USA > South Carolina > The history of South Carolina in the Revolution, 1780-1783 > Part 39
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William Cuningham was one of the family of the Cun- inghams who had removed from Virginia to the Ninety Six District in this province. In the beginning of the struggle his political opinions leaned more to the Whig side than those of the rest of his family. He is repre- sented as being of lively, jovial disposition, open-hearted and generous, priding himself upon keeping his word, but of a quick and fiery temper. He was a remarkable horse- man, with a passion for fine horses, fine weapons, and fine clothing. These qualities rendered him a favorite with the young men of his neighborhood. On this account, though but nineteen years of age in 1775, he was applied to by
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John Caldwell to assist in raising a company for Colonel Thomson's regiment of rangers embodied by the Provincial Congress. Cuningham afterwards insisted that the con- ditions upon which he had agreed to enlist were that he should be made first lieutenant and should have a right to retire from the company in case they should be sent to the lower country or ordered on any other service than that specified by Congress. However this may have been, in this company he went upon the expedition under Major Mayson and was present at the taking of Fort Charlotte on the 12th of July in that year. When ordered to Charlestown Cuningham claimed that he had consented to go only on the condition that he should be permitted to resign as soon as they reached their destination. The
company encamped near the town for about a week, and was then ordered to one of the islands. Cuningham im- mediately tendered his resignation, which Caldwell refused to accept. Upon this Cuningham, insisting upon the agreement, swore that if he were taken over to the Island it should only be as a corpse. One-half of the company who had joined through Cuningham's influence exhibited a spirit of insubordination, and it is claimed that, in order to prevent a mutiny, he again consented to go on the re- newed condition that his resignation should be accepted so soon as they reached the island. No sooner had they landed, however, it is said, than Caldwell, in order to restore subordination, had Cuningham arrested, put in irons, and tried by a court-martial on a charge of mutiny. Cuningham was, however, not only acquitted by the court, but freed from his engagement on the ground of the con- ditional agreement. Caldwell thus became an object of hatred to a set of men to whom the distracted state of the country afterwards afforded ample opportunity of satisfy- ing their resentments and avenging their wrongs. Cun- ras
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ingham himself, it is said, was satisfied with treating them with personal indignity, but others, as will soon appear, were not content with so bloodless a retaliation. Having returned to the upper country, Cuningham still adhered to the Whigs, and was with General Williamson in his campaign against the Cherokees in the autumn of 1776. But after this expedition he declared that, having seen reason to change his opinions, he was determined to continue no longer in the service of the Whigs.
From this time a bitter neighborhood strife arose, in which on the Whigs' side one Captain William Ritchie, who had been with Cuningham in Caldwell's company, was the leader, who it is said sent Cuningham word that "he intended to shoot him down the first sight he got of him, and would follow him if necessary to the very gates of hell." In 1778 Cuningham, at the instance of his brother Andrewand Cousin Patrick, went to Savannah. While there inother brother, John, who was lame and an epileptic, was murdered, it was said, by Ritchie and a party under cir- umstances of great atrocity, if the Tory accounts are true. William Cuningham, as the story goes on, hearing of the nurder of his brother, swore he would never rest until he lad avenged it in Ritchie's heart-blood. Not being able to ed ey to in ay. urt, on- procure a horse, he set out immediately on foot, attended y a servant, and walked all the way from Savannah to Ninety Six. On arriving at home he was informed that is father had also been ill-treated by Ritchie and his party, Thereupon he hastened at once to Ritchie's house and found im in the yard with some of his followers. On seeing uningham, Ritchie clasped his hands together and of xclaimed to one of his companions, " Lord have mercy on the le, Hughes, for yonder is Cuningham and I am a dead man." sfy- [e tried to escape, but Cuningham shot him down as he Juntas crossing a fence, and coming close told him he " had 1 y d r
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come all the way from Savannah on foot to kill him, on account of the crimes he had committed against his family."
