Notes on Fort Lindley SC:
Major Williamson, to whom the first news of the uprising was brought, lost no time in opposing the invasion ; but so great was the panic that although he dispatched expresses on all sides, only forty men were collected in two days. But with this little band, accompanied by Mr. Salvador, he marched on the 3d of July to the house in which Captain Smith had been killed. On the next day forty more of the militia arrived. On the 5th he mustered 110 men, and on the 8th his force was increased to 222, when he encamped at Holmes's field on Hogskin Creek, about four miles from the Cherokee line at De Witt's Corner, now Due West. Here he remained until the 16th of July, when, having collected 450 men, he advanced to Baker's Creek at a point a few miles above . Moffettsville, in what is now Abbeville County.
The inhabitants along the Saluda had taken refuge in an old fort called Lyndley's, near Rayborn Creek, where on the morning of the 15th of July they were attacked by 88 Indians and 102 white men, many of whom were painted and disguised as Indians. The Indians expected to have surprised the fort, and commenced the attack about one o'clock in the morning. Fortunately 150 men under Major Downes had arrived the evening before on their way to join Major Williamson, and with their assistance the attack was repulsed with a loss to the Indians of two of their chief warriors, and several were left dead upon the field. The garrison immediately pursued and took 13 white men prisoners, among them some painted and dressed as Indians. These were sent to Ninety-Six for safe-keeping ; it would have been better to have hanged them at once. Had this attack upon Fort Lyndley succeeded, it is probable that all the disaffected would at once have joined the Indians. It was against the people of this region that Colonel Richardson's expedition had been directed; and it was no doubt expected that the malcontents with whom Stuart and Cameron had been intriguing would rise and join them in the royal cause. This repulse, however, awed all the wavering, and many of the whites who had joined the Indians surrendered themselves. The news of the victory of the 28th of June arriving immediately after this affair, the designs of the disaffected were crushed, and the friends of the American cause were enabled to join Major Williamson in his march upon the Cherokees.
On hearing of the outhreak of the Indians, President Rutledge had sent Captain Felix Warley of the Third Regiment with a detachment of a hundred rangers as a convoy of wagons with arms, ammunition, and stores to Major Williamson, with orders to march against the Cherokees. Captain Warley, with his loaded convoy, marched from Charlestown to De Witt's Corner by the road along the Congaree in fourteen days. The news of the victory of the 28th of June reached Williamson on the 22d of July. Having been reenforced by Colonel Jack's regiment from Georgia and others to the number of about ll50 men, and learning that Alexander Cameron, Stuart's deputy, had arrived a few days before from the over-hill settlements with thirteen white men, and that he was encamped at Oconore Creek about thirty miles distant, with some white men and the Essenecca Indians from the Keowee River, Williamson determined to attack the camp at once before they could learn of his advance. Accordingly, about six o'clock in the evening of the 31st of July, taking with him two prisoners as guides, under threats of instant death in case of misbehavior, he put himself in motion with a detachment of 330 men on horseback, hoping to surprise the enemy by daybreak. The river Keowee running between Williamson's forces and Cameron's
party, and being only fordable at Essenecca, Williamson was obliged, though much against his inclination, to take the road to that ford. Unfortunately he proceeded without scouts or guard sufficiently advanced to be of any service in warning his main body of danger. He was ambushed about two o'clock on the morning of the 1st of August in Essenecca town. The Indians, suffering the guides and advanced guard to pass, poured a heavy fire into the Williamson men, and they were thrown into confusion. Major Williamson's horse was shot under him ; Mr. Francis Salvador, who had brought to Williamson the first news of the Indian uprising, was shot down by his side, and unfortunately immediately discovered by the Indians. He was scalped alive before he was found by his friends in the dark. What added to this misfortune was that after the action it appeared that Captain Smith, son of the Captain Aaron Smith who had been murdered with his family, saw the Indians while in the act of taking off the scalp ; but supposing it was Mr. Salvador's servant assisting his master, did not interfere to save his friend. Mr. Salvador died without being sensible of the savage cruelty which had been inflicted upon him.1
Major Williamson's forces, completely surprised, broke away and fled in the greatest confusion. The enemy kept up a constant fire, which the retreating militia returned at random as dangerous to their friends who were willing to advance against the enemy as it was to the enemy themselves. Fortunately Lieutenant Colonel Hammond rallied a party of about twenty men, and, making an unexpected charge, repulsed the savage foe and escaped. The Indians lost but one man killed and three wounded; of Major Williamson's party three died from their wounds and fourteen
1 For an interesting sketch of this gentleman, see Memoirs of the Revolution (Drayton), vol. II, 247, 248.
were badly injured. When daylight arrived he burnt that part of Essenecca town which was on the eastern side of the Keowee River, and later Colonel Hammond crossed the river, burnt that on the western side as well, and destroyed all the provisions, computed at six thousand bushels of Indian corn, besides peas and other articles. The object of overtaking Cameron and his associates having been thus defeated, Williamson retreated and joined his camp at Twenty-three Mile Creek, where he expected to form a junction with detachments of Colonel Neel's and Colonel Thomas's regiments of militia.
