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\ Thursday, 1 13, 1953 THE CLINTON CHRONICLE Paj?e Fir# BATTLE OF MUSGROVE’S MILL WAS HIGHUGHT OF REVOLUTION ^ (By WILLIAM C. LAKE. In Th« ' Chariot !• ObMrTtr) Union.—Tuesday, the 18th of Au gust, marks the 173rd anniversary of the Revolutionary War Battle of MusgroveSs Mill near Union. The brilliant strategy of Captain Shadrack Inman, who led a detach ment of 25 mounted Americans opened the battle with a ruse at tack on the British post. It result ed in the death of the brave youth ful officer but the battle was a vic tory for the Americans. In August, 1780, General John McDowell of North Carolina, com manded about 2,000 militia sta tioned at Smith’s Ford on Broad River. Colonel Elijah Clarke of Georgia, was second in command. Col. Isaac Shelby of North Caro lina, commanded a regiment. News reached General McDow ell’s headquarters that a camp of 300 Tories were at Musgrove’s Mill on Eno®ee Riven Col. Shelby conceived the idea of breaking up this camp. Judge John Belton O’Neal says that “the term of service for which the men had enlisted at McDowell’s camp was just about to expire.” All Volunteers Colonel Shelby, therefore, asked for vounteers and obtained a force of about 300 mounted men. His idea was to make a surprise at tack at Musgrove’s Mill and rout the Tories. Secrecy and ,- speed were necessary to accomplish this plan. It was 40 miles from Mc Dowell’s camp to Musgrove’s Mill. Just before dark on the evening of August 17 Shelby’s forces left McDowell’s camp. During daylight the men rode in the woods, but when darkness came they entered the roads. Col. Thomas Brandon, Col. James Steen and Major Joseph McJun- kin of Union county, acted as guides for the troops. The horsemen knew that Major Patrick Ferugson with his British Rangers and Loyalists were en camped at Fair Forest Shoals in Union county, so they steered clear of this post for fear they might get wise to their purpose. When Shelby’s forces were with in about half a mile of the Tory camp they learned that on the night previous that the King’s American Regiment commanded by Col. Alexander Innes, of New York, about 300 strong, had reached the Tory forces at MusgroveSs — Encounter Patrol Shortly, the enemy patrol fell in with Shelby’s advanced corps. The patrol was immediately fired upon and driven in. The enemy had one killed, two wounded and the other two of the five-man patrol fled for the camp. Two Americans were wounded. This gave the ehe- •my the alarm. The American forces were worn to a frazzle by all night’s riding over rugged terrain. They were too tired.to retreat and too grave not to fight. Grouno was selected for the en gagement, stretching at right an gles across the road, about one- half mile from Enoree River. The lines formed a semi-circle. Both ends of the lines extended into a wooded area. Shelby took command of the right wing, Clarke the left and Col. James Williams of South Carolina ni the road in the center. Breastworks of logs were hastily thrown up. Within half an hour they had one breast high. False Attack Captain Inman with a company of 25 mounted men was sent in ad vance to make a false attack on the enemy. This feint was well executed. Inman and his men charged on the enemy and fired their pieces, and then as planned fled in apparent confusion. When the two members of the Tory patrpl returned to camp and told of the approach of the Ameri cans, the British camp was in a quandary. Immediately Col. Innes, Captain Abraham DePeyster, Capt. Davis Fanning and Col. Daniel Clary went into a conference at the British officers headquarters in the Mfcsgrove residence. 7 T1 tack, was the only American offi-! previously announced October 12. cer to lose his life. Historian Lyman C. Draper said that “Great credit is due Capt. Inman for the successful manner in which he brought on the action, and the aid he rendered in conduct ing it to a triumphant issue.” Capt. Inman followed the chase of the retreating British and Tories and while doing so he was shot sev en times, one a musket ball, which piereved his forehead. He is said to have fallen near the trunk of a Spanish oak. A> monu ment has been erected nearby to his memory. Court Postpones Until December 7. The decision was to give battle. Their forces were much larger than the Americans and they fig ured it would be snap. While Inman and his horsemen were making the foil attack, the other forces under Col Williams were concealed behind the breast works. The enemy struck the center of the American line after the flight of Inman’s detail and pressed for ward in pursuit of his horsemen, but were in disorder, shouting “Huzza for King George^” On approaching the breastworks if 1" they were unexpectedly met with)XpnrAnStinil LfKfi deadly fire, but npt until the Amer- VUJW leans had seen the whites of the enemy’s* eyes. The order had come down the line to hold their fire until then—and they did. After an hour's fighting the left wing of the enemy,, the King’s Reg iment, drove the American right wing, under Shelby, from their breastwork. The American left wing, which was opposed by the Tories, maintained its position. Make Charge The right wing gradually gave way, while the left flank contained its connection with the center of the breastwork. At this juncture Col. Clark sent his 401-man reserve to Shelby’s aid. Shelby then rallied his men and ordered a charge. They leaped over the. breastworks and the enemy was broken and fled in confusion. It was a complete rout along the whole line, and the enemy was chased to the Enoree River with great slaughter. Col. Shelby said that the battle of Musgrove’s Mill was the hard est and best fought action he was in. It was considered one of the most brilliant affairs fought by any partisan corps during the Revolu tion. Captain Inman, who led the at- Washington, Aug. 4.—Race seg regation in public schools will be reargued before the Supreme Court starting next Dec. 7 instead of thd lators and conventions which rati- Court Clerk Harold B. Willey, disclosing this today, said the de lay came at the request of Atty. Gen. Brownell, who wanted more time for the Justice Department to work on the new brief in the cases. Segregation practices in Kansas, South Carolina, Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia ar? involved directly in the court ac tions. The Supreme Court first heard arguments last December. Then on June 8 it announced no decisions would be reached until after re- argument. Brownell’s request for deferment was made in a letter which said other attorneys involved in the cases had no objections to post ponement of the reargument. < The attorney general added that the questions which the court wants discussed on reargument “re quire intensive study of a large range of legal and historical mate rials, such as the understanding of the Congress and the state legis- fied the 14th Amendment, con cerning its effect on segregation in public schools.” The 14th Amendment, adopted after the Civil War says states may not abridge the privileges and immunities of citizens, nor deny them equal protection of the law. The Supreme Court in calling for the reargument said it wanted to know if the highest tribunal has the power in construing the Amendment, to abolish segregation. It also asked if a ruling against segregation would require an im mediate decree admitting Negro children to schools of their choice, or if a decree might be framed to permit a -gradual adjustment to a public school system having no color distinctions. The Justice Department in ia “friend of the court” brief filed before the first argument last De cember took a stand against con tinued segregation in public schools. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE “The Paper Everybody Reads” OFFICE SUPPLIES Complete line, all the little Items needed for the office CHRONICLE PUBLISHING CO. Phone 74 ■» *• CLINTON PUROL SERVICE STATION E. Carolina Ave. Is Now Under* New Management OPENING SPECIAL Starts July 25 — Ends August 25 GIVEN ABSOLUTELY FREE WITH EVERY PUR CHASE OF 25 GALLONS OF GAS— ONE WASH JOB AND ONE GREASE JOB This special applies to passenger cars only YOUR PATRONAGE APPRECIATED MELVIN HUEY Owner and Manager SAVE SR QUALITY FEES! SPECIAL FRI-SAT 0ILY1 HOG FEED SALE! 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