USA > North Carolina > The state records of North Carolina, vol. XXII, pt. 1 > Part 12
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As Surry was a frontier County the inhabitants were much an- noyed and alarmed by the frequent depredations of the Indians, it was necessary for the public safety and security that active measures should be adopted to effect that object and Lenoir was selected, by the Colonel of the County, to raise a Company of Rangers to patrol the frontier settlement and protect them from the incursions of the Indians. In obedience to this order he organized a Company which was stationed at a convenient point on the headquarters of the Yad- kin River, from whence they ranged the country on the Blue Ridge for a considerable distance as well as west of it, between the water of the Yadkin and New River, the inhabitants of which localities, from depredations and the great danger of their exposure, were com- pelled to abandon their homes to seck security in the interior settle- ments. In this service, he believes, he was engaged as Captain of the Company for 6 weeks or upwards in the summer of 1776.
In August 1776 he volunteered as Lieutenant with Capt. Benja- min Cleveland in an expedition against the Cherokee Indians. His Company of Rangers having just returned from the expedition above
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mentioned, were not all prepared to join another, he accepted the position under Capt. Cleveland, who had a very large Company that required two Lieutenants, of which he was the first. He set out ort the march under Colonel Martin Armstrong, the Colonel of the County, direct to the Pleasant Garden, in the County of Burke, where they joined General Griffith Rutherford to make the necessary or- ganizations and other arrangements. From thenee they went to the Cherokee Nation, the towns of which were generally abandoned, ex- cept by straggling Indians, women and children. Capt. Cleveland wns stationed with a few men at the middle towns, while Lenoir was appointed to the command of the remainder of the Company, and marched, under Colonel Armstrong, to the Iliawassee towns, which they destroyed and killing some Indians. The S. C. Militia was to have met General Rutherford at the Middle Towns, but upon his ar- rival no intelligence could be obtained from them and he set out for the Iliawassee towns as before stated. After the departure of General Rutherford from the Middle towns, the S. C. troops arrived there and immediately started for lhiawassee with expectation of joining him at that place, but taking a different route they were attacked on the way by a party of Indians who had forined an am- buscade, but by the skilful and prudent conduct of their officers they were dislodged with a considerable number killed whom it is be- lieved they carried off. The S. C. troops lost about 15 men who were buried in a swamp and upon whom they constructed a pole canseway, over which the Militia marched as they returned from the Hiawassee to the Middle towns. Lenoir served 20 days as Captain on this oe- casion. After having destroyed the Indian towns, with all their stock, corn, and other property that could be found, the troops re- turned to N. C. and their respective homes. Although but few were killed in this expedition, yet from the fatigue, exposure and privation, a great number died after they arrived home "much of which Lenoir suffered." ITe believed he served 70 days as Lieutenant, making with the twenty days as Captain, three months. After his return home he was appointed Captain of the Company in the District where he re- sided, which rank he held until the close of the war. In 1777 Surry County was divided by an Act of the Legislature and Lenoir was included in that portion which is now Wilkes County, but his Com- pany Distriet was the same. Shortly after the division he was or- dered by Colonel Benjamin Cleveland who was Colonel of the County,
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to march his Company down Hunting Creek to deteet some outlying Tories and other suspicions characters. He was unsuccessfully em- ployed for some weeks in the Spring of 1778. In the Fall of 1778 he, with his Company, accompanied Colonel Cleveland over the Blue Ridge and down New River to Virginia to deteet and subdue some Tories who infested that section of the country and captured some of them and thus after restoring tranquility and apparent security to the settlements, werossed the mountains for their homes. The Tories taken, after an examination, were permitted to go at large by promising future loyalty to the cause of independence. In some in- stances Colonel Cleveland administered the oath of allegiance. He was gone about 26 days. He was again ordered out with his Company to march across Brushy Mountain together with other troops under Colonel Cleveland, to subdue some Tories on Cowe's Creek and its waters, who kept that neighborhood in a state of alarm. A Tory by the name of Williams was captured, from whom they endeavored to obtain information relative to suspected persons, but he refused to give any until Col. Cleveland adopted the expedient of hanging him to the limb of a tree, or a bent down sapling, which, however, did not produce the desired effect. This was repeated a second time with more severity, then only to give encouragement to the Whigs and alarm to the Tories. The result of the expedition was to restore a tolerable state of security in that part of the country. He was ab- sent 20 days.
