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 27
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The gallant and glorious record of the citizen soldiery of the Carolinas is thus described by Johnson: " Nor had the militia been wanting in gallantry and perseverance. It was with equal astonishment that both the second line of the American regulars and the troops of the enemy contemplated these men, steadily and without fal- tering, advance with shouts and exportations into the hottest of the enemy's fre unaffected by the con- tinved fall of their comrades around them. Gene- ral Greene, to express his admiration of the firm- ness exhibited on this occasion by the militia, says of them in a letter to General Steuben, Such con- duct would have graced the veterans of the great King of Prussia. But it was impossible that this could endure long, for those men were all this time receiving the fire of double their number. Their artillery was dismounted and disabled, and that of the enemy was vomiting destruction in their ranks."*
"Johnson's Life of Greene, vol. 2, p. 225.
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Colonel Carrington, in "His Battles of the American Revolution,"" says "the North Caro- lina militia, however, fired seventeen rounds before their retreat, and General Sumner so promptly pushed the battalions of Ashe, Armstrong and Blount into the gap that the first line was restored and the British in turn retreated."
G. W. Greene thus describes the conflict: "Mean- while, the first line was bearing up against the weight of the whole English army. Their blood had been warmed by the skirmish, and their fire now ran from flank to flank throughout the line, neither too high noi too low, but striking with that fearful precision which daily practice gives to the hunter's aim. It was answered by the deep, regu- lar volleys of the British musketry. The fearful sound spread far and wide through the gloomy twilight of the wood. And still the militia held their ground without wavering, and still the un- shaken British line kept up its deadly fire."
Stedman. in his History,+ says "the pressure of the enemy's fire was such as compelled the third regiment, or 'Buffs,' to give way, the regi- ment being composed of new troops. The re- mains of those veteran corps, the 63d and 64th regiments, who had served the whole of the war, lost none of their fame in this action. They rushed with bayonets into the midst of the enemy, nor did they give ground until overpowered by numbers and severe slaughter."
The courage and constancy of the North Carolina
*P. 5So. +Vol. 2. P. 378.
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militia are thus avouched by American and Eng- lish historians. Colonel Malmedy. who commanded them on that day, was a French nobleman, who, like Lafayette, had volunteered his services to the Continental Congress and came to aid the colonies in their struggle for freedom.
If, justly or unjustly, reproach had been cast on the name of the North Carolina militia, for not rally- ing again to their standard at the battle of Guilford Court-House, after having poured such deadly fires into the advance of the British line, that reproach was blotted out on the sanguinary field of Eutaw Springs. They set thereto their seal of blood, on this bright September day, that, in the language of Erskine, "they were born free and would never die slaves."
This militia was mostly from the strong Whig districts who had early and devotedly espoused the cause of independence, and were ever ready to main- tain the liberty for which they declared. Their obsti- nate and unyielding courage, on this day, was never excelled by any troops, and was equalled only once, in the invasion of the South, by the troops of North Carolina, who fought. at Camden, under " Hal." Dixon, "as long as a cartridge remained in their belts." To these "embattled farmers" be everlasting honor! In warthey handled their muskets and bayo- nets with the skill and gallantry of heroes ; in peace, they drove the ploughshare with the industry and constancy of patriot citizens. In both spheres they were Carolinians worthy of their race and their
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State. and their memories should be ever enshrined in the hearts of their liberated countrymen.
Overpowered by numbers, these stern men retreated sullenle; but as they fell back in sight of the North Carolina regulars, General Sumner gave the "Forward""' and the battalions of Ashe, Arm- strong and Blount, were pushed so promptly into the gap, says Carrington, that the first line was restored and the British in turn retreated.
. It was at this crisis in the battle, when the North Carolinians had forced the British to retreat, that General Greene sent the laconic message to Otho Williams, who commanded on the left of the second line, " Let Williams advance and sweep the field with his bayonets." So admirable and soldierly was the forward movement of the North Carolina regulars. made under General Sumner, that General Greene. in a burst of enthusiasm, exclaimed, " I was at a loss which most to admire, the gallantry of the officers or the good conduct of their men.". It is probable that at least one-third of the troops who drove back this charge of the British, with so much impetuosity and intrepidity, were the same men who did such deadly work, with their hunting rifles, at Guilford Court-House.
