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 23
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The American commander having collected his stragglers and rested his soldiers an hour or two, continued his march to the Iron Works, on Trouble- some Creek, where he was soon after joined by Lee.
The next day the soldiers were all in the best of spirits and anxious to be led again against the enemy, some to acquire more glory, others to retrieve the reputation that they had lost. Greene, however. knew that his enemy was fatally wounded, and that his losses would compel a retreat instead of a pursuit, and spent his time in reorganizing his little army, preparing ammunition and getting ready to follow the British forces.
While he is resting we may contemplate the splendid regalts of this fatal blow to British pres- tige and power in North Carolina, and its bearing on the subsequent military events which followed.
Stedman wrote "that a victory achieved under such disadvantages of numbers and ground was of the most honorable kind, and placed the bravery and discipline of the troops beyond all praise ; but
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the expense at which it was obtained rendered it of no utility."
Tarleton says : "The position and strength of General Greene at the Iron Works, on Trouble- some Creek, did not invite the approach of the British army: Earl Cornwallis, therefore, com- menged his march on the ISth" for Deep River, on his way to Cross Creek."
Fox, in the British Parliament, contended that the victory was Greene's. He argued that "if the British army had been vanquished, they could only have left the field and fled to the coast, precisely the measure Cornwallis was compelled to adopt." andexclaimed, "Another such victory would destroy the British army !"
Senator Benton, in his eulogy on Nathaniel Macon, the great Commoner, who was a soldier under Greene up to February. 17SI, takes occasion to discuss the historical results of this battle. It is so lucidly and eloquently told that I offer no apology for incorporating it in my narrative:
"In the year 1778 the Southern States had become a battle-field, big with their own fate, and possibly in- volving the issue of the war. British fleets and armnies appeared there, strongly supported by the British cause; and the conquest of the South was fully counted upon. Help was needed in these States ; and Mr. Macon, quit- ting college, returned to his native county in North Carolina, joined a militia company as a private, and inarched to South Carolina, then the theatre of theenemy's
"He sent off his wounded on the 17th.
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operations. He had his share in all the hardships and disasters of that trying time; was at the fall of Fort Moultrie, surrender of Charleston, defeat at Camden, and in the rapid winter retreat across the upper part of North Carolina. He was in the camp on the left bank of the Yadkin when the sudden flooding of that river, in the brief interval between the crossing of the Americans and the coming up of the British, arrested the pursuit of Cornwallis, and enabled Greene to allow some rest to his wearied and exhausted men. In this camp, desti- tute of everything and with gloomy prospects ahead, a summons came to Mr. Macon from the Governor of North Carolina, requiring him to attend a meeting of the General Assembly, of which he had been elected a member, without his knowledge, by the people of his county. He refused to go, and the incident being talked of through the camp, came to the knowledge of the General. Greene was a man himself, and able to know a man. He felt at once that if this report was true, this young soldier was no common character, and determined to verify the fact. He sent for the young man, inquired of him, heard the truth. and then asked for the reason of this unexpected conduct -- this prefer- ence for a suffering camp over a comfortable seat in the General Assembly. Mr. Macon answered him, in his quaint and sententious way, that he had seen the faces of the British many times, but had never seen their backs, and meant to stay in the army till he did.
"Greene instantly saw the material the young man was made of, and the handle by which he was to be worked. That material was patriotism ; that handle a sense of duty ; and laying hold of this handle, he quickly worked the young soldier into a different conclusion from the
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one that he had arrived at. He told him he could do more good as a member of the General Assembly than as a soldier ; that in the army he was but one man, and in the General Assembly he might obtain many, with the supplies they needed, by showing the destitution and suffering which he had seen in the camp ; and that it was his duty to go. This view of duty and usefulness was decisive. Mr. Macon obeyed the Governor's sim- mons ; and by his representations contributed to obtain the supplies which enabled Greene to turn back and face Cornwallis, fight him, cripple him, drive him further back than he had advanced (for Wilmington is south of Camden), disable him from remaining in the South (of which, up to the battle of Guilford, he believed himself to be master), and sending him to Vorktown, where he was captured, and the war ended.
