USA > North Carolina > North Carolina, 1780-'81 : being a history of the invasion of the Carolinas by the British Army under Lord Cornwallis in 1780-'81 > Part 2
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McDonald speaks of Hogun's and Ingram's regi- ments, which he calls the 8th and 9th, reaching camp, and says Colonel Armstrong joined them a few days before the battle of Germantown, fought in June, 1777. The roster," however, puts Hogun as Colonel of the 7th and Armstrong of the Sth. Ingram was only Lieutenant Colonel of the Sth.
The roster puts John P. Williams as Colonel of the 9th, with William Polk as Major.
As the sources of information in regard to the history of our regular troops, while under Wash- ington, are so extremely meagre, I draw from the McDonald record, as suggestive merely, for I do not give credence to all the stories he relates, and especially do I discredit the very base statement made by him in regard to Colonel Alexander Mar- tin. It is to be regretted that General Wheeler, in his Reminiscences, should quote it without naming the author. The gentleman who furnishes the McDonald journal to the University Magazine has
*See Appendix A.
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taken the precaution to state that MeDonald was ignorant and uneducated and "had to employ another hand some years afterwards to write down what he related." It seems to have been an effort to relate from memory the events of the war, with- out having any written data before him, and while it may be correct in the main, its details are hardly to be relied upon."
It is from this journal we learn of the reorgani- zation of the North Carolina Regulars, and his account seems to be confirmed by subsequent and cotemporaneous events transpiring in regard to those regiments. He informs us that --
.. On the 1st of May, 1778, our brigade from North Carolina was inspected and the seven regiments which hal been two years in service were discovered to be too small for their officers. The 7th Regiment, commanded by Colonel Armstrong, having joined us a few days before
"The statementof McDonal.l. published in the University Magazine, October, 1550, was, that Colouel Alexander Martin was cashiered for cowardice at the battle of Germantown, and sent home to Hillsboro with a wooden sword.
This is not true. In a letter from Thos. Burke to Cornelius Harnett, dated Philadelphia, November 20th, 1977, he says :
"Colonel Martin has been tried by a court-martial or court of inquiry, I don't know which, on his behavior at Germantown, and acquitted."
On the Sth November, he writes again :
"Colonel Martin has been tried and acquitted and has since resigned." (See University Magazine, February, 186[.)
The many honorable positions, including that of Governor and Senator, subsequently conferred by the State on Colonel Alexander Martin, shows the confidence and esteem in which he continued to be lield by his fellow-citizens in North Carolina.
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the battle of Germantown, in which it lost some of it- mon, all except the two last that joined us" were reduced to three regiments and the surplus officers were discharged and sent home to North Carolina."
The 6th regiment (formerly I'llington'si was put into the ist (formerly Moore'sh. under the command of Colonel Thomas Clark. of New Hanover County.
The 4th (formerly 'Thomas Folk's) was put into the ad (formerly Robert Howe's), under the com- mand of Colonel John Patton.
The 5th regiment ( formerly Edward Buncombe's, who was killed at Germantown was put into the 3d (formerly Jethro Summer's), under Colonel Jethro Sumner.
The oldest captain of each regiment that was broken up, was retained in the regiments to which they were attached, with the privilege of selecting the men who should compose their companies from the regiment to which they first belonged.+
Colonel James Hogun was promoted to be the Brigadier General of this brigade.
Governor Graham states that --
"In a letter from Governor Burke, then a delegate in Congress, to Governor Caswell, in January, 1779, he ( Burke) justifies his support of Hogun for the appoint- ment of Brigadier General over Colonel Thomas Clark, whom the Legislature recommended, upon the ground of
*He seems to allude to Hogun's and Ingram's regiments that he speaks of as the Sth and 9th.
tUniversity Magazine, vol. 5. p. 362.
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priority of commission and also that Colonel Hogun had. at Germantown, behaved with distinguished intrepidits and that Colonel Clark had been restrained by superior command which denied him the opportunity to obtain the like distinction."
In the autumn of 1779, the movements of Sir Henry Clinton, who had succeeded Sir William Howe in the command of the British Army, indi- cated his intention to transfer the seat of war to the South, and General Washington determined to detech the Southern troops under his command to that section of the country for its defence.
