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 8
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Gilberttown was to witness other tragedies in the near future, when the Whig leaders sat in judgment upon the murderers of MeDowell's men. It was "a dark and bloody ground" where Whig and Tory alternately meted out vengeance to their cap- tured foes.
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Singular to relate, Dunlap did not die of this wound. but was concealed by his friends and turned up at Ninety-Six the ensuing March, where he went out with a foraging party of seventy-six dragoons. He was overtaken by Colonel Clarke and Major McCall at Beattie's Mill, in which he took refuge. He resisted until thirty-four of his men were killed and wounded, himself among the latter. The party then surrendered. "The British account of this affair stated that Dunlap was murdered by the guard having him in charge after the surrender ; but such was not the fact," adds McCall, " for he died of his wounds the ensuing night." It is, however, justly surmised that he fell a victim to a just revenge and met a timely end.
We shall now endeavor to trace the events trans- piring in the transmontane counties of Sullivan and Washington, North Carolina, and the regions of Rutherford, Burke, Wilkes. Surry and Tryon, from whence came the heroes and the men who were soon to make for themselves an immortal fame; also to look to Virginia, from which the " Camp- bells were coming" to the rescue of their neighbors and friends, and not forget the Spartan band from South Carolina, who joined the others to share in the glory of King's Mountain.
17So. The "over-mountain men" were so called from their location on the west of the Alleghany Mountains. North Carolina, at that time, extended from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Vir- ginia line on the north to a line south in latitude
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35 34", extending from ocean to ocean, and took in all of that territory now embraced in the State of Tennessee.
Sullivan County was bounded by the Virginia line on the north, and just south of it was Wash- ington County, both in North Carolina. North of the Virginia line and joining Sullivan County, North Carolina, was Washington County, Virginia. Sul- livan and Washington, counties, North Carolina, had been settled by Virginians who gradually made their way south along the slopes of the moun- tain, following the beautiful streams of the Holston, Watauga and Nollichucky and settling on their fertile valleys. Just south and southwest of these frontier settlements were the Cherokee Indians, extending in their domains to the Mississippi River. These Indians were at this time hostile to the whites, having been stirred up against them by British emissaries who had been sent among the tribe for that purpose. They had promised to invade the frontiers in the Fall, and to penetrate, if possible, as high up in southwest Virginia as the Chiswell Lead Mines, from which the Americans drew their supply of lead, and destroy the works . and stores at that place.
Colonel John Sevier was the commander of the militia of Washington County, North Carolina, and resided on the Nollichucky River, from which cir- cumstance he was familiarly known as "Nolli- chucky Jack."
Colonel Isaac Shelby was the commander of the
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militia of Sullivan County, North Carolina, and Colonel William Campbell was in command of the militia of Washington County, Virginia, though his cousin and brother-in-law. Colonel Arthur Campbell, seems to have been his superior in rank in the county.
Colonel Benjamin Cleveland was the Colonel of the militia of Wilkes County, North Carolina, on the eastern slope of the Alleghanies, bordering on Washington County, Virginia, and Major Winston was from the adjoining county of Surry on the east. Colonel Hambright and Major Chronicle were from Tryon County, North Carolina, and as we have seen before, Colonel Charles McDowell, and his brother, Major Joseph McDowell, were from Burke County, North Carolina, south of Wilkes, and Colonel Andrew Hampton was from Ruther- ford County. All these counties were contiguous.
17So. . When Ferguson took post at Gilbert- town in the early part of September, smarting under the remembrance of Musgrove's Mill, he paroled Samuel Phillips, who had been left at the mill wounded, and sent him with the verbal message to the "over-mountain men" that if they did not desist from their opposition to the British arms he would march his men over the mountains, hang their leaders and lay their country waste with fire and sword. It was a threat that Ferguson would have carried into effect if power and opportunity had been at his command. Phillips resided near Colonel Shelby's home in Sullivan County and
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soon communicated to him the message of Fergu- son and the information he had in regard to Fer- guson's command.
A few days after this message was received Colonel Shelby rode forty miles to a spot near the present site of Jonesboro. Tennessee, where he met Colonel Sevier and told him of the return of Phil- lips, and the information imparted to kim.
