USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina, V I pt 2 > Part 27
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July, 1780
S R., XV, 772, 773
The State had ordered out eight thousand militia, one division of which was already in the field, and the other was on its march to the general rendezvous : but the men were without arms. and none were procurable. At that time Gov- ernor Nash was at the east. and Dr. Burke urged him to come to Hillsboro, attended by his council, where .he would be in more close communication with the army and could better deal with the important matters of the day. Even after the return of General Gates from Camden Dr. Burke was pressing on that general to correct the irregularities of his quartermasters in their dealings with the people. His interposition to protect the inhabitants from unnecessary exactions was greatly appreciated. spread his fame and in- creased his popularity, and at the next election he reaped his reward by being chosen governor.
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JOHNSTON IN THE CONTINENT.IL CONGRESS
647
Sam Johnston declines the presidency of Congress 1781
In the fall of 1780 Willie Jones attended the Continent"1 Congress, but returned home on the opening of winter. On December 29th Samuel Johnston took his seat. The articies of confederation. having been agreed to by all the other States, were finally accepted by Maryland on March 1, 1781, and on the day following they were ratified in the Continen- tal Congress by all the delegates from the several states, who then signed them on behalf of their respective states, and the confederation went into effect. For North Carolina they were signed by Burke, Sharpe, and Johnston. Samuel Huntington, of Connecticut, had been the president of the congress under the old system. On July 9th an election for president took place under the new system. Although Samuel Johnston had been but six months a member of the body, such was his recognized capacity, his learning and high patriotism that he was chosen by the Continental Con- gress its first president under the articles of confederation. Unfortunately. circumstances forbade his accepting the high honor, and on the following morning he declined "for such reasons as the congress regarded satisfactory." The day following Johnston found himself constrained to return to North Carolina. His family had fled from Edenton, and the inhabitants of his immediate section were in such dis- tress that he felt compelled to hasten home and share their fortunes or aid in repairing them.
Journals of Congress, VII, 115
CHAPTER XXXVII
NASH'S ADMINISTRATION, 1780-81 -- Continued
The battle of Cowpens .- Cornwallis pursues Morgan .- The death of Davidson -Invasion of the State .- Greene crosses the Dan .-- The endurance of the troops .- Cornwallis at Hillsboro .- On the Cape Fear .- The movements of the armies .- Pyle's massacre .- Greene at Troublesome Creek .- Battle of Guilford Court House. -Cornwallis moves east and Greene pursues .- Cornwallis reaches Wilmington. Greene goes to South Carolina .- Craig occupies Wilmington .- Death of Harnett .- Cornwallis's plans .- Cornwalli- marches to Virginia .- The inhabitants distressed .- At Edenton .- The Whigs rally .- Greene in South Carolina .- Death of Major Eaton .- Cartel of exchange agreed on .- Atrocities lead to threats of retaliation .- Gregory defends the Albemarle region.
The battle of Cowpens
Strengthened by the arrival of Leslie's regiments, and pressed for provisions, Cornwallis with the opening of the new year determined on renewing his campaign. Engaging Greene's attention with Leslie's corps, he threw Tarleton on Morgan, while he prepared to advance, hoping to sep- arate the American columns and beat them in detail. (11 January 17th Tarleton, confident of easy victory, came up with Morgan at the Cowpens, near the North Carolina line. some forty miles west of Charlotte; but after a stubborn contest of fifty minutes his famous corps. that had been regarded as invincible, was broken and dispersed and the larger part of it taken prisoners. In arranging for the battle Morgan established at his front two light parties of militia, one hundred North Carolinians under Major McDowell, of Burke County, and about fifty Georgians under Major Cunningham. To these picked riflemen were given orders to feel the enemy as he approached and to maintain a well-aimed fire, and then, when they fell back. to renew the conflict along with the first line of battle. This main line was composed of about two hundred North Caro-
1781 Lee's Memoirs, 222-225, 227 et seq. S. R., XVI, 981, 292
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1. BANASTRE TARLETON
3. DANIEL MORGAN
2. HORATIO GATES
4. CHARLES, MARQUIS CORNWALLIS
649
THE VICTORY AT COWPENS
na militia and near a hundred South Carolinians, and was aler the command of General Andrew Pickens. Further : the rear, on the crown of an eminence, were posted the Three hundred Maryland regulars and two companies of Virginia militia and a company of Georgians. all commanded Ly Colonel Howard, of Maryland. Washington's cavalry, reinforced by a company of mounted militia, was held in reserve. The field of battle was a sparse, open pine forest, and the bright beams of the rising sun heralded the opening of a glorious day.