The North Carolina Regulars wore then under the command of Brigadier General James Hogun. who had been promoted Jannary 9. 1779.º In November, 1770, these troops began their tedious march for Charlestou. South Carolina, encountering great severity in the weather on their way. When they passed through Philadelphia, as we learn from Governor Graham's lecture, they numbered about Fcc men. Recruits had been gathered at Halifax. North Carolina, to reinforce them, but they were never sent forward.
General Hogun reached Charleston the 13th day of March, ITSo.
Leaving the North Carolina Regulars at Charles- ton, it will be necessary to see what the other forces from this State had been doing for the protection and safety of South Carolina.
"University Magazine, March, IS78, p. 9, by Gov. Graham.
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·
Major General Lincoln succeeded Major General Howe, of North Carolina, in the command of the Southern forces in December, 1778. General Howe had incurred the displeasure of the Gov- ernors of Georgia and South Carolina, whom he had reproached for failing to give him a proper support, and Mr. Christopher Gadsden, of South Carolina, had been impulsive enough to ure oppro- brious language about General Howe. This pro- voked a challenge, and on the 13th day of August, 1 ;; 8, near Charleston, a duel was fought, in which General Howe's bullet grazed Mr. Gadsden's ear. Explanations and a reconciliation followed. Mr. Gadsden fired his pistol in the air.
Early in 1779 the British General Prevost marched to Savannah, and Colonel Campbell took possession of Augusta.
An earnest appeal was made to Governor Caswell, of North Carolina, for assistance, and he was offered a major general's commission in the Continental line and a position as second in command to General Lincoln. Governor Lowndes, of South Carolina, wounded this appeal in frequent letters, but Governor Caswell, after deliberation, thought proper to decline ilk honor. He, however, called out three thousand militia and conferred the command on Major Gen- eral John Ashe, of New Hanover. The troops were from Wilmington. Newbern, Edenton and Halifax districts. The State liad noarms, and sent the militia forward to South Carolina on the promise of that State to equip them; but so scarce were arms that only the
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inost inferior patterns could be furnished. The danger was imminent, and the militia were hurried forward without discipline or training, against the remonstrances of General Ashe, and a large body of them were surprised and deferted at Briar Crock. in Georgia, Merch 3d, 1779, and, as their " tour" of three months was nearly at an end, most of them returned home.
General Ashe demanded an investigation, and. though the court-martial "acquitted him of any imputation on his personal honor or courage, he received censure for want of sufficient vigilance." which saddened the evening of this good man's life. His patriotic and brave spirit, which had in all times of trial and danger defied the enemies of his country, could not endure the unmerited censure of his friends : the wound rankled in his heart, and he retired from military service to seek the solace of his home. He was, however, compelled to live in seclusion, as the British were then in possession of Wilmington. Shortly after his return his place of retreat was divulged by his body servant, a negro. and a force of the enemy were detailed for his cap- ture. In the attempt to escape General Ashe was wounded in the leg and taken prisoner. He was then thrust into prison where he contracted small-pox and on this account was paroled. But in October, I-SI, he sank under his accumulated sufferings, and died at the house of a friend in Sampson County. No braver, better or purer man ever served his
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State, and his sad fate only endeared his memory the more to those who knew and loved him. 1686626
1779. A second contingent of militia, under General Rutherford, of the Salisbury District, and General John Butler, of the Guilford District, accompanied by the recent levies of North Carolina troops of Lytle's and Arinstrong's regiments, entered South Carolina in the early spring, and participated in the battle 'of Stono in June, and the militia returned after their tour of five months expired."*
On the 24th day of February, 1979, Charles Pinckney writes to his aunt, Mrs. Pinckney :
"As to further aid from North Carolina, they have agreed to send us 2,000 more troops immediately. We now have upwards of 3,000 of their men with us, and I esteem this last augmentation as the highest possible mark of their affection for us and as the most convincing proof of their zeal for the glorious cause in which they are engaged. They have been so willing and ready on all occasions to afford us all the assistance in their power that I shall ever love a North Carolinian, and join with General Moultrie in confessing that they have been the salvation of this country."t
As late as the 6th of April, 17So, Colonel Har- rington, of North Carolina, with Colonel Wood- ford's Virginia troops, entered the city of Charleston.
*Documentary History of the American Revolution, p. 106.
