USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina, V I pt 2 > Part 24
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On the surrender of Lincoln, as De Kalb was not thought equal to the command of the department. Gates, wearing high honors as the victor over Burgoyne, was despatched to direct affairs at the south : and Colonel Morgan, who had achieved a great reputation by his operations with his corps of light infantry, but who had been temporarily in retirement from illness, was urged to again enter upon active service and aid in defending the southern states.
1780
May S. R. XXIV, 331, 3.9. 341
De Kalb's reinforce- ments arrive
Gates in command
"
614
NASH'S ADMINISTRATION, 1780-81
1780 - June
Activity of Rutherford
Although the interior of North Carolina was now open t. the victorious British, Cornwallis found it necessary to di vote some attention to affairs in South Carolina. Nor did he desire to enter on a campaign until a plentiful supply of provisions could be assured from the maturing crop. .. while relying much on the assistance of the Tory inhab- itants, he directed them to remain quiet in their homes until he should call them to action. Thus for a time there was a period of quietude.
Graham's Graham, 213 et seç.
But because of the proximity of the enemy, early in June General Rutherford, always zealous and resolute, called out his brigade, of whom eight hundred promptly assembled, and on the 14th of that month, at Mallar I's Creek, somewhat to the east of Charlotte, he organized his command. . A battalion of light infantry was committed to Colonel Will- iam L. Davidson, a continental officer, and two small troops of cavalry unler Captains Simmons and Martin were assigned to Major Davie. On that evening Rutherford re- ceived information that the Tories were embodying in Tryon County. some forty miles to the northwest. and fer- ing to reduce his own force, he directed Colonel Locke and Captains Falls and Brandon, of Rowan, and Major Wilson. of Mecklenburg. to make every effort to disperse them. He himself advanced to the south of Charlotte.
Ramseur's Mill
Tories rise
Colonel John Moore, whose family resided near Ramseur's Mill, on the south fork of the Catawba, had joined the British army the preceding winter, and now had returned home, announcing himself as lieutenant-colonel of Hamil- ton's regiment. He was soon joined by Nicholas Welch, a major of the same regiment, and the Tory inhabitants, feel- ing certain that the time had come for a rising, on June 20tl nearly thirteen hundred of them assembled at Ramseur's Mill.
In view of this movement, Rutherford made such dis- positions that Colonel Locke felt strong enough to attack Moore and his followers. The Tories were encamped on a hill half a mile north of the present village of Lincolnton.
615
BATTLE OF R.IMSEUK'S MILL
with a gentle slope in front and a clear fire for two hundred yards. Locke having reached their neighborhood at day- June zoth break, the attack was made by the mounted companies of Captains Falls, McDowell, and Brandon, the infantry under Colonel Locke being near at hand. The Whigs got the better of the battle. At times the two parties, having no distinctive uniforms, mingled without being aware of it. Eventually the Whigs obtained possession of the ridge at first occupied by the Tories, who, however, reformed across the neighbor- ing creek, being much more numerous than their assailants. Rutherford, however, had advanced into that vicinity. and Tories dispersed after some parley the Tories dispersed. Moore sought safety in flight, and with thirty men succeeded in reaching the British camp at Camden : the others returned to their homes. The loss on each side was about the same. Fifty-six lay dead on the ridge where the battle was hottest, with others scattered on the flanks. In addition, a hundred of each party were wounded. Fifty of the Tories were taken prison- ers. "In this battle between neighbors," says General Gra- ham, "near relations and personal friends fought on either side, and as the smoke would from time to time rise from the field they could recognize each other engaged in deadly contest. In the evening and on the next day the relations and friends of the dead and wounded came in. and a scene was witnessed of affliction and distress quite indescribable. Of the Whigs, Captains Falls. Dobson, Smith, Bowman. and Graham's Graham, 226 Armstrong were kille.l. and Houston and MeKissick wounded ; while of the Tories. Captains Cumberland, Murry. and Warlick were killed1 and many well-known inhabitants wounded. So distressing was the result of this first en- counter between the Whigs and Tories of that immediate section that from that time onward the Lovalists never actively engaged against their Whig neighbors."
