USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina, V I pt 2 > Part 21
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1777 - July
Arrival of Lafayette
In July, while the continental battalions were being filled at Halifax, there passed through that village a bevy of French officers who had just landed at Georgetown, S. C., and were making their way to the headquarters of Gen- eral Washington, being the first practical indications of French sympathy with the colonies in their struggle for inde- pendence, the forerunners of that great assistance which later brought the war to its glorious close at Yorktown. On July 18th Major Ashe wrote to Caswell : "I haven't any news to write your Excellency, only th't one of the royal bloods of France ( the Marquis de Lafayette), recommended by Mr. Franklin. passed this [place] a few days since, on his way to the Grand Army." Lafayette at that time was not twenty years of age. but at once he burst on the American horizon as a star of the first magnitude, and the glory of his name approaches that of the great Washington.
S. R., XI, 524
Lafayette
Ocracoke Inlet
The blockade
British cruisers undertook to close the channel of com- merce through Ocracoke Inlet, but many vessels still came in bringing salt, ammunition, and other needed supplies, and privateers were constantly sallying forth to prey on British commerce. Among those fitted out at New Bern were the Sturdy Beggar and the Vancy. while at Wilmington the General Washington was equipped as an armed vessel for the State.
S. R., XI, 532
S R., XI, 624
In the middle of September two large English frigates suddenly appeared at Ocracoke, where many vessels lay ready to sail. They took several, particularly a large French brig, but the most of the fleet escaped by returning into Neuse River. The British tars then made capture of the fat mutton on the banks : but the Sturdy Beggar. fourteen guns. and Pennsylvania Farmer, sixteen guns, at once sailed to clear the harbor.
S. R .. XI, 733; XV, 702
The Continental Line joins the Grand Army
On July Ist the long march of Nash's brigade came to The brigade an end, and it went into quarters at Trenton. This addition joins Washington to Washington's army was important, adding largely to its strength and enabling him to present a bold front to Corn-
DEATH OF GENER.IL NASH
581
wallis, who threatened Philadelphia from the Elk. To form a corps to hover about the enemy and give him all the annoy- July ance possible. Washington now organized a light division, composed in part of a hundred men taken from the North Carolina brigade. under Colonel Martin. the command being bestowed of Major-General Maxwell. The brigade itself was assigned to General Sullivan's division, and participated in the battle of Brandywine, September with ; but the man- agement was so wretched that none of the brigades in Sul- livan's division won great renown. Colonel Martin's de- tachment had better fortune. Maxwell held his position at Chad's Ford with remarkable tenacity, and particularly did Captain Jacob Turner. of the Third Battalion, greatly dis- tinguish himself, bringing honor to his corps .*
At the battle of Germantown. October 4th, the brigade had a better opportunity of displaying its courage, and its vigorous conduct was highly honorable to the State. Nash's and Maxwell's brigades supported those of Sullivan and Wayne that led the attack on the centre. They were suc- cessful from the beginning, drove the enemy pell-mell in their front and pressed on resolutely through the long and straggling village of Germantown. Eventually they routed the British left. which had made a stand against their on- slaught. Nash's brigade was on the extreme right. and gained a more advanced position than any other of the American troops. The victory was won when an untoward incident changed the face of affairs. A great fog prevailed. and at a point some three miles from where the engagement began Wayne's division, on Nash's left, mistook some of General Greene's troops, who formed Washington's left wing and were approaching from that direction, for a large British force on their flank. Alarmed at their supposed peril, they broke and could not be rallied. Their flight from the front turned victory into disaster. The British renewed the contest with spirit. The brigades of Nash and Sullivan, far in advance, unsupported and threatened on both flanks, were compelled to withdraw. The army retired many miles, pursued by the enemy.
*Hugh McDonald, whose diary has been preserved, was apparently a member of Colonel Martin's detachment with General Maxwell.