From this period till the end of the war, Cuningham's life was passed in a series of wild adventures, so often end- ing in such fearful tragedies as to earn for him throughout the country the significant cognomen of "Bloody Bill "; and in the story his famous horse, "Ring-tail," attained a celebrity hardly less distinguished than his owner.1 As an officer in the British service he assumed vigorously to enforce Cornwallis's order that all who had renewed their allegiance to the King and resumed arms against his Maj- esty, if taken, should be put to death as rebels, and remorselessly executed all such as fell into his power.2
Early in August he set out from the garrison at Charlestown with a party of 150 men for the purpose of inflicting punishment on the Whigs of Ninety Six, who it was alleged had committed injuries against the wives and children of some of those of his party. Pushing through the American lines while Greene was in his camp of repose. and reaching the upper country, he began his operations between the Enoree and the Saluda, in what is now Laurens County. In his first raid he killed eight of the noted rebels of the neighborhood and increased his corps b sixty of the Loyal inhabitants.3 With his body thus raised he now set in relentlessly to harass the Whigs of the cour try, and to wreak his vengeance upon his enemies.
Soon after this another marauding party of Loyalist made an incursion into the neighborhood of Mount Wil ing, in what is now Edgefield. County, near which Captai
1 Curwin's Journal and Letters, 1775-81; Sabine's American Loyalis 237; MS. letters, certificates, and affidavits in possession of Claren Cuningham, Charleston, S.C.
2 Curwin's supra.
3 Curwin's, 645. The Royal Gazette, September 12, 1781.
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James Butler lived, carrying off considerable booty. This Captain Butler, the founder of the distinguished family of that name, had taken an active part in the Revolution from its commencement, had served in the Snow Cam- paign in 1775, and for refusing to accept the terms of Sir Henry Clinton's proclamation upon the fall of Charles- town had been arrested, confined in irons in Ninety Six jail, from which he had been transferred to Charlestown, where he had been confined in the provost, and had just how been released upon the general exchange of prisoners. Captain Butler had been at home but a few weeks, when is neighbors called upon him to take command of a party hey were organizing for the pursuit of the marauders. at At first he refused to go, alleging that the hardships he of o it and ad already endured and his recent return home ought to xempt him from such an undertaking. But his son ames, a youth of nineteen years of age, one of the party, ughefusing to proceed with the expedition unless his father Jose ssumed the direction, Captain Butler yielded to the appeal tionsnd consented to accompany the party as an adviser, the urensetual command being in Captain Turner. The Tories notegere overtaken and dispersed at Tarra's Spring, in what is os bow Lexington County, and the horses and cattle recap- raised red. Upon the return of the party they unfortunately couDropped at Cloud's Creek, a branch of the Little Saluda iver in Edgefield, and encamped there against the protest oyalista Captain Butler; nor would they adopt ordinary military t Wiecautions, though by him urged to do so. It was not Captainown who were the Loyalists they had been pursuing, t the next morning demonstrated the folly of their con- . Loyalist f Claren ct in neglecting Butler's advice. The Tories proved to ve been a part of Cuningham's command, by the whole which, numbering, it was said, three hundred men, the higs were attacked on the 7th of November. Taken by 0 r j- d
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surprise, the little party of Whigs, about thirty in number, took refuge in an unfinished log house without door or windows. Upon Cuningham's demand for surrender, they asked the terms which they would be allowed, and Cun- ingham agreeing to receive a communication from them, a messenger was sent, to whom Cuningham's first inquiry was, Who are of the party? And on learning that young Butler, who, they said, had been engaged in an affair in which one Radcliff was killed, was among them, Cuning- ham refused to give any terms which would exempt that young man from his sword. Cuningham was personally well acquainted with Captain Butler, having served with him in the Snow Campaign, and it is said had rather a t B tional surrender of himself. expres killed d WI wa he R me this F and know was i dange partiality for him, and would have entertained terms of capitulation with the party had it not been for the pres- ence of the son. Captain Butler proposed to Cuningham that if he would spare his son he would make an uncondi- The