These frontier men always acted upon the idea that it was much safer for their homes and their wives and children to meet a foe on his approach. and defeat him on his own territory, rather than allow him to make the seat of war in their own county: and these two men agreed at once that they would call together their own forces and endeavor, if possible, to procure assistance from Colonel Wil- liam Campbell, to repel this threatened invasion. There was no time to lose; their safety was in the celerity of their movements and the boldness of their attack. It was agreed that the clans were to gather at the Sycamore Flats, on the Watauga River, below the present village of Elizabethtown, Tennessee, on the 25th day of September. Colonel Shelby immediately wrote to Colonel William Campbell, apprising him of the situation, and urged him to join the expedition with all the men he could raise. Captain Moses Shelby, a brother of the Colonel, was the messenger. Campbell did not at first approve the plan, and declined to go. Colonel Shelby then wrote a still more urgent letter, entreating him to come to the rescue of
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themselves and the Burke men. who were there as exiles among them and ready to join the expedi- tion. Campbell was touched with this appeal to his gener sity and gave his consent to the expe- dition. At a consultation of the field officers of his county it was arranged that half the militia should remain to repel the expected Indian invasion and the other half should join Shelby and Sevier.
At the same time Colonel Campbell sent an express to Colonel Cleveland, of Wilkes County, North Carolina, apprising him also of the situation and requesting him to meet them on the eastern side of the mountain with the militia of his county.
The time of assembling indicated was the 3oth of September, the place was the " Quaker Meadows." in Burke County, North Carolina, the home of the MeDowells, two miles north of Morganton.
Sevier found great difficulty in raising the neces- sary funds to properly equip his men, as his own means, which he freely offered, were small, and in this pressing emergency he applied to John Adair. the agent of North Carolina for the sale of lands in that county, for aid. Adair replied : "I have no authority to loan the money, but if the country is overrun by the British our liberty is gone. Let the money go too. Take it." Thus about twelve thousand dollars of a campaign fund was raised and ammunition and equipments were procured. Both Sevier and Shelby pledged themselves person- ally to return the loan or to have the act of the agent legalized by the Legislature of the State.
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The appointment of the over-mountain men was kept. On the 25th day of September Colonel Campbell appeared at the Sycamore Flets with two hundred men and Colonels Sevier and Shelby with two hundred and forty men each. There Colonels MeDowell and Hampton's party had been in camp for some time. The whole force at that place aggre- gated about eight hundred and fifty men. They were mostly mounted men and armed with the deadly Deckard rifle which I have described in pre- vions pages.
They were expert in its use alike agajust the Indians and the wild beasts of the forest. Their muscles were strong and steady, their aim unerring. They feared no foe while the Deckard was in their grasp. It had been their defence against the savage foe; with it they had combatted the bear and the panther successfully; it had brought the deer and turkey for their subsistence; the loyalists had quailed before it at Musgrove's Mill and they felt confident that Britith valor and discipline would succumb before its deadly missile. Bayonets they had none, but the trees of the forest were a breast- work for refuge; they had no tents, but the deep blue sky of the mountains, bestudded with stars, was a canopy more splendid than oriental imagination could conceive. They had neither baggage wagons nor quartermaster's stores, nor commissary to pro- vide them food. The noble horse which each man owned, and loved with an Arab's fondness, carried the wallet and the blanket : the one contained a
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supply of parched meal, and they trusted Providence to increase the store as necessity required; the other was the only covering from the winter's chill. Their dress was the hunting shirt made from woolen cloths manufactured by their wives and daughters, and the fur skin cap, taken from the animals of the forest, covered their heads. At their side in the belt was the tomahawk and the knife. With the little ax a brush arbor might be con- ' structed and the knife was the camp tool for every ; purpose. A tin cup completed the outfit. The horses were to be subsisted on the grass which was at that time in luxuriant abundance all over the mountains and far off into the plains.
We can imagine these sturdy sons of the wilder- ness shouting welcome to every gathering band as it approached the camp and running to greet them hand in hand; how quickly and anxiously they inquired the news from Ferguson, and pressed around the camp-fires of MeDowell to listen to the story of his exile and hear his plans for expelling the foe from their homes.
