Historical sketches of North Carolina : from 1584 to 1851, Vol. I, Part 35

Author: Wheeler, John H. (John Hill), 1806-1882
Publication date: 1851
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Lippincott, Grambo and Co.
Number of Pages: 662


USA > North Carolina > Historical sketches of North Carolina : from 1584 to 1851, Vol. I > Part 35


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Robert Potter was a man of no ordinary powers of intellect. With an ad- dress which would have graced the most polished court in Europe, with powers of eloquence that could command the listening auditors, and sway them to his will, and an energy that shrunk from no obstacle or opposition, had his early education been elevated by the piety of the mother of a Gaston, his fierce and ferocious temper tamed by parental persuasion, his name might have stood


" High on the dusty rolls which ages keep."


He was a native of Granville. He entered the navy as a midshipman, and after a few years resigned, and studied law. He entered into public life as a member of the House of Commons from Halifax in 1826. At Halifax his turbulent temper embroiled him in many difficulties. On one occasion at an election, in which Potter was opposed by Jesse A. Bynum, a fracas occurred at which one man was killed, and the election broken up. He removed to Granville, from which he was elected to the House of Commons, in 1828. This was an extraordinary period. The financial condition of North Caro- lina was deplorable. The Banks had become neglectful of their duty, and disregarded their charters. Mr. Potter opened the session by a resolution of inquiry. That inquiry produced a committee, of which he was chairman ; the affairs of the banks were investigated; much evil and malfeasance was proved. The Committee reported a bill to prosecute the banks. This bill, after a long, heated, and angry discussion, passed by one vote ; but the speaker (Hon. Thomas Settle) voting with the minority, defeated its becom- ing a law.


This gave Mr. Potter great popularity, and the next year he was elected to Congress, in triumph over all opposition.'


His course in Congress was brilliant and imposing. He was re-elected without opposition, but his career was to end soon in darkness and disgrace. On Sunday, 28th, August, 1831, moved by


" Jealousy, that green-eyed monster That doth mock the meat it feeds upon,"


He committed a brutal maim on two relations of his wife.


For these outrages he was brought before the legal tribunals of the county and fined one thousand dollars, and imprisoned six months.


The enormity of this before unheard of crime in North Carolina, caused the General Assembly at the next session to pass an Act making it a capital offence.


These violent acts caused his ruin. He was elected in 1834 to the House of Commons. But this was an expiring effort of Potter's popularity.


" So the struck Eagle, wounded on the plain, No more through rolling clouds shall soar again ;


Views his own feather in the fatal dart, That sped the shaft now quivering in his heart. Keen were his pangs-but keener far to feel- He nursed the pinion that impelled the steel ;


The self same plumage that had warmed his nest, Now drinks the life blood of his bleeding breast."


165


GRANVILLE COUNTY.


The troubled elements and revolutionary scenes of Texas at this time, to him, as storms to Zanga-


bore a just resemblance to his fortunes,


And suited the gloomy aspect of his soul."


Thither he went. He was killed a few years afterwards in a private brawl. Such was the end of a morning of life so full of glorious promises, of a me- ridian so bright with honor, an evening so gloomy, dark, and desolate. If he had the genius and power of Achilles, an unbridled will, a despotic tem- per, and fierce revenge were the unguarded points by which he fell. The Superior Court, by petition divorced his wife, and she assumed her former name, thus forgetting, if not forgiving, the cause of her sufferings.


ABRAHAM WATKINS VENABLE, now in Congress from this District, is a resident of this County. `His father was Colonel Samuel Venable, of the Revolution, and his mother a daughter of Hon. Paul Carrington, Judge of the Court of Appeals of Virginia. His ancestry of both sides were of the Revolutionary stock. His father and six uncles were in the Revolutionary army and served faithfully their country. They were all in the battle of Guilford Court House, fought by General Greene, and Lord Cornwallis (15th March, 1781). His uncle and namesake, Abraham B. Venable, was a senator in Congress from Virginia in 1803.


Mr. Venable was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, 17th October, 1799. He was educated at Hampden Sidney College, where he graduated in 1816. He studied medicine for two years, and then went to Princeton, where he graduated in 1819. " He then studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1821.


He was elector in 1832, and voted for Andrew Jackson as President in the Electoral College, and for Martin Van Buren as Vice-President.


