and Marion were nf Hnornennt extraction. I wa ? j We have already met Sumter at Rocky 1 Mount and Hanging Rock, and in future we will frequently meet both him and Marion, I together with Andrew Pickens, James Lyles and a host of others, who took the field as partisan leaders. I When General Gates encamped at Rugeley's Mills, the camp of Sumter was not far distant. Neither Sumter nor his men could he still. He was constantly on the look out for something to do. Learning that troops were passing from Ninety-Six to Camden for the purpose of reinforcing Cornwallis, and that a large wagon train of supplies was also on its way from Ninety-Six to Camden, he concluded that with a few more men than he had, and some pieces of cannon, he could, without any loss, capture the supplies. He made known bis intentions and wants to General Gates, at Rugeley's Mills, on the fourteenth of August. General Gates, since he had on that day been joined by General Stevens with seven hundred Virginians, immediately detached four hundred men and two three-pounders, under the command of Colonel Woolford, for the purpose of reinforcing Sumter. The camp of Sumter, at this time, was on Waxbaw creek, in Lancaster county. Sumter and Woolford were ordered to unite their forces and carry out the intentions of Sumter. Early on the morning of the fifteenth of August, the forces of Woolford having joined Sumter, all the crossings of the Wateree river, for some distance above Camden and for five miles below it, were seized by Sumter. During the previous night, the British had, for some reason, removed all the guards except from what was then called Wateree Ferry, opposite Camden. At this point a guard was stationed on both sides of the river. On - ? -a --J- ??? - oo 1 1A/) MIB WBUl BIUB WHO O DUMtkll 1U1 liutawuu VOAIVU Fort Cary. It was commanded by Colonel Cary. A party of Sumter's men surprised the guard, killing seven and taking thirty prisoners, amongst whom was Colonel Cary himself. Up to this time Sumter bad not lost a single man. The British, from the east side of the river, fired npon the Americans across the river, but did no damage^The wagon train, in quest of which Sumter had set out, was in the immediate neighborhood of Fort Cary. i In a short time, without any loss, Sumter was i in possession of thirty-eight wagons loaded I with army supplies, togetfcjbr with their escort. In a short time-jjfijfcerward six more ' wagons and seventy prisoners were captured. I In all, he captured forty-four wagons loaded 1 with army stores of various kinds and three < hundred prisoners, and did not lose a single ! man. ] After the battle of Hanging Rock, Davie's i division, which formed a part of Sumter's ] command, was ordered to escort the wounded 1 to Charlotte. So soon as Davie had perform- < ed this duty, he hastened back to join Gates at Rugeley's Mill. He arrived after Gates I had set out for Camden, but by marching all i ' night he met the fleeing troops of Gates i about four miles from, the scene of conflict. 1 Here he learned'from General Huger of the I defeat of the American army. Davie at once i +Wa* CnmfAM rrr A a irvHaM n t nf tflA I UUUUiliUCU Ifliav UUIUIfCA TIM Iguvi wuv v* ?MV fact, and would be cut off did he not get out of the reach of the enemy at once. Captain i Martin, with two dragoons, was sent at once, by Davie, to inform him of the sad results of the battle, and to advise him to hasten on to Charlotte, North Carolina, when they could again form a junction. On tbe nigbt of the sixteenth, CaptaiD Martin reached Sumter's camp, and found that the latter was totally ignorant of what had taken place. He was encamped with forty-four wagons and three hundred prisoners, many of whom were sick. He at once . broko up hia ? ?mrl eet out, up the rivar, expecting to cross at the Nation Ford or some other place in that neighborhood. < Unfortunately for the brave Sumter and i bis heroic baud, the British commander did i not become so elated on account of his victory < j over the hero of Saratoga, as to forget tbem. < Both Cornwall and Tarleton were capable i of making the most out of a victory. On 1 the evening of the sixteenth of August, when I Gates' discomfited army was fleeing in wild i j confusion, CornwaUis sent a messenger to 1 Lieutenant-Colonel Turnbull, who with Pat- I rick Ferguson, was stationed on Little river, I in Fairfield county, to take the New York < volunteers and Ferguson's detachment, and i go at once in pursuit of Sumter. i On the morning of the seventeenth of August, Colonel Tarleton, with three hundred I and fifty men and one cannon, was sent by 1 CornwaUis in pursuit of Sumter, with direc- i tions to act as circumstances might indicate. From Rugeley's Mill, he directed his course < through the woods toward Rocky Mount, in- i tending to cross the river at that point, if all < things were favorable. On his way, he picked j up twenty American soldiers, who were es- i caping from the battle of the day before. In < the afternoon, Tarleton learned that Sumter < was retreating up the river. At dark he I reached the ferry opposite Rocky Mount. 