Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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WAR SI Xi at tie ot' S tono I^errj tion\s 13 Helen Harcourt it la previous papers we have seen hiow Moultrie, and his brave band, in t,heir log fort on Sullivan's Island, .iefeated thc British fleet and Haved 'Charleston from what seemed to many inevitable capture. Among those *who held this opinion was the last man who should have done so, or at keast, have acted upon it Major tien drai Lee, the nominal commander of .:iU the Continental 'Toops in the ?South. So convinced was he of the ?futility of resistance that ho ordered *OoI. Moultrie, who had manned the *:ort on Sullivan's Island, aye, and t:j?ii!c it, too, before Lee's arrival, to abandon thc fort and make no attempt :at 'defense. The gallant Moultrie refused to obey this order, and was "upheld in his refusal by thc plucky ^ioveruor Rutledge, who was his more ?raeiediate commander. The battle *wae fought and won, while Lee look ed CT> irom a riafo distance. Within ?ix months of this famous battle of Fort Moultrie, Goncral Lee -^was recalled to the north and Major .General Lincoln was ordered to take '.-OEtnami of the southern troops of .tfee United States. General Lincoln ccached Charleston in December, 15779, and at onco commenced active aerations against tho enemy, who wrae iu full possession not only of Savannah, but of almost the entire *"t*te of Georgia. Collecting his tierces Lincoln marched toward Savan nah, /leaching the west bank of the Tiver, he detached Gener.il Asche, w/ith two thousand men, one-fourth of Ina army, and sent him across the river. Asche approaohed Brier Crook -on thc third of March, and suddenly ffoand himself surrounded by a large ?body of British troops under the per moonal command of General 1'revost. 'The surprise was as complete as it ?waB inexcusable and disastrous, and (resulted in thc loss of almost tho en tire detachment. Lincoln crippled by this misfortune '?vas forced to fall back to bi? base at ^Charleston. Nothing daunted, be vapidly recruited his little army, and *by the middle of April hod collected 3,000 determined patriots. Leaving Moultrie, now a general, in command ?of Charleston, with orders to watch '?'or Provost, and should he appear, ?endeavor to keep him occupied around ??he oity. Lincoln began his march 'forGeorgia once more. But this time wis route lay by the way of Augusta, lincoln's second expedition began its march on the 23rd of April. Mean time, as he had anticipated, Provost (had determined to attack Charleston while Linooln and the bulk of the ?email American army were out of the way. On the 1st of May, tho British general appeared before the city and .demanded its surrender. Needless to -say, with such a man as Moultrie io command, tho reply to this summons was a bold defiance. Happily for the small American force loft to defend Charleston, Gen , ?eral Lincoln had reoaived warning of I/revost's approach, and hastily re /traced bis steps. Ki Stono Ferry ho found a largo Coree of British, and resolved to at ?Lack them. Ou a closer approach, ?however, Lincoln discovered the <eaemy to bo greatly superior to his <iwu little army both in numbers and in artillery, so that ho dared not tako .'A.c. risk of an.attack. It so happen ed, that while hesitating as to the best course to pursue, an order ar rived from Provost, detaching a por ?tiou of tho Stono Ferry forces for ac tive -service elsewhere. Colonel Maitland, the British commander, did mot dare to disregard the order, vthougb he felt sure it wuuld not have freeu-givon h?d Pr?vost been aware of iii e. presen oe of the enemy. Tho de tachment, therefore, marched away. Under -these improved conditions, Lincoln decided to return to his first yian, and attack the post. -Maitland, with his front proteoted by*uteaslwerks, his flanks resting, the turton a morass, the other ona ra vine, felt securo from defeat in spite o*f his depleted force. Tho ground in trodi of tho British intrenohments was level, and a short distance from ?them, oovered with lofty pine trees, thc Americans formed in line of battle iu the --sb ol ter of the latter. Linooln Adc-ascertained that the Highlanders, ?who were the best and moat expe rienced troops in Maitland's oommand ?would be plaoed to attsok his left .flank, the British oolonel knowing ?