1777 -
Maxwell's Light Division
S. R .. X11I. 262, 263
1777 Oct. 4th, German- town
S R., XI. 759, 828
Irving's Washing- ton, 111, 284
592
C.ISI'ELL'S ADMINISTR.ITION, 1776-80
1777 -
Death of Nash
Biog. Hist N. C., 111, 301
The North Carolinians suffered heavily. How many ut the rank and file were killed and wounded was not reporte .! but the loss was great. Among the higher officers, General Nash, Colonel Polk, Colonel Buncombe. Colonel Irwin, Cap. tain Jacob Turner, and Captain Lucas, adjutant of the Third, fell on the field of battle. Colonel Polk, although badly wounded, fortunately recovered. Colonel Hogun, who particularly distinguished himself, escaped. Colonel Bun- combe, badly wounded, was conveyed from the field, where he was found by an acquaintance in the British army, to Philadelphia, and died from his wounds shortly afterward. A cannon ball passed through the horse General Nash was riding, and tore through his leg. also killing Major James Witherspoon, an aide of General Maxwell. As he fell. Nash called to his men: "Never mind me. I've had a devil of a tumble : rush on, my boys ; rush on the enemy : I will be after you presently." He was borne fainting from the field and died, after lingering in great agony for three days. He was interred in the Mennonite Churchyard at Culpsville, Pa. His death was truly lamented. It was a sad blow to his brigade, the men and officers alike having the greatest con- fidence in him and affection for him. At home, when the legislature met, it put on record a memorial of his worth and virtues, made an appropriation to erect a marble monti- ment in his honor, and created a county, called by his name. to perpetuate his memory. On Nash's death, congress not being ready to appoint additional generals, the command of the brigade was assigned by Washington to General Mc- Intosh, of Georgia.
The new battalions
S. R., XI, 605, 729, 733
After Nash moved north, the first efforts of the authorities were directed to filling the ranks of the older regiments, but these efforts were measurably checked by the activity of those officers who were seeking to enlist men for the Seventh, Eighth and Ninth battalions, upon whose prompt completion depended their commissions. While the officers of Shep- pard's Tenth battalion offered the additional inducement that that battalion was for local service. and would not have to leave the State, numerous recruiting officers, represent-
583
RECRUITING
ing every regiment and company, were scouring the State. The first impulse of patriotic ardor had somewhat subsided. and recruiting for the war proceeded but slowly. The camp at Halifax was left in charge of Colonel John Williams, and as rapidly as possible recruits were collected and sent for- ward in detachments. and eventually, on September Ist, Colonel Williams broke camp and moved the entire force northward to join the Grand Army. In July, likewise, Colonel Sheppard's regiment was taken into the pay of the Continental Congress and also ordered north.
1776
Williams's Battalion
CHAPTER XXXIV
CASWELL'S ADMINISTRATION, 1776-80-Continued.
The second session of the Assembly .-- Articles of confederation - Valley Forge .- Supplies from North Carolina .- The North Carolina line destitute .-- Feeling in England .- Treaty with France .- The sec ond Assembly .- Dr. Burke in congress .- The battalions consolidar d -Nine months' Continentals .- Defection prevalent .- The North: Carolina brigade .- The judges appeal to the people .- At the ad journed session .- For the southern campaign .- Importations con tinued .-- The fall of Savannah .- Militia for the South .- Ashe -nr- prised at Briar Creek .- Boyd's defeat .-- Light horse at the North. -Sumner and Hogun brigadiers .- The hardships of the officers .- Prices and taxes .- Internal perils .- Movements of troops .- Battle of Stony Point .- The second Assembly .-- Efforts to increase the Con tinental force .- Tory movements .- Battle of Stono .- Davie wounded. -Battle at Savannah .- Hogun's brigade ordered South.
The second session of the Assembly
Nov., 1777 S. R., X11, 114, 418
S. R., XXIV, 128
The Assembly reconvened in November and again sat a month. It established superior courts, electing Samuel Ashe, Samuel Spencer, and James Iredell the judges, and Waightstill Avery the attorney-general. Courts for the trial of civil causes that had been suspended since 1773 were thus reopened in the spring of 1778. Many important measures engaged the attention of the Assembly. It being represented that a large force would probably be needed at the north, the legislature empowered the governor to draft five thousand militia, and to command them himself. or to appoint a major-general in his place.