The exclamations of defiance and the voice of indignation were heard from every lip. The hand impulsively grasped the rifle, the eye flashed, rest- lessness and impatience characterized every action.
The glance of the men met the gaze of the leaders and unison was felt though only a smile or a nod was given. Their hearts were locked, as the shields of old. and nothing but death was to separate their strength.
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When nearly ready to begin the march the sound of approaching voices was heard once more. The camp was astir; unexpected visitors were dis- covered in the distance : nearer they came and recog- nition was announced by a wild shout of joy, and Colonel Arthur Campbell led two hundred men more into the camp. One thousand and fifty voices now made the welkin ring with their glad acclaim. Colonel. Campbell fearing that there might not be men enough to secure certain victory, determined, after Colonel William Campbell had left, to rein- force his strength. This being now done, he bade his men "Godspeed " and a hearty " good-bye" and returned to bis home again.
As soon as Colonels McDowell and Shelby and Sevier had finally determined to attack Ferguson, Colonel McDowell hastened across the mountain to encourage the people, to obtain information and hasten the march of Cleveland and Winston to the place of rendezvous at the "Quaker Meadows."
Early on the 26th of September the little army was ready to begin its march and only one prepara- tion for the journey was yet to be made. God's blessing must be invoked and His omnipotent pro- tection supplicated. The Rev. Samuel Doak. the pioneer missionary of the Watauga settlements, was present. These stern, hardy, stalwart men, "true lightwood at heart," bowed their heads in reverence while the good man recounted to God the dangers with which they were threatened from the marand- ing hosts of the British in their front and the
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barbarous savage, little less wicked, in their rear. and repeating the promises of mercy with which the word of God abounded, he earnestly plead for protection and safety. in this time of need, and for guidance and victory to those who were marching to defend their homes and their families. As he proceeded his voice filtered but his faith grew stronger. He remembered the Midianites and the children of Israel hid in the holes of the mountains ' and the greatness of God's deliverance, and pausing for a moment, he exclaimed. "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" Tears stole down the furrows of the rough-skinned men of the forest but their faith was strengthened. The preparation was over, the march was begun.
The prayer was recorded in heaven. The answer came through the fire and smoke of battle on King's Mountain. Its voice was heard above the rattle of British muskets and the rifle's shrill crack on the ascending heights. The blasphemous boast of Fer- guson, that he was on the " King's Mountain" and that God Almighty could not drive him from it, had been rebuked and his lifeless form lay prostrate on his chosen spot.
The march continued through the solitary wil- derness along the mountain trails. That evening they reached the "resting-place,"# after a twenty miles march.
The next day they were delayed in slaughtering some beeves for the journey, and went only four
"In Cherokee, "Aquone."
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miles, to the base of the Roan and Yellow Moun- tains.
The 28th September they ascended these moun- tains, following " Bright's trace." As they climbed higher the snow was shoe-mouth deep. On top they found a hundred acres of beautiful table-land ; here was a bold spring and they struck camp." When the troops paraded they fired off their rifles, and it is related that the air was so rarified there was little or no report.
While on this "bald" of the mountain the devil entered into James Crawford and Samuel Chambers and they deserted and made their way to Ferguson, hoping to save their lives by their treachery. It was therefore resolved to take a different trail from the one at first chosen, so as to baffle any spy Fer- guson might send to intercept and watch their approach.
" Descending Roaring Creek eastwardly, they came to the North Toe River, running south, and a mile below passed Bright's place, now Avery's, thence down North Toe southwardly to a noted spring on the Davenport place (now the Childs' place), and rested at noonday." After a hard day's march they reached Cathey's, at the mouth of Grassy Creek,+ and rested for the night. Here they ate their parched corn meal and the rem- nant of beef in their wallets.
On Friday, the 29th, the route lay up Grassy
*Most probably the Avery Spring at Cloudland Hotel, on the Roan .. +Near by what is now known as Spruce Pine P. O.
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Creek to its head, and over Gillespie's Gap, ou thie Blue Ridge. Here they divided, Campbell follow- ing a trail six miles south to Wofford's Fort, the others to Hunnyent's Creek. At this latter place Colonel Charles McDowell rejoined the forces and imparted such information as he had acquired. He had sent James Blair to hasten Cleveland's march. Blair met Colonel Cleveland on the way, at Fort Defiance, but on his route Blair was waylaid by a stealthy Tory and wounded from an ambuscade.