&at it was the custom for tho Ameri cans to place their rawest troops on ?hhc left. It was a shrewd move on Maitland's part, but in Lincoln he j &?d met his match. Tho latter re fereed the role, ?nd quietly detailed MKS own veteran continentals to his V j2eft flank, whore they ?would face the //Sligklandcrs. Butler lcd tho conti nentals, and Sumner thc militiu. ."' r9 One of the Xtevolu. loodiest. i (be Sunny South. It was the 20th of June, and the weather was hoi ?nd oppressive. Thc I American troop9 had had long march es and Boaut fare for many exhausting j days. The heat of the day was any- I thing but exhilarating, although there waB BOtno relief in the light breeze j that just stirred the treetops, and moved the leave, of tho low buahoa. But, nothing daunted by fatigue, hunger or beat, tho brave band of j patriota marched forward to attack an enemy who had been resting for many j days, who were well fed and well I clothed, and moreover were protected I by 9trong intrenchmeuts. I The stirring roll of the druui ming led with thc shrill tones of the fife, j and the stern words of command, as, j driving the British pickets before J them, thc little army marched steadi- j ly on, as cu'mly as though on pa- J rade. Not a sound came from behind those frowning breastworks, not a voice was j heard, not a sound betokening life. I lt might well have been a deserted post. But the banner of England, I which years of cruel oppression and j rank injustice, had taught the colon- ] ista to hate, hung from the flag pole I in heavy folda, and well the devoted patriots knew what lay below and be- j hind it. General Lincoln had given strict orders that not a shot must be fired by his troops, but that the double I quick bayonet charge alone must be relied on. Ile had tested its efficacy I many a time. Steadily, with shoul- J dcred arms, and fixed bayonets, the Americans advanced toward the eoe- j my. Not a shot was fired, not a man of them all, raw recruita though moat of them were, wavered in that steady I forward march. On, still on, in per feet alignment, though the suspense I waa fearful, moved the Americans, until they were within 10 yards of the works. Then, like a sharp pistol crack, the I silence was broken behind those frowning walla, by one word, "Fire!" j On the instant, artillery and musketry ?loured forth P veritable aheet of flame I on the advancing ranks. Almost stunned, but unflinching, the intrepid patriots marched steadily on, even the recruits, under fire for the first time, keeping step as calmly as the aeason continentals. But instead of obeying the orders of their general, and advanoing at a double quick in a bayonet charge, the whole line halted sod began to fire. For half an hour a perfect blaze of volley was kept up by the Americans, and at tho end of that timo the British were forced to retire in disorder. Meantime, Lincoln, brave and collected, though deeply disturbed at the disregard of his order to charge, was straining every nerve to stop tho firing of his men, and at last succeeded. Then carno a sudden and ominous pauae in the conflict. Silence suc ceeded to the crackle of musketry and the rotT of the artillery. Lincoln was reforming his troops under cover of the pine forest and preparing for the deadly bayonet charge. Maitland was rally ing his men and getting them into fighting trim agaiu. Then came tho tug of war. Tho patriots marohed out into the open again, the order to "Charge bayonets!'1 rang out clear and stern, and the troops rushed forward as one man, with fixed bayonets low ered to the charge. But again they were met by the same galling sheet of flame, carrying in its midst a veritable storm of leaden hail. Again the lack of habitual discipline showed itself. The soldiers halted, and began to re turn the compliment of bullet for bul let. In vain their frantic officers or dered and plead with them. The sturdy backwoods soldier oould not forget his life long habit of firing at his enemy. For over an hour an in cessant peal of musketry rang out, with an accompaniment at short inter vals, of the deop roar of the British artillery. At length to the dismay of Linooln, the joy of Maitland, Pr?vost was des cried, rapidly marching to the relitf of his detachment. As we have no ted, Moultrie had not boen able to de tain bim before Charleston, and here he was, just at tho wrong time for Linooln. He had heard the heavy Bring coming from the direction of Stono Ferry, and at once retraoed his steps to that poiet at a double quick march. General Lincoln, despairing of suc cess in the faoe of these fresh troops, at oooe ordered a retreat. To cover this movement, Pulaski's cavalry was ordered to oh arge on the British of the fort, who, cheered by the ap proaching reinforcements, were pre paring to pursue the Americans. The bogles RI,u?vied, and the gallant squad ron swept forward at a swift gallop, with uplifted swords and fierce shouts. It was not the?amous "rebel yell," but it would have beeu, bad they kuowu how to Hound thoae BOUI curd ling notes iu thoae early days. Mait land, seeing at a glance, the eminent danger that threatened his men, or dered his ranks to close compactly, and with fixed bayonets, to await the shocks. Itoame, swift and unflinching, against the rigid wall of steel