+Governor Graham's Lecture, University Magazine, April, IS7S.
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It is almost impossible, among the shifting scenes of that day. when the militia were going and coming every few months, to locate the commanders ail their troops, and trace their services in the camp ; we can only catch glimpses of these gallant men now and then through the shadowy lights of history, and leave conjecture to fill the spaces in their career.
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CHAPTER II.
Condition of the States of Georgia, South and North Carolina in 1779-No-Siege of Charleston -- All the North Carolina Regu- lars of the Continental Line capture ! -- Patriotism and Public Spirit unabated -- Massacre of Buforit's Comm ind by Tarleton --- Battle of Rainsour's Mill, the 20th June, 1750-Col. William K. Davie :- Affair at Hanging Rock -- Campaign of MeDowell and Shelby, August, 170-The Deckhard Rifle-Generals Ruther- ford, Gregory and Butler-Battle near Camden-Gates' Defeat -- Splendid Courage of Colonel Dixon's North Carolinians in the Battle-Flight of Gates to Charlotte.
THE lamentable condition of the States of Georgia and South Carolina in the winter of 1779-'So is thus graphically described by Baneroft :
" Before the end of three months after the capture of Savannah, all the property, real and personal, of the rebels in Georgia was disposed of. For further gains, Indians were encouraged to bring in slaves wherever they could find them. All families in South Carolina were subjected to the visits of successive sets of banditti, who received commissions, as volunteers, with no pay or emolument but that derived from rapine, and who, roaming about at pleasure, robbed the plantations alike of patriots and loyalists.
"The property of the greatest part of the inhabitants of South Carolina was confiscated, families were divided, patriots outlawed and savagely assassinated, houses burned, and women and children driven shelterless into the forest; districts so desolated that they seemned the abode only of orphans and widows."
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Major General Lincoln, with less than two thou- sand effective men, occupied the city of Charleston. and determined to defend it to the last. He took no counsel from his officers, and learned uo wisdom from past experience. The only army of the Con- tinental Government in the South was to be anni- hilated at one fell blow, when it should have retreated, and, by maneuvering in front of the supe- rior enemy, at least have maintained a show of resistance and afforded a nucleus around which the numerous partisan bands of Whigs might have rallied: and, when opportunity offered, strike a blow for freedom.
Sir Henry Clinton, who was then in command of the royal army, resolved to renew the attack on Charleston, and, to prevent a repetition of the dis- aster of 1776, he determined to command the expe- dition in person. On the 26th day of December, 1,79, he sailed with a numerous fleet from New York, on which was embarked eight thousand five hundred soldiers. They encountered severe storms on the way, nearly all the horses perished, vessels laden with ordnance went down, others were sepa- rated entirely from the fleet, and many of the trans- ports were captured by American privateers. It was nearly the end of January, 1750, before most of the ships reached Tybee, the place of rendezvous in Georgia. The expedition was so crippled that Clinton immediately ordered Lord Rawdon's bri- gade of three thousand men, then in New York, to join him.
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Charleston was at that time a city of fifteen thou- sand inhabitants all told, but was wealthy, and among its leaders were representatives of large British interests. The country around the city was flat and three sides of the city lay upon the water. An enemy who commanded the sea could easily invest.it by throwing up its works across the narrow entrance of land which lay between the Ashley and Cooper rivers. There were no forts nor ramparts for its defence, and General Lincoln could rely only on the temporary field works which he was able to construct.
This was the situation, when on the 26th day of February, 17So, the British forces first came in sight of the city. On the 27th, the officers of the Continental squadron reported to General Lincoln that they were unable to prevent the entrance of the British fleet. " It was then that the attempt to defend the city should have been abandoned," said Washington. Clinton moved with caution to the attack, leaving nothing to chance, and it was not until the 9th day of April that " Arbuthnot, taking advantage of a gentle east wind, brought his ships into the harbor without suffering from Fort Moultrie or returning the fire."*
On the roth, the city was summoned to surrender, but Lincoln replied, " From duty and inclination, I shall support the town to the last extremity."
There was vet time for the American army to escape, but Lincoln procrastinated from day to day
*Bancroft, vol. 5, P. 377.
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until the British had completed the investment of the city, and nothing was left but to fight " to the last extremity" or to surrender on humiliating terms to the enemy.