On Saturday morning, the 30th September, the over-mountain men, passing over Silver and Lin- ville Mountains, in an eastwardly course, and down Paddie's Creek, reached the " Quaker Meadows," the hospitable home of Colonel Charles McDowell, and his brother, Major Joseph McDowell. Here the "fatted calf" was killed. the corn-cribs and smoke-houses thrown open, the camp-fires lighted and good cheer prevailed in that lovely valley. It was not long until another shout of welcome was heard echoing among the mountains and carrying glad tidings down the valley of the Catawba. Col- onel Cleveland and Major Winston, with three hundred and fifty North Carolinians from the counties of Wilkes and Surry, were approaching the camp. They were kindred spirits from the mountains on the eastern slope, and were soon mingling joyfully with their comrades in arms.
Cleveland's regiment had marched up the Yadkin to the mouth of Warrior Creek, thence in a south- west course to old Fort Defiance, thence to Fort
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Crider, where the village of Lenoir now stands. thence by way of Lovelady Ford on the Catawba, and passing the present site of Morganton to Qua- ker Meadows." As they crossed Lovelady Ford. a stealthy Tory was lying in wait for Colonel Cleve- land, and mistaking his brother Lieutenant Larkin Cleveland for him, shot Larkin through the leg. severely wounding him, so that he was left at Me- Dowell's home. Another Tory had wounded Blair. the messenger that McDowell had sent to Cleve- land. It was an internecine strife among these mountain men. This little army was now consti- tuted as follows: North Carolinans under Shelby. Sevier, MeDowell and Cleveland, nine hundred and eighty (gSc) men ; Virginians under Campbell, four hundred (4co) men, aggregating 1380 hardy and determined soldiers.
The weather had been fair, the air bracing and crisp. The men were cheerful and full of spirit ; the horses fresh and active.
Sunday morning, October the Ist, 17So, dawned brightly upon the Whigs. The work of deliver- ance was a work of necessity. The horses were saddled and the march resumed.
Ferguson was almost in their grasp (as they sup- posed ) at Gilberttown. and with eager footsteps they pressed forward for the prey. They passed Brindle- town at noonday and camped in a gap of the South Mountain near where Colonel McDowell had pun-
*These routes can easily be traced on Kerr's large map of North Carolina.
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ished Ferguson so severely when he went in quest of the Burke men. That evening it rained for the first time since they started.
Monday the rain descended all day and the army remained in camp. They were now in sixteen miles of Gilberttown and no commander had been chosen. A conference was held and Colonel Charles McDowell was selected to visit General Gates at Hillsboro and request him to send them a general officer.
Shelby proposed that during the absence of a general officer Colonel Campbell should command. He argued that all the field officers were from North Carolina, except Campbell, and it would be gener- outs for them to elect him to that high position ; that this would heal all jealousy and give them a trustworthy head, which was indispensable in the prompt execution of any plan they might adopt.
This counsel prevailed and Colonel Campbell accepted the honor conferred upon him. Colonel Shelby in :$23 explained his object in effecting this result by saying that he wished to displace Colonel McDowell, who by seniority of commission was entitled to the command; that " McDowell was brave and patriotic but too far advanced in life and too inactive for such an enterprise." This objec- tion of age, however, was but a pretext, as Colonel McDowell was only thirty-seven years old. The truth was that Shelby considered him as lacking "in tact and efficiency." It was hoped too that McDowell would hasten back with General Morgan, whom the troops preferred above all others.
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Colonel McDowell, than whom no braver man or purer patriot lived, looking steadily to the redemp- tion of the land from the invaders, and sacrificing all personal considerations, submitted without mur- muring to the counsel of his brother officers. He set off at once on his mission, leaving his men under the command of his brother, Major Joseph McDowell.
Colonel Campbell was now the commander-in- chief but subject to the council of the officers of this ยท little army.
In order to trace the concentration of another clan, who were to become allies in this campaign. it is necessary to leave our friends, who were at Cane Creek, for a few days.