They had been drilled and disciplined at Halifax. and at the camp on the Santee, and were burning to redeem the reputation which their inexperience had so tarnished in the former conflict. They had bayonets now, instead of squirrel rifles, and had been taught to use them, and their splendid charge
*Johnson, vol. 2, p. 225.
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on the advancing live of English veterans, " who had fought through the whole war," was evidence of how well they had learned the military lessons of the camp. Officers and soldiers vied with each other in deeds of daring and heroism, and as the watchful eve of the American commander glanced from one to the other, in this brilliant coup de main, his face beamed with joy and admiration ; but when the conflict was over, he declared that he did not know on which to bestow the highest praise. Here let history place the wreath of honor, undivided and unfading forever, on the brow of officer and soldier alike.
Colonel Stewart, witnessing the discomfiture of his line, ordered up his reserve, but it was swept away in the torrent of retreat, which was rushing before the bayonets of Williams and Sumner, and all seemed lost to the British army. Majoribanks alone held his position in the black-jacks on the creek, and the whole British line swung around him, like a pivot, on the right. Helter-skelter they fed through the field containing their camp, and on to the brick mansion-house in its rear. Lee's infantry alone was saved from disorder and confu- sion in the pursuit, and were well nigh entering the house with the enemy. but Major Sheridan was victor in the race, and repelled the infantry. who retreated, holding some prisoners they had taken between them and the garrison to protect themselves from its deadly fire.
Victory, which was now in the American hands, was jeopardized and almost lost by a hitherto
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'meech and unexpected foe; but one which has so often conquered heroes and patriots before. and destroyed the hopes which fortune had placed in their hands. General Greene had distributed his hogsheads of rum to his troops on the eve of battle : fatigue had whetted their appetites for another pu- tation, and as they entered the British camp they discovered this lurking enemy among the tents. They paused to drink and repeat the toast to their good fortune. when the vigilance of Colonel Stewart detected their indiscretion. His troops were mia- chines of military discipline, and at the word of command, fell into ranks and were soon on the Americans that loitered among the " fleshpots " ofthe camp. The Americans were driven back. Charge after charge had been made on Majoribanks, but that man. of the lion heart, still stood like a stone- wall and resisted every assault. Colonel Hender- son had fallen a wounded victim to his fire on the flank: Colonel Washington was a wounded captive in his hands, and a lieutenant and an ensign of this gallant band of cavalry were left alone to lead its shattered columns.
Lee had been ordered to charge on the right, but was not to be found by the messenger. Coffin was advancing unopposed on the American right and the tide was setting fast against the American arins. Some one blundered again by rushing the cannon in the field to bombard the mansion-house, but dragging it too close, the artillerists were shot down by the garrison and the cannons were abandoned.
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Grecne still held to his prisoners taken in the early part of the action ; but seeing that all would be lost if his army were not re-organized, ordered a retreat. Coffin was advancing, Lee could nowhere be found, and Greene called on Colonel Hampton. who had succeeded Henderson in the field, to cover the retreat.
This was gallantly done. Coffin was driven to the field again, but Hampton, in his impetuosity. was exposed to the fire, from the black-jacks, which Colonel Polk declared seemed to him "to kill every man but himself."
The retreat of Coffin gave the Americans time to rally west of the British camp, in the woods, where the first confict began.
The enemy was too much crippled "to venture beyond the cover of the house."
General Greene halted long enough to collect his wounded, and having made arrangements to bury his dead, left a strong picket under Colonel Hampton on the field; he withdrew his army to Burdells. seven miles distant.
"Both parties," says Johnson, "claimed the vic- tory, but there is no difficulty in deciding the question between them upon the plainest principles. The British army was chased from the field at the point of the bayonet and took refuge in a fortress; the Americans were repulsed from that fortress."
But in my judgment, it was not the fortress that gave the English the victory claimed. It was the
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camp, with its rum and spoils, that demoralized the pursuit of the enemy and intoxicated the pursuers.
Disorder and indiscretion, weakness and inde- cision followed, and the victory was lost.