young man, however, learning Cuningham's animosity to him, and believing that his father and himself would be sacrificed in the event of any surrender, determined to force the hazard of a strug gle, and exclaiming that he "would settle the terms o capitulation," fired his rifle, killing a Tory. This con cluded the parley, and young Butler fell with a morta wound while kneeling to pick the flint of his gun for second shot. The gallant but expiring boy called hi New father, who, having gone on the expedition as an advise: was unarmed, to his side, handed him his rifle, and tol him there were yet a few balls in his pouch. The fathe post in took the gun and continued firing it until his powder an ball were exhausted. But the death of the young ma produced a panic in the little party contending again 1 MS. Johnson' hopeless odds, and an unconditional surrender was tl The Road
result. The Whigs were all ordered to be put to tl
2 Curwi
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sword. But two of the number escaped. The rest were slaughtered as they stood. Captain Butler caught up a pitchfork and defended himself until his right hand was severed by a sabre stroke. A detachment of the Tories was left to meet any burying party that might be sent to inter the mangled victims, and especially to secure, if they could, another son of Captain James Butler, William, who was a captain of rangers and who was expected to hasten to the spot. Fortunately William Butler was too far from the scene to reach it in time. Women only performed the rude rites of burial possible. A large pit was dug, into which the bodies were indiscriminately placed; except that a separate grave was prepared by the sister of Captain Butler, in which the remains of the father and son were deposited.1 In the biographical notices appended to Cur- win's Journal and Letters it is claimed that Cuningham was not actually present at the massacre, and that when he came up he regretted that it had taken place.2 But The Royal Gazette heralded the affair as one of his achieve- ments, and all other authorities have united in charging this as one of his atrocities.
From Cloud's Creek, Cuningham crossed the Saluda and proceeded to Hayes's Station, which before had been known as Edge Hill, another small American post which was in what is now Laurens County, three miles from the Newbury line. Colonel Hayes had been warned of his danger the night before by Captain Brooks, who sent an express, advising him to disband his men and leave the post instantly, as Cuningham was in the country, and had killed Turner and his men. Hayes did not accredit the
1 MS. Memoirs of Genl. Wm. Butler, prepared by Hon. A. P. Butler ; Johnson's Traditions, 311 ; Ramsay's Revolution in So. Ca., vol. II, 272 ; The Royal Gazette, November 18, 1781.
2 Curwin's Journal and Letters, 644.
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information, as he had just returned from scouting that part of the country and had heard nothing of Cuningham, and did not follow the advice, but merely sent off to another station for assistance, in case of need.
It was on a fine morning a few days after the massacre at Cloud's Creek, when at ten o'clock a party, led on by one John Hood, rode up to the station at full gallop, and reaching the piazza of the house, called out in a loud voice that none should fire from within, or they would all be put to death. Disregarding this warning, a shot was fired and one of the Tories killed. Cuningham, arriving shortly afterwards, sent a flag with a written message de- manding instant surrender, and promising if the Whig party surrendered to spare all lives, but declaring, it is claimed, that if they resisted, and so caused the spilling of his men's blood, he would give them no quarter, but put them all to death. Colonel Hayes, trusting to receive a reenforcement before the station could be carried, refused to surrender, and answered "he would hold out to the last." Hayes and his party made a vigorous resistance, which lasted for hours ; but Cuningham at last succeeded in setting fire to the house, which was of wood, by means of ramrods wrapped round with tow dipped in pitch and thrown in a blazing state on the roof. Half suffocated, Hayes and his party surrendered at discretion. Cuning- ham immediately hanged Hayes and another man, Daniel Williams, on the pole of a fodder stack. Before they were dead, the pole broke, and Cuningham, drawing his sword, slew the half-strangled men with his own hand. This he jus- tified himself in doing, because of alleged cruelties by Hayes to women and children, and of the killing by Williams of a favorite follower of his, one Thomas Ellison. Being told of the presence of one Cook, who, it was charged, had with Ritchie and Moore whipped his brother to death, Cuningham