poiots. The mon never faltered, but their horses swerved, and the whole column waa compelled to wheel to the right about. The British uttered loud huzzas, as they saw the effect of their sharp steel wall, but beforo the echoes of their eheera had died away, their notes changed io toue. Mason, with his squadron of brave Virginians, came rushing down upon them, and the charge waa so fierce and impetuous, that the British troops staggered back in dismay, and found quite enough to do in saving themselves, rather than in pursuing Lincoln and his little army. Thus tho retreat of tho latter was secured without further loss. ! The attack bad been brief in action, but sanguinary in results. lu that abort time, over four hundred men had fallen. The loas waB nearly equal on cither sido in killed and wounded, j Thc Americans had made as brave and determined a fight as the whole war had seen, and had the order of Gen eral Lincoln been obeyed, as to the bayonet charge at the first attack, there ia no doubt that Stono Ferry would have fallen into the hands of the Americans, with all its defenders and stores. The roar of the artillery would have had no chance to have reaohed the ears of Provost, aud brought him to the rescue. Even as it was the patriot? would have cap tured the works, but for the arrival of Provost. But while the gallant Lin coln was repulsed, he effected his re treat in good order. Among those who fell in this batile of Stono Ferry, was the elder brother of Andrew Jackson, of wbioh men tion was made in our article relating Jackson's first duel. It was the re sentment and desire for revenge, that awoke at thc receipt of this sad news, emphasized by the sight of his moth er's grief, that at last "broke the camel's baok" of Andrew's patience. Boy as he was, he then threw himself headlong into the war for freedom, as well as into a war for revenge on his "brother's murderers," ss, boy-like, he called the British troops. Andrew Jackson's first battle was fought only a few months after bin brother's death, and of this, the future great general's first baptism by fire, we shall have more io say shortly. Goneral Lincoln kept maneuvering bis small army near Charleston, fear ing another attempt upon it by Pr? vost, until news reaohed him of the arrival cf the French fleet under Ad miral Count D'estaing, on the coast of Georgia. Lincoln then determined to break oamp, and maroh to Savan nah, to assist in the landing of the French troop:;, who, with the fleet, were destined for an attack on Savan nah. What happened when Linooln and d'Estaing ?ot together, must be reserved for another time. The Soldier's Moderation Saved His Own Neck. On the old Singleton plantation near Acton, called Kensington, there stands one of the handsomest houses io Richland County, which oame very near being burned in February, 1,865, when Sherman's army was approach ing Columbia. The house was the home of Mrs. M. R. Singleton and her family, the only occupants just then being Mrs. Sin gleton, her younger son, who was quite a boy, and her mother, Mrs. Frederiok Kinloch, (oee Lowndes ) It was known that*the invading army was advancing; yet the house hold was startled, and thrown into a state of great agitation, when one morning, while at breakfast, a ser. vant ran into the room exclaiming, "Missis! de Yankees is comin'; Charles has seen um about five miles away, an' he ran Whitefoot all- dat distance to let you know, ma'am." "Tell him to get the carriage ready as fast as possible," replied Mrs. Singleton, and in a short space of Lime, after gathering together a few 3l01h.es, and valuables, these ladies, and the little boy, were boing driven to a summer residence wbioh they owned in the Sand Hills some miles off, beyond the direct track of the enemy. They had only gone a short dis tance, however, when Mrs. Kinloch said: "Stop, Charles, 1 am going baok to try to eave the Kensington boneo, if I am there tho Yankees may not burn it." "Then, motherl'' exolaimed Mrs. 3'mgleton, "we shall all go baok,. whatever h arpent." "No," answered the elder lady with decision, "I shall remain, but you and my grandson must proceed." "Suppose you should be murder ed," protested Mrs. Singleton,; in tears. "Oh, I am not afraid, who would meddle a harmless old woman?" [ucstiomn; the courageous lady. Knowing her mother 'to bo'a person of great determination, and Htreugth of character, ?Mrs. Singleton, at length yielded to her mother, and talc Mrs. Kinloch back to Kensington she then proceeded to the Sand Hills .settlement. Upon her return to the Kennington residence, Mrs. Kinlooh found her self to be the only individual in the premiaos; every negro had departed, either out of curiosity, or fear; many of them having gone to meet the in. vaders, while others had fied to re motor plantations, with