USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina, V I pt 2 > Part 31
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*There has been some confusion as to the date of this battle. It was evidently after Major Craig had passed through Duplin : and Fanning says in his Narrative that it was two days before the defeat of Colonel Wade. which was on September Ist. Dickson says Colonel Brown was in command of the attacking party (Dickson's Letters, pp. 17 and 19. Maclaine's Letter. Univ. Mag., 1855. Fan- ning's Narrative). Fanning, ignorant of the assault by the Whigs under Brown and Robeson. ascribed the affair to the uprising of the Whig prisoners Slingsby had in his camp.
692
BURKE'S ADMINISTRATION, 1781-82
1731 September
Lafayette and Steuben and Wayne might bring him to battle. On August 24th he ordered out the militia of all the coun- ties ; those in the east to oppose Cornwallis: those of the centre and west to suppress the Tories on the Cape Fear. The detachments from Granville and Wake were to assemble at Wake Court House; from Caswell, Randolph. Chatham. and Orange, at Ramsey's Mills. It is said he was projecting a great movement and intended to lead the militia himself.
31. Ree's Iredell, I, 542
The danger of Lord Cornwallis's situation being evident. it was not doubted that he would endeavor to make good his retreat through the State. Governor Burke resolved to put the whole force of North Carolina in motion to act as the occasion might require. either to oppose Cornwallis or to attack Craig or to re-enforce General Greene so as to give hini a decisive superiority. Realizing that everything de- pended upon prompt execution, he gave his personal exer- tions, influence and authority to accomplish his design, and early in September moved toward Salisbury, where he proposed to complete the dispositions he had directed at the West.
S. R . XV, 595
The situation
He spent the early days of September in Granville and then set out on his journey to Salisbury. On the way he stopped a day or two at Hillsboro. He was constantly re- ceiving and answering appeals for military aid made by the distressed inhabitants of the Cape Fear section. But insurmountable obstacles and difficulties met him on every side. There was pressing need for the continental drafts to be hurried to Greene's aid in South Carolina, and calls were made by General Stenben for both continentals and militia to assist him in Virginia. General Rutherford and Colonel Isaacs, who had been conveyed as prisoners to Florida, had just returned from their confinement ; Davidson was dead. Colonel Locke had marched a detachment to the southward. William Caswell in the east and General Butler at the west were the main reliance for active work. Butler early in September was gathering a force on the Haw and the Deep to hold in check the formidable bands of Tories that were scourging that region. Next to Rutherford he was the most efficient of the brigadiers.
693
CIVIL WIR ON THE C.IPE FE.IR
--
Fanning defeats Wade
On his return from Wilmington, with a fresh supply of ammunition, Colonel Fanning after passing Slingsby at Elizabethtown continued to McFall's Mills, about sixty S. R., miles distant. There he received information of the disaster 225, 584 to his friends at Elizabethtown, and he despatched ninety of his men back to render assistance: but it was too late, the Whigs had gathered their booty and had retired. He like- wise received information that Colonel Wade was marching to attack Colonel McNeil in the vicinity of Raft Swamp, and he set out to re-enforce that Loyalist partisan, whom he joined in the morning of September Ist.
He found that Wade had crossed the bridge to the eastern side of Drowning Creek, and had taken post on the highland near a mile distant from the bridge, the intervening road being a narrow causeway. Fanning directed McNeil to turn down the swamp to cut off Wade's retreat in that direc- tion, and. confident of victory before midday, began the battle. At Wade's first fire eighteen horses of Fanning's men were killed, but the Tories at once dismounted and made a deadly assault, continuing to fire as they advanced; and when they approached to within twenty-five yards of Wade's line the Whigs broke and fled in the utmost confusion. Had McNeil obeyed directions closely Wade's force would have been entirely destroyed : but he did not take the position assigned him, and the causeway and bridge were open for a safe retreat. Fanning pursued some seven miles, and took fifty-four prisoners. four of whom died that night. while nineteen of the Whigs lay dead on the ground. He states his own loss at only one killed and a few wounded. Having taken two hundred and fifty horses, he distributed them among those of his troops who were not mounted in the action. The prisoners were paroled, except thirty, who were sent to Wilmington ; and then Fanning returned to McFall's Mills, where he was joined by the detachment he had sent to Slingsby's assistance. The misfortune that befell Wade's force in this encounter had a dampening effect on the ardor of the Whigs ; but General Butler. Colonel Balfour, Colonel Mebane, Colonel Collier and their associates redoubled their
-
694
BURKE'S ADMINISTR.ITION, 1781-83
173! -- efforts to restore confidence and bring the militia together to make head against the aggressive Loyalists.
