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 3
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So complete was the subjugation of South Caro- lina, and so hopeless appeared to them the future of that State, that " many fainted at the hard option between submission and ruin." Charles Pinckney. lately President of the South Carolina Senate. classing himself among those who, from the hurry and confusion of the times, had been misled, desired toshow every mark of allegiance. Rawlins Lowndes, who but a few months before had been President of the State of South Carolina, excused himself for having reluctantly given way to necessity, and
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accepted any test to prove that, with the unre- strained dictates of his own mind, he now attached himself to the royal government. Henry Middle- ton. President of the first American Congress. though still partial to a cause for which he lind been so long engaged, promised to do nothing to keep up the spirit of independence, ard to demean himself as a faithful subject.
At the end of June. 17So, Cornwallis reported that all resistance in Georgia and South Carolina had ceased, and that as soon as the harvest was gathered he would march into North Carolina and subdue that State. He little suspected that those who appeared so submissive under duress were then meditating revenge for his indignities, and that common suffering was bringing exiles and patriots into concert of action and that they only waited the magnetic names of such leaders as Marion and Sumter and Clarke to form them into a combined force of relentless foes.
Clinton, on the 5th of June, had sailed for New York, and left Lord Cornwallis in command of his victorious army.
Cornwallis had 5,coo troops in South Carolina and 2,000 in Georgia, and expected to supplement this force with regiments he determined to organize among the lovalists of those States. The inhabi- tants in the districts were enrolled; the men above forty years were to be held responsible for order and the younger men were held liable to military service.
*Bancroft, vol. 5, pp. 393-'.1.
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Major Patrick Ferguson was sent into the dis tricts to see that these organizations were made and the lists furnished to the commander. Any one found thereafter in arms against the King was to be sentenced to death for desertion and treason. " Commissions were put into the hands of men vold of honor and compassion, and who gathered about them profligate ruffians and roamed through the State indulging in rapine and ready to put patriots to death as outlaws. Cornwallis never regarded a deserter, or any one whom a court-martial sentenced to death, as a subject of mercy. A quartermaster of Tarleton's Legion entered the house of Samuel Wyley, near Camden, and, because he had served as a volunteer in the defence of Charleston, cut him in pieces."
The recitation of the wrongs and oppressions inflicted by this heartless commander upon the people of these prostrate States might be length- ened into a volume of itself. Lord Rawdon, the next in command to Lord Cornwallis, vied with his chief in the burthens and exactions which he put upon the unfortunate and wretched citizens, and boasted of his shame aud inhumanity.
Cornwallis established military posts at George- town, Beaufort, Charleston and Savannah, on the coast, and at Augusta, Ninety-Six and Camden, in the interior. Camden was the key between the North and the South.
We shall now leave Cornwallis indulging the delusive idea that he had conquered a lasting peace
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by breaking the strength and spirit of his seem- ingly helpless victims, and only waiting for the harvest to be gathered that he might find subsist- ence for the sanguinary hordes which he expected to lead in triumph through the devoted province of
North Carolina. He knew ber history: that in Ifti her citizens had made armed resistance to extortion and tyranny at the bloody field of Ala- mance ; that the men of Mecklenburg had been the 'first to hurl defiance at British authority, and he was impatient to visit upon them the power of his wrath.
Mr. Houston, a member of Congress froni Georgia, hearing of the oppressive measures inflicted on his people, wrote to Mr. Jay in prophetic language :
"Our misfortunes are, under God, the source of our safety. When they have wrought up the spirit of the people to fury and desperation, they will be driven from the country."
The perilous condition of Charleston had aroused apprehensions over the whole country for the safety of that city and the army which was hemmed in its narrow limits. Washington, understanding the importance of prompt and decisive measures for the rescue of Lincoln, detached from his small army of only ten thousand five hundred men, the Maryland division of 2,000 men, and the Delaware regiment, and put them under marching orders for the Caro- linas:
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The Baron DeKalb was given the command, but he met with many obstructions in his way. Charles- ton fell before he had passed through the State of Virginia. He entered North Carolina the zoth June, 17Sc, and halted at Hillsboro to rest his weary troops.