He was again elector in 1836, when he voted for Martin Van Buren as Pre- sident, and R. M. Johnson as Vice-President. Of this College the venerable Nathaniel Macon was President, and this was Mr. Macon's last public act.


Mr. Venable was elected a member of Congress in 1847 over John Kerr, Esq., re-elected in 1849 in the same district by a handsome majority over Henry K. Nash, Esq., and was again re-elected August, 1851, without opposition of an open character.


ROBERT B. GILLIAM is also a resident and native of Granville. He is a lawyer by profession, and entered public life in 1836 as a member of the House of Commons, in which he continued until 1840. In 1846 he was again a member, and in, 1848, of which sessions he was Speaker of the House. Mr. Gilliam's course has been marked by an adherence to his views of right and a consistency of political conduct.


Others might be named in connection with the County of Granville, and efforts are being used to procure material which another edition may bring forward.


List of members of the General Assembly from Granville County, from 1777 to the last Session, 1850-51.


Years. Senators.


'1777. Robert Harris,


1778. Robert Harris,


1779. Robert Harris,,


1780. Robert Harris,


1781. Joseph Taylor,


1782. William Gill,


1783. Robert Harris,


1784. John Taylor,


1785. Howell Lewis,


Members of the House of Commons.


Thomas Person, John Penn.


Thornton Yancey, Thomas Person.


Thomas Person, Philemon Hawkins.


Thomas Person, Philemon Hawkins. Thomas Person, Richard Henderson. Thomas Person, Philemon Hawkins.


Thomas Person, Philemon Hawkins.


Thomas Person, Thornton Yancey.


Thomas Person, Philemon Hawkins.


166


HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.


Years. Senators.


1786. Howell Lewis,


1787. Thomas Person,


1788. Memucan Hunt,


. Thomas Person, Elijah Mitchell.


1789.


Samuel Clay,


1790.


Samuel Clay,


1791. 1792.


William P. Little,


-


1793.


William P. Little,


1794.


William P. Little,


1795.


William P. Little,


1796.


William P. Little,


1797.


William P. Little,


1798.


William P. Little, Washington Salter,


.


1799. 1800. Thomas Taylor,


1801.


Thomas Taylor,


1802.


Thomas Taylor,


1803.


Joseph Taylor,


1804. . Thomas Person,


1805.


Thomas Person,


1806.


Thomas Person,


1807.


Thomas Person,


1808. Thomas Taylor,


1809.


Thomas Taylor,


1810. Thomas Taylor,


1811. Thomas Taylor,


1812.


Thomas Person,


1813. Thomas Falconer,


1814. Thomas Person,


1815. James Young,


1816. Willis Lewis, 1817.


Willis Lewis,


1818. Daniel Jones,


1819. Daniel Jones,


1820. Thomas Person,


1821. Jos. H. Bryan,


1822. William M. Sneed,


1823. William M. Sneed, James Nuttall,


1824. 1825. William M. Sneed, William M. Sneed,


1827. James Nuttall,


1828.


Thomas T. Hunt,


1829. William M. Sneed, William M. Sneed,


1830.


1831. William M. Sneed,


1832. Thomas W. Norman,


1833. Thomas W. Norman,


1834. James Wyche,


1835. James Wyche,


1836. John C. Taylor,


1838. John C. Taylor,


1840. William A. Johnson,


1842. Elijah Hester, 1844. George Eaton,


1846. James A. Russell,


1848. John Hargrove,


1850. Nath. E. Cannady,


Nath. M. Taylor, Benjamin M. Hester.


Richard Sneed, Samuel Hillman.


Richard Sneed, Samuel Hillman.


Richard Sneed, Samuel Hillman. Robert Jeter, Thomas Hunt. Robert Jeter, William G. Bowers. J. C. Taylor, William G. Bowers. John Glasgow, Nicholas Jones. Nicholas Jones, Willis Lewis. John C. Taylor, John Glasgow .. James Wyche, Robert Potter. James Wyche, Spencer O'Brien. James Wyche, Spencer O'Brien. Spencer O'Brien, James Wyche. Spencer O'Brien, John C. Ridley. William R. Hargrove, James Wyche. Sandy Harris, Robert Potter. Chas. R. Eaton, Elijah Hester.


Robert B. Gilliam, Chas R. Eaton, William Flemming.