"On the 13th of April, Lincoln for the first time called a council of war and suggested an evacuation. The officers replied, We should not lose an hour in getting the Continental troops over Cooper river, for on their safety depends the salvation of the State." '
Lincoln, however, dismissed the council without action, and this procrastination and " slowness of perception and will" cost the Colonies the army which they had. with so many sacrifices, collected to oppose this formidable invasion. The usual steps of progress in the siege took place, the British continued to advance their works, and Lincoln made but a feeble resistance.
There was only one sortie made by the besieged. This was on the 24th day of April, and was con- ducted by Lieutenant Colonel Henderson." He led out three hundred men and attacked the advanced working party of the British, killed several and captured eleven prisoners. In this affair Capt. Moultrie, of the South Carolina line, was
*This attacking party numbered 300 men, and was composed of detachments from Hogun's North Carolinans, Woodford's Virginians, and Scott's brigade, and 21 South Carolina Continentals. Gibbs Doc. His. (r$57), p. 133. The leader was Colonel William Henderson, of the South Carolina Continental troops, who afterwards commanded Sumter's brigade at Eutaw. He was formerly from Granville County, N. C., brother of Major Pleasant Henderson. See Pleasant Hender- son's petition for pension under act of 1832.
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killed.# On the 26th of April the British flag was seen floating over Fort Moultrie. and the garrison became disheartened. A council of war was called and negotiations opened between Clinton and Lin- coln, but the terms of surrender offered by the former were rejected. On the rith of May, how- ever, the " British had crossed the wet ditch by sap and advanced within twenty five yards of the . lines of the besieged." Lincoln was now pressed on all sides by his friends to surrender and save the unnecessary effusion of blood, and under the circumstances he assented to the terms of Clinton without conference or explanation. Mr. Bancroft says, " This was the first instance in the American war of an attempt to defend a town. and the unsuc- cessful event, with its consequences, makes it proba- ble that if this method had been generally adopted the independence of America could not have been so easily supported.";
The defence of Charleston was disapproved by General Washington, who urged that the army should keep the open country where it could be free to attack or retreat as circumstances dictated and he pointed out the danger of risking both the army and the city on the result of a siege where the Americans could be greatly outnumbered by concentrating the British forces on that point.
The British commander, in order to magnify his victory, claimed to have captured five thousand prisoners, swelling the number by the civilians
*Ramsay's South Carolina, p. 186. +Bancroft, vol. 5. p. IS7.
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whom he put on the list ; but the real number of Continental soldiers who surrendered was only no:7. and 500 of these were, at that time, lying in the hospitals prostrated by the dreadful malaria of the coast." More than 1,ecc of these Continental soldiers were the North Carolina regulars, who were detached from the army of Washington and their recruits. They were composed of the three regiments "compressed" from the original six which marched from Wilmington, North Carolina, and the two other regiments who joined Washington later. General Hogun commanded these troops --- all veterans. In addition to the regulars, there were 'over I,OCo North Carolina militia at the fall of Charleston: so that, by this great blunder of General Lincoln. North Carolina lost her whole force of Continental soldiers, leaving not even one regiment in which the stragglers might be collected. Colonel Clarke. of New Hanover, and Colonel Patton, commanded two of these regiments of regulars.
I regret that my most diligent inquiry has failed to discover any future record of General Hogun. That he was a braveand skillful officer his rapid promotion proves, and to this is added the positive testimony of Governor Burke who effected his promotion over his seniors in office. His family name exists now in Alabama and these persons trace their genealogy to North Carolina. It is more than probable, if not certain, that General Hogun died in captivity, as did hundreds of others of these brave men.
*Ramsey's History of South Carolina, p. (SS.
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The loss of these troops was a terrible blow to North Carolina, but it did not destroy her spirit nor lessen herdetermination to be free. She called on her militia to rally to her standard and put forth every effort to. stay the progress of the invader. We shall see how nobly and courageously the people responded to the call.
By the terms of the capitulation, the militia from the country were to return home as prisoners of war, on parole, and to be secure in their property so long as their parole was observed. Many of the officers and troops were confined in prison ships reeking with filth and the germs of disease while others were sent to unhealthy locations on the coast during the sickly summer of 17So. One-third of their number perished from disease while others trere so prostrated as to be unfitted for military duty. Following the trace of these gallant men, we find that on the rith day of March, 1781, in the midst of the most thrilling events in North Caro- lina, General Greene renewed negotiations with Lord Cornwallis for the exchange of prisoners.