September
The governor is captured
While Fanning was at Wilmington toward the end of August, that bold partisan agreed with Craig that Gov- ernor Burke should be captured ; and after defeating Wade, Fanning resolved to carry the design into execution. On September oth he was joined by Colonel McDougal, of Cumberland, with two hundred men, and Hector McNeil with a detachment from Bladen, and more than four hun- dred others had responded to his call for the Lovalists to embody. He thus found himself at the head of several hun- dred active partisans. Marching directly toward Coxe's Mill as if to attack General Butler, who was in that vicinity, he suddenly changed his route, pushed on during Septem- ber rith and all the following night, and reached Hillsboro in the early morning. His presence in that vicinity was not at all suspected.
S. R., XXI1, 207
S. R., XVI, 12 et seq.
At Hillsboro
Sept. 12, 1781
Governor Burke on September 10th received information of the movement of Fanning toward Butler's camp, and sent a warning to the general to be on his guard. Little did he suspect that the object of the enterprising partisan was nothing less than his own capture. On the night of the 11th no particular precautions were taken by the detachments at Hillsboro. The little hamnlet was rejoicing in the presence of his Excellency and those who attended him. and its sense of security was not at all disturbed by the movements of the enemy. Hillsboro was in a measure the seat of govern- ment, and there were stored some cannon, supplies and pro- visions, and it was the headquarters of the continentals at that time. a number of whom were congregated there pre- paring to march to the southward. Suddenly the next morn- ing, a foggy, disagreeable morning, it was rudely awakened from its peaceful repose. A clap of thunder from a clear sky would have been no greater surprise. At seven o'clock on the morning of the 12th Fanning's Tories entered the town in three divisions. Several shots were fired from dif- ferent houses upon the invaders, but without inflicting any
FANNING C.IPTURES BURKE
695
serious loss. "We killed fifteen of the rebels," said Fan- ning, "and wounded twenty, and took upward of two hun- dred prisoners. Among them was the governor, his council, a party of continental colonels, captains and subalterns, and seventy-one continental soldiers taken out of a church. We proceeded to the jail and released thirty Loyalists and British soldiers, one of whom was to have been hanged on that day." He took the guns from the guard and put them in the hands of the prisoners. and turned the guard into the prison quarters. It was there that most of the Whigs were killed.
Battle of Cane Creek
Colonel Mebane made good his escape during the melée, and hastened to advise General Butler. Seeking to intercept Fanning on his return. Butler took post at John Alston's mill. near Lindsay's, on Cane Creek.
The Tory commander, having secured the object of his expedition, hastened away with his prisoners, thinking by celerity of movement to escape without molestation. By twelve o'clock he began his march. That night he reached the vicinity of Cane Creek, and the next morning the march was resumed. His force was composed chiefly of two bodies, one, several hundred Scotchmen, under McNeil and McDougal ; the other, loyal inhabitants, not Scotch, under Fanning and militia officers. The Scotchmen were in the advance, while Fanning's Tories were in the rear with the prisoners. Butler had posted his men along the high banks on the south side of the stream, where the road coming from the ford skirted through a narrow piece of low ground. As McNeil advanced along this open roadway the Whigs from the brow of the hill delivered a deliberate fire with murder- S. R. ous effect. The Scotchmen, utterly surprised, at once re- coiled. Fanning hastened to send his prisoners off under a detachment so as to secure them at all events, and then crossed the stream higher up. and a desperate and bloody conflict ensued. By Fanning's attack from an unexpected quar- 345 ter the Whigs were thrown into momentary confusion, but soon rallied, and nearly every Whig killed in the action fell at this time. The engagement lasted four hours, resulting in
S. R., XXII, 207
Caruthers, Old North State, ! 207-219
XVI1, 207
McRee's Iredell, 1,
1
606
BURKE'S .ADMINISTRATION, ITSI-82
1781 September
Fanning disabled
Caruthers, 1,214
S. R., XV, 651
Butler surprised at Brown Marsh
Graham's Graham, 365
Biog. Hist. of N. C., V, 36 Martin acting governor