Robt. B. Gilliam, Chas. R. Eaton, E. Hester. Robt. B. Gilliam, H. L. Robards, James A. Russell.


Jona. M. Stone, Wm. Russell, Kemp P. Hill. Jona. M. Stone, J. M. Bullock, J. T. Little- john.


R. B. Gilliam, J. M. Bullock, Jona. M. Stone. R. B. Gilliam, Geo. Green, N. E. Cannady. Jas. S. Amis, Wm. R. Wiggins, L. Parham.


Members of the House of Commons.


. Thornton Yancey, Philemon Hawkins. Thornton Yancey, Philemon Hawkins.


Samuel Clay,


Thornton Yancey, Philemon Hawkins. Thornton Yancey, Thomas Person. Elijah Mitchell, Thornton Yancey. Elijah Mitchell, Thornton Yancey. Thomas Person, Elijah Mitchell. James Vaughan, Thomas Person. Thomas Person, Thomas Taylor. Thomas Taylor, Elijah Mitchell. Thomas Taylor, Thomas Person. Thomas Taylor, Sterling Yancey. Thomas Taylor, Sterling Yancey. Sterling Yancey, Benjamin E. Person. John R. Eaton, Samuel Parker. John R. Eaton, Samuel Parker. John Washington, Samuel Parker. Barnett Pulliam, Henry Yancey. John Washington, Henry Yancey. Henry Yancey, William Robards. Henry Yancey, John Washington. Samuel Parker, William Robards. William Hawkins, Henry Yancey. Daniel Jones, William Hawkins. William Hawkins, Daniel Jones. Woodson Daniel, John R. Eaton. John Hare, Woodson Daniel. Benjamin Bullock, Daniel Jones. Daniel Jones, John J. Judge. Daniel Jones, John J. Judge., William Hawkins.


1826.


167


GREENE COUNTY.


CHAPTER XXXIV.


GREENE COUNTY.


UNTIL 1791, there was in North Carolina a county called Dobbs, in compliment to Arthur Dobbs, Royal Governor of the State in 1754. In 1791, Dobbs was divided into Lenoir and Glasgow, and in 1799, the name of GREENE was substituted for that of Glasgow.


It was named in compliment to GENERAL NATHANIEL GREENE, who was one of the bravest, most sagacious, and most successful officers of the Revo- lution, and the saviour of the south from the invasions of the British. He was a native of Rhode Island, where he was born in 1741. He was of Quaker parentage. He was a Major General in the revolutionary army. He was at the battle of Trenton, 1776, and Princeton, and commanded the left wing at Germantown, 1777, under the eye of Washington, whose confidence and regard he possessed in an eminent degree. After the disastrous defeat of General Gates, at Camden, by Lord Cornwallis, in August, 1780, General Washington sent General Greene to take command of the south. He arrived at Charlotte on the 2d December, 1780.


On the 15th March, 1781, he fought the battle of Guilford Court House, at which, although he ordered a retreat, he was not defeated; for he so crippled Lord Cornwallis, that he avoided battle and was forced to retrograde to Wilmington, leaving his wounded under care of Greene.


Greene then marched to South Carolina, then overran by the British. In September, 1781, he fought the bloody battle of Eutaw Springs, in which he routed the enemy.


After suffering incredible hardships from want of food and clothing for his troops, his patience and firmness triumphed over all obstacles. He drove the Invaders from the country and they sailed from Charleston, on 17th Decem- ber. He died in Georgia, on 19th June, 1786, leaving a wife and five children, and a fame that will remain as long as patriotism is admired. Worthy is his name to be preserved in a State that witnessed his patriotism and valor !


Greene County is situated in the south-eastern part of the State. Bounded on the north, by Edgecombe ; east, by Pitt ; south, by Lenoir ; and west by Wayne.


Its capital is Snow Hill, eighty-nine miles east of Raleigh.


Population, 3,259 whites ; 3,244 slaves ; 166 free negroes ; 5,321 represent- ative population.


Products, 1,344,990 pounds of cotton ; 3,627 pounds of wool; 279,730 bushels of corn ; 8,824 bushels of wheat ; 6,975 bushels of rye.


Its early history is collected under Chapter XLV. (Lenoir), to which the reader is referred.


In 1711 the Cothechney Indians* who dwelt in this county joined with other tribes, and made a descent upon the inhabitants of the Neuse and Trent, and massacred 130 persons. t


* Martin, i. 244. + Vol. i. 37.