On the second day after the dispersal of Moore's Tories at Ramseur's Rutherford received information that a con- siderable number were embodying in the forks of the Yad- kin, at the north end of Rowan. near Surry, some seventy- five miles distant. under the command of Colonel Bryan. He immediately despatched Davie with his cavalry to Wax- haw Creek to watch the British, while he himself hastened to
1780
Rutherford pursues Bryan
616
VISHE'S ADMINISTR.ITION. ITSO-SI
1785 June attack Bryan. That active commander, however, crossed to the east of the Yadkin and continued his route through: those settlements which were much disaffected, being joined so generally by the inhabitants that by the time he passed Abbott's Creek his force had swollen to seven or eight hun- dred men. Rutherford hoped to intercept him, but Bryan. panic-stricken by the result of the affair at Ramseur's. marched night and day until he was able to form a junction with a British force under Major McArthur, whom Corn- wallis had thrown forward, and who advanced to Anson Court House.
Cornwallis's plans
S R., XV, 252
These movements of the Tories were premature. Corn- wallis wrote on June 30th that he had established satisfac- tory correspondence, and had seen several people of credit from North Carolina, and they all agreed in assuring him of the "good disposition of a considerable body of the inhabitants." but that it would be impossible to subsist troops there until after the harvest. He therefore had sent emis- saries, recommending in the strongest terms that they should attend to their harvest and remain quiet until the king's troops should enter the province. He referred to Moore's rising as having been "excited by the sanguine emissaries of the very sanguine and imprudent Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton." and hoped that no evil would result from that "unlucky business." Although advised of every detail of the American movement, Cornwallis had no apprehensions but that North Carolina would at his pleasure be "perfectly reduced." Expecting an immediate invasion of North Carolina, following the complete pacification of South Caro- lina. the American troops had been concentrated well to the north, to give time for the arrival of reinforcements; but toward the end of June De Kalb determined to move for- ward, and established a camp on Deep River, awaiting a supply of provisions to carry him into the Peedee section.
S. R., XIV, 501, 502
De Kalb encants on Deep River
There was a sandy barren, virtually destitute of provisions, as of inhabitants, lying between the Deep River and Cross Creek, and extending to the west and south toward the South Carolina line ; but in the Peedee section supplies were
AIFF.MR AT HANGING ROCK
617
generally very abundant. About the middle of July De Kalb took post at Coxe's Mills, on the Deep River, where General Caswell with the militia joined him, while General Ruther- July ford and General Harrington moved cautiously down near the Cheraws, Sumter and Davie being still further in ad- vance.
Davie's enterprise
In the meantime. Davie, with his small body of cavalry, was manifesting a spirit of enterprise that has rarely been equalled in partisan warfare. Being in the vicinity of Hang- ing Rock, one of the British outposts, on July 20th he inter- cepted a convoy of provisions and clothing intended for that garrison. The dragoons and Loyalists who guarded the convoy were captured and the horses and arms safely brought off. but the wagons of provisions had to be destroyed. A few days later he unexpectedly appeared at Hanging Rock, intercepting three companies of mounted infantry who were returning from an expedition, and in plain view of the garri- son cut them to pieces, securing one hundred good muskets and sixty horses by that adventure. His own loss so far had not been a single man. He and Colonel Sumter. of South Carolina. and Colonel Irwin, of North Carolina. now arranged for a combined attack on Hanging Rock, to be undertaken on August 5th. Davie's force had increased to about five hundred men and Sumter's to three hundred. Among the garrison were Hamilton's regiment and Bryan's Tories, and North Carolinians again faced each other on the battlefield. Just after break of day the assault was made, and the Americans took the garrison by surprise. At first they routed the enemy and possessed themselves of the camp; but the pursuit and the plunder of the camp threw the Whigs into great confusion, and the enemy rallying, a retreat became necessary. An hour was spent in plundering the camp, taking the paroles of British officers and attending to the removal of the wounded. and then the men. loaded with plunder, marched off cheering for the American cause.
--
S. R, XIV, 513
Lee's Memoirs, 169, 176
Wheeler. Hist. of N. C., II, 189 et seq.
