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taken from "The Annals of Newberry" pg. 229-233
Again we are about to turn back to the Revolutionary field, and again are about to endeavor
to add another name to the worthies, who belong to Newberry. We, today, propose to call up the name of William
Caldwell from the sleep of thirty-nine years; and, as far as possible to give his life to the people.
He was born, in March, 1748, in the State of Pennsylvania, in the next year the family
removed to Virginia, where they remained till they emigrated to South Carolina, about the year 1770; this is supposed
to be correct, as it is compiled from an account furnished by Gen. James Gillam, the son of Elizabeth Gillam, whose
memoir has been heretofore published.
After his removal to this State, he spent two years at his brother-in-law’s, Patrick Calhoun, in Abbeville and
then returned to Newberry, and with his brother leaned surveying theoretically and practically. He joined in June,
or July, 1775, his brother’s company of rangers; what was their period of service does not appear. This regiment
commanded by Col. Thompson was speedily completed. Monltrie says a troop of rangers was sent to Fort Charlotte,
to dispossess the royal government, to take charge of the guns, powder, and military stores, and to send, down
to Charleston the two brass field-pieces, that were there, and to endeavor to enlist the garrison. The troop of
rangers sent on this duty was Capt. Caldwell’s.
How long, they there remained is unknown. The regiment rendezvoused, at Charleston, before the attack of the 28th
June, on Sullivan’s Island. They were posted, during the battle, on the east end of Sullivan’s Island to hold Sir
Henry Clinton in check, and to prevent him crossing over from Long’s Island. William CaIdwell was present on that
occasion Whether he was then an office, is not certain; it seems to be certain, that the 2nd lieutenants were appointed
by the captains. That Captain Caldwell intended William Cunningham for that office rests on very satisfactory tradition.
After his desertion,it is believed, that the office was conferred on William Caldwell.
What were his services, afterwards, in this department of duty, are as uncertain as has been already stated, in
the memoir of Gelding Tiasley. It has been a traditionary statement, that he was part of the garrison of Fort Barrington
on the Altamaha, left in ‘78 in the unfortunate expedition to East Florida, to protect the State of Georgia. That
that post was subsequently reduced, and that he, Roger MeKinnie and Captain Milton were delivered as hostages for
the observance of the parole allowed to the officers, and, that for an alleged breach of it, he and his companions
were immured in the castle of St. Augustino for more than a year.
From information, now in my possession from one connected with the family, it may be that there is some inaccuracy
in the tradition. For it is there stated that he was a part of the South Carolina Militia, in the unfortunate affair
of Brier Creek, Georgia. I see, on looking into the proceedings of the court of inquiry, held, to ascertain, whether
Gen. Ashe, the
commandant of the American troops, was to blame for that disastrous surprise, that Col. James Williams of South
Carolina, was a part of his command, and if so, it may be that William Caldwell was there and taken prisoner on
the 4th of March, 1779. But I confess I doubt the correctness of this. For if there taken prisoner, I cannot perceive,
why he should have been sent to St. Augustine, when the British garrison of Savannah was at hand. There is no doubt,
he was confined in the castle of St. Augustine; and after a long imprisonment, reached home. My understanding always
has been, that he, McKinnie, and Milton were discharged. Indeed, I have often heard related the anecdote, that
McKinnie, On the day of his discharge, packed their crockery in a pot, and threw it down the stairs to alarm the
sentinel on duty. It is stated in the memoir before me, that a lad of the name of Tinsley, who had accompanied
him from home, but Who was not confined, bribed the gaoler, and that the door was left ajar, and thus they made
their escape, and traveled on feet home.
He and his companions were confined, in a room, or rooms, where they could only see the sun through a narrow aperture
for a short time each day. Often have I heard one, who knew him well, say, that after his discharge and return
home, he was as fair as the fairest lady he ever saw. Yet, in the narrative before me, he is represented as returning
home in such a squalid condition, that neither his mother, sister, nor the young lady to whom he was engaged, and
whom he subsequently married, knew him. If he was taken prisoner, at Briar Creek, he could not have reached home
much sooner than the fall of Charleston, in May, 1780.