all their household effects. Mrs. Kinloch sat down by the tire, and, in spite of her genuine and as sumed courage, it must be confessed, felt very lonely, while sundry accounts of Sherman's men having hanged sev eral persons, to mako them tell where supposed treasures wore concealed, oame into her mind. To strengthen her resolution, therefore, she got hei prayer book, and Bible, and wonl through her morning devotions. Absolute stillness prevailed foi several hours, until at length, thi tramp of a horse's hoofs broke tin silence, and looking out of a windov she saw a solitary joung man ap proaohing, clad in a blue uniform. With composed dignity, Mrs. Kin looh went out to meet the enemy, wh did not have a bad countenance, an said to him in a calm, pleasant ton of voice, "Have you lo3t your way?' "No," he replied carelessly. " was sent here to burn this houoc Who lives here?" "I do," she answered quietlj "This is my home, and I love tb house, and every tree and flow? around it." "Who else is here?" "No one; I am all alone." "Have you any sons?" "No, have uo sons; and I am a wit ow. "Well!" exclaimed the young fe low, "you remind me of my grandm and so I believe that I shall not bui th's house after all." "I hope you will not," said Mi Kinlooh, "You would not like ai one to destroy your grandmothei and leave her without a home, svou would you?" "No, I certainly should not li that, and I won't burn your's eitbi even if I am punished fer disobedies of orders." With these words, he rode off, a had soaroely got out of sight, whei squad of Hampton's eavalry came t in hot pursuit of the incendiary, hi ing received instructions to shoot death every man that they caug-.; the aot of destroying any dfceni Had the Yankee oarried out his ori nal intention, he would never hi left Kensington, as his yielding Mrs. Kinloch'.s persuasive influence alone .saved bis life that day. "We were informed that a house burner had come here," said the officer in command of the Confed erates. "A young man was here awhile ago," replied Mrs. Kinloch, "but as you see, he did not bum tho house." "Which way did he go?" inquired Hampton's followers, ominously. "Oh, towards Colombia, I sup pose," answered Mrs. Kinlooh, wav ing her hand vaguely in an opposite direction to that taken by the blue ooat, "and, may I not offer you a pitcher of milk?" Thus she detained our men a feu minuten, and then saw them ride of] on the wrong traok, having appliec the words, read that morning to thu case in point. "The merciful" hav ing "obtained meroy," through he: instrumentality. Old Kensington is still the home o Mrs. Kinlooh's ohildreo, and grand ohildren, who are all grateful, au proud of the taotful dignity, and self possessed courage of that lady, i by-gone days, when the torch was a! but kindled for its destruction. Charleston Sunday Nows. Was Unable to Get the Lette Back. Miau Carey Thomas, the presidet of Bryn Mawr college, talked at luncheon about the ingenuousness i obildren. "A friend of mine," she sai "once showed mc a Istter that b little son had written her from An over. The letter ran like this: " 'Dear Mother, I am well and hopo you are well. Will you plea send me two dollars? i know t last did not last long, but it is i spent now, and I need two dolls badly. I hope you are well. I i well. Please do not forgot, two di lars.' "Then there was this postscript: " 'I was 80a ashamed to ask i money so soon after the lastayou st that I sent after the postman to i this letter baok, but it was too la he had gone.' "-Louisville Couri Journal._ _ - Long wind oannot make up i short weight. - Happiness is not in having wi we like, but in liking what we ha - We are always building brid for things with wings. - Tho man who shouts in pra; evens up by sr?uaoe in practice. - Heaven's best gift to anyone someone to suffer for. - Some girls don't taste so BM as they look. Chinaman to Dfg Panama Canal. Washington, D. C., July 22.-Che Foo Sam, or Sam for short, today told a News representative that if the bid which ho would within the next few days submit to the Panama Canal Com mission for supplying the Commis sion with the necessary help to build the oanal was acoe ed he would i at onoe get together 2,000 Chinese, 2,000 Japanese and 2,000 Italiens and make arrangements without delay for their transportation to the oanal zone. Che Foo Sam, or Sam, as he is gen erally oalled, is a millionaire banker of Shanghai, and is temporarily living in Baltimore. His life work has been in just such matters as the Commission is now undertaking, that is, the em ploying of alien help on a large soale. Sam has had years of experience along this line, and while most of his time has naturally been spent among the Chinese, with whom he is popular, he has, nevertheless, had considerable ex perience also in the handling