S. R., XI, 380-389, 417
In the Continental Congress Dr. Burke had been par- ticularly active and very efficient. He communicated to the governor full details of the proceedings of the congress and of his action on the various measures proposed, his letters being in the highest degree creditable to him. He participated largely in the discussion upon the articles of confederation and transmitted a brief of the argument. These articles were laid before the General Assembly at its
585
WY'ORK OF. THE LEGISLATURE
November session, and that body declined to ratify the entire instrument. As the Provincial Congress had rejected November - Franklin's plan two years earlier, so now the Assembly was careful about entering into any agreement with the other states that might injuriously affect the rights of the people. Indeed, the permanency of the connection with the other colonies was so far from being regarded as finally estab- lished that in the state constitution it was provided that the delegates to the Continental Congress, "while necessary," should be annually chosen.
Although Johnston ascribed to General Person a con- trolling direction of the house. yet the few records of the ayes and nays preserved in the journals of that body indicate that that leader of the democrats was frequently in the minority. He proposed without avail a tax reduction and a reduction in the compensation of the governor : and sim- ilarly other movements in the way of seeking popular favor appear to have been defeated. Honors were paid to Gen- eral Nash, for whom a new county was named; and a county also was named in honor of Wilkes: and Washing- ton district beyond the mountains, which had been accorded representation in the Provincial Congress and in that Assembly, was now converted into a county. For purposes of intercourse with it a public road was directed to be constructed across the mountains leading into Burke.
A fort was built at Ocracoke. and one of the row-galleys, named the Castell, was purchased from the State of Vir- ginia for the better protection of the commerce through that inlet. Commissioners were appointed also to repair Fort Johnston and build a new fort commanding the bay at Point Lookout. The academy at Charlotte was revived under the name of Liberty Hall, and early in 1778 trustees were ap- pointed to establish a similar academy in the neighborhood of Hillsboro. Toward the end of the session some friction appears to have arisen between the two houses, especially over the election law. but eventually the house concurred with the senate and passed the act fixing the time of the annual meeting on April Ist and rendering ineligible dele- gates to the general congress and certain other officers. To take the place of the old1-time vestries. the freemen in the
1777
S. R., XII,
S. R .. XII. 441 ; XXIV, 141-144
S. R., XXIV, 79
586
C.ISIT'ELL'S ADMINISTRATION, 1776-80
1777 December
counties were directed to elect overseers of the poor and! county wardens, and this change marked the final separa- tion of church and State.
Colonel Sheppard had been so dilatory in moving the Tenth Regiment to the north that a legislative committee investigated the causes of his inaction, and although some excuse was found in the dearth of supplies, on the whole the committee reported that his reasons were frivolous and insufficient ; and toward the end of November he was again instructed to join the Grand Army.
S. R., X11, 134
Valley Forge
1777-1773 That winter, the British having occupied. Philadelphia, General Washington went into winter quarters at Valley Forge, twenty-three miles west of that city. There the nine North Carolina battalions passed the winter subjected to the most trying vicissitudes. Terrible, indeed, were the sufferings of all the troops in that famous encampment. While for the most part the army remained in their canton- ments, a special corps was organized for rapid march to harass the British outposts and keep in check their forag- ing parties. The returns show that about one-half the North Carolinians fit for duty were engaged in these com- S. R., XI, 688, 689, 703 mands outside of the regular quarters. As the season ad- vanced with its unusual severity, the unhappy situation and destitute condition of the North Carolina line called for Supplies from North Carolina vigorous measures of relief. The only communication was to the southward, and except such provision and clothing as could be obtained from the unwilling Pennsylvanians, the army had to be furnished from Virginia and North Caro- lina, and Governor Caswell was unremitting in his endeavors to provide needed supplies. Now the value of Ocracoke S. R., XIII, became still more apparent. Governor Martin wrote in 367 January from New York to Lord Germain : "The contempt- ible port of Ocracoke . . has become a great channel of supply to the rebels. . . They have received through it very . .. considerable importations." To close that inlet a British ship of war, two sloops, a brig, and privateersmen from New York and England hovered along the coast. charged with the duty of capturing American vessels. But,
587
DOMESTIC .ICTIVITY
on the other hand, efforts were made to drive them off, and in addition to the fortifications and state vessels, the New Bern merchants fitted out the Bellona, carrying eighteen guns, and the Chatham to make reprisals. To pay for im- ported goods, tobacco was shipped to foreign countries, the State purchasing and sending out large quantities of that commodity. Salt brought in by the State was exchanged for pork, and Caswell employed men in every section packing pork for Washington's army. All sorts of skins and leathers and all cloths fit for blankets were likewise ob- tained for the soldiers, sometimes resort being had to im- pressment. In the Albemarle section, where there were so many industrious Quakers, large quantities of shoes were manufactured. and these were purchased not only for the army, but by northern merchants, who paid high prices for them. Importations were also made on account of the Con- tinental Congress, and these supplies were stored at South Quay, on the Blackwater. From there they were moved by wagons to Valley Forge. Means of transportation were limited, and at length four brigades of wagons were sent from Pennsylvania to haul stores from Edenton and South Quay for the use of the army, and these supplies contributed to relieve the sufferings which the soldiers had so unmur- muringly endured. On February 15th Caswell wrote: "I find our nine regiments . . . very far . . . short of their complement of men, and those in camp almost destitute of clothing. . The officers of the Sixth Battalion are sent home as supernumeraries. . . . I am to buy leather, skins, shoes and other clothing, procure manufacturers, set them to work, purchase salt and provisions, and procure boats and wagons for sending those articles on. All this I am constantly, almost busily, employed about myself, re- ceiving very little assistance."