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ordered him out from the rest and slew him with his sword. He then gave permission to his men to do as they pleased with the rest. And all who had rendered themselves ob- noxious in any way to the Tories were slain without mercy. Each of his men singled out whomsoever he would and killed him forthwith. The execution took place about sunset. Only two of the party fell in the action ; fourteen were deliberately cut to pieces after their surrender. Their names and rank as given by Ramsay were as follows : Colonel Joseph Hayes, Captain Daniel Williams, Lieuten- ant Christopher Hardy, Lieutenant John Neil, Clement Hancock, Joseph Williams, Joseph Irby, Sr., Joseph Irby, Jr., John Milvin, James Feris, John Cook, Greaf Irby, Benjamin Goodman, Yancey Saxon. The Royal Gazette gives two names not mentioned by Ramsay. These were probably those of the killed in the action, Captains Owen and Leonard. Cuningham had one man killed and five wounded.1
Colonel Hayes had been in the struggle from its com- mencement, and had served gallantly. He had been in the battles of Brier Creek and Stono, in the campaign against the Cherokees, at Savannah, and at Hanging Rock, Musgrove's Mills, King's Mountain, Blackstock, Hammond's Store, and Cowpens.2
The movements of Cuningham's party were rapid and lasted but a few weeks, but their bloody tracks could long after be traced. In their passage up the country, they intercepted a convoy of wagons despatched by Pickens to the army. Upon being pursued by the Whigs, under Ham- mond and Purvis, they separated into several parties, and two of them, under Cuningham and Williams, made good
1 Ramsay's Revolution in So. Ca., vol. II, 273 ; Curwin's Journal and Letters, 644, 645; The Royal Gazette, December 8, 1781.
2 King's Mountain and its Heroes, 468.
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their way through the woods, and passing between the posts of Orangeburgh and Round O, reached Charlestown in safety. A third party that had charge of the prisoners, being far advanced towards the mountains, and apprehen- sive of being cut off if attempting to retreat, pushed on and joined the Indians.1
Another active and vigorous Tory leader who appeared at this time was Hezekiah Williams, "Colonel," as he was called. Following Cuningham, he marched from the forks of Edisto, raiding and harassing the Whigs in Ninety Six. On October 5 he was met by Major Hugh Middleton of Colonel Hammond's regiment, who came up with him on Stevens's Creek, when, after a sharp conflict, the Whigs were repulsed with a loss of eight men killed, seventeen severely and others slightly wounded. Colonel Ham- mond coming up, however, with a considerable reënforce- ment, Williams retired ; but turned to attack a small post known as Vince's Fort on the Three Runs, a branch of the Savannah. Arriving there on the 28th, however, he found the fort evacuated; the garrison under Captain Vince had retired upon his approach, and but few stragglers fell into his hands.
Early in the year General Greene had concluded a treaty with the Cherokees, by which they had engaged to observe a neutrality. This was a matter of great importance, saving the frontier settlements of North and South Carolina from their incursions ; and happy would it have been for the people had it been observed, but whenever the cooperation of the Indians could be of the least service to the British forces, they were induced to break their engagement of neutrality. About the same time that Cuningham's party started out on their expedition, and it was believed in connection with it, emissaries of the British induced the
1 Johnson's Life of Greene, vol. II, 301-302.
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Cherokee Indians to commence hostilities.1 The Royal Gazette of the 13th of October mentions casually, as an item of news, that about three weeks before the Cherokees had commenced hostilities against the rebel settlements of Nolachucky, Watauga, and Holston.
The first attack was made on Gowen's Fort, in the upper part of what is now Greenville County.2 The fort stood on the waters of the Pacolet, and had long been a place of rendezvous and safety for the Whig families of that sec- tion, of both North and South Carolina. Many attempts had been made by the Indians and disguised white men to capture this station. They had often resorted to art and stratagem, to force and violence, but as often failed. The Royal Gazette of the 24th of November, 1781, announces that about three weeks since a party of loyal militia and Cherokee Indians under the command of Mr. Tuft attacked and carried a rebel fort on Pacolet River, Gowen's Ferry. Thus the official organ of the British authorities assumed the full responsibility for a most horrible massacre which now took place at this remote post. Who was the Mr.