1 Sumter's camp fires were distinctly to be seen. I Tarleton ordered the boats to be secured, and ] forbid any ..fires being kindled by his soldiers 1 during the night At daybreak the British I sentinels reported that they saw the Ameri- < cans decamping. That the truth of this state- < Un ironifift/l Toi?lofAn oonf ft Qtnflll I UJCUt UJIglll* UC VC11UCU) AOI1WWU UVMV w party, under command of Captain Campbell, across the river. Campbell was instructed to hold out a white handkerchief if Sumter was actually retreating up the river. In the meantime Tarleton ordered his men to get ready to cross the river. So soon as Captain Campbell and his party arrived at Rocky Mount, they took a prisoner and learned that Sumter was on his way toward the Nation Ford. The white handkerchief was hung out, and soon the British infantry, with the three pounder, were in the boats, and the cavalry were swimming across the river. The 6rst thing that Tarleton did, after crossing the river, was to send out a squad of men to search for Turnbull and Ferguson. Hearing nothing of them the men returned. Sumter had in his command about eight hundred men, one hundred of whom were Continentals. His movements were greatly retarded by the spoils captured on the fif' * * ?a ^ * Oa... Tn.lnfitn lin/1 nn lir f a leemn m run yjtuy. j.ouqwu u?u uuij hhw ? hundred and fifty men, and his men and ' horses had been doing hard service for several days and were in a poor condition to execute anything brilliant. Both armies moved up the Catawba river. Sumter, in perfect ignorance of the presence of a foe, was retreating toward Charlotte, North Carolina. There he expected to form a junction with 1 Davie. ! *Tarleton was in hot pursuit, watching for some favorable moment to dash in upon the ! unsuspecting Sumter. At twelve o'clock, ; Tarleton crossed Fishing creek. Here he found the greater part of both his men and horses so exhausted by the intense heat of the day, that it was necessary to select those able to undergo farther service. One hundred of the dragoons and sixty infantry were selected to continue the pursuit. The remainder of the troops, with the three-pounder, were posted advantageously, so that, having refreshed s themselves, they might be ready, in case of c necessity, to cover the retreat of the detachment. C The one hundred dragoons and sixty foot t soldiers, moved forward with great caution, c It was a miserable force to make an attack t upon Sumter. Had he only known that he i was pursued by such a band, he could have 1 easily annihilated it in a few moments. For 1 five miles,after crossing Fishing creek, Tarleton saw nothing to indicate the presence of s his foe but his freshly made tracks. Two of < Sumter's videttes, who were concealed in the i woods, fired upon the van of Tarleton's cav- 1 airy, and killed one of the legion. His comrades rushed in fury upon the two i A ??~^ nin/ua a?i+Vt tViair i illUCriCnilD nuu UUt tuoui w |H?\AW muu i swords. The presence of these videttes indicated the nearness of the American army. A sergeant and four men were sent to the top of a hill near by. They were seen to lie down upon their horses and motion to Tarleton to come forward. Tarleton spurred his jaded'' horse and rode to the top of the hill. On the opposite hill he saw the American camp. On the east was the Catawba; on the west, Fishing creek; in front and rear, was a ravine. The camp was on the crest of a narrow ridge. Here Sumter had encamped, on the night after the attempt to take the British post at Rocky Mount It was a strong position, and had Sumter only known that Tarleton was in the region with only one hundred and sixfy men, he would, no doubt, have put an end to that Briton's career. Il; was ordered otherwise. Sumter was worn out with watching, and his men were hungry and ' tired. Major Crawford, of Lancaster, was . officer of the day, and he, rather than Sumter, < is to blame for the careless manner in which 1 the camp was guarded. ^ When the videttes fired upon Tarleton's ad- ( vance guard and killed one of his legion, f Sumter sent out patrols to learn the cause of the firing. The patrols returned and report- C ed that it was only the soldiers killing beeves. < Sumter bad also sent out a squad of men to : patrol the road to Rocky Mount These men, tired and hungry, and, besides, like militia generally, disobedient to orders, had returned without examining the road for any considerable distance. I When Tarleton discovered Sumter's camp, . the guns were stacked and every thing pre- ] >ented a fit opportunity for a brilliant achieve- t ment. The officers, on account of the heat, 1 had takea?