Horse-Shoe Robinson: A Tale of the Tory Ascendency
To WASHINGTON IRVING, Esq.
Dear Irving:—
With some little misgiving upon the score of having wasted time and paper both, which might have been better employed, I feel a real consolation in turning to you, as having, by your success, furnished our idle craft an argument to justify our vocation.
You have convinced our wise ones at home that a man may sometimes write a volume without losing his character—and have shown to the incredulous abroad, that an American book may be richly worth the reading.
In grateful acknowledgment of these services, as well as to indulge the expression of a sincere private regard, I have ventured to inscribe your name upon the front of the imperfect work which is now submitted to the public.
Very truly, yours, &c., JOHN P. KENNEDY. Baltimore, May 1, 1885 .
In the winter of eighteen hundred and eighteen-nineteen, I had occasion to visit the western section of South Carolina. The public conveyances had taken me to Augusta, in Georgia. There I purchased a horse, a most trusty companion, with whom I had many pleasant experiences: a sorrel, yet retained by me in admiring memory. A valise strapped behind my saddle, with a great coat spread upon that, furnished all that I required of personal accommodation. My blood beat temperately with the pulse of youth and health. I breathed the most delicious air in the world. My travel tended to the region of the most beautiful scenery. The weather of early January was as balmy as October; a light warm haze mellowed the atmosphere, and cast the softest and richest hues over the landscape. I retraced my steps from Augusta to Edgefield, which I had passed in the stage coach. From Edgefield I went to Abbeville, and thence to Pendleton. I was now in the old district of Ninety Six, just at the foot of the mountains. My course was still westward. I journeyed alone, or rather, I ought to say, in good company, for my horse and I had established a confidential friendship, and we amused ourselves with a great deal of pleasant conversation—in our way. Besides, my fancy was busy, and made the wayside quite populous—with people of its own: there were but few of any other kind.
John Pendleton Kennedy
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HORSE-SHOE ROBINSON.
A TALE OF THE TORY ASCENDENCY.
AUTHOR OF "SWALLOW BARN," "ROB OF THE BOWL," ETC.
"I say the tale as 't was said to me."—Lay of the Last Minstrel
REVISED EDITION.
CONTENTS
HORSE SHOE ROBINSON.
A TOPOGRAPHICAL DISCOURSE.
WHEREIN THE READER IS INTRODUCED TO TWO WORTHIES WITH WHOM HE IS LIKELY TO FORM AN INTIMATE ACQUAINTANCE.
AN INCIDENT THAT SAVORS OF ROMANCE.
A MEETING OF LOVERS——SOME INSIGHT INTO THE FUTURE.
A COMFORTABLE INN, AND A GOOD LANDLADY——THE MISFORTUNES OF HEROES DO NOT ALWAYS DESTROY THE APPETITE.
SOME ACCOUNT OF PHILIP LINDSAY—SENSIBILITY AND RETIREMENT APT TO ENGENDER A PERNICIOUS PHILOSOPHY.
THE MANSION OF A GENTLEMAN AND A SCHOLAR.
AN INTRIGUE.
TYRREL RETREATS.
A SCENE BETWEEN A FATHER AND DAUGHTER.
A POLITICAL RETROSPECT.—BUTLER ENTERS SOUTH CAROLINA.
A WOODMAN'S FAMILY.
SOMETHING VERY LIKE A DREAM.
HORSE SHOE AND BUTLER RESUME THEIR JOURNEY, WHICH IS DELAYED BY A SAVAGE INCIDENT.
TORY TROOPERS, A DARK ROAD AND A FRAY.
SCENE IN THE BIVOUAC.
THE TROOPERS MOVE WITH THEIR PRISONERS.
AN ADVENTURE WHEREIN IT IS APPARENT THAT THE ACTIONS OF REAL LIFE ARE FULL AS MARVELLOUS AS THE INVENTIONS OF ROMANCE.
SHOWING HOW A GOOD SOLDIER WILL TURN THE ACCIDENTS OF WAR TO THE BEST ACCOUNT. ENSIGN ST. JERMYN IN A DISAGREEABLE DILEMMA.
NEW DIFFICULTIES OPEN UPON BUTLER.
A TRIAL.—A GRAVE ACCUSATION THAT STILL FURTHER CONFIRMS BUTLER IN HIS BELIEF OF A SECRET ENEMY.—A SUDDEN RESPITE.
THE SERGEANT AND HIS COMRADE PROJECT AN EXPEDITION WHICH FURNISHES THE ENSIGN AN OPPORTUNITY OF ENJOYING THE PICTURESQUE.
A RETREAT AFTER THE MANNER OF XENOPHON.
BUTLER'S DIFFICULTIES INCREASE.—INNIS FINDS OCCASION TO THINK OF THE ADAGE—"THERE'S MANY A SLIP BETWIXT THE CUP AND THE LIP."
WILLIAMS TAKES A FANCY TO FOREST LIFE.—HORSE SHOE AND JOHN RAMSAY CONTINUE ACTIVE IN THE SERVICE OF BUTLER.—MARY MUSGROVE BECOMES A VALUABLE AUXILIARY.
BUTLER FINDS A GLEAM OF SUNSHINE IN HIS DISTRESS.
MARY MUSGROVE'S PERPLEXITIES.
A GLANCE AT THE DOVE COTE.—THE COMPANIONSHIP OF BROTHER AND SISTER.
MILDRED PUT TO A SEVERE TRIAL:—HER FIRMNESS.
MILDRED IN GRIEF.—SHE IS NEAR MAKING A DISCLOSURE.—A VISITOR ARRIVES AT THE DOVE COTE.
CIRCUMSTANCES FAVOR TYRREL's INFLUENCE OVER LINDSAY.
A DOMESTIC SCENE AT THE DOVE COTE.
AN ARRIVAL AT THE DOVE COTE. MILDRED RESOLVES ON A PERILOUS ADVENTURE.
MILDRED BEGINS HER JOURNEY.
OCCURRENCES AT MUSGROVE'S MILL.
A MELANCHOLY INCIDENT.
A RUSTIC FUNERAL.
A COUNCIL OF WAR AT MRS. MARKHAM'S. THE SERGEANT SETS FORTH ON AN ADVENTURE.
AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR NOT UNFAMILIAR TO THE TIME.
MILDRED ARRIVES AT THE TERM OF HER JOURNEY.——THE READER IS FAVORED WITH A GLIMPSE OF A DISTINGUISHED PERSONAGE.
A BRITISH PARTISAN.
MILDRED TURNS HER STEPS HOMEWARDS.
SIGNS OF A GATHERING STORM.—MUSTER OF THE BACKWOODSMEN.
MILDRED MEETS AN AGREEABLE ADVENTURE.
FERGUSON ADVANCES SOUTH.—HE HAS REASON TO BECOME CIRCUMSPECT.—ARTHUR BUTLER FINDS HIMSELF RETREATING FROM HIS FRIENDS.
THE WHIGS CONTINUE THEIR MARCH.—MILDRED IS LEFT BEHIND.
AFFAIRS BEGIN TO DRAW TO A HEAD. PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. A PICTURE OF THE TWO ARMIES.
THE BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN.
THE CONCLUSION.