the retreat of the Whigs. The loss of the Tories was twents seven killed. sixty so badly wounded that they could not be moved. and thirty others wounded. who, however, con- tinued with the main body. The loss of the Whigs, while great. was not so heavy. Several of the highest officers of both sides were killed. Among the slain were Colonel Lut- terell and Major John Nalls; while on the Tory side John Rains. Edward Edwards. Colonel Dushee Shaw, and Colonel Hector McNeil, the elder, fell dead on the field. At the very end of the battle Colonel Fanning received a wound in his arm that shattered the bone and disabled him. It is related that Colonel Robert Mebane signalized himself by a bold and deliberate act of courage in the hottest of the battle. The ammunition of the Whigs was about expended, and he advanced along the line slowly distributing powder and ball to the men as needed. a target for every man in the Tory ranks. Fanning, being unable to travel, was conveyed to . secret place on Brush Creek, and for some weeks was dis. abled by his wounds. At his request, Colonel MeDougal assumed command and hurried toward Wilmington, suc- cessfully delivering. on September 23d, the person of Gover- nor Burke to Major Craig, who had advanced to Livingston Creek to receive his distinguished and valuable prisoner. Fearing to be overtaken, the Tories made such haste that although General Butler hotly pursued thein even to the vicinity of Wilmington, it was without avail. However, he had a slight engagement at Hammond Creek, and he then took post at Brown Marsh, in Bladen County. There about October Ist the British marching from Wilmington in the night surprised him. attacking his camp with some suc- cess : and he retired toward Campbellton. And now for a time the State was left without a head, but Colonel Alex- ander Martin, as speaker of the senate, quickly assumed the reins of government and began an energetic administration.
Governor Burke was regarded as a political prisoner an 1 not a prisoner of war. He was denied the right of exchange, and was hekl at Major Craig's suggestion as a hostage for the safety of Fanning, should that venturesome Tory fall into the hands of the Whigs.
.
GREENE FIGHTS IT EUT LIV
The battle of Eutaw Springs
: 73 1 -
September
Greene had now received considerable re-enforcement from North Carolina. The continentals led by Colonel Ashe were formed into the First Battalion: those brought by Major Armstrong and General Sumner about the close of July be- came the Second Battalion; and toward the middle of August Major Blount arrived with such other continental drafts as had then been embodied and provided with arms. These became the Third Battalion. They were all thrown into a brigade commanded by General Sumner in person. There had also reached camp two battalions of North Carolina militia commanded by Colonel Malmedy. a French nobleman, trained to arms, who was appointed by the As- sembly early in July for that purpose. Taking into account those North Carolinians who had enlisted with Colonel Will- iam Polk. of Mecklenburg. Colonel Wade Hampton, and Colonel Hill. and in other corps then with Greene, North Carolinians formed one-half of Greene's entire army.
Strengthened by these accessions. Greene resolved to take the initiative and put an end to his enforced inactivity. At last, at the very time when Fanning was compassing his great stroke against his enemies-the capture of the gover- nor. Greene brought on the battle of Eutaw Springs on Sep- tember 8th. As before, the militia was placed at the front ; those from North Carolina. under Colonel Malmedy. The Lee's second line was composed of continentals, the North Caro- linians now under Sumner on the right. The British army was drawn up in a single line. The militia advanced with alacrity, and the battle became warm. The fire ran from flank to flank, the American line still advancing : but after a fierce contest the militia, having fired seventeen rounds. eventually gave way, and Greene instantly ordered Sumner to fill the chasm. He came handsomely into action, and the battle grew hotter and hotter. the British being driven back to their first position. The American line persevered and advanced, and the fire became mutually destructive, when General Greene. determining to strike a conclusive blow, brought up his reserves, and all pressing forward with a shout, the battle raged with redoubled fury. The conquer- ing Americans pressed the advantage they had gained, pur-
Memoirs, 467
1.ee's Memoirs, 468
McRee's Tredell, I. 553
៛
608
BURKE'S ADMINISTR. ITION. 1781-82
178x
The bloody battle
suing the foe, and possessed themselves of the British camp. which was yielded without a struggle. The British line gave way, and in the pursuit the Americans took three hundred prisoners and two pieces of artillery. The British general. however. later restored his broken line and advanced; and the action was renewed. the battle terminating in the Briti-li re-possessing their camp, taking two field pieces, the Ameri- cans in turn retreating. For three hours it was a fierce con- test. every corps in each army bravely supporting each other. It was one of the bloodiest of the great conflicts in the course of the war. More than one-fifth of the British and one-fourth of the American army were killed and wounded. The British took sixty prisoners. while the Americans cap- tured about five hundred. Of the six commandants of con- tinental regiments, only Williams and Lee escaped unhurt.