In May or June 1779 information was received that the Tory. Captain Whitson with a Company was committing great depredations on the waters of the Catawba, and Lenoir was ordered with his Company and some others to march under Col. Cleveland up the Yad- kin River, and across the Catawba, in quest of Whitson. On the march down the Catawba, Colonel Larkin Cleveland, a brother of Colonel Benjamin, was badly wounded by a shot from a high eliff of rocks, supposed from a Tory, who made his escape. Capt. Lenoir, with a detachment of forty men, well mounted, was ordered to patrol the country between the Catawba River and the South Fork after Whitson, which they did all night without success. On their re- turn Colonel Cleveland returned home, after an absence of about one month. A short time after this last service Colonel Cleveland received (late in the afternoon) intelligence that the Tories were embodying, towards the head of the Yadkin, whereupon he repaired
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immediately to Wilkes C. II., distant fourteen miles from his resi deuce, where Lenoir with what men he could colleet immediately joined in and by their united exertion succeeded in raising about 200 men, and at daybreak on the following morning had marched to the place where the Tories were said to be, a distance estimated at 21 miles, but the Tories had fled with great precipitation towards the south. They promptly pursued them with all possible speed as far as Lincolnton, but did not arrive until after the celebrated battle at Ramsour's Mills, in which the Tories were triumphantly defeated (June 20th, 1780). Upon hearing of this event they returned home, ulsent about one month.
In Angust or September 1780 he was ordered by Colonel Cleveland to march with his Company southwardly against the British and Tories who were harassing the people to great extremities in Burke County, and Colonel Cleveland receiving information of the encamp- ment of about 100 Tories at Little John's Meeting House, a few miles in advance of his troops, directed him to select 25 men, well mounted, to approach the Tory eamp until they fired upon him, with strict injunction to retreat without returning the fire, in order to lead them into ambuseade, which he, Colonel Cleveland, would form for that purpose. This arrangement was countermanded by an ex- press which was received before the Tory Camp was reached, and all the men to return except five, to be selected by Lenoir, with whom he was to proceed to execute the original arrangement, but he found the camp abandoned. They, however, advanced considerably farther into Burke County, where they joined a regiment from Virginia under Colonel Campbell and some Militia from the Northwestern side of the Blue Ridge under Colonels Sevier and Shelby, together with the Militia of Burke County under Col. Charles MeDowell. With these reinforcements the march was continued southwardly until reaching Rutherford County, when they were informed of the progress and advance of a large body of British and Tories, com- manded by Colonel Ferguson. Upon this intelligence orders were immediately given for every man that had a horse, or could proeure a suitable one, to be ready to march at sunrise the next morning tu oppose Ferguson. "There being no regular officer or even soldier ex- cept two belonging to the troops (and they having joined as Militia men) nor no militia officer above the grade of Colonel, it was agreed that Colonel Campbell of Virginia should command the whole de-
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tachment. They accordingly took up the line of march at the ap- pointed time (leaving behind all those who had been unable to pro- cure horses) and on the way were joined by some militia from South Carolina under the command of Colonel Williams, which augmented their number to about 700, according to the best calculation which he (Lenoir) could make ( the footmen who were left behind amounting to about 1500). They continued their march all day that day and al night, it being very dark and rainy, and on the next day (being the 7th October 1780) attacked Colonel Ferguson on King's Mountain, near the line between North and South Carolina, and after a hot engagement, which lasted about three-quarters of an hour, achieved the total defeat of Colonel Ferguson and his whole army, every man of whom was in camp at the commencement of the action, being either killed or taken. The killed on the side of the enemy being estimated at 250 and on the side of the Whigs at 32. The remainder of the army amounting to abont 937, according to the best estimate which could be made from the papers of the commander, were de- tained as prisoners of war. In this action, he ( Lenoir) received two wounds from bullets, one in his side and the other in his arm and a third bullet passed through his hair above where it was tied.
The next day the American army started on their return with the prisoners (of whom as counted by Capt. Lenoir, 725 were embodied men ) who, exclusive of officers, wounded, sick, etc., were compelled to carry the guns that