Be this as it may, it is very certain that he was not in any of the actions, which followed, until the battle of
Cowpens, in January, 1781. Before that time he had been engaged in scouting, bearing expresses, and other duties.
When Tarleton’s command lay at Chandler’s and Brooks’, before he changed his route for Pecolet, and the pursuit,
as he called it, of Morgan, Wm. Caldwell, Robert Gillam, and John Satterwhite were constantly in the neighborhood,
observing the motions of the enemy. Shortly before his death, he pointed out the rook, on the right of the road
to Belfast, and where the road to Mount Zion turns off, as that on which they fed their horses with shelled corn
carried in their saddle-bags. When Tarleton tuned the head of his column by the Tea-Table rock in Newberry District,
in the direction of Morgan’s camp, they pushed for the same point to report his movements. There they united themselves
to the militia company to which they belonged, commanded by Capt. James Caldwell. The battle of Cowpens, on the
17th of January was fought, and won. In it William Caldwell bore a soldier’s part. He returned with most of the
militia, but probably after his brother James’ wounds had been so healed, as to permit him to be moved to their
respective homes. He, however, was rarely allowed to stay any time at home. He was too well known to the loyalists
to be not often sought. The time, to the close of the war, was mostly spent in the saddle, in the scouting Parties
of that time. How narrowly lie escaped death at Hays’ Station has been narrated in the memoir of Golding Tinsley.
On another occasion, he narrowly escaped the vengeful sword of Cunningham. At Perkin’s Ford, on Saluda, Cunningham
and his party commenced his pursuit; by the time he reached the residence of William O’Neall, near O’Neall’s, now
Bobo’s Mill, on Bush River, the bleeding flanks and panting sides of his mare told too truly that the fate of Cunningham’s
captives, a cruel death was at his heels. A fresh horse from the stable of the Quaker carried him beyond danger.
As the eldest brother, he inherited the fine real estate of his brother John, who was slain in Cunningham’s bloody
foray of November, 1781, and who died without issue. After the war he married Miss Williams, the daughter of Major
John Williams, and settled on Mill Creek, at the place where his brother had lived.
He was a surveyor, and with Joseph Wright was appointed, in 1787, by the county court, to run the transverse lines
of the district, to ascertain the central point for the location of the court house, It resulted, as stated in
No. 1. In ‘89, he was one of the county court judges; and at March term, he with Colonel Waters, laid off the two
acres now constituting the public square of Newberry, then presented by the proprietor, John Coate, for the public
buildings. In 1804, he was elected Senator for Newberry District; in 1808, he was superseded by John MeMorris.
He died in December, 1814; his wife soon followed him to the grave; in the summer or fall succeeding, his son,
Willams, his executor, and a most promising young man, was borne to the same silent home. At his death, he flattered
himself that his son, Wm. T. Caldwell, who had enlisted under Major George Butler, and who had been subsequently
promoted to a lientenancy, might still be alive. But that which was then rumor, is now certainty: he perished in
the massacre at Fort Mims.
William CaIdwell was the father of ten children, of whom five survived him, John, Williams, James, Patrick C.,
and Elizabeth, now the wife of F. B. Higgins, Esq. Of these, only one now remains, Elizabeth.
William Caldwell was about the size of his son, Patrick C. Caldwell, except that he was never fat; he was remarkable
for his fine face, intelligent countenance, his perfect symmetry of form, and activity. He rode on horseback as
long as he lived; he rode a good horse always, and rode well, I last remember seeing him 5th July, 1813. He then
bore little the impress of years. It was then that he said, that he had heard people say Bill Cunningham was a
coward; but, said he, they did not know him; no braver man ever walked the earth. Mr. Caldwell was an eminently
useful man, As a surveyor and magistrate, he rendered many public services. As a Senator, he faithfully discharged
the duties of his office.
He was, I think, a member of the Presbyterian Church, Little River. He was a kind husband, father, and master;
he was a good neighbor, and attached kinsman, and zealous friend. His death made a great void in the settlement
where he had so long resided, and been so much respected.
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