*off their superfluous clothing. Sumter was asleep. Some of the men were i slaughtering beeves, others were cooking, oth- ( ers were grazing their horses; some were sleep- i ing on the ground, and a very considerable ( number were'in the river bathing. Here, 1 worn out with the toils and hardships of war, f lay scattered, on this ridge near the Catawba . river, in the south-east corner of Chester . county, in fatal security, the Whigs of Ches- t ter, Lancaster, York and Fairfield. Many f of the men were in their own neighborhood, i Here they had spent childhood's happy days, ( and here, as a bird caught in a net, they were ' entrapped and slain or made prisoners. * . In a moment, Tarleton ordered the attack. ] His troops were formed into one line, and, ] with a ahnnt, dashed in upon the .American- J camp. All was confusion. The men were 1 cut off from their arms, and thus deprived of 1 all means of resistance. Behind the wagons r and at several other points in the American s camp, a slight resistance was made. So sud- ] den, however, and so unexpected was the at- t tack, and so spiritedly was it conducted, that 1 the officers had no time to form their men. ' Sumter, it does not appear, gave any orders ? at all. He was aroused from sleep by Cap- e tain John Steel, and in a half dressed condi- 2 tion mounted a horse and made for the Na- e tion Ford. The men followed the example of their commander. Some took to the river 1 and attempted to swim across, while others ? made for the woods. . The Rev. John Simpson, pastor, at that t time, of Fishing Creek Church, was mending his bridle. He had leaned his gun up against t a tree, and his mare was grazing around him. I When he heard the shouts of the British and F saw the confusion and slaughter in the American camp, he threw down the unmended bridle and mounted his mare, bare-back, and j gave her a slap on the side of the jaw. The a nnhlo haaat rlnshpH nflf in the direction indi- f jated by the slap on the jaw. A brush-fence, 0 enclosing a turnip-patch, seemed to obstruct P bis progress, but a word of encouragement * from the kind master enabled the faithful, p but jaded animal, to leap into the turnippatch and then leap out on the opposite side, t searing her master safe to the road. Here, n ;wo of Tarleton's men, armed with muskets, n jon fronted the escaping preacher. He was ? srdered to surrender, but another slap on the jheek of the mare changed her direction, f; [nto the woods she darted at full speed, and p bore her master beyond the reach of the Brit- n ish. ? In all directions, and in every imaginable e plight, the Americans fled. Some were bare- ? # footed, some had no clothing on except their bunting-shirts, and not a few were absolutely j aaked. Of the naked, some were supplied f by the Whig ladies, in the region, with their h husband's clothes, and not a few went to their * homes, or joined their commander, dressed in J women's clothes. It is said that Sumter left ^ jamp bareheaded, but was supplied with a hat tl by James Harbinson. Another account says tl Kof finmtor lnnfc bin hftfc in swimmincr the o river, and a tory picked up the hat and plume, fi loating on the river and brought it to Tarle- " ;on, from which circumstance Tarleton con- ? iluded that Sumter was actually amoDg the a lumber of the killed. n The surprise was complete. Only Captain f< Vfoflfett's company attempted to make any relistance, and this only for a short time. r' rarleton increased the number of his force by ^ irompt'y releasing the three hundred prison- a irs. These were, of course, delighted, and lignified their joy by frantically tossing their n iats in the air. <J Tarleton was unable to pursue the fugitives o or anv considerable distance. His men were ? Nora out and his horses were jaded. The out was complete. Sumter's army was ^ scattered to the winds. The wagous and sup- jj )lies taken at Fort Cary, together with three ? lundred prisoners, all fell into the hands of d he British. One hundred and fifty officers &> ind men were either killed or wounded. Ten C( :ontinental officers and one hundred continen- j al soldiers, together with many militia offi- Q| :ere and more than two hundred militia pri- a rates, were made prisoners. The two three in lounders sent by Gates to Sumter, two am- g: nunition wagens, one thousand stand of arms 9 ind nearly all the horses, fell into the hands if the British. Tarleton's loss was comparatively nothing. jD Captain Charles Campbell, who commanded u he infantry, was killed just as the affair was Ij (rawing to a dose. Fifteen non-commissionid officers and privates were killed and vounded. This, together with twenty horses tilled, constituted the whole of the British 088. The surprise of Sumter, following in quick accession the discomfiture