In reading the history of the Revolutionary war. the student of this day is often astonished. and sometimes amused, to read the reports of our officers who state with much glorification that they captured a large quantity of necessary supplies, so much Wanted in the American camp, and in the enumera- tion of these "necessary supplies" they begin with "rum" and follow with " bread and hospital stores." It was seldom that "rum" was ever destroyed to lessen the burden of the march. We have seen that Greene sent back his baggage before the battle began, but was careful to retain the "hogsheads of rum and hospital stores."
The British commander did not stay long or consider much "the order of his going."
"McArthur was called up from Fairlawn to cover Colonel Stewart's retreat; and leaving sev- enty of his wounded to his enemy, and many of his dead unburied; breaking the stocks of one thousand stand of arms and casting them into the spring : destroying his stores and then moving off precipitately, the English commander fell back and. retreated to Fairlawn."#
General Greene pursued for one day, on the road to Charleston, but finding that Colonel Stewart still retired before him, and being now left at lib-
*Johnson. vol. 2, p. 232.
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erty to watch the movements of Cornwallis; and his wounded and prisoners requiring his attention, he resolved again to retire to the High Hills of the Santee.
The last regular army of the Crown had been driven to its seacoast defence, bleeding and dying. Majoribanks, the gallant deliverer of this shattered army, was wounded. and shortly thereafter died. He was buried on the roadside in their flight to the sea. Webster and Majoribanks, it may be said of them, that they offered themselves as willing sacrifices to their king, knowing that only with their lives could be purchased the escape of their commands from destruction. Both sur- vived their battles long enough to be told that the American commander had fled from the field, but both lived to find that commander following the line of their flight. Both died on their way to the sea, and were buried in the land they fought to enslave. To the credit of that land no dishonor has been shown to their last resting-places, and. though foes to American liberty, their names, as soldiers, will ever awaken in every manly breast, a feeling of pity for their misfortune, and a chivalric sentiment of admiration for the heroie spirits which animated them in their discharge of duty to their Crown and kingdom. The brave are never con- temned.
The Americans captured and held 500 prisoners as the result of this battle. They lost forty prisoners. They captured one cannon, and by indiscretion lost
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four. Sixty-one American officers had been killed and wounded. Twenty-one of these had died on the field of battle, and among them Colonel Richard Campbell, of Virginia, who had shared the honors and the toils of the campaign from "Camp Repose," of the Pre Dee, to this last battle in the south. He fell as his victorious troops were driving the enemy before them: be was pierced by a ball through the breast, and only survived a few hours.
ยท The whole American casualties are given by General Greene, as one lieutenant colonel, six cap- tains, five subalterns, and ninety rank and file. killed: two lieutenant colonels, Henderson and Howard, seven captains, twenty lieutenants, twenty- four sergeants and two hundred and pine rank and file, wounded. Colonel Washington fell into the hands of the enemy a wounded prisoner.
The British casualties are given by Colonel Stewart. as three commissioned officers, six ser- geants and seventy-six men, killed; sixteen com- missioned officers, twenty sergeants, and two hun- dred and thirty-two men, missing. Total casualties six hundred and ninety-three. These casualties are, however, far below the true figures, for he lost , five hundred prisoners, double his admitted loss of missing.
On the 12th day of September, four days after the battle on the Stli, General Greene recrossed the Santee at Nelson's Ferry, and on the 15th was in his old camp at the "High Hills of Santee." His army was soon reduced to less than one thousand
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effective men, with nearly six hundred wounded. of both armies, in his charge.
On the 9th of November, General Greene's camp was enlivened by the news of the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown.
On the ISth the High Hills were abandoned, and numerous minor operations concluded the Southern campaign; but the armies did not again meet in the field."#
*Carrington's Battles, p. 583.
CHAPTER XI.
Sketches of Charles au 1 Joseph MeDowell- Joseph Graham -- Major " Hal." Dixon-Brigadier General Jethro Sunner-General Rutherford -- General Butler -- The End.
IT was not my original purpose to relate all the minor military transactions which occurred during the invasion of the Southern Colonies, nor to record the conflicts between the Whigs and Tories, which were collateral to the general operations of the American and English armies, and, therefore, I shall not further pursue the narrative of those less events which followed the battle of Eutaw Springs.