"The philosophy of history has not yet laid hold of the battle of Guilford, its consequences and effects. That battle made the capture at Yorktown. The events are told in every history ; their connection and dependence in none. It broke up the plan of Cornwallis in the South and changed the plan of Washington in the North. Cornwallis was to subdue the Southern States, and was doing it. until Greene turned upon him at Guilford. Washington was occupied with Sir Henry Clinton, then in New York, with 12,000 British troops. He had formed the heroic design to capture Clinton and his armny (the French fleet co-operating) in that city, and thereby putting an end to the war. All his preparations were going on for that grand consummation when he got the news of the battle of Guilford, the retreat of Cornwallis to Wilmington, his inability to keep the field in the South, and his return northward through the lower part
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15
PATTIE MONUMENT 1888
FLAG PULL
NIE PER:, LABut
CANNON MADE IN 1774
BATTLE FIELD OF GUILFORD COURT HOUSE SEPTEMBER 9-1883.
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of Virginia. He saw his advantage-an easier prey, and the same result if successful. Comwallis or Clinton, either of them, captured, would put an end to the war. Washington changed his plan, deceived Clinton, moved rapidly upon the weaker general, captured him and his 7,000 men, and ended the Revolutionary War. The battle of Guilford put that capture into Washington's hand's; and thus Guilford and Yorktown became con- nected ; and the philosophy of history shows their dependence, and that the lesser event was father to the greater.
"The State of North Carolina gave General Greene 25,000 acres of western land for that day's work, now worth a million of dollars ; but the day itself has not yet obtained its proper place in American history."-Benton's Thirty Years in the U. S. Senate, p. 115.
I shall reserve for the next chapter the further movements of General Greene and the vigorous measures adopted by North Carolina to prosecute the war.
It is gratifying to close this chapter with the freedom of North Carolina from British invasion, which never again desecrated her soil.
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CHAPTER VIII.
The Retreat of Cornwallis from Guilford Court-House -Pursue, by General Greene-Disban Iment of the Militia -- Colonel Jantes Read's Command from North Carolina Remains with Greene- The Militia who Fle? from Guilford Court-House Reorganized as Part of the Continental Line under Major Pinketham Eaton -- Battle of Ho"kirk', Hill-Fall of the British Out- posts-Splendid Courage and Dash of the North Carolinians at Augusta, June 5th. 1;st-Death of Major Eaton-Greene Retires to the High Hills of Santee, 16th July, I7St.
T HE "Speedwell Iron Works," on Trouble- some Creek, was the camp of General Greene, to which he retired, reaching there on the morning of Friday. the 16th of March, 1781. He remained here until the morning of Tuesday, the 20th of March.
The disorder and derangement incident to such a fierce and sanguinary battle had to be repaired. The Americans carried their powder and lead and bullet moulds along with the army and manufac- tured their cartridges in the camp. Greene had lost his two ammunition wagons and the remnant of cartridges contained in them, and one of the first duties of his soldiers was to mould musket and riffe balls for the next battle.
The second duty was to reorganize his Virginia and North Carolina militia, who had only been called out for a six weeks' "tour." Much of this short time had already expired, and he could not hope to retain them long. The North Carolina
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militia who had fled from the field after the battle and went to their homes, which lay in a day or two of march from the battle-field. were about four hun- dred and fifty or five hundred. Some few had reported after the main army reached the camp. About five hundred and fifty Virginians fled from the field who never returned, and after they reached the camp they left by regiments, while their com- manders wore "raging" at their perfidy. Every one of Colonel MeDowell's* regiment of Virginiaus leftin this way, but the gallant Colonel adhered to Greene after his men were gone.
Mr. Houston, in his Diary, gives a most amusing account of this stampede, or, to use the ingenious circumlocution of Colonel Lee, this "voluntary and customary return of the Virginians to their homes."
Generals Butler and Eaton were immediately sent after the recreant North Carolinians, and the remainder were, it seems. attached to Colonel Read's volunteer corps and marched with General Greene in pursuit of Cornwallis. March the 21st, Greene writes to Colonel Lee, whom he had thrown forward to gain intelligence:
"Your letter, dated at New Garden yesterday, has this moment been received. Our army marched yesterday in the direct route for Magee's Ordinary, near the head- waters of Rocky River, which will be twelve miles from Bell's Mill. We expect to get two or three miles beyond
*Close kinsman of the North Carolina McDowells.