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618
NASH'S ADMINISTR.ITION, 1780-81
1780 -- August
Schenck, North Carolina, 1780-81, 76-79 Activity at the West
Musgrove's Mill
While Davie was active in that quarter, the mountain men were operating farther to the west. Colonel Charles MeDowell, having been joined by Colonel Shelby and Licu- tenant-Colonels Sevier and Clarke at his camp near Cherokee Ford, on Broad River, despatched them with some six hundred men to attack the Loyalist leader, Patrick Moore. who had a fortified post on Pacolet River. They were suc- cessful, Moore surrendering some ninety-three Loyalists and two hundred and fifty stands of arms. Immediately after- ward Colonel Ferguson arrived in their vicinity, and a skirmish took place at Cedar Springs, the Americans retreat- ing, but carrying off some fifty prisoners from the field. McDowell, learning that there were five hundred Tories encamped at Musgrove's Mill, on the Enoree. some forty miles distant, again detached Shelby, Clarke, and Williams, with seven hundred horsemen. to surprise them. Skilfully avoiding Ferguson, they reached the Tory camp at dawn on the morning of August 19th, and meeting a strong patrol party, a skirmish ensued. At that juncture Shelby learned that the Tories had been heavily reinforced by a regiment of British regulars. Shelby at once constructed some breast- works, and sent forward a small party to lure the advancing force into ambush. The stratagem succeeded. The British, hastily pursuing the retreating party, rushed in disorder to where the Whigs were concealed, and their commander, Colonel Innes, and all the other British officers except one subaltern having been killed or wounded, the pursuit was turned into a rout, and the Americans drove them beyond the Enoree. The British loss was 63 killed and 160 wounded and taken, while that of the Americans was only 4 killed and 9 wounded. General McDowell, having now received in- formation of the disaster at Camden, withdrew his forces, and Colonel Shelby retired beyond the mountains, while Colonels Clarke and Williams conveyed the prisoners to Virginia.
Gates advances
S. R., XIV. 522, 528, 530
On July 31st General Caswell united his forces, com- posed of the eastern brigade under General Isaac Gregory
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THEATRE OF OPERATIONS IN THE
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SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN
1781-1783.
REFERENCE.
SAVANNAH
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619
DEFE.IT .IT C.IMDEN
and that of General John Butler, with Rutherford's at the Cheraws, and General Gates, who had joined De Kalb, was about to make a junction with him. Colonel Porterfield, of Virginia. with three hundred Virginia continentals, was also coming up, while General Stevens, with seven hundred Vir- ginia militia, was at Coxe's Mills getting supplies to subsist his troops while en route to the advanced forces. By August 7th Gates reached Caswell, and a week later the combined forces encamped at Rugeley's Mills, in the vicinity of Camden, where the British had established their head- quarters. Since the defeat of Buford all that region had been harried by strong bands of Loyalists. The Tories had joined their partisan leaders, and those inhabitants who sympathized with the American cause had either fled from their homes or had been captured and carried away by their enemies. The country was deserted and was a scene of desolation. It was with the greatest difficulty that food could be obtained for man or beast from day to day.
Being informed by General Sumter that a convoy of stores for the army at Camden was approaching from Ninety-six. and that he could intercept it at the ferry, one mile below Camden. if supplie I with artillery, Gates now detached four hundred men under Colonel Woolford. of the Maryland line, with two light pieces to aid Sumter in that service.
Gates having brought together his remaining troops determined to take an advantageous position, which had been carefully selected. about five miles from Camden, and on the night of August 15th moved his army forward for the purpose of occupying it.
The battle of Camden
In the meantime Cornwallis, having been apprised of the advance of the American army. left Charleston with a large re-enforcement. and reached Lord Rawdon at Camden on the 14th. In that extremely hot season it was convenient to make military movements at night rather than in the day. At ten o'clock on the night of the 15th Cornwallis set his troops in motion with the purpose of attacking Gates at early dawn. Gates had ignored the value of cavalry, and knew nothing of Cornwallis's movements. Assuming that Rawdon's force
1780
August
Lee's Memoirs. 179
-
Aug. 16,1730 Lee's Memoirs, 181 et seq.