Tuft mentioned in the Gazette is not known, but the party was not led by any such person ; though it is thus admitted that it was composed of loyal militia. This, however, the party at the time attempted to conceal. There came a formidable band of Cherokees and white men painted like Indians, led down the Saluda Mountain by a ban- dit well known as "Bloody Bates," who had repeatedly filled the country of the Pacolet, Enoree, and Fair Forest with plundering and midnight assassinations. This man
1 Ramsay's Revolution in So. Ca., vol. II, 273.
2 This was the scene, it may be remembered, of a skirmish in July of the year before (1780), in which a party of Georgians had surprised and aken a body of Tories. (Hist. of So. Ca. in the Revolution, 1775-80 McCrady), 613.)
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possessed all the vices of his Indian associates without a single one of their virtues. After a short but vigorous defence, the fort was surrendered, on the condition that the unfortunate captives were to receive protection from their savage assailants. But no sooner was Bates in possession of the fort than, recreant to his word and insensible to the ordinary feelings of humanity, he ordered a general and indiscriminate massacre of the prisoners. A shocking butchery ensued of men, women, and children. Neither age, sex, nor his own kindred were spared. A few made · their escape and some of them in a horribly mangled con- dition. Mrs. Thompson, the wife of Abner Thompson, afterwards of Greenville District, was saved after having been scalped by the Indians. She lived, near the scene, to a good old age, notwithstanding the terrible disfigurement.
Among those who were killed were the Motley family, all, it is believed, but one son, who lived to avenge in a signal manner the murder of his relations. Many years after the close of the Revolution, the country being restored to peace and county courts established for the administra- tion of justice in the upper part of the State, Bates returned from the Cherokee Nation, where he had taken refuge, and st ha as po having stolen some horses, he was pursued, arrested, and securely lodged in Greenville jail. He was immediately recognized as "the Bloody Bates," and all were rejoicing that he would meet his doom on the gallows. But there lived in the district a son of the murdered Motley. No sooner did he hear of Bates's arrest than he determined to revenge with his own hands the murder of his father, mother, brothers, and sisters. Procuring a pair of pistols, he sought the prison wherein Bates was confined. From the jailer he demanded the keys at the pistol's mouth. They were surrendered to him and the prison door opened. Bates at once recognized his voice, and knew that not only his dou peor the that best and t 1 Rar April, 1 t I
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days, but his minutes, were numbered. Motley seized him by the collar and ordered him to say his prayers. In a few moments he sent a ball through his head ; then, taking up the body, he carried it a few yards from the jail and buried it. No one thought of interfering, or of prosecuting Motley for the killing of Bates. On the contrary, we are told, he continued to live in the district for years afterwards, and was always respected and esteemed by his neighbors.1
What State in the then confederacy suffered so dread- fully as did South Carolina in this terrible struggle ? Not only did she endure the ordinary sufferings, fearful as they . always are, of a people living in a country the seat of war, but in her case with the knowledge and concurrence of the British government - the government of the mother coun- try. The lowest classes were formed into banditti, the leaders of which, being the commissioners of his Majesty, were turned loose to indulge their private animosities, their thirst for blood and rapine, without reference to the interest of King or country. Nor only so; but the savage Indians were supplied with arms and ammunition and called on to add the horrors of their barbarities to the fratricidal strife. And even on the side of the cause of freedom it had been found necessary to enlist men for pay by plunder, as Congress could afford no money or means for their sup- port.
A curious process had been going on. There can be no doubt that until the fall of Charlestown a majority of the people of the State had been opposed to the severance of the relation of this province to the mother country, and that among those so opposed were many, very many, of the best and noblest in the land; but from the fall of the city and the advance of the British army a sifting process had
1 Ramsay's Revolution in So. Ca .; Article Southern Quarterly Review, April, 1847, Charleston, S.C.
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begun and continued, by which the better classes and the highest characters, with a few notable exceptions, were drawn or driven to the American cause, while on the other side the lowest elements of society gravitated to the Royal standard. Hence the term " Tory," which had first come into use in 1775 as the designation of an honorable party, be- came a byword of reproach and infamy which it has scarcely lost to this day.
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SOUTH CAROLINA Showing the Seat of War After the Battle of Eutaw
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