----
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Passley to-night. We have got provisions to draw, cartridges to make, and several other matters to attend to, which will oblige us to halt a little earlier than com- mon. I beg you will try to forward me the best intelli- gence you can get of the enemy's situation this morning and whether they move or not. I mean to fight the enemy again, and wish you to have your Legion and riflemen ready for action on the shortest notice. Lord Cornwallis must be soundly beaten before he will release his hold."
This was the spirit of the American commander, and demonstrated that he was the real victor at Guilford and was ready to renew the combat, while his antagonist was using every artifice to avoid the contest and, redeeming the time in rapid retreat, always keeping a stream between him and his pur- stier.
Cornwallis at first crossed to the southwestern bank of the Deep River, as if he intended to march for Salisbury, but suddenly recrossing that stream, he moved down its eastern bank, having the Haw River to his left and the Deep River to his right, and nearing their junction at Ramsey's Mill. Arriving here, he threw a temporary bridge across the Deep River, there being one already across the Haw, so that if the American army pressed him he could retreat by either outlet and burn the bridge behind him. Here at Ramsey's Mill he paused to reorganize his forces aud repair his damage as much as possible and to gather what provisions he could for his further retreat. He had left the wounded American prisoners at Guilford Court-House, and
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those of his own wounded who could not be trans- ported, about eighty. at New Garden Meeting-House.
The British army had neither courage nor spirit left. Their condition was mournful indeed, and all their energies were directed to the one idea of reaching a port of safety.
On the 30th day of March the terms of service of the Virginia and North Carolina militia expired and they insisted on their discharge. General Greene was much distressed over this loss, but see- ing it inevitable, under the call of enlistment. submitted as gracefully as possible, and returning his thanks to those who had adhered to him, they were allowed to return to their homes. Colonel Read, of North Carolina, who commanded a volunteer force of two hundred men, spoken of in a former page. was the only North Carolina organization which voluntarily remained with the American comman- der and continued to share with him in the subse- quent successful campaign in South Carolina.
It seems very difficult to trace the history of this command. I find the following letter from Colonel James Read to General Sumner, dated February 27th, 17SI, from " Miller's tavern" :
"Since. I had the pleasure of seeing you at Halifax, the Assembly honored me with the command of a regi- ment of horse. As I had your approbation to accept a command in the militia, I did not think it necessary to trouble you about this command particularly."
This is the only communication I can find in regard to it, either by Colonel Read or any one else.
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On the 20th March, General Greene writes General Washington:
"In this critical and distressing situation I am deter- mined to carry the war directly into South Carolina. The enemy will be obliged to follow us or give up his posts in that, State. If the former takes place, it will draw the war out of this State and give it an opportunity to raise its proportion of men. If they leave their posts to fall, they must lose more than they can gain here. If we continue in this State the enemy will hold their possessions in both."
Colonel Hampton, of South Carolina, had visited Greene at the Iron Works, and made him acquainted with the condition of affairs in South Carolina, and urged him to return to that State.
Before entering upon , another campaign, how- ever, General Greene deemed it proper to give a short repose to his wearied troops and to gather supplies for that part of his journey which lay through a comparatively barren country between the Yadkin and Camden, and consequently the American commander did not renew his march until the 6th of April," the day before Cornwallis reached Wilmington.
Neither was General Greene unmindful of the vicissitudes of war and the necessity of providing a line of retreat and stores for his army, should he be forced to seek shelter again in North Carolina. It was this provident characteristic that enabled
"Lee's Memoirs, p. 325.
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him to make his former wonderful retreat before the British army. To Colonel Win. R. Davie, his Com- missary General, was intrusted the important service of collecting magazines on the banks of the Catawba, and measures were adopted for establishing a con- siderable depot at Oliphant's Mill.9
As all the artillery was lost, Captain Singletou was dispatched to Prince Edward Court-House, Virginia, to obtain whatever pieces could be pro- cured from that quarter.