Here is a pleasant resting-place, for the contempla- tion of North Carolinians. where her Regular soldiers won such imperishable renown and her Militia were no less gallant and steady than her Regulars. North Carolina furnished half the soldiers who fought the battle of Eutaw Springs and drove the British army of invasion forever from the Southern provinces. The tidings of this victory reached Yorktown and inspired the besiegers with fresh spirit and enter- prise, and brought dismay to those within, who were only counting the days when their captivity would begin. Independence was about to burst like a beacon light over the American States.
It is due, however, to some of the heroes of North Carolina, who bore such conspicuous parts in this noble struggle for liberty, that they should be better
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known to our people, in order that honor may vet be done to their memories.
Tothe brothers, CHARLESand JOSEPH MCDOWELL, of Quaker Meadows, and to their no less gallant cousin. Joseph MeDowell, of Pleasant Garden, Burke County, North Carolina, are due more credit and honor for the victory of King's Mountain than to any other leaders who participated in that decisive and wonderful battle. Vet, the name of McDowell does not appear on the granite shaft, raised by patriot hands. on those memorable heights -- a reproach to the intelligence of the men who wrote its inscrip- tions and an indignity to North Carolina which contributed so largely to construct the monument. It was Colonel Charles MeDowell, and Major Joseph McDowell, his brother, who originated the idea of organizing a force to capture Ferguson, and in con- junction with their cousin, they were the most prominent in executing the plan which they had conceived.
Major Joseph McDowell was subsequently a General of militia and was known as General McDowell. He also served as a member of Con- gress from North Carolina during the years of 1787, ISS, 1791 and 1792. In 178S he was a member of the State Convention which met for the considera- tion of the Federal Constitution. He was of Scotch- Irish descent; his ancestors came to North Carolina by the way of Virginia. The McDowells of North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio are all of one common stock.
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On ons of the foot hills of the Blue Ridge, a beautiful round knob, selected for its lovely view, and overhanging the "Quaker Meadows," is the cemetery of the MeDowell family. On a slab of marble, erected as a head-stone, is this inscription :
"TO THE MEMORY OF GENERAL CHARLES McDOWELL. A WHIG OFFICER IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. WHO DIED, AS HE HAD LIVED, A PATRIOT, THE 3IST MARCH, ISTS, AGED ABOUT 70 YEARS."
By his side is the unmarked grave of Major Joseph McDowell, his brother. Not a stone is raised to his memory; not a line is carved to recount his deeds of valor and patriotism ; no epitaph tells the story of King's Mountain and Cowpens and Ram- sour's Mill, where he was foremost in the fight ; no record speaks to the stranger and says, here lies a hero who was victorious in every field, and never turned his back on a foe. The only mark that indicates the grave of this gallant soldier is the letter J rudely carved on a white oak tree that stands at its head.
What a reproach to those who enjoy the liber- ties that were purchased with his blood ! Will the State he loved and served so well suffer this re- proach to continue ?
Close by his side, the remains of his cousin,
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Joseph McDowell, of Pleasant Garden, lie On a head-stone is this inscription :
"HERE LIES THE BODY OF CAPTAIN JOSEPH MEDOWELL, BORN 2-TH FEBRUARY, 17-5, tite other f, ure bliterated, AGED 60 YEARS."
GENERAL JOSEPH GRAHAM, who was Major of mounted infantry, or dragoons, during the war, has done more to vindicate the truth of North Caro- lina's Revolutionary history than any citizen she has produced.
The carefully-prepared articles which he wrote in IS21, for Judge Murphey, who was, at that time, collecting material for a history of North Carolina, have been published in the University Magazine, at Chapel Hill. They were designed to correct the misstatements of cotemporary historians, who were blindly following in the footpath of error, which others had trodden, as is so much the custom of this day. They were written by Major Graham, who was an eye-witness and participant in most of the events related, and he appeals to the hundreds of his associates, then living, for the truth of his story.
To these sketches the author again acknowledges his indebtedness for much that has been reproduced in this book.