620
NASH'S ADMINISTRATION, ISO-SI
1780 August
was largely inferior to his own. on the same night. the 15th, he marched with confidence, taking no precautions. About half-past two o'clock that night. while leisurely on the march, his army came unexpectedly in collision with the British force that had moved out to surprise him. The meeting was unexpected to both. The British quickly routed Armand's troop of a hundred horse, in the advance, which recoiled at the unexpected discharge, became dis- ordered and retired. Close behind were Porterfield's corps on the right and Major Martin Armstrong's light infantry. North Carolina militia, on the left. These resolutely with- stood the enemy and brought them to a halt. but unhappily the gallant Colonel Porterfield fell in this first encounter. Prisoners being taken on both sides, the commanding gen- erals soon became aware of the unexpected situation. The two armies remained through the night, excited. ardently looking for the approach of day, anxious for the conflict. Gates arrayed his army promptly, Maryland and Delaware continentals under Gist on his right, North Carolina militia under Caswell in the centre. Virginia militia under Stevens on the left. The First Maryland Brigade under Small- wood formed the reserve. De Kalb took post on the right. while Gates placed himself between the line of battle and the reserve. Cornwallis's right wing under Webster, con- posed of disciplined regulars, at dawn made a furious assault on the Virginia militia, and the brave Stevens had to endure the mortifying spectacle of his brigade seeking safety in flight, throwing away their arms without exchanging more than one fire with the enemy. Caswell's militia in the centre. now threatened both in front and flank, soon followed this shameful example. Stevens, Caswell, and Gates struggled hard to rally the fugitives, but in the entire absence of cavalry the attempt was hopeless and the panic continued. General Rutherford acted with distinguished gallantry, but received a musket ball through his thigh, which disabled him, and he fell prostrate on the field. General Butler vainly endeavored to keep the centre of the North Carolina line in position. but it quickly gave way. General Gregory on the right was more fortunate. His courageous example was followed by a large part of his brigade, and he stoutly
S. R., XV, 333
Ramsay's Hist. U. S., 11, 350 Gen. Gregory
621
DEFE.IT AT CAMDEN
maintained his position and adhered to the Maryland line; but he, too, was wounded in the thickest of the fight. In- August deed. twice was he wounded by the bayonet, and many of his brigade had no other wounds than from the bayonet. But the odds were too heavy. On the American right the continentals and Major Hal Dixon's regiment of North Hal Dixon Carolina militia stood their ground with devoted courage. They made stubborn resistance. Indeed, they not only re- pelled the attack, but drove the enemy back from their first advanced position. Although greatly outoumbered, resorting to the bayonet, they rushed the enemy before them, taking many prisoners. Smallwood, advancing, cov- ered their left flank, but soon was borne down by Corn- wallis's heavy columns. De Kalb made one last resolute attempt for victory, and fell with eleven wounds. Again the bayonets of bloody butchers were about to pierce him. when his aide-de-camp. Colonel Du Buysson, covered the prostrate general with his own body and received the bayonets thrust at his friend. The oldl hero poured out his life blood for American liberty and shortly expired, honored by his foes and lamented by his friends. The Delaware regiment was nearly annihilated. More than one-third of the con- tinentals were killed and wounded and a hundred and sev- enty taken prisoners. A hundred of the North Carolina militia also fell on the field, and three hundred were cap- tured. Rutherford. badly wounded, was taken, and for a time North Carolina lost his valuable services. As resolute and courageous as were this brave man and General Greg- ory, neither won higher commendation than Major Dixon. "None," says Lee in his "Memoirs," "can withhold applause Lee's Memoirs, 186 from Colonel Dixon and his North Carolina regiment of militia. Having their flank exposed by the flight of the other militia, they turned with disdain from the ignoble example. . . . In every vicissitude of the battle this regiment maintained its ground. and when the reserve under Small- wood, covering our left, relieved its naked flank, forced the enemy to fall back." Dixon's troops emulated the noble ardor of their leader.
Dr. Hugh Williamson, who was surgeon-general on S. R., XV, Caswell's staff, attended the prisoners, of whom, however, 166
1730
-.-
The fall of De Kalb
622
NASH'S ADMINISTR.ITION, ISO-SI
Booth Boote
no satisfactory returns could be obtained, as the British commissary of prisoners was, says the doctor, "one Booth Boote. whose character does not appear to be diversified by a single virtue, and who would never do anything that would prove acceptable to us."