Perhaps it will be appropriate here, before tracing the progress of Greene, to record something of the North Carolina militia who "deserted their colors" and "returned" to their homes; for these same men will make a conspicuous figure in the history which is to follow.
During the administration of Governor Nash. the Legislature of North Carolina passed an act to punish those of her citizens who refused to perform the military duty required of them. It provided that --
"On Tarleton's Military Map, Oliphant's Mill is located in Iredell County. North Carolina, where Buffalo Creek runs into the Catawba River, on the present Western North Carolina Railroad ; but the Hon. Win. M. Robbins, who has made some research, for the author, as to its location, can hear of no tradition of a mill of any kind at this point. But on the opposite side of the Catawba River, in Ca- tawba County, on Ball's Creek, there was, many years ago, Iron Works, which continued to a recent period of time, and I am much inclined to the opinion that Oliphant's Mill was located at this Iron Works, which would be an appropriate place for the repair of arms and the storage of provisions.
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"Those persons who have been lawfully drafted and have neglected or refused to march and go into actual service on due notice, or find a substitute, as is therein directed, shall be held and deemed a Continental soldier for twelve months; and that those persons who have deserted their colors, when in actual service, shall be held and deemed a Continental soldier during the war.";
William Hooper writes Mr. Iredell on the 29th . day of March, I;SI, from Halifax, North Carolina, that ---
". The Council Extraordinary ' have passed an order to take from every inhabitant a fifth part of his provision for the use of the army; and that every man who ahan- doned his post in the last action, should be enrolled in the Continental army for twelve months."
On the 6th day of April, 1781, Thomas Gilchrist writes to Mr. Iredell from Halifax, North Carolina. that ---
"Part of the scattered militia from Guilford Court- House were rendezvousing liere at the time your letter came to hiand by one of them (a captain). These militia are now marched under the command of Colonel Linton and are sentenced to twelve months' duty, as Continentals, for their desertion."
On the 13th of April, Major Pinketham Eaton writes General Sumner from Chatham Court- House :
*Johnson, vol. 2, p. ISt.
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"I this lay received of Lieutenant Colonel William Linton, one hundred and seventy (170) men turned over into the Continental service, but am without a single officer to assist me. I shall, by General Greene's orders, march them immediately to headquarters."
On the rith of April. General Butler writes General Summer from Ramsey's Mill:
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"We have now in the field 240 men of those who fled from the field on the 15th ulto. They are for one year, and will in a few days join headquarters. My orders were to inform you from time to time of their minibers, in order that you might send on as many offi- cers as are necessary to command them. Major P. Eaton, Captain James Read, Captain Yarborough and Lieutenant John Campbell, are in service and mean to continne, with your leave."*
In less than one month after the battle these men had been collected for duty. They were neither cowards, as we shall see, nor did they avoid arrest or flee from the State; they were undisciplined men, who returned to their homes instead of their camp. They were ashamed of their conduct and willing to redeem their reputations. We shall soon find them organized as Continental soldiers under the gallant and ill-fated Eaton.
The Continental Congress had passed an act, after the compression of the regiments, in May, 1778, requiring North Carolina to raise four (4)
"These are the titles and rank held in the Continental line.
.
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more regiments or battalions for the Continental service, for twelve months. Brigadier General Sumner, of Warren County, was given the com- mand of this new brigade, and the Continental offi- cers who had lost their positions by the " compres- sion." and those who might be exchanged from prison, were to be assigned to duty in these regiments. General Sumner entered , upon this important duty with systematic energy and patri- otic .spirit. These regiments were to be raised by volunteering, or, if this failed, by draft.
A rendezvous, for these levies, was appointed in the several districts of Wilmington, Newbern, Halifax, Hillsboro and Salisbury, and the militia officers were ordered to assemble their commands and return their respective quotas and have them in readiness by the 25th April, 1781.
The voluminous correspondence of General Sumner with Colonel Nicholas Long, the Commis- sary General of the State, Major Eaton, Colonel Hal. Dixon, General Butler and numerous subordi- nate officers, discloses the insuperable difficulties which prevented the consummation of this plan at that time; want of arms and clothing being the greatest, while other parts of the State were disloval and refused to respond. In the meantime, General Sumner, anxious to render service to his country, had offered to command a brigade of militia under Greene, but for some unfortunate and inexplicable reason the offer was declined.