of Gates, left the sountry in a most perilous condition. No vonder the British General concluded the re* jell ion was crushed. It is but reasonable that the inquiry be nade, why was Sumter surprised? Who was a blame for this sad affair? The blame rests equally upon Sumter and his men, and if any >ne individual was more censurable than the rest, that individual was James Crawford, of Lancaster. One of tbe characteristics of Sumter was that he rather oourted than ihunned danger. Many of his men were militia, and could not, because they would not, be induced to observe strict military regulations. They followed Sumter, not because they were compelled to do so, but simply because they were anziouB to fight the British. Sumter should not have spent the night of the seventeenth at Rocky Mount. Had he marched all night, he would have been oat >f the reach of Tarleton. Had, however, the patrols at Fishing creek done their duty, Sumter could have easily demolished Tarlex>n. James Crawford, it is said, granted most of the young men permission to go to the river to bathe. He should have placed them on doty to guard the camp. The prisoners and baggage being secured, Tarleton set out for the camp of Cornwallis. ifter three days' toilsome marching, he entered the camp of Cornwallis amid the acclamaions and shouts of the British soldiers. Sumter went to Charlotte. His routed men vho escaped being captured, went either to heir homes and from thence to Charlotte, or bllowed Sumter directly to Charlotte. fgisfrilatttoujs leading. THE H AMBURG RIOT." 1 GEN. BUTLER'S STATEMENT. Certain newspaper editors and reporters lave done me so much injustice, by false re>orts in reference to the recent disturbance in Hamburg, that it is due to myself to make to he public a statement of my connection with t . .. On Friday evening, July 7, Col. Thos. Shaw, vith his brother, ^he Rev. Win. Shjsw, was at Edgefield Court House to see Mr. JUL W. Adii80D, Mr. A. J. Norris and myself on busiless. After transacting It, Col. Shaw said to ne that Mr. Robert J. Butler, who lives near Hamburg, in Aiken county, desired me to be it Hamburg on the following evening (Saturiay) at 4 o'clock, to represent, professionally, lis son, Thomas Butler, and son-in-law, Hen y Getzen, in a trial to be bad before Trial fustics Prince Rivers. Mr. Butler has been i lucrative client of mine for many years. I nquired of Col. Shaw if he knew the nature if the case to be tried, and he said he knew lotbing except what he had heard?that these ,wo young men had had an altercation with a jompany of negro militia, in the streets of Hamburg, on the 4th of July, and that Mr. Robert Butler had complained to Rivers, the ^frp?.nkann?nl MiK*.'. ..-I T.i?l ' ind that he supposed the trial referred to that natter. I accordingly left Edgefield at 9 o'clock text morning, in a buggy. When I had gone ibout seven miles on the old stage road, Imet >. Geo. Wise, who inquired if I had heard he news from Hamburg. I replied that I tad heard nothing special, but was on my ray to Hamburg to attend a trial before Rivrs. He said the information bad reached lis neighborhood that the negro bad threatued to lynch Thomas Butler and Henry Geten if they were not convicted, and that sevral young men bad gone in that direction. When nearing the town, I sent word to Mr. rhomas Butler to meet me in Hamburg, and ;ive me the facts of the case in which he irished me to appear. Mr. Butler did meet e in a short time, and I there, for the first ime, ascertained the character of the trouble. I bad nothing whatever to do with the mater up to that time?knew nothing but what have stated. My business there was simply irofessional; I had nothing about me but one aw book, and had no more idea of there being . collision than an utter stranger. I learned, after reaching Hamburg, that dr. Henry Sparnick, of Aiken, was in town s the attorney of the colored militia, and sent or him with a view of arranging for the trial r effecting some arrangement between the larties. Mr. Sparnick met me, and, I think, nil do me the justice to say that my earnest ffort was to prevent any further trouble, if rasible, and he appeared equally anxious. Mr. Robert Butler then interposed and said o Mr. Sparnick that if these men would sake acknowledgments for their abuse and aaltreatment of his son and son-in-law, he rould be satisBed. I said nothing about any pology myself. It was then proposed that we hold a conerence with the officers of the militia comany and Prince Rivers, and see if we could ot adjust matters. I made this proposition. Ir. Sparnick assented, saying he had influnee with the negroes, and he thought we ould arrange it. He went off, as I supposed, o bring his clients, but did not return. Sam Spencer, a negro man, came to Mr. )am's store, where I was with Mr. Robert lutler, his son and