North Carolina was at this time in poor condi- tion to resist invasion or repel her aggressive enemy. All of her regulars were languishing in British prisons on the sea-coasts; such of her militia as had learned to make war in the recent campaigns of Georgia ard South Carolina, and their veteran officers, were fettered with paroles and many of those who returned before Charleston was invested came to their homes with shattered constitutions and enfeebled by the malaria of that uithealthy region.
She had only her militia and a part of hier "minute men " to whom she could appeal for aid ; and yet, so patriotic was the response to her call, that more men offered their services than could be armed. The State was almost destitute of military equipments.
The Legislature called for S,cco militia to repel the invasion, and Caswell in the east and Ruther- ford in the west were soon actively engaged in organizing these forces. "North Carolina made a requisition for arms on Virginia and received them. With a magnanimity which knew nothing of fear, Virginia laid herself bare for the protection of the Carolinas."*
*Bancroft, vol. 5, p. 384.
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Charleston, after that place was invested, and now joined the militia.
" Five hundred men remained under the immediate command of General Rutherford. Ou the evening of the 14th he received intelligence that the Tories were embodying in arms beyond the Catawba River, in Tryon County, about forty miles northwest of his (then posi- tion. He issued orders to Colonel Francis Locke, of Rowan, Major David Wilson, of Mecklenburg, to Cap- tains Falls and Brandon, also to other officers, to make every effort to raise men to disperse the Tories, it being deemed impolitic by General Rutherford to weaken his own force until the object of Lord Rawdon's expedition was better ascertained.
"On the 15th, General Rutherford advanced two miles to the south of Charlotte. On the 17th he was informed that Lord Rawdon had retired toward Camden, and the Tories were assembled in force at Ramsour's Mill, near the south fork of the Catawba. A man by the name of John Moore, whose father and family resided about six miles from Ramsout's Mill, had joined the British army the prece ding winter, and leaving the detachment under Cornwallis on the march from Charleston to Cantden, he arrived at his father's on the 7th of June, wearing a sword and an old tattered suit of regimentals. He announced himself as a lieutenant colonel of the regi- inent of North Carolina loyalists commanded by Colonel John Hamilton, of Halifax County. He gave to the people of the neighborhood the first particular account they had received of the siege and capture of Charleston and the advance of the British troops to Camden. He appointed the roth of June for an assembling of the people in the woods on Indian Creek, seven miles from
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Ramsour's. Forty men assembled, and Moore told them it was not the wish of Lord Cornwallis that they should embody at that time, but that they and all other loyal subjects should hold themselves in readiness, and in the meantime get in their harvest; that before the getting in of the harvest it would be difficult to procure provis- ions for the British army; and that as soon as the country could furnish subsistence to the army, it would advance into North Carolina and support the royalists.
" Before this meeting broke up an express arrived to inform them that Major Joseph MeDowell, of Burke County, with twenty men, was within eight miles of them, in search of some of the principal persons of their party. Confident of their strength, they resolved to attack Mc- Dowell, but some preparation being necessary, they could not march until next morning, when, finding he had retired, they pursued him to the ledge of the moun- tains which separate the counties of Lincoln and Burke, and not being able to overtake hiim, Moore directed them to return home and meet him on the 13th at Ramsour's Mill. On that day two hundred men met Moore, and they were joined on the next day by many others, among whom was Nicholas Welch. a major in the regiment commanded by Colonel Hamilton. He had lived in that neighborhood and had joined the British army eighteen months before. He was directly from the army of Lord Cornwallis, and gave information of Colonel Buford's defeat. He wore a rich suit of regimentals, and exhibited a considerable number of guineas, by which he sought to allure some, while he endeavored to intimidate others by an account of the success of the British army in all operations of the South and the total inability of the Whigs to make further opposition. His
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conduct had the desired effect, and much more confi- dence was placed in him than in Colonel Moore. They remained in camp until the 20th, during which time a detachment. commanded by Colonel Moore, made an unsuccessful attempt to capture Colonel Hugh Brevard and Major Joseph McDowell, cach of whom came into the neighborhood with a number of Whigs to harass the Tories, who were assembling.