The digression is painful, because it necessitates the repetition of unpleasant incidents in the career of one who was soon to yield his life as a sacrifice on the altar of his country; one who was brave: one who, when his neighbors and friends were taking British protection around Ninety-Six, scorned to save his property by so base an act; one who left family, comforts and home to endure the hardships of the camp rather than be a slave of a tyrant at home. Whatever may have been his infirmities or his faults he was true to his principles and yielded up his life in the fight to maintain them. No nobler death could have befallen him, and we honor the man who fills a patriot's grave.
It will be remembered that Colonel James Wil- liams, lately from South Carolina, though for some years previous a citizen of Granville County, North Carolina, where he was raised from boyhood, was sent
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with the Musgrove Mill prisoners to Hillsboro. North Carolina. While there he met Governor Rutlege, who wasa refugee from his State. and on Colonel Wil- lianis' representations of his own conduct in the late engagement, the Governor, who had been invested with dietatorial powers, commissioned him as a brigadier general. It is alleged that these repre- sentations were not true; at any rate this appoint- ment excited the jealousy of Colonels Lacey and Hill, who were then located with a detachment of troops in fork of the Catawba River and the " South Fork" of that stream. They were Sumter's com- mand, Sumter being at that time wounded and not on duty. The piedmont section of South Carolina had been entirely overrun and the patriot band, under Lacey and Hill, had sought, with thousands of others, a refuge in North Carolina, where they found welcome and friends.
General Williams, before returning to duty. requested and obtained permission from Governor Nash to recruit one hundred men in North Carolina."
"NorE. - The following is the original or ler :
A. NASH TO COLONEL JAMES WILLIAMS. (Original MS.
HILLSBOROUGH. Sep. th. 1750
SIR -You are desired to go to Caswell County, and to such other counties as you think proper, and use your best endeavors to collect any number of volunteer horsemen not exceeding one hundred, and procee I with them into such parts a- you judge proper, to act against the enemy, and in this you are to use your ownl discretion. You may assure the men who tura out with you that they shall be entitled to all the advantages and privileges of militia in actual service, and that it shall be considered as a tour of duty under the militia law, they serving the time prescribed by law for other militia-men. All commissaries and other staff offi- cer- are required to grant you such supplies as may be necessary.
In getting your men you are to make no distinction between men already drafted and others : and in case of need. you are to imipress horses for expresses and other cases of absolute necessity. A. NASH
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"Under this authority he enlisted these men, while encamived at Higgins' plantation, in Rowan County. North Carolina. Colonel Brandon and Major Ham- mond of his force were quite active in this service His call for troops was dated the 23d of September. IF50. These new troops constituted the largest part of his force, and with this addition he marched to the camp of Lacey and Hill, and exhibiting his commission as Brigadier General, demanded that they should put themselves under his command. This they refused, whether rightfully or wrong- fully it is too late to determine now. Hot words ensued and Williams separated himself from them. It had been the design of Lacey and Hill to join General Davidson, who was posted at that time between Charlotte and Salisbury, North Carolina, and they had sent a messenger to him with this proposition. The messenger returned with the tidings which Davidson had received through Col. Charles McDowell, that a considerable body of nicu from the mountains were approaching Ferguson with a view of attacking him. That day Colonel William Graham and Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Hambright of Tryon County joined Lacey and Hill with sixty or more men. These with the one hundred men under Williams aggregated one hun- dred and sixty more North Carolinians who were soon to join the "over-mountain men."
Lacey and Hill now thought best to attempt a reconciliation with General Williams, which was finally accomplished by an agreement that they
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should elect a commanding officer. Information was now received through spies that Campbell's army was in the South Mountains of Burke County aud advancing. The combined forces of Lacey, Hill, Williams and Graham immediately decamped, and crossing the upper forks of Dutchman's Creek proceeded to Ramsour's Mill, near where the town of Lincolnton, in Lincoln County. is now'situated ; from there they marched west. taking the Flint Hill road to " Flint Hill," in Rutherford County, now known as "Cherry Mountain," which is eight or ten inties east of what is now Rutherfordton in that county. Here on the 3d day of October they took up quarters and waited for information, and here it was that Colonel Charles McDowell called upon them on his way to see General Gates at Hillsboro.
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