of people from other nations. The canal authorities having found that Amerioan labor was unsuitable for work in tho zone, gave it out a short time ago that they would soon ask for bids for the supplying of many thousands of laborers there other than Americans. On account of the cli mate American labor has proved a de cided failure, and it is the purpose of the Commission hereafter to get as muoh Chinese labor as possible for many reasons. The Chinese, it is ?aid, are immune from yellow fever, which is not the case with any other nation, and this in itself counts for a great deal. Che Foo Sam is not making any great effort to get the eontraot for supplying any others but Chinese, though if there should be au oppor tunity to make money out of the deal, he will contract also to supply any j kind wanted. Having been raised among the Chinese, he is, of courue, thoroughly familiar with them in every particular. Mr. Sam's agent was asked if there would be any objection to taking so many Chinese out of China, and he said that on account of the fact that of reoent years so many had gone to the diamond fields of Italy and other | plaoes, and had been so maliciously treated there that there would, natur ally, be some little resentment and ob jection to the deportation, but that he thought there would in the end be no great obstacle to securing as many laborers as deeided. Those who are secured by Sam will [ be paid about sixty-five cents a day, and while they will be furnished ra tions from the Government commis aary, ?Dd a sleeping room, tbey will have to pay for this out of their wa ges. The sleeping quarters of the Chinese, it is understood, will be simply row after row of planks about six -or seven feet long and two feet wide, with (j merely a head rest with a half moon oat oat where the Chinaman will lay his head. The hard boards have no covering at all exoept a layer or two of matting. This is the way the Chinaman enjoys sleeping. At the end of 500 days the Govern ment will decide which are the best workers in the zone, Chinese, Italians ! or Jspanese, and it will then be de? oided which will be secured there In ? the future. Whether they be Chinese, Jspanese or Italians who go to the Canal, they will all be under the strictest polico control not only to prevent them from fighting among themselves but to pre vent them also from jumping their contraots. Mr. Sam expects, if he seoures the contract, to make a big thing out of it as he has often done before in similar matters.^-Special to Greenville Nows. Seeking Safety in Numbers. Dr. R. J. Baldwin, secretary of tho Southern Educational Conference, patted a little Mobile colored boy on the head. "This little boy," ho said, "failed in an examination last week. It was, an examination on the Bible, and tho first question the teacher asked was 'How many Commandments are there?' "The little boy thought a while, and then he answered: 4A hundred.' " 4A hundredl Np, of course not,' said the examiner. 'That will do for you.' "And the little boy went out sadly. Ile had failed. "But he hung about the building, and in a half hour another boy ap peared. He was on the way to the ex amination, too. He asked the boy who had failed what questions had been put to him, and the unhappy failure answered: " 'The teacher wanted to know how many Commandments there were. What will you say when he asks yon that?* ** 'I'll say ten,' was the reply. ''The boy who had failed laughed loud and long. " cTeu!' he oried. 'Well, just try him with your ten. I tried him with a hundred and he wasn't satisfied. Cincinnati Enquirer. - It ia said that men who haven't the patieuee to out their nails proper ly usually come to grief. Mo9t of. them either commits suicide or get _J ,r .fr.? Ki ti v.: I ' w. in the n Sunlight Vt??. Bolter Tfe?? B?seoii It is conceded by the highest authorities that the Soda cracker contains the life-giving elements of wheat in the best proportions. This being so, then Une?da BBssuff must at once take first place as the food of the worfd-a soda cracker/ but such a soda cracker! Made by exact science in sunny bakeries so light, bright and clean, th^t they are a revelation. The flour ? tested; the purity of the water is absolutely assur?e}* the very air. is leered,-why even the temperature and moisture pf die atmosphere is accurately regulated. The sponge is kneaded by polished paddles, not by hand. Indeed, UriMda Biscuit are only touched once, and then by ? pretty girl, from the time the flour leaves the bag until the beautiful package is placed on your table: You ask why all this work, all this care in the making of a soda cracker? Because the soda cracker is the best of all food and Un<sM?' BlMUli is the n?ost w^derful of all soda crackers. And with all of it the price is orily 5? a package. $4 ? \8V* .VS Cv"