There was considerable jealousy of Williamson's command ; he was but a major in the militia line, but President Rutledge had given him the appointment of commander-in-chief of the expedition, which entitled him to command others though colonels. To put an end to the question of rank he was about this time appointed colonel of the Ninety-Six regiment. Colonel Williamson resumed the offensive on the 2d of August, and on the 8th with 640 chosen men he marched to attack the Indian camp at Oconore ; finding it deserted, he destroyed two towns, Ostatoy and Tugaloo. He continued to advance until the 12th, when, coming up with a large body of Indians, he attacked and defeated them. They fled, leaving 16 of their men dead in space of 150 yards ; Williamson losing 6 killed and 17 wounded. In this expedition he destroyed the Indian towns of Tomassy, Chehohee, and Eustash. All corn on this side of the middle settlements was destroyed, and the Indians were driven to support themselves on roots, berries, and wild fruit.
On Colonel Williamson's return to his camp he found that numbers of his men had gone home, forced to do so from fatigue, want of clothes, and other necessaries, and that many who had remained were in equal distress. He
was obliged therefore to grant furloughs ordering them to rejoin him at Essenecca on the 28th, to which place he marched on the 16th with about six hundred men. Here he erected a fort, which in honor of the President he called Fort Rutledge.
Upon the breaking out of this war application had been made to North Carolina and Virginia to cooperate with the forces of South Carolina in this region. Each of these States complied and raised a body of troops. The first under General Rutherford, to act in conjunction with the South Carolinians on this side of the mountains, and the other under Colonel Christie, to act against the over- hill Cherokees. But Colonel Williamson had destroyed all the lower settlements before the North Carolinians under General Rutherford took the field.
Colonel Williamson now having increased his force to 2300 men, broke up the camp at Essenecca; leaving 300 men as a guard to the inhabitants and as a garrison to Fort Rutledge, he marched with about 2000 men to cooperate with General Rutherford. A campaign ensued in which all the lower towns, middle settlements, and settlements in the valleys eastward of the Unacaye and Appalachian mountains were destroyed. In less than three months, that is, from the 15th of July to the llth of October, 1776, the Cherokees were so far subdued as to be incapable of renewing hostilities. The whole loss of the Carolinians in killed and wounded was 99. The Cherokees lost about 2000. The natural difficulties of the country through which the campaign was made, over pathless mountains, through dark thickets, rugged paths, and narrow defiles, called forth a patience in suffering and exertion in overcoming difficulties which would have done honor to veteran troops. None of all the expeditions before undertaken against the savages
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John Calhoun was allowed pension on his application executed October 17, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Laurens District, South Carolina. He stated that he was born August 10, 1757, in Meclenburg county, North Carolina, and resided in Ninety-sixth District, South Carolina, when he volunteered in the Revolutionary war. His service was as follows: In November, 1775, under Capt. John Rodgers and Major Williamson, and was in the siege of Ninety-six; served three weeks. In December, 1775, under same captain, Colonel Richardson, served in the ' Snow Campaign' one month and three weeks. In May, 1776, under Capt. John Rodgers, Colonel Williams, and was engaged at Lindley Fort, Black-Hole, and in the Ring fight with the Indians; served six months. In 1777, under Captain Chew, in pursuit of Boyd, the Tory; two months. In 1778, under Captain Raney: three months. September 1, 1780, and Suniter, was in the battle of Blackstocks; served five months. In 1781 he engaged in the pursuit of Dimlap, the British officer, who was captured in Abbeville, South Carolina; served one month. In the fall of 1781, under Colonels White and Thomas, two months. In 1782, under Captain Collins, he served one month, making a total of twenty-two months' service. No dates of discharge are given. This soldier married December 8, 1793, Sarah Camp. He died September 29, 1838, and she was allowed pension, W. File No. 8, 579, on her application executed February 22, 1845, at which time she was seventy-one years of age and a resident of Laurens District aforesaid. There is no other family data on file.'
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Mch. 1157. Case Thomas Rogers.
Is a native of Ireland. He went in 1772 to Maryland, in 1774 he went to South Carolina & was settled at the Commencement of the troubles in Craven County. He carried out ?150 in Linin Cloth. He took arms in 1775. Majesty he associated under Colonel Fletcher with many other Loyalists soon after they fought the Rebels at Ninety Six. He was taken prisoner at Lindley Fort, in 1776. He was brought to tryal in the fall of this year & sentenced to death. Two or three men hanged, he was reprived. He (34). never took the oath, but went & lived with his Brother & remained quiet until Charlestown was taken, when he joined Major Ferguson. He remained in his Majesty's service until 1781, when he came home. He never was more than Sergt. in the army & never received any pay. He has ?20 pr. an. from the Treasury.
His certificates are all at the Treasury. He has Witnesses to speak for his Loyalty.
300 acres North side of Tyger River, Ninety Six district. He has no papers or deeds. He was pludered of them all. He bought these Lands of Andrew Thomson in 1774 & gave 17Sh, Stg. pr. acre for it, part in cash part in cattle, ?22 in money & 7 cattle. He had not time to cultivate any part of it.
150 acres on Jennings Creek, Ninety Six District. He bought these in 1776 from Enoch Loyd. He gave 20sh, pr. acre Yir. curcy.
for it, but had only paid 18gs. A Horse worth ?120 currency. 3 Cows & Calves. 18 or 20 acres were cultivated. The Rebels have it in Possession, but cannot say it is sold or not. One Alexander lived upon this.
He had Two Horses, they were taken soon after Col. Fergusons defeat. He had three mares, 25 Cows & heifers, 4 fat Hogs, 4 sheep, 4 Lambs, a Rifle gun & Pouch, wearing apparell value ?12 & a Loom.
States debts to the amount of ?10 & only owed six dollars.
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