One of the four regiments was to have been
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cavalry, but no effort, it seems, was made to raise it. The total inability of the State to equip cavalry was probably the reason for abandoning it.
In a letter of General Sumner's, without date, he alludes to the fact that General Greene had instructed him to make "an arrangement for the Continental line," and " that he had met the officers of the State, who could convene at Halifax the 23d January, 17Si, but the difficulty of making the formna- tion, at this time, was that the dates of the officers' commissions who were in captivity could not be procured. However, they had formed a temporary arrangement of the officers present to receive the four regiments ordered to be raised by the State. Since the arrival" of the officers who were in cap- tivity we have been as expeditious as desirous in making a re-arrangement of the line of officers. Colonel James Armstrong, Colonel Gideon Lamb, Lieutenant Colonel James Thackston. Lientenant Colonel William Lee Davidson, Captain Micajah Lewis and Captain Francis Childs resigned, to be recommended by the board of officers, at Halifax, to Congress, to permit them to retire on half pay. Lieutenant Colonel Win. Lee Davidson, Colonel Gideon Lamb and Captain Micajal Lewis are since dead."
February 24th, 1781, General Sumner writes General Greene that he
*In June, 17SI.
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" Had sent expresses to Colonel Ashes and Major Murfreet, who were, by the temporary arrangement of the officers of the North Carolina line, present in the State, to take charge of two of the regiments, to ac- quaint them without delay that it was your wish that they join the militia camp to render such assistance as may be in their power. Major Dixont and Major Arm- strong' are to take charge of the other two regiments. Major Dixon is in your camp, who is Inspector General of militia, and promised me to join that camp upon a general rendezvous. Major Armstrong is with the forces from the district of Salisbury. A large number of the officers of the State are, to my knowledge, already in the militia camp."
I quote this letter entire, so far as it refers to the organization of the regular troops, to show the changes that afterwards occurred ; for when the three regiments moved, in' July, they were com- manded respectively by Colonel John B. Ashe and Majors John Armstrong and Reading Blount, as General Summer's correspondence shows. How it was that Murfree did not reach the rendezvous from Newbern, or did not take the command as- signed him, I am not able to solve.
While General Sumner was still exerting all his power to collect the new levies and provide them with arms, Major Pinketham Eaton, who was at or near the camp of General Butler, on Deep River. was ordered to march and join the army under General Greene, with the, now, re-assembled militia
¡Hardy Murfree.
*John B. Ashe. #" Hal" Dixon. John Armstrong.
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from Guilford Court-House, and we will have to trace their history as a part of that magnificent little army which was, so soon, to redeem South Carolina and Georgia from the British power.
I-SI. On the 17th day of April, Major Dixon, as Inspector General, was ordered to forward two subaltern officers to Major Eaton, "who was informed that more of the militia were on their way to his command."
Eaton was detained until about the 23d of April before he began his march to South Carolina. and did not reach General Greene until about the 16th of May, when his command was attached to Lee's Legion as one of the corps which was to act against Augusta."
On the 6th day of April, General Greene detached Colonel Lee, with orders to seek General Marion and make a junction with his forces. He was directed, however, to follow in the track of Corn- wallis as far as Cross Creek, in order to produce the impression that the American army would fol- low in that direction to Wilmington.
From Cross Creek, Lee moved east rapidly, then south, crossing Drowning Creek, then by Marion Court-House to Pope's Ferry, on the Great Pee Dee, where, on the 14th day of April, he formed a junction with General Marion. Marion furnished the boats, which he had concealed, to cross the stream, and with their joint force they made a hur- ried march almost west to Fort Watson, on the
*Johnson's Life of Greene, vol. 2, p. 126.
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Santee, below Camden and below the confluence of the Wateree and Santee.
On the ;th day of April. General Greene crossed the Deep River with his army and moved west in a direct line to Mark's Ferry on the Yadkin; then south, crossing Rocky River and Lynch's Creek, to Camden, which vicinity he reached on the 19th day of April.
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