" By the 20th nearly thirteen hundred nien had assem- bled at Ramsour's, one-fourth of whom were without aris. General Rutherford resolved to concentrate his force and attack them as soon as he learned that Lord Rawdon had retired to Camden. With this view, he marched, on Sunday, the 18th, from his camp. south of Charlotte, to the Tuckascege Ford. on the Catawba River, twelve miles nearer to Ramsour's. In the evening of that day he dispatched an express to Colonel Locke, advising him of his movement, and of the enemy's strength, and ordering Locke to join him on the 19th in the evening, or on the 20th in the morning, a few miles in advance of the Tuckaseege Ford. The express was neglected and did not reach Colonel Locke. The morning of the 19th was wet, and the arms of General Rutherford's men were out of order. At midday the weather cleared up and orders were given to the men to discharge their guns. This discharge produced an alarni in the neighborhood, and the people, thinking that the Tories were attempting to cross the river, many of them came in with arms and joined Rutherford. In the even- ing he crossed the river and encamped sixteen miles from Ramsour's.
"When Rutherford crossed the river, it was believed he would march in the night and attack the Tories next
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morning: but, expecting that his express had reached Colonel Locke, he awaited for Locke's arrival, that he might, on the next day, march in full to the attack.
"At ten o'clock at night, Colonel James Johnston, * of Tryon County, reached Rutherford's camp. He had been dispatchel by Colonel Locke to give notice of his intention to attack the Tories at sunrise the next morn- ing, and requesting Rutherford's co-operation. Ruther- ford, in confident expectation that his express had reached Colonel Locke, shortly after Colonel Johnston had left, made no movement.
" In pursuance of the orders given to Colonel Locke, and the other officers at Mallard, on the 14th, they severally collected as many men as they could, and, on the morning of the rStli, Major Wilson, with sixty-five men, passed the Catawba at Tool's Ford and joined Major McDowell with twenty-five men. They passed up the river at right angles with the position of the Tories, to join the detachment of friends who were assembling at the upper fords.
"At MeEwen's Ford, being joined by Captain Falls, with forty men under his command, they continued their march up the east side of Mountain Creek, and on Monday, the roth, they joined Colonel Locke, Captain Brandon and other officers, with two hundred and seventy men. The whole force united amounted to four hun- dred men. They encamped on Mountain Creek, sixteen miles from Ramsour's.
"The officers met in council and they were unanimous in the opinion that it would be unsafe to remain in that position, as the Tories could attack them after a march of a few hours, and, from the inferiority of their force,
*Father of Robert Johuston, Esq., of Lincoln county.
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they had no doubt the Tories would march on them as soon as they learned where they were:
"It was first proposed that they should recross the Catawba at Sherrill's Ford, sis miles in their rear, and wait for reinforcements, believing that they could pre- vent the Tories from crossing. To this, it was objected that a retrograde movement would embolden the Tories, whose numbers were increasing as fast as, probably, their own numbers would increase. after they had'recrossed the River, and no additional security could therefore be obtained by such a movement.
"It was next proposed that they should march directly down the river and join General Rutherford, who was then distant from them about thirty-five miles.
"It was said this movement could be made without risk, as, in making it, they would not be nearer Ramsont's than they were .. To this prudent proposition it was objected that nearly all the effective Whigs of that sec- tion were from home either with them or General Ruther- ford, and such a movement would leave their families exposed and their houses unprotected from pillage; that it would also be a dangerous movement for themselves and they might encounter them in their march. It was insinuated that these propositions proceeded, if not from fear, at least from an unwillingness to meet the Tories, and therefore another proposition was made, which was, notwithstanding their disparity of force, they should marchi during the night and attack the Tories in their camp early next morning.