Gates's ride, Wheeler, Hist. North Carolina, 11, 104
General Gates hardly waited to learn the issue of the battle. Not succeeding in rallying the Virginia militia, al- though he and General Caswell made a third and last at- tempt, more than half a mile distant from the battle, lie made no new dispositions, gave no further orders, but aban- doning his army and his stores, he made such hot haste that at only a few miles from the field he was the first, except alone one frightened horseman, to meet Major Davie, then advancing to unite with the army. He was the first to give Davie information of the disaster. Davie proposed to pro- ceed and bury the dead. "Let the dead bury the dead!" exclaimed the excited hero of Saratoga as he resumed his speedy way, attended by General Caswell and some mem- bers of his staff. About eleven o'clock on the night of the 16th Gates reached Charlotte. seventy-two miles distant from the battle ground, bringing the news of his sad reverse. He did not stop, but pressed on to Salisbury, and thence to Hillsboro.
Graham's Graham, 243
Caswell, however, remained a day at Charlotte, giving some directions for the movements of the eastern regiment. that fortunately had not reached his camp in time to join the army, and ordering out the militia of Mecklenburg and Rowan and Lincoln counties : and then, like Gates, he rode on to Hillsboro.
In the action every corps was broken and dispersed. The The disaster, fugitives, pressing down the main road, were pursued some Ramsay's Hist. U. S., miles by Tarleton's legion, and the way was covered with 11, 351 arms, baggage and wagons. Many took to the woods and sought to escape into the swamps. It was a painful rout. the men without officers, without provisions or baggage, and S. R., XIV, great numbers without arms, the wounded and sick borne 569, 570 along without conveniences, and the weather extremely op- pressive. The suffering was intense. Indeed, the horrors of that fearful rout cannot be adequately portrayed.
Soon Charlotte became crowded with troops in retreat
623
DEFE.IT IT CAMDEN
from the disaster and with militiamen who were hastily col- lecting. Neither the officers nor soldiers of Gates's army, however, remained at Charlotte. but kept moving toward Salisbury. General Smallwood, whose brigade was the last on the field. being hotly pressed. turned from the road, and it was supposed that he was either killed or taken, but on the third day after the battle he arrived in Charlotte, to the great joy of every one. His conduct gained for him the con- fidence not merely of the regulars, but of the militia, and he was at once consulted as to what action should be taken. He encouraged the militia to embody and to make strenuous resistance if the enemy should advance. On the zoth, how- ever, he and all the other officers and men who had come in set out for Hillsboro.
On learning the woeful news, Davie, realizing Sumter's danger, at once despatched a courier to inform that kindred spirit, who had been so recently associated with him in dar- ing enterprises, of the catastrophe. Sumter had been en- tirely successful in his last undertaking, and had captured forty wagons of booty and nearly three hundred prisoners. He immediately decamped, but Cornwallis hurried Tarleton in pursuit. On the night of the 17th Sumter halted at Rocky Mount, thirty miles from Camden, and the next morning proceeded eight miles farther. when, because of the heat and the fatigue of his troops, he again rested, ignorant of the pursuit. His arms were stacked, his troops scattered, many asleep, he himself asleep under a wagon, when Tarleton, having gained his rear unperceived. fell upon the unsus- pecting Americans, who were seized with consternation at the assault. There was but slight resistance and then gen- eral flight. Out of eight hundred men, only three hundred and fifty escaped; while Tarleton recovered the British wagons, stores, and provisions. and took Sumter's artillery, arms, and baggage, killed many and preserved some prisoners.
When information was received of the catastrophe that had befallen Sumter's corps, the people of Mecklenburg. alarmed at their exposed position. held a meeting to deter- mine on a course of action. It was resolved that Colonel Irwin, the colonel of that county, should form a camp some
1780
August
Smallwood
Sumter routed
Lee's Memoirs, 188
Graham's Graham, 246
624
NASH'S ADMINISTRATION, 1780-SI
seven miles to the south of Charlotte, and David's cavalry should patrol toward Camden. In a few days Colonel Locke arrived with some militia from Rowan ; and Governor Nash, learning that Rutherford was a prisoner. commissioned Colonel Davidson as temporary brigadier-general and Major Davie as colonel of cavalry, and every exertion was made to offer resistance.
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