Perhaps the most brilliant officer, whose services enriched the annals of that memorable invasion, was MyJOR "HAL." DIXON, whose dashing and
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impetuous courage was so splendidly displayed among the shattered legions of Gates, at Camden. He refused to fly when his comrades had been driven from the field and his devoted band had been left exposed to the bayonet charge on its front and Ranks. With a fierce spirit he faced his battalion to the charge, from either side, and fought as "long as a cartridge was in his belt," then, resorting to the bavonet himself, he cut his way through the attack- ing hosts and made good his retreat. We know from the roster that he died July 17th, 1782, after Independence had been won, but where he closed his eyes in death or where is his unmarked grave, we cannot tell. His letters, in 17SI, several times, speak of returning to Caswell County, and it may be that his remains rest there, "in hope again to rise."
Among the militia officers, whose constant labors and services were devoted to their country's cause, two men deserve most honorable mention: BRIGA- DIER GENERAL GRIFFITH RUTHERFORD, of Rowan County, and BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN BUTLER, of Orange County. They were seldom out of the military field, and always bore themselves proudly and manfully in battle. General Rutherford was severely wounded at Gates' defeat in August, 1780, and afterwards was a great sufferer in the prison camp of the enemy at St. Augustine. He was exchanged in July, 1731, and in September he was again in the field. He was honored by having a county named for him. He subsequently removed
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to Tennessee, where a like honor was in store for him.
The greatest soldier of that day, from North Caro- lina, was BRIGADIER GENERAL JETHRO SUMNER, of Warren County. We know that he passed, without reproach, through the terrible campaigns of Washington, in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and survived as one of the seven hundred from a brigade of more than five thousand men, and was promoted for gallantryaud skill displayed amid those bloody scenes. For his constancy, fidelity and great influence in the State, he was detached to raise the four new regiments of regulars in North Carolina in I-So-'Sz, and his letters during that period evince such a lofty and unselfish patriotism that they challenge the admiration of every reader. If his patriotic offer to command the militia, assem- bling for the battle of Guilford Court-House, had been accepted. it is probable, nay, alinost certain, that the revolutionary struggle would have ended at that place, instead of Yorktown, and that the lives of thousands of good men would have been spared. Under his eye, and with his discipline and example to prepare and encourage them, the North Carolina regulars and militia were among the fore- . most in the fight, exciting the wonder and admira- tion of General Greene, at Eutaw Springs.
In the most distressing condition of public affairs; amidst the jealousies of the smaller men of that day; without arms or equipments for his soldiers when organized: surrounded by doubting patriots and
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disloval Tories, he never lowered his crest or trailed his flag in the dust, but with undaunted will and unswerving faith, he struggled manfully against every obstacle and danger, until at last he was able to put in the field three battalions of disciplined soldiers, who gave the final and fatal blow to British prestige and power in the South. He made 110 parade over his victory, but was as modest in triumph as he was constant and faithful in disaster. One .of the earliest military orders preserved in North Carolina is this:
"IN COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, November 28th, 1,75. "HALIFAX.
"Ordered that Major Jethro Sumner raise what minute men and volunteers he can and follow Colonel Long with the utmost despatch. A copy by order.
"ORONDE. DAVIS, Clerk."
And from that day to the end of the struggle, more than seven years, he was in the active service of his country. It is not recorded of him, that he ever fled from the foe or left his soldiers in the field. He enjoyed the full confidence of Washington, Lafayette and Greene, and was their correspondent while he was in the South.
His letters do not indicate that he was either educated or cultivated, but he possessed that native genius and originality of thought that gave him confidence and power in every emergency. He knew men and things from observation and expe- rience, and was ever ready to profit by the knowl- edge.
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He was not irritable like Greene, and, in his unguarded correspondence, never spoke evil of his enemies. He was hopeful. patient, serene and faithful in the most trying scenes of life, and never faltered in his devotion to the cause of the Colonies. I have no authentic record of General Sumner's early life. Wheeler says he was born in Virginia, but Wheeler is so often inaccurate that he can- , not be relied upon. In the same sketch he says, "General Sumner behaved gallantly at Camden." He was not there. He was appointed Colonel of the third regiment of Regulars the 15th of April. 1776, and Brigadier General the 9th January, 1779.
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