In the engagement Elijah Clarke had been wounded twice: a saber cut on the head and another on his neck. Briefly he was taken prisoner and held by two Provincials. However, seeing his son was in difficulty, he threw off his captors and returned to the fight. In this conflict, the Patriots suffered twelve casualties but had inflicted heavier damage on their enemy: thirty British dead and wounded, and fifty prisoners (Hope, 2003). In this August 8 battle, Clarke and Shelby had thwarted Patrick Ferguson, and it would not be the last time. Col. McDowell learned that a Tory encampment had been established at Musgrove's Mill on the Enoree River. About 200 Loyalists were posted there as well as British soldiers who had been wounded in the preceding engagements. The ford at that place was convenient for use in moving military supplies from Ninety-Six to Ferguson's new position which was moved to the east and across the Broad River to protect the left flank of the British in Camden. The enlistment of Shelby's men was nearing an end but those men wanted another opportunity to engage the enemy. Colonel Clarke and Colonel Shelby prepared to depart McDowell's camp at Smith's Ford on the Broad River. At this time, Col. James Williams arrived from Thomas Sumter's camp accompanied by Col. Brandon of the Fairforest Regiment and others, as well as men of Williams' own Little River militia. Fairforest militia came from lower Union County. Col. Williams and his men were a valuable addition to the group. Although some of Shelby and Clarke's men may have had some knowledge of the area, these newly-arrived men were locals and knew every creek, mill, ford and settler. Now, this combined force moved to attack Musgrove's Mill.
|