"It was said that, the Tories being ignorant of their force and suddenly attacked, would be easily routed. The more prudent members of the council could not brook the insinuation of cowardice, and, trusting to that
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fortune which sometime. crowns even rashness with suc- cess, it was unanimously resolved immediately to march and at daybreak to attack the Tories. Colonel Johnston, being well acquainted with the country, was immediately dispatched to apprise General Rutherford of this resolu- tion.
"Late in theevening they commenced their march from Mountain Creek, and passing down the south side of the mountain they halted at the west end of it for an hour in the night, and the officers convened to determine on the plan of attack. It was determined that the com- panies counaded by Captains Falls, MeDowell and Brandon should act on horseback aud march in front. No other arrangements were made and it was left to the offi- cors to be governed by circumstances after they should reach the enemy. They resumed their march and arrived within a mile of the enemy's camp at daylight. "The Tories were eucamped on a hill three hundred yards east of Ramsour's Mill and a half mile north of the present flourishing village of Lincolnton. The ridge stretched nearly to the east on the south side of the mill- pond, and the road leading to the Tucka-cege Ford, by the mill, crosses the point of the ridge in a northwestern direction. The Tories occupied an excellent position on a summit of the . ridge, their right on the road front- ing the south. The ridge bas a very gentle slope, and was then interspersed with only a few trees, and the fire of the Tories had full rake in front for more than two hundred yards. The foot of the hill was bounded by a glade, the side of which was covered with bushes. The road passed the western end of the glade at right angles: opposite the centre of the line and on the road a fence extended from the glade to a point opposite the right of
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the line, The picket guard, twelve in number, were stationed on the road, two hundred and fifty yards south of the glade, and six hundred yards from the encamin- ment.
"The companies of Captains Falls, McDowell and Brandon, being mounted, the other troops under Colonel Locke were arranged in the road, two deep behind them. and, without any other organization or orders, they were marched to battle. When the horsemen came within . sight of the picket, they perceived that their approach had not been anticipated.
"The picket fired and fled to their camp. The horse- men pursued, and turning to the right, out of the road, they rode up within thirty steps of the line and fired at the Tories, who, being in confusion, had not time to form their line; but seeing only a few men assailing them, they quickly recovered from their panic, and poared in a destructive fire, which obliged the horsemen to retreat. They retreated in disorder, passing through the infantry, who were advancing; several of the infantry joined them and never came into action. At a convenient distance the greater part of the horsemen rallied, and returning to the fight, exerted themselves with spirit during its continuance. The infantry hurried to keep near the horsemen in pursuit of the picket, and their movements being very irregular, their files were opened six or eight steps, and when the front approached the Tories. the rear was eighty poles back.
"The Tories seeing the effect of their fire, came down the hill a little distance and were in fair view. The infantry of the Whigs kept the road to the point between the glade and the corner of the fence opposite the centre of the Tories.
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"Here the action was renewed; the front fired several times before the rear came up. The Tories being on their left they deployed to the right in front of the glade and came into action withont order or system. In some places they were crowded together in each others' way; in other places there were none. As the rear came up, they occupied those places, and the line gradually extending, the action became general and obstinate on both sides. In a few minutes the Tories began to retire to their position on the top of the ridge, and soon fell back a little behind the ridge, to shelter part of their bodies from the fire of the Whigs, who were fairly exposed to their fire. In this situation their fire became very destructive, so that the Whigs fell back to the bushes near the glade, and the Tories, leaving their safe position, pursued half way down the ridge. At this moment Captain Harden led a party of Whigs into. the field and under cover of the fence, kept up a galling fire on the right flank of the Tories; and some of the Whigs discovering that the ground on the right was more favor- able to protect them from the fire of the Tories, obliqued in that direction towards the east end of the glade. This movement gave their lines the proper extension. They continued to oblique in this direction until they turned the left flank of the Tories; and the contest being well maintained in the centre, the Tories began to retreat up the ridge. They found part of their position occupied by the Whigs. In that quarter the action became close, and the parties mixed together in two instances; and, having no bayonets, they struck at each other with the butts of their guns. In this strange contest, several of the Tories were taken prisoners, and others, divesting themselves of their mark of distinction (a twig of green
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pine-top stuck in their hats), intermixed with the Whigs, and all being in their common dress, escaped unnoticed. " The Tories finding the left of their position in pos- session of the Whigs, and their centre being closei; pressed, retreated down the ridge towards the pond, exposed to the fire of the centre and of Captain Harden's company behind the fenc.s. The Whigs pursued until they got entire possession of the ridge, when they dis- covered, to their astonishment, that the Tories had collected in force on the other side of the creek beyond the mill. They expected the fight would be renewed, and attempted to form a line, but only eighty-six men could be paraded. Some were scattered during the action, others were attending to their wounded friends, and, after repeated efforts, not more than one hundred and ten men could be collected.