20


168


HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.


With the name of Greene County is connected the memory of GENERAL JESSE SPEIGHT, who was for many years her representative in the Legislature, a member of Congress, and afterwards a Senator in Congress from the State of Mississippi, which elevated position he held at the time of his death.


General Speight was born in Greene County, 22d September, 1795. His father, Rev. Seth Speight, was a minister of the Methodist Church. His education was not extensive, but his extraordinary success was owing to his own natural shrewdness of character, his tall and commanding person, and untiring perseverance.


In 1822, he was first a member of the House of Commons. In 1823, he was a member of the Senate, of which he was several times the Speaker, and continued until 1827, when he was elected a member of the House of Repre- sentatives, until 1837, when he declined a re-election, and removed to the State of Mississippi. He was soon returned, a member of the Mississippi Legislature, and Speaker of the Senate, and in 1844, was elected to the Senate of the United States, which post he held at the time of his death, on 1st May, 1847.


Without any extraordinary powers of mind, superior education, or bril- liant parts of character, such unexampled success in political life can only be attributed to native energy of character, devotion to principles, and simple- hearted honesty.


Members of the General Assembly from Greene County from its erection to last session :-


Years. Senators.


Members of House of Commons.


Jonas Williams, Wm. Taylor.


1801.


Hymrick Hooker,


1802. Hymrick Hooker,


1803.


Hymrick Hooker,


1804. Hymrick Hooker,


Jonas Williams, Alex. Kilpatrick.


1805. Hymrick Hooker,


1806. Hymrick Hooker,


1807.


Hymrick Hooker,


Jonas Williams, Henry J. G. Ruffin.


1808. Wm. V. Speight,


1809.


Wm. V. Speight;


1810. Wm. V. Speight,


1811. Wm. V. Speight, 1812. Wm. V. Speight, 1813. Wm. V. Speight, 1814.


Wm. V. Speight, 1815. Wm. V. Speight, 1816. Wm. V. Speight, 1817. Wm. V. Speight,


. Abraham Darden, Jonas Williams. Wm. Holliday, Abraham Darden. William Pope, Wm. Holliday. J. C. Shepard, William Pope. William Pope, James, Eastwood. James Eastwood, William Pope, Richard G. Bright, William Pope. Reuben Wilcox, William Pope. A. Darden, William Pope. Abraham Darden, William Pope. Hymrick Hooker, A. Darden.


. Charles Edwards, Jesse Speight. R. G. Bright, Charles Edwards. Charles Edwards, R. H. F. Harper.


Charles Edwards, Richard H. F. Harper. Charles Edwards, Joseph Ellis. James Harper, Joseph Ellis. James Harper, Joseph Ellis.


1829. Wyatt Moye,


1830. Wyatt Moye,


1831. Wyatt Moye,


1832. Wyatt Moye,


1833. Wyatt Moye,


1834. Wyatt Moye,


James Harper, Arthur Speight. James Harper, Elisha Uzzell.


Arthur Speight, James Harper.


James Harper, John Beemond. James Harper, Robert L. Allen. James Harper, James Williams.


1800. Robert White,


William Taylor, Jonas Williams.


William Taylor, Jonas Williams. Jonas Williams, Henry Best.


Jonas Williams, Alex. Kilpatrick. Jonas Williams, Kenchen Garland.


. Henry J. G. Ruffin, Jonas Williams. Henry J. G. Ruffin, Jonas Williams. Jonas Williams, Benjamin Evans.


1819. Wm. V. Speight,


1820. Wm. V. Speight,


1821. Wm. V. Speight, 1822. .. Wm. V. Speight, 1823. Jesse Speight,


1824. Jesse Speight, 80 80 80 80 80 80 1825. Jesse Speight, 1826. Jesse Speight, 1827. Jesse Speight, 1828. Jesse Speight,


80 80 80 80 50 50 80 60 50 50 60 80 80 80 90 +5 1818. Wm. V. Speight,


1


169


GUILFORD COUNTY.


Years. Senators.


Members of House of Commons.


1835. Wyatt Moye,


James Harper, Thomas Hooker. .


1836. Wm. D. Moseley,


Thomas Hooker.


1838. Wm. D. Moseley,


James Williams.


