186 CLARKE COUNTY. 



head and neck ; his stock buckle saved his Hfe.* For a few- 

 minutes he was a prisoner in charge of two men ; but taking 

 advantage of his strength and activity, he knocked one of 

 them down, and the other fled. In 1780, CornwalHs issued a 

 proclamation, which instead of producing the effect which he 

 confidently believed it would, only roused the patriots to 

 greater exertions. Colonel Clarke about this time returned to 

 Wilkes, for the purpose of raising a force to aid in the reduc- 

 tion of Augusta, then in possession of the British, He suc- 

 ceeded in obtaining 350 men, and reached Augusta unob- 

 served by the enemy ; but owing to the loss of men in the 

 siege, and to desertions, was compelled to retire, first to Little 

 river, and then to Kentucky, having under his protection not 

 only his troops, but nearly four hundred women and children. 

 CornwalHs hearing of his retreat, despatched Captain Fergu- 

 son with one hundred men to cut him oflT, supposing that he 

 would be forced to return through South Carolina; but 

 Clarke, with his wonted foresight, secured himself against a 

 capture by recrossing the mountains. This led to the decisive 

 battle of King's Mountain, which resulted in the death of Fer- 

 guson, and the destruction of his whole force. On the 20th 

 of October, 1780, Clarke returned to his former position, on 

 the borders of South Carolina, ready again to battle with the 

 foe. On the 9th of November, his gallant band joined General 

 Sumter's camp, at the Fish Dam Fords on Broad river ; and 

 on the 18th of the same month, Sumter took post at Black- 

 stock's house, 35 miles from his former position, and in con- 

 junction with Majors Jackson and Chandler, Clarke was posted 

 on the left of the house. We have now before us a letter, writ- 

 ten by one of the commanders at Blackstock's, in which he 

 says : " At Blackstock's, at the head of his Wilkes rifle- 

 men, Clarke charged and drove the British light infantry in 

 an open field, where, although he did not command, he might 

 be said to have insured the day, by turning the enemy's right 

 flank. This also, as well as the merits of his compatriot. Ge- 

 neral Twiggs, who commanded during two-thirds of that ac- 

 tion, and gained it after General Sumter was wounded. Dr. 

 Ramsey has accorded to South Carolina." 



* McCall. 