" In this situation of things, it was resolved that Major Wilson and Captain Win. Alexander, of Rowan, should hasten to General Rutherford and urge him to press forward to their assistance. Rutherford had marched early in the morning, and at a distance of six or seven miles from Ramisour's, was met by Wilson and Alexan- der. Major Davie's cavalry was started at full gallop, and Colonel Davidson's infantry were ordered to hasten on with all possible speed. At the end of two miles they were met by others from the battle, who informed them that the Tories had retreated. The march was continued. and troops arrived on the ground two hours after the battle had closed. The dead and most of the wounded were still lying where they fell.
"As soon as the action begun, those of the Tories who had no arms, and several who had, returned across the creek. They were joined by others when they were first
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beaten up the ridge and by two hundred well armed, who had arrived two days before from Lower Creek, in Burke County, under Captains Whiston and Murray. Colonel Moore and Major Welch soon joined them. Those of the Tories who continued the fight to the last crossed the ereck and joined as soon as the Whigs got possession of the ridge. Believing that they were com- pletely beaten, they formed a stratagem to secure their retreat. About the time that Wilson and Alexander were dispatched to General Rutherford, they sent a flag, under a pretence of proposing a suspension of hostilities. to make arrangements for taking care of the wounded and burying the dead. To prevent the flag office: from perceiving their small number, Major James Rutherford and another officer were ordered to meet him a short distance from the line. The proposition being made, Major Rutherford demanded that the Tories should sur- render in ten minutes, and then the arrangements should be made that were requested.
"In the meantime, Moore and Welch gave orders that such of their men as were on foot, or had inferior horses, should move off singly as fast as they could, and when the flag returned not more than fifty remained. They immediately fled. Moore, with thirty men, reached the British army at Camden, where he was threatened with a trial by a court-martial for disobedience of orders in attempting to embody the royalists before the time appointed by the commander-in-chief. He was treated with disrespect by the British officers, and held in a state of disagreeable suspense; but it was at length deemed impolitic to order him before a court-martial.
"As there was no organization of either party, nor regular returns made after the action, the loss could not
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be ascertained with correctness. Fifty-six lay dead ou the side of the ridge where the heat of the action pre- vailed. Many lay scattered on the flanks and over the ridge toward the mill. It is believed that seventy were killed, and that the loss on each side was equal. About one hundred men on each side were wounded, and fifty Tories were taken prisoners. The men had no uniform, and it could not be told to which party many of the dead belonged. Most of the Whigs wore a piece of white paper on their hats in front, and many of the men on each side being excellent riflemen, this paper was a mark at which the Tories often fired, and several of the Whigs were shot in the head. The trees, behind which both Whigs and Tories occasionally took shelter, were grazed by the balls: and one tree on the left of the Tory line at the root of which two brothers lay dead, was grazed by three balls on one side and two on the other.
" In this battle neighbors, near relations and personal friends fought against each other, and as the smoke fromn time to time would blow off, they would recognize each other. In the evening, and on the next day, the rela- tions and friends of the dead and wounded came in, and a scene was witnessed truly afflicting to the feelings of humanity.
"After the action commenced, scarcely any orders were given by the officers. They fought like common soldiers, and animated their men by their example, and they suffered severely. Captains Falls, Dobson, Smith, Bowman and Armstrong were killed; and Captains Houston and MeKissick wounded."
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