The gallantry of the North Carolinians
When Sumner moved forward, the battalions of Ashe, Armstrong and Blount so promptly filled the gap with such admirable and soldierly precision that Greene in a burst of enthusiasm exclaimed : "I was at a loss which most to ad- mire. the gallantry of the officers or the good conduct of their men." These men had just been raised as new drafts, and were in part the very militia who under adverse circum- stances had retired disorderly at Guilford Court House, and had been enrolled by the Council Extraordinary into the continental service for one year on that account. Now they were drilled and disciplined, themselves had bayonets and had been taught how to use them. They had officers trained and experienced. and they gave to the world an example of courage and endurance that reflected the highest credit on American soldiery. The loss of North Carolina was particu- larly heavy in that sanguinary battle. Of her continentals, three captains and one lieutenant were killed, and one cap- tain and five lieutenants were wounded. Major James Ruth- erford, son of General Griffith Rutherford. was killed. and Captains Goodwin, Goodman, Porterfield. and Lieutenants Dillon and Polk, and Ensign Lamb were killed. The militia as well as the continentals suffered severely both in killed and wounded.
Mc Ree's Iredell, I, 554. 555
S. R., XV, 638
CHAPTER XXXIX
MARTIN'S ADMINISTRATION, 1781-83
Rutherford marches to Wilmington .- Cornwallis surrenders .- Wilmington evacuated .- Rutherford dishands his army .- Fanning not suppressed .- The Assembly at Salem .- The Tories active .- Governor Martin's action .- The return of Burke .- He assumes the administra- tion .- Fanning's brutality .- Progress of events .- Burke seeks a re-election .- Alexander Martin chosen .- New legislation .-- The Mora- vians,-Depreciation of the currency .- The Continental Line .- Indian hostilities renewed .- Leslie remains at Charleston .- The deplorable condition of the army .- Charleston evacuated .- The number of troops furni-hed by North Carolina .- The capture of Lord Montague .- The condition in 1783 .- Governor Martin's address .- The sovereign State.
Rutherford marches to Wilmington
Although the abduction of the head of the commonwealth disorganized the administration and threw matters of state into disorder, it did not entirely disarrange the plans Gov- ernor Burke had set on foot to subdue the Tories and expel the British from Wilmington. In August General Ruther- ford, having returned from his captivity in Florida, resumed command in his district. His zeal had not been quenched by his misfortunes, but rather the remembrance of the suffer- ings he had endured inspired him with a firmer resolution. Conformably to the governor's programme, he quickly called out a part of his brigade, and asked volunteers to meet him at Little River, in Montgomery County, by September 15th, urging as many as possible to bring their horses and act as cavalry. Governor Burke was on his way to Salisbury in connection with this movement when he was captured, and doubtless this startling, shocking event caused some delay in the assembling of Rutherford's troops. A fortnight was passed in organizing the companies and in training the cav- alry, the command of the horsemen being assigned to Colonel Robert Smith, assisted by Major Joseph Graham and Captain Simmons and others who had served under
Graham's Graham, 356
1782
1
700
MARTIN'S ADMINISTRATION, 1781-83
1731 -- October
Bing. Hist. N. C., Ili, 35
S. R., XX11, 209
Graham's Graham, 363
Major Davie in previous operations. Rutherford, intent on victory, took every precaution to bring his raw levies up to a state of efficiency. On October Ist he broke camp and moved by slow marches toward Campbellton, being joined constantly by new accessions. At that time General Butler. who had shortly before suffered discomfiture at Brown Marsh, had withdrawn from below and was in the vicinity of Cross Creek : and later lie united his force with the new levies. On reaching Rockfish on October 15th, Rutherford's cavalry had a slight engagement with a detachment of Tories, and from prisoners information was obtained that a body of six hundred Lovalists under Colonels Elrod. Rav. McNeil, and McDougal then lay in Raft Swamp. Fanning was still in hiding on Brush Creek, in the Deep River sec- tion, his wounds not yet healed ; but he had so far regained his strength that somewhat earlier he despatched messengers to Wilmington for a supply of ammunition, which Major Craig sent him on October 13th, and he was preparing to take the field again The corps of Tories then at Raft Swamp was, however, a part of those who had been with him in the expedition for the capture of the governor and their leaders were wily and astute. In order to expel them from their stronghold, Rutherford arranged his men in a single line, five steps apart, and beat through the swamp, but without avail. The game had flown. The vigilant Tories made good their escape.