son-in-law, and said that e desired to see roe privately. I at once rent into Mr. Dam's back room. He said e was sorry to see so much excitement, and expressed regrets at it, when he said that he bought inasmuch as Trial Justice Rivers was o hear the case, he would prefer not to be in be conference. I agreed with the propriety f that position, and he then said that the ofcers of Doc. Adams' militia company would ieet me, but didnot like to come to Mr. )am's store, as there were armed men there, ut would meet me at his (Spencer's) office if greeable to me. I said certainly I would ieet them at his office, and alone if they prejrred. He then went and did not return. The time appointed for the trial having arived, I proceeded, with my olients, to the 'rial Justice's office. Rivers was not in, and fter a time his clerk went for him, and he pened his court. I inquired as a preliminary uestion whether he was sitting as a civil or lilitary officer. He replied that that depened upon the facts, as they would be devel- < ped ; that he was then acting as a peace of- < cer. I remarked that I was indifferent as to < le character of the court, as we only desired i > arrive at the facts, and inquired if the ac- < used parties would be present. He said that i e did not know, but would have them called, i hich his constable proceeded to do from the < oor. About this time Sam Spencer came in, ' a l - it.i 1. xl La /> iL. ' oa saia 10 me mat ne mougot 11 toe iruu . juld be suspended, the matter could be acted. I replied that be must see the Trial 1 uatice, and if be would suspend, I had no < Ejection. Whereupon Rivers announced the 1 ise suspended for ten minutes, and I was I ivited by the Intendant of the town, a ne- ] ro man named Gardner, to the Counoil 1 hamber, for the purpose of meeting the mi- i tia officers of Adams' company. I repaired t ! once to that place, and remained there i jout a quarter of an hour. Nobody appear- t ig bat Gardner, with whom I had some talk i i to the necessity of something being Bpeedi- < done, and that I thought the best solution i of the matter \yas that these people should deliver up their arms as a means of settling the present difficulty and a guarantee against a future recurrence, he said he knew nothing about it; and waiting, as I thought, long enough, I got in my buggy and went over to Augusta on business having no relation to the Hamburg matter; and while there was questioned by a number of persons as to the status of affairs in Hamburg, to whom I replied that I thought a collision between the whites and blacks imminent and likely to take place. After despatching my business, I was returning through Hamburg, on my way to spend the night at Mr. Robert Butler's, two miles in the country, and leave for home early next morning. 1 When about' half way across the bridge, I met a delegation of four negroes?Pixley, Edwards, Spencer and Sims?who stoDDed me. and said that if I would go to Spencer's office, the officers of the militia would meet me and endeavor to stop the impending trouble. I agreed; went directly to the appointed place, and waited there some twenty or thirty minutes, but one of the officers, Cartledge, appearing. Ho said he would do all in his power to induce the militia to disband and give up their guns, and I believe Jie did.. Whilst I-was in Augusta, a body of men rode into the town (Hamburg) mounted. I went around the street to look for Mr. Butler, and had not been gone long before I received a message from Prince Rivers asking me to meet him. I declined to do so, saying that we had made about four appointments, which were observed by myself only, and that he must come to me. I, however, did go to meet him, and he asked me if the men would give up their arms, would I guarantee the safety of the town. I said I have nothing whatever to do with the town, and could give no guarantees of any sort, as I had no command or'authority, bat would say, as a citizen, that, in my judgment, if they would do that, there would not be the slightest trouble; and he said that he thought that right, and would go and advise them to that course. In about ten minutes the report was circulated that the negroes refused to give up their arms, and intended to fight And a few minutes thereafter the fight did ensue. The neirroes were fortified in their drill room in a brick building known as Sibley's corner, and they, raised a yell and fired from the windows, which was responded to by the whites, and a general firing took place. Not a very great while after the firing began, Mr. McKie Merri weather, a most estimable yonng man, was shot through the head and killed. Not a negro bad been touohed then, and Merri weather's death naturally infuriated the already excited crowd, and they were under the leadership of no one. Daring the firing, some parties unknown to