1840. Jas. B. Whitfield,


John W. Taylor.


1842. E. G. Speight,


John W. Taylor.


1844. E. G. Speight,


James Harper.


1846. E. G. Speight,


James G. Edwards.


1848. E. G. Speight,


James G. Edwards.


1850. E. G. Speight,


B. F. Williams.


CHAPTER XXXV. 1


GUILFORD COUNTY.


.


Date of formation-Origin of name-Situation and boundaries-Population and products-Revolutionary history-Battle at Guilford Court house, fought 15th March, 1781, between the main body of the British army under Lord Cornwallis, and the American army under General Nathaniel Greene ; the official reports of the same by Lord Cornwallis, copied from the ar- chives of the English government; and General Greene's report from our own archives-The importance of this battle, and its effects upon the country-Life, character, and services of Lord Cornwallis-Colonel B. Tarleton-Its distinguished citizens, Rev. David Caldwell, Gov. Alexander Martin, Hon. John M. Morehead, Hon. John M. Dick, and others-Its members of Assembly.


GUILFORD COUNTY was erected in the year 1770, from Rowan and Orange. It was called in compliment of Lord North, who in 1770, succeeded the Duke of Grafton as First Lord of the Trea- sury, and Prime Minister. He was heir to the title of Guilford, and eventually succeeded to it as Earl of Guilford .*


Its situation is west of Raleigh, and the county presents on the map a beautiful compact square ; bounded on the north by Rock- ingham, east by Alamance, south by Randolph, and west by For- sythe and Davidson Counties.


Its capital is Greensboro', a most flourishing town, named in compliment of General Nathaniel Greene, a Major-General in the Revolutionary Army, and whose biography is to be found in Chap- ter XXXIV., on Greene County. Most appropriately is his name preserved in the very region which witnessed his gallantry and patriotism.


Greensborough is distinguished for its industry, thrift, and en- terprise-for its manufactories and excellent schools. It is dis- tant eighty-two miles west of Raleigh.


* MS. Letter 16th July, 1851, from Hon. George Bancroft.


1


170


HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.


Population, 15,874 whites; 3,186 slaves ; 694 free negroes; 18,479 repre- sentative population. tự


Products, 1,344,990 pounds cotton ; 3,627 pounds wool; 279,730 bushels corn ; 8,824 bushels wheat ; 6,975 bushels rye; 2,455 bushels oats.


The County of Guilford, including the present counties of Randolph (formed in 1770) and Rockingham (formed in 1785), was settled about 1760, the south and west part by Quakers from Pennsylvania and Nantucket; the north and east by the Presby- terians and Baptists.


Among the Quakers NATHAN HUNT in early days was eminent in propa- gating the peaceful doctrines of that exemplary class of Christians. George Pope was equally successful among the people, in establishing the Baptist's faith ; and David Caldwell was distinguished as a Presbyterian minister. There was a sect called Nicholites ; so called from their leader, William Nichols, from the State of Delaware. They had a meeting-house on Deep River, on the west line of Guilford. They differed but little from the Quakers. They wore no dye in their clothes, only the simple coloring that Nature gave the wool or cotton.


To the General Meeting of Delegates at Newbern, on 3d April, 1775, from Guilford as a delegate, was ALEXANDER MARTIN.


At the meeting at Hillsboro' on 21st August, 1775, ALEXANDER MARTIN, RANSOM SOUTHERLAND, SAMUEL PARKE FARLEY, THOMAS HENDERSON, WILLIAM DENT, GEORGE CORTNER and NATHANIEL WILLIAMS, were delegates.


At the meeting at Halifax, on April 4th, 1776 (which placed the State in military organization), delegates from Guilford were, RANSOM SOUTHERLAND, - WILLIAM DENT, and RALPH GORRELL.


The officers appointed for Guilford, were JAMES MARTIN, Colonel ; JOHN PAISLY, Lieutenant-Colonel; THOMAS OWEN, Ist Major; and THOMAS BLAIR, 2d Major.


At the meeting at Halifax, Nov. 12th, 1776 (which formed the Constitution), the delegates from Guilford, were DAVID CALDWELL, JOSEPH HINDS, RALPH GORRELL, CHARLES BRUCE, and ISHAM BROWDER.


These names prove that Guilford County was early alive to the spirit of liberty.


Indeed, before the Revolution broke out, many of her citizens were concerned in the contest with the Royal Governor (William Tryon), and were engaged in the battle at Alamance, in June, 1771, where the first blood of the colonists was spilled by English troops in America. This history has been so fully explained by a pre- vious chapter (Alamance), and the official documents therein pub- lished, that any further remarks here are unnecessary.


We approach the great battle which distinguishes the county of Guilford as its scene of action; the most important ever fought in the State, and most important to the cause of America in the whole south.


Lord Cornwallis, after the battle of Camden (1780), had marched into North Carolina.


A chosen detachment, under Colonel Tarleton, had been de- feated at the Cowpens, by General Morgan (in January, 1781), and by rapid movements Cornwallis had endeavored to inter-


171


GUILFORD COUNTY.


cept General Morgan, and prevent his junction with Greene. By the interposition of Providence, and the activity of Morgan, this was baffled, and Morgan's detachment united with the main army, on Feb. 10th, 1781, near Guilford Court House, when Cornwallis was only twenty-five miles in the rear .*


While Greene was at Guilford, Cornwallis was at Salem.


Disappointed in this, Cornwallis advanced rapidly on the main body of Greene's Army (who was still too weak to risk a general battle), and hoped to prevent his crossing the Dan River into Vir- ginia. The whole retreat was conducted with all the skill of mili- tary science. Its records are full of glowing incidents, and is only equaled by the celebrated retreat of the Ten Thousand in Grecian history, as recorded by Herodotus. The rear guard of our army under Lee, and the advance of the British under General O'Hara, were by day often in sight, and at night the watch fires of each other were visible.


" More than once," says Colonel Lee, ¡ in his beautiful Memoirs of the War, " were his legion and the van of O'Hara within musket shot. This presented so tempting an invitation to the marksmen flanking his legion, that at first he with difficulty restrained their fire. But this at length became so usual that this disposition be- came checked, and the demeanor of the hostile troops became so pacific that a spectator would have been led to consider them mem- bers of the same army."


To the British, with veteran troops flushed with victory, a battle was certain success over the undisciplined troops of Greene, harassed by defeats, undisciplined, and unprepared with the munitions of war.


Cornwallis, with mistaken confidence from information derived from those not acquainted with the country, believed that Greene could not cross the Dan; and therefore he deemed a general action unavoidable, and, like all prudent Generals, took his own time and place for battle.


"Never," says a historian, "had the feelings of the American People been so wrought up as upon this occasion. : For a month they had been in breathless anxiety at the perilous position of Greene, upon whose skill, courage, and strategy, now hung the hopes of the country. One unguarded moment, one false step, would have lost the Army, and with it the hopes of the whole south. Never upon the firm heart and pure mind of one man, depended more important duties."


General Carrington had been dispatched to secure boats to cross the Dan River, and the gallant Kosciusko was advanced to raise a breast-work at the ferry, to cover the crossing of the army, should they be attacked. The passage of the Dan was effected at Boyd's Ferry. The boats and flats were secured on the other side, to pre- vent the passage of the army of Cornwallis.


So close were the English on their heels, that the American rear


* Lee's Memoirs, p. 136. Life of Greene, by Johnson, vol. i. p. 429.


+ Lee's Memoirs, p. 146.


172


HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.


had scarcely landed on the north bank, when the British advance appeared on the opposite side. The British had marched forty miles in the last twenty-four hours .*


Thus ended this retreat ; the joy of the Americans on the even- ing of the 14th of February, 1781, was great, when they found that by the prudence of their Commander, and their own unparalleled exertions, they were safe from the attack of the British.


This retreat is one of the most celebrated in our history. It called for the admiration of the friends of America, and the unquali- fied praises of every British writer.


Lord Cornwallis was thunderstruck at this movement, for he did not know that the Americans were at the river until he was informed of their safe passage over the Dan.f Despairing of all hopes to attack the Americans, he gave repose to his wearied troops, and returned in easy marches to Hillsboro', where, on the 20th of February, 1781, he erected the Royal Standard, and issued a pro- clamation inviting all loyal subjects to repair to it and assist him to restore the English rule.


Cornwallis now reposed in quiet; he had found the promised land, and with no enemy to oppose him, he thought that like Georgia and South Carolina, North Carolina had been brought under the royal yoke of England. But he was soon to be unde- ceived.




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