" The negotiation was first commenced whilst the American army lay at Halifax Old Court House (Vir- ginia), but was then broken off because the British commissioner insisted on considering paroled privates as prisoners of war, to favor their practice of exacting paroles of all the militia in the country. The negotia- tion was renewed and finally adjusted by Colonel Car- rington, on the American side, and Captain Frederick
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Cornwallis, on that of the British, at a subsequent meet- iny, Held on the Pee Dee on the Sth May, 1781.""
The American prisoners were shipped to James- town. Virginia, where they were exchanged, June zed. ITS; and soon thereafter history records their services again in various military capacities in the Sonth.
What followed the fall of Charleston is so graph- ically described by Mr. Bancroft, that I quote it entire :
" For six weeks all opposition ceased in South Carolina. One expedition was sent by Clinton up the Savannah to encourage the loval and reduce the disaffected in the neighborhood of Augusta; another proceeded for the like purpose to the district of Ninety-Six, where Wil- liamson surrendered his post and accepted British pro- tection. Pickens was reduced to inactivity. Alone of the leaders of the patriot militia, Colonel James Williams; escaped pursuit and preserved his freedom of action. A third and large party under Cornwallis moved across the Santee towards Camden.
" The rear of the old Virginia line, commanded by Colonel Buford, arriving too lote to reinforce the garrison of Charleston, had retreated toward the northeast of the Ståte.
" They were pursued, and on the twenty-ninth of May were overtaken by Tarleton with seven hundred calvary
"Johnson's Life of Greene, vol. I, p. 470.
iWheeler's Reminiscences, p. 399, and Wheeler's History, vol. 2, p. 2SI.
#Formerly of Granville County, North Carolina, and afterwards killed at King's Mountain.
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and mounted infantry. Buford himself, and a few who were mounted, and about a hundred of the infantry, saved themselves by fight. The rest, making no resistance, vainly sued for quarter. None was granted."
"AA hundred and thirteen were killed on the spot ; a hundred and fifty were too badly backed to be moved ; fifty-three only could be brought into Camden as pris- oners. "The tidings of this massacre, borne through the Southern forests, excited horror and anger, but Tarleton received from Cornwallis the highest encomiums.
" The capture of Charleston suspended all resistance to the British army.
" The men of Beaufort, of Ninety-Six, and of Camden, capitulated under the promise of security, believing that they were to be treated as neutrals, or as prisoners on parole. The attempt was now made to force the men of Carolina into active service in the British army, and so to become the instrument of their own subjection.
ITSo. "On the 22d of May, confiscation of property and other punishments were denounced against all who should thereafter oppose the King in arms, or hinder any one from joining his forces.
"On the first of June a proclamation by the commis- sioners, Clinton and Arbuthuot, offered pardon to the penitent on their immediate return to allegiance; to the loyal, the promise of their former political immunities,
""In this bloody encounter Captain John Stokes, of Guilford County, North Carolina, participated with his company and was horribly mutilated by the brutal troopers of Tarleton. One of his hands was cut off and he was besides badly wounded in many places on his body. He was the brother of Governor Montford Stokes and Judge of the U. S. District Court in North Carolina." Moore's His- tory, vol. I, p. 264.
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including freedom from taxation, except by their own legislature.
"On the 3d of June, Clinton, by a proclamation which he alone signed, out up British authority in Caroline by the roots. He required all the inhabitants of the pro- vince, even those outside of Charleston, " who were trust prisoners on parole,' to take an active part in securing the royal government.
" Should they neglect to return to their allegiance.' so ran the proclamation, 'they will be treated as rebels to the government of the King.' He never reflected that many, who accepted protection from fear of convenience. did so in the expectation of living in a state of neutrality. and that they might say: . If we must fight; let us fight on the side of our friends, of our countrymen, of America." "On the eve of his departure for New York, he reported to Germain: . The inhabitants from every quarter declare their allegiance to the King, and offer their services in arms. There are few men in South Carolina who are not either our prisoners or in the army with us.'"
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