Tarleton on reaching the ground impetuously rushed on to strike his prey. On being attacked, the advanced riflemen, after some skirmishing, fell back and joined the main line inder Pickens. The enemy, shouting, rushed forward, but were received by a close and heavy volley: their advance was not checked, however, and resorting to the bayonet, they drove Pickens's line from its position. A part of that corps took post on Howard's right, and as Tarleton pushed for- ward he was received with unshaken firmness. The contest hicame obstinate, each party, animated by the example of its leader. nobly contending for victory. Outflanked, how- ever, Howard's right began to yield. and the line retiring, Morgan directed it to retreat to the cavalry. There a new position was assumed with promptness. Mistaking this movement for flight, the British rushed on with impetuosity and disorder. As they drew near Howard faced about and Howard poured in a close and murderous volley. Stunned by this unexpected shock, the advance of the enemy recoiled in con- fusion, and Howard's continentals rushed upon them with the bayonet. The British reserve, having been brought close to the front, shared in the destruction of the American fire, and there was no rallying point offered for the fugitives. At the rear the battle also went well. Two companies of Tarleton's cavalry having made a detour to cut off the Americans, Washington struck them with his dragoons and Trove them before him. Thus simultaneously the British infantry and cavalry engaged were routed. Morgan with promptness and resolution urged his victorious troops to renewed efforts, and the pursuit became vigorous and gen- eral. Colonel Washington having dashed forward fully
1781 -
650
NASH'S . ADMINISTRATION, 1780-81
1781
thirty yards ahead of his troops, Tarleton, in the rear of his own, attended by two officers, turned and advanced to nicet him. Here a personal contest ensued between these two heroes of the battlefield. Both. however, escaped the ini- minent peril. An anecdote has been preserved that some months later. when Tarleton was at Halifax, he remarked to the wife of Willie Jones that he understood that redoubt- able leader. Washington, could not write, whereupon Mr -. Jones replied : "You at least. sir, can bear witness that he can make his mark." referring to a wound Tarleton re- ceived on his hand in that encounter. Turning then to Mrs. Ashe, the colonel said that he had never had the pleasure of meeting Washington, and she answered quickly : "Had you looked behind you at Cowpens you would have seen him."
Wheeler, Hist. N. C., 11, 186
The loss of the Americans was comparatively small. the British, it was supposed, shooting too high-only HI killed and 61 wounded. The British suffered much more severely ; 150 were killed, 200 wounded, and 400 prisoners, chiefly infantry. The artillery, 800 muskets, 2 standards. 35 bag- gage wagons and 100 dragoon horses, besides the prisoners, fell into Morgan's possession.
A part of Tarleton's horse that had early fled from the field of battle carried information of the disaster to Corn- wallis. That general fully realized the reverse following so quickly the destruction of Ferguson's corps. A peer of the British realm, trained from early youth to arms, now in his forty-second year, a man of great ability and self-poise, always accustomed to independent action and relying on his own judgment. he was quick to decide the course to be pursued. He resolved by celerity of movement to regain his prisoners or to cut off Morgan's force before it could be joined by the other part of Greene's army. On being joined by Leslie he moved with despatch toward the fords of the Catawba.
Lee's Memoirs, 233
Cornwallis pursues Morgan
Immediately after the engagement Morgan had hurried a messenger to Greene with news of his victory, and that general, comprehending the situation, on the 25th directed General Huger to conduct the army to Salisbury, while he
65 1
MOVEMENTS OF CORNIT. ILLIS
Himself with a few dragoons hastened to the scene of active operations.
1781
Morgan, intent on evading pursuit, despatched his prison- S. R., XVII, ers under guard of General Stevens and the militia north- 997 ward beyond the South Mountains toward Morganton. Reaching the state road. Stevens turned eastward, crossing the Catawba at Island Ford :* and thence the prisoners were conveyed beyond the Dan into Virginia. The general him- self with his continentals pursued a lower route, and forded the Catawba at Sherrill's. On the 28th Cornwallis reached the vicinity of Beattie's Ford, ten miles below, and there rested. He now determined to convert his army into light troops by destroying his baggage. He set the example him- . self by committing to the flames the baggage of head- quarters. Everything save a small supply of clothing, hos- pital stores, salt. ammunition, and conveniences for the sick was destroyed.
On the afternoon of the 3Ist General Greene arrived at Beattie's Ford, where by appointment General Morgan was waiting for him. By Greene's direction, General Davidson, who had collected about five hundred militia, divided his force and stationed some at different fords, of which there were several to be guarded. He himself with about two hundred infantry took post at a horse ford some two miles distant from Cowan's Ford, where a small picket force was stationed.
The death of Davidson
At dawn of February Ist the British army began to cross. S. R., XVII, The first movement was by way of Cowan's Ford, and the 998 pickets there gave speedy notice by their prompt firing. Davidson hurried to the scene with his infantry, he himself being on horseback. The enemy's vanguard had already reached the eastern bank before his arrival, and there was desultory firing while he was placing his men in position. The British advance now pressed on Davidson's unformed Graham's Graham, 293 line, and that practised officer ordered his men to withdraw about fifty yards to the cover of some trees, where they could fight to better advantage. Hardly had he given his order
*In the vicinity of Statesville.
Graham's Graham, 236
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VAISH'S ADMINISTRATION. 1780-81
778: --
when he fell, pierced by a rifle ball. He was a trained con tinental officer, courageous, efficient and enterprising, and. he was much beloved by the inhabitants of his section and greatly esteemed throughout the State. His death was a great loss to the American cause and was widely lamented !. the Continental Congress itself ordering a monument to be erected as a memorial of his distinguished worth.
The invasion of the State
Having effected a crossing. Cornwallis hurried toward Salisbury, hoping to overtake Morgan, who had moved the evening before. While the opposition to his crossing had not delayed him, it had been so strenuous that the next day in general orders he made his warmest acknowledgments to the cool and determined bravery of the advance column in accomplishing it.
On entering North Carolina his Lordship issued frequent orders forbidding excesses by any of his troops. No negro was to be allowed to have arms. The strictest discipline was to be enforced, and there was to be no wanton destruction of property or any unnecessary exactions from the inhab- itants. He came, he said. to establish and maintain the rights of the people as British subjects, and his army should not be disgracedl by any outrages. He required the punish- ment of any soldier or camp follower who should disobey his orders in this respect.
In the meantime Huger had been directed by Greene to move on to Guilford Court House or the fords of the Yad- kin and there await further orders. At midnight of the Ist Greene left the Catawba for Salisbury. An anecdote is related in Johnson's "Reminiscences" that on his arrival at the tavern in that hamlet, in reply to inquiries of Dr. Read. the general could not refrain from answering: "Yes. fatigued, hungry, alone and penniless." The benevolent landlady. Mrs. Steele, overheard this remark, and hardly was the general seated at a comfortable breakfast when she presented herself. closed the door. and exhibiting a small bag of specie in each hand, said: "Take these, for you will want them, and I can do without them." Such was the
Cornwalli-'s Order Book Caruthers's Old North State. II. 391 et seq.
653
MOVEMENTS OF GREENE
spirit that had ever animated the patriotic women of Salisbury.
There had been heavy rains on February Ist, and Mor- gan's continentals passed the Yadkin at Trading Ford, seven miles from Salisbury, just before the stream rose rapidly from the flood.
Some of the militia, being the rear detachment, were over- Graham's taken after night at the river bank by General O'Hara, who Graham, 300 was in hot pursuit, anl a slight skirmish ensued. While the Americans succeeded in escaping, the wagons and bag- gage of that detachment iell into the hands of the enemy. The river being impassable, Greene, now safe, rested on the eastern bank and then moved toward the upper fords, where . Greene he knew Cornwallis must go in order to cross. The British commander, debarred from crossing lower. also turned northward and pursued the road on the western side of the river. Time having been thus afforded for Huger's arrival, Greene marched eastward and reached Guilford Court House on the 7th, where Huger joined him later on that day.
Greene crosses the Dan
The united force of Americans, including five hundred militia, somewhat exceeded twenty-three hundred men, of whom nearly three hundred were excellent cavalry. Cornwallis's army was estimated at twenty-five hundred trained veterans. At a council of war held by Greene it was determined not to give battle, but to cross the Dan and await the arrival of more militia. Colonel Carrington was directed to collect boats for the passage at Irwin's Ferry, some seventy miles distant and well to the eastward; and in order to delay pursuit a light corps of seven hundred men was organized, the command of which was offered to General Morgan. General Morgan had been in retirement from illness when, at the instance of congress, in October he accepted employment at the south, and the exposure to which he had been subjected now resulted in an attack of rheumatism, which incapacitated him for this active duty. He therefore declined the command, and retired to liis home in Virginia. Colonel Otho Williams was then selected to
1781 -
Huger unites with
Lee's Memoirs, 236 et seq.
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NASH'S ADMINISTRATION. 1780-81
The pursuit
1781 conduct the operations of that corps. He so maneuvre !! that the British commander mistook his detachment : : Greene's main body, and he delayed the pursuit un !! Greene on February 13th succeeded in crossing the Dan More than once was Williams's rear guard. Lee's legen within musket shot of O'Hara's van, and it was with dun culty that the men were restrained from bringing on an engagement : but that was no part of Williams's purper Eventually he, too, about three o'clock on the evening ( the 13th, reached the vicinity of the ferry, and by sifret his infantry gained the river and were transported. I.c. had been left to keep the enemy in check, and about dark he succeeded in withdrawing his cavalry, and between eigl .: and nine o'clock that night his men embarked in the bo.it- making the horses swim the stream. Thus ended this long arduous and eventful retreat. "No operation during !!: war," says Lee in his "Memoirs." "more attracted the pulite attention than this did: not only the toils and dangers en countered by a brave general and his brave army interested the sympathy of the nation, but the safety of the South hanging on its issue. excited universal concern." "When we add the comfortless condition of our troops in point o! clothing-the shoes generally worn out, the body clothe- much tattered. and not more than one blanket for four men- the rigor of the season, the inclemency of the weather, our short stock of ammunition and shorter stock of provisions- the single meal allowed us was always scanty though good in quality and very nutritious, being bacon and corn me !!-- and contrasted with thecomfortableraiment and ample equip- ment of the enemy, . . . we have abundant cause to honer the soldier whose mental resources smoothed every difficulty. and ultimately made good a retreat of two hundred ani thirty miles . .. without the loss of either troops or store .. " This tribute to General Greene is but the expression o1 the universal praise which has been bestowed upon that great commander, not only by his countrymen but by the agreeing voices of all men : and yet something. too, ist be said of those suffering patriots who constituted the ranh and file of his gallant army. Their endurance, their un. flagging zeal, their spirit of self-sacrifice, entitle them !!
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CRAIG OCCUPIES WILMINGTON
1781 ---
unstinted praise and the grateful remembrance of pos- teritv.
Writing to Washington immediately on his arrival at Irwin's Ferry, Greene himself said: "The miserable situa- tion of the troops, the want of clothing. has rendered the march the most painful imaginable, many hundreds of the soldiers tracking the ground with their bloody feet. Your feelings for the sufferings of the soldiers, had you been with us, would have been severely tried."
Cornwallis, baffled in his purpose, yet apparently master of the situation. took post at Hillsboro, where he erected the king's standard with great formality, saluting it with twenty-one guns, and Josiah Martin, who had accompanied him, once more essayed to enter upon the administration of his office as royal governor. But neither the commander nor the governor was to receive much comfort.
The British on the Cape Fear
While these matters of moment were passing at the west, the east as well had become greatly disturbed. Although General Leslie had in November been diverted from occupy- ing the lower Cape Fear, that purpose was not abandoned, and contemporaneously with Arnold's invasion of the Chesa- peake and Cornwallis's advance, such a movement was undertaken. With a fleet of eighteen sail. carrying four hundred regulars, artillery and dragoons, Major James H. Craig was despatched to occupy Wilmington. His vessels reached the harbor toward the last of January, and on the 28th he approached the town. Taking possession, he at once began to fortify by erecting batteries on the hills to the north and south, and so strengthened himself that he could not be attacked with any hope of success. At that time it was also apprehended that there would be a move- ment in the interior from Camden, and such stores as the Americans had to the southiward were moved across the Cape Fear River. Aroused by the presence of their British friends, the Tories of Bladen and Anson became active, and it required strenuous efforts on the part of the local leaders to suppress them. General Lillington at once called out the militia of that section, but so many of them had been taken
Cornwailis at Hillsboro
1781 S. R., XV, 423
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NASH'S ADMINISTRATION. 1780-81
1781
at Charleston and were on parole, and the country had been so drained of adherents of the Whig cause. that but a small force could be collected. To keep Craig in check. General Caswell was ordered with the New Bern brigade and Gen- eral Butler with the Hillsboro brigade to the assistance of Lillington. Such was the situation when Cornwallis was pursuing Greene across the western part of the State and invading the western counties.
Movements of the armies
Graham's Graham, 311
S R., XXII, 123
Graham's Graham, 317
S R., XXII, 141
Lee's Memoirs, 253
S. R., XXII, 124
Graham's Graham, 319
After Davidson's death, although the militia of the west- ern district had no commander. some seven hundred of them. all horsemen, collected in the rear of the British army. and in the absence of a brigadier chose General Andrew Pickens, of South Carolina. as their commander. In the troop was a company under Captain Graham that subsequently became greatly distinguished. They followed the route taken by Cornwallis through Salem and Guilford Court House, and reached Hart's Mills, near Hillsboro, about the time that Cornwallis established himself at that place.
There, on February 22d, Lee's corps was joined to Pickens's brigade, all under the command of the brigadier-general. Other re-enforcements of North Carolina militia were also ex- pected, and to facilitate their union and re-establish confidence. three days after Cornwallis entered Hillsboro Greene himself crossed the Dan and passed to the west of his adversary. In response to Cornwallis's call, the Tories began to embody. and some two hundred of them were collecting unter Dr. Pyle in Chatham and western Orange when Lee and Pickens were advancing into that section. Tarleton, hearing that the Whigs proposed to suppress the Tory rising. moved out to protect Dr. Pyle and his recruits. Ignorant of the move- ment of the Tories. Lee pursued his way to the southward. and on the 24th, at a point south of the Hav, near the site of the present town of Burlington. accidentally met the Tories in the road, who, expecting Tarleton, and with no information of the presence of any Whig force. arranged themselves along the road to allow their supposed friends to pass. As soon as Lee's dragoons had reached the ex- tremity of the Tory line, the character of the Lovalists being
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RE-ENFORCEMENTS FOR GREENE
discovered, a signal was made for an onslaught, and Pyle's unsuspecting men were quickly despatched. Ninety of them were killed outright and most of the survivors were wounded. Those not thrown to the ground dispersed in every direction, but were not pursued. Lee lost in this slaughter only one horse-not a single man. At the time Tarleton was hardly a mile distant, but he was not advised of the encounter or of the presence of a Whig force until some fugitives brought him information.
Greene established himself between Troublesome Creek and Reedy Fork, in the vicinity of Guilford Court House, having his light corps interposed between his main army and Cornwallis. His report of men fit for duty on the 17th indicated a thousand continentals, less than two hundred cavalry and a hundred mounted infantry-an effective force of some fourteen hundred men: but he was expecting a regiment of regulars from Virginia that had been hurried forward and several thousand militia to join him. Gen- eral Butler's brigade, that had been despatched to the assist- ance of Lillington was ordered to return to the west, and the Halifax brigade was collecting for the march. Gen- eral Allen Tones, having to return, invited Sumner to take command. but General Eaton claimed the right and refused to relinquish it. Colonels William Campbell and Preston. of Virginia, were also hurrying to Greene's camp, as well as smaller detachments under Majors Winston and Arm- strong. General Stevens, too, who had conveyed the prison- ers taken at Cowpens to a place of security, was now return- ing with his brigade of Virginia militia. To prevent the junction of these re-enforcements and to strike Greene before he was further strengthened, on February 26th Cornwallis himself marched to the westward. establishing his head- quarters at Hawkins's. to the west of Alamance Creek. Doubtless he also hoped for accessions from the Tories. One band of Loyalists from Deep River, consisting of about a hundred, approached his camp on a night march. But Graham's company had been so bold and daring. even in the vicinity of the British headquarters, that a troop of Tarle- ton's dragoons, discovering the approach of an unknown body of men at night, thought them Graham's troop, and fell
1798 -
February
Massacre of Pyle's Tories
Greene at Trouble- some Creek
S. R., XV. 427
Re-enforce- ments
1.ee's Memoirs, 269
Graham's Graham, 339
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NASH'S ADMINISTRATION, 1780-8 1
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