Rutherford encamped at Brown Marsh, some fifteen miles south of Elizabethtown and thirty miles from Wilmington, as General Butler had done several weeks before. While there. Colonel Alexander Martin, who had succeeded to the office of governor, visited the camp, remaining several days with the soldiers, and enthusing them by his presence. Gen- eral Rutherford now determined to divide his force, leaving on the south side of the river Colonel Robert Smith with the mounted infantry and dragoons, some three hundred in num- ber ; while with the infantry he himself should invest Wil- mington on the north side. Carrying this plan into effect, on October 23d he crossed the Cape Fear at Waddell's plantation and proceeded into New Hanover. Colonel Smith at once drew near to Wilmington, had several brushes with
RUTHERFORD ATTACKS WILMINGTON
parties of the enemy, and found that some fifty of the regu- lars occupied a brick house about two miles from the town, November while a hundred Tories were encamped at Moore's planta- tion close by. He proceeded to attack the latter, and was so favored by fortune that twelve of them were killed outright and some thirty wounded: while on the part of the Whigs neither man nor horse was hurt. Finding the brick house* More's pitation well garrisoned, protected by abattis, and the doors and win- dows barricaded. Colonel Smith despaired of reducing it without heavy loss, and after a fruitless attack retired be- yond Livingston Creek.
When Rutherford reached the bridge over the North- east River. ten miles north of Wilmington, he had a slight engagement with a British garrison established there, easily · driving them off. He established his camp on the adjacent sand-hills, near the river swamp, and cut off all approach to the town from the northward. While investing Wilming- ton on the north and west Rutherford received information that Craig was obtaining provisions by boats from Lock- wood's Folly .; He therefore directed Major Graham to make an excursion to cut off that source of supplies. Major Graham having proceeded in that direction, encamped after a cold. rainy day at Seven Creeks, not far from the South Carolina line. During the night his detachment was aroused by a full volley discharged into their camp by a band of Tories under Major Gainey, a noted partisan of that section. The enemy, however, fired too high, and only one of the men was wounded. Quickly the Whigs turned out and a night encounter ensued, but the attacking party successfully escaped into the neighboring swamp. The loss to the Whigs was Lieutenant Clark killed and three others wounded. Of the Tories, only one was killed.
On November 17th, while Rutherford was still hemming
*The brick house was still in existence in 1857. its walls indented by balls, within sight of the town, on the rise of the hill just beyond Brunswick River. on the right of the Fayetteville road leading over Eagles Island from Wilmington ( McRee's Iredell, I. 562).
+Lockwood's Folly. some ten miles west of Southport, was the scene of a settlement made by a man named Lockwood many years before the permanent settlement of the Cape Fear. But he incurred the enmity of the Indians, and the settlement had to be abandoned.
1731
Seven Creeks
Graham's Graham, 371
.
702
MARTIN'S ADMINISTRATION, ITSI-S3
1781 in the British garrison, Light Horse Harry Lee* arrived in camp on his way to General Greene, bringing the great news Oct. 19. 1751 Surrender of Cornwallis that on October 19th Cornwallis and his entire army had surrendered at Yorktown: and that General Wayne and a considerable number of troops were marching to the south to aid in bringing the war to a close. With joy and gladness the news was proclaimed, and Rutherford drew up his army and peal after peal of musketry resounded through the neighboring country as he heralded the glad tidings in a "feu de joie." On the same day came the information that Major Craig was evacuating Wilmington. and Rutherford moved down to Shaw's, four miles from the town. The fol- lowing morning, November 18th. all the British. troops boarded the vessels which were then falling down the river. While they were yet in sight General Rutherford and a part Wilmington evacuated, Nov. 18, 1781 of his troops arrived and took possession. Thus swiftly fol- lowing Cornwallis's surrender, the last British soldier was expelled from the soil of North Carolina and the dominion of the enemy was over.
The rejoicing
McRee's Iredell, I, 563
It is impossible to describe the enthusiasm and happiness these events diffused among the Whig inhabitants of the State. It is narrated that when the news that Cornwallis was taken was announced to the congress, an officer of that body fell dead with joy. Throughout the State there was a season of great rejoicing. Even grave and reverend seignors gave a loose rein to hilarity. "One reason why I did not come to Edenton last term, as I promised," wrote Judge Williams to Iredell. "was that upon the confirmation of the news of the capture of Cornwallis we were all so elated that the time elapsed in frolicking." In the Cape Fear region, where there had been such a protracted reign of terror, the exaltation of the Whigs must have been unbounded.
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