me, brought over a piece of artillery, and fired four, or five times at the building and returned. The firing of the negroes from their position then ceased. I left the crowd arresting the negroes. How many were killed or how they were killed I do not know. This collision was the culmination of tbesystem of insulting and outraging the white people, which the negroes bad adopted there for several years. Many things were done on this terrible night which, of course, cannot be justified, but the negroes "sowed the wind and reaped ' the whirlwind." I did not attempt to accomplish bv force what ! could not accomplish by peaceful means. Lwas not the leader of this body of infuriafed men. I was there in the line of my profession. The collision was a sort of spont . T it t_i_ T taneous comoustiOD. x inougoi x saw it approaching, and did all that any human being conld be expected to do to prevent it. I have no objection to being saddled with whatever responsibility fairly attaches to my conduct, but I have no idea of permitting newspaper reporters, for the sake of a sensation or any other purpose, presenting me as the leader of a mob, when I was no more the leader and no more responsible than any other person who might nave been there in the line of his duty. M. C. Butler. HAYES' ACCEPTANCE. Governor Hayes has written a letter accepting the nomination of the Republican party for President. He approves the platform on which he was nominated; says there should be reform in the mode, of appointing men to official positions in the Government? that the old rule, based upon honesty, capac> ity and fidelity, should be the only claim to consider. He opposes even a second Presidential term, and says it is his inflexible, purpose, if elected, not to be a candidate for a second term. He favors a return to specie payments. He favors a constitutional amendment placing the public schools of the country beyond all danger of sectional control or interference. Referring to tbe tiontbern States, be says: "Tbe condition of the Southern States attracts tbe attention and commands the sympathy of the people of the whole Union. In tbe progressive recovery from the effects of the war, their first necessity is an intelligent and honest administration of Government which will protect all classes of citizens in their political and private rights. What the South most needs is peace, and peace depends upon the supremacy of the law. There can be no enduring peace if the constitutional rights of any portion of the people are habitually disregarded. A division of the political parties, resting merely upon distinction of race or upon sectional lines, is always unfortunate, and may be disastrous. The welfare of the South, alike with that of every other part of the country, depends upon the attractions it can offer to labor, to immigration and to capital. But laborers will not go, and capital will not venture, where the Constitution and the laws are set at defiance, and distraction, apprehension and alarm take the place of peace-loving and law-abiding social life. All parts of the Constitution are sacred and must be sacredly observed?the parts that are new qo less than the parts that are old. The moral and material prosperity of the Southern Slates can be most effectively advanced by a hearty and generous recognition of the rights of all by all?recognition without reserve or exception. With such a recognition fully accorded, it will be practicable to promote by the influence of all legitimate agencies of the General Government, the efforts of the people of those States to obtain for themselves the blessings of honest and capable local government. If elected, I shall consider it not only my duty but it will be my ardent desire to labor for the attainment of this end. Let me assure my countrymen of the Southern States that if I shall be charged with the duty of organizing an administration, it will be one which will regard and cherish their truest interests?the interest of the whites and of the colored peoples, both and equally, and which will pot forth its best efforts in, behalf of a civil polity which will wipe oat forever the distinctions between North and South in our common country. With a civil service organized upon a system which will secure purity, experience, eflicien <y and economy, a strict regard for the public welfare solely in appointments, aod the speedy, thorough and unsparing prosecution of all public officers who betray all, official trusts; with a sound currency; with education unlectarian and free to all; and with a.fraternal ipirit of harmony pervading the people of all lections and classes, we may reasonably hope hat the second century of our existence-as a }*tion will, by the ; blessings of God, be preiminent as an en of good feelings, and a period of progress, prosperity and happiness.'