Early in March General McIntosh reported that of the North Carolina line at Valley Forge since January 50 had died in camp : that 200 were then sick in camp, and an equal number were in hospitals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The number then at Valley forge was 900: in May there were 1100 privates, while of rank and file there were 1450. Colonel Sheppard's regiment, having lingered in North
1777 December
Supplies for army at Valley Forge
S. R., XIII. 16, 17, 42, 74 et seq. 1773
1778 S. R., XIII, 377. 423
The North Carolina troops
588
C.ISIUELL'S .ADMINISTR.ITION, 1770-80
1777 December
Carolina until cold weather set in, spent the winter in t' smallpox camp at Georgetown. Md., where more died wii measles than from the effects of innoculation.
That winter was indeed terrible to the patriots; but : was also discomforting to the British. Burgoyne's enter Treaty with France army having surrendered in October, that general reach England in December, and such was the gloom and d. spondency in Great Britain that there was much sentimen in favor of a cessation of the war. In the House of Commons only 33 majority was cast against assentius Dec., 1777 to the independence of America. Lord North, in urging money for another campaign. declared as the alternative that they would have to furnish money to bring the troops home. This favorable news gave great hope throughout the colonies ; and then in May came the treaty with France. followed quickly by the declaration of war by France against England and the promise of an immense fleet and four thou sand veteran troops to end the struggle. When a copy of this treaty reached New Bern it was immediately published! under a display of American and French colors and a triple discharge of thirteen pieces of cannon by the town company of militia. mustered for that purpose. And as the Gasette S. R., XIII, quaintly remarked : "Universal joy appeared in every coun- 425 tenance, great plenty of liquor was given to the populac .. and the evening concluded with great good humor and social mirth."
The second Assembly
1778
S. R., XII, 549
New counties
The new Assembly met on April 14th at New Bern, Whit- mel Hill being chosen speaker of the senate and Judge John Williams speaker of the house. Among the new members was James Hunter, who now co-operated heartily with the Whigs. Governor Caswell gave a full account of public matters in a message to the legislature. He was again elected governor, and the other members of the council were re-elected, Richard Henderson taking the place vacated by Harnett. A new county was formed and named in honor of the victor over Burgoyne, General Gates; another in honor of Willie Jones: others for Montgomery and Ran- dolph, while the names of Bute and Tryon were obliterated.
589
INDEPENDENCE OF BURKE
and those counties were respectively divided into Franklin and Warren and Lincoln and Rutherford.
On the death of General Moore, Dr. Burke, instead of recommending one of the North Carolina colonels to fill the vacancy, urged the appointment of Colonel Hand, of Penn- sylvania, a gallant Irishman, his action in that matter calling forth a vigorous protest and remonstrance from the North Carolina officers. At the annual election in April he was not chosen a deputy, Abner Nash being elected in his place. Nash, however, declined, and John Williams. of Granville, the speaker, was then elected, Thomas Benbury becoming speaker.
But if Burke lost favor because of this incident, he soon re-established himself in the affections of North Carolinians. At the very time he was denied a re-election his action at Philadelphia was so patriotic that he gained renewed favor. A majority of the congress had drawn a communication to General Washington which Dr. Burke thought contained an unmerited reflection on that general. and he combated it with great warmth, and with indignation retired from the chamber, his withdrawal breaking the quorum. On being sent for, he expressed himself so vehemently to the messenger that congress considered his action a contempt of that body. He explained that he did not understand that the congress had sent for him, and offered some apology. His explanations. however, did not satisfy the irate mem- bers, and then Burke manfully reasserted his position. caused the matter to be fully spread on the records, and claimed that he was responsible only to the legislature of North Carolina. The record of the proceedings being sub- mitted to the next session of the Assembly, that body ap- proved his course, and again elected him a delegate in congress. For a time, however, he was retired. and when the articles of confederation were ratified on behalf of North Carolina, on July 21, 1778, they were signed by John Williams, John Penn, and Cornelius Harnett.
The Assembly took measures for filling up the continental battalions ; but on May 29th congress resolved that the bat- talions in camp should be consolidated, and a call was made on the State to raise four additional ones, which, however,
1778
S. R., XI, 562, 750
S. R., XIII, 87, 105, 209
Dr. Burke at Phila- delphia
Articles of Confedera- tion ratified
590
CASIDELL'S ADMINISTRATION. 1776-80
1778 S. R., XI, 761
were to remain at home until ordered elsewhere. Purstres to this resolution, the battalions in service were reduced ; four. The Sixth, originally commanded by Lillington. a: later by Colonel Lamb, was merged with the First. of wh 1.
The battalions consolidated Thomas Clark was colonel. The Fourth, commande by Colonel Folk, was merged with the Second, Colone Patten remaining colonel. The Fifth was merged with the Third, Colonel Sumner continuing in command S. R .. XXIV, 154 Colonel Martin had resigned the previous fall; Colone! Polk now resigned, and Colonel Hogun and the super- numerary officers, of whom there were a large numi- ber, were directed to return to North Carolina for service in the new battalions when raised. Efforts. to obtain re- cruits under the system of volunteering, even with the large bounties offered, proved unavailing, and the legislature di- rected that twenty-six hundred men should be detached from the militia to serve in the continental army for nine months. These were known as the "nine months' men." A certain quota was apportioned to each county, and this number was again apportioned by the colonel of the county among the militia companies, so that every militia company in the State had to furnish its proper share of these troops. It was the same system that had been devised for calling out militia- men. Volunteers from each company were first to be called for, and to these a bounty of Sioo was offered ; and then. to make up the deficiency in its quota, each company by ballot. selected the other men, and these were to receive a bounty of $50. Every one so selected became a continental, and those who faithfully served for nine months were to be exempt from any military service for a period of three years. All through May and June the militia companies were as- sembling in the various counties and making their selec- tions of nine months' men, and thus again the war was brought to the very homes of the people. In many com- munities there was great opposition, for defection was pain- fully prevalent. In Rowan Captain Johnston was appointed to adminster the oath of allegiance to the inhabitants of his district. They attended at the time and place advertised. but when the oath was read and proposed to them, one of the company hurrahed for "King George," whereupon about
The nine months' continentals
862 S. R., XII,
591
MOVEMENT OF TROOPS
a hundred withdrew in a riotous, turbulent manner ; and when the captain undertook to raise the quota of men re- quired of his company he found that the majority were Tories, and that the disaffected element controlled the draft. In many other sections the condition was not far different. It was with difficulty that the law could be enforced, and the drafted men responded but slowly. Those from the eastern counties were to assemble at Halifax, while those from the west were to proceed to Paytonsburg, in Virginia, where Colonel Thackston was in command. Boards of con- tinental officers convened at Halifax and Moore's Creek to arrange officers for the new battalions, and Colonel Hogun was elected to command the first that should be organized. In July his regiment was sufficiently organized at Halifax for him to march, and he moved northward with six hundred men.
1778
S. R .. XIII, 190
The three consolidated regiments and Colonel Sheppard's S. R., XIII. Tenth Regiment had been thrown into "the North Carolina 531 Brigade," Colonel Clark being in command, and were with Washington when, at the end of June, he attacked Sir Henry The brigade at Monmouth Clinton at Monmouth. They did not form a part of Lee's advanced corps that made the disorderly retreat at the be- ginning of the engagement, but under Lord Sterling they held the left of the second line and repulsed the enemy, and later were thrown forward close to the British right to renew the engagement. Night, however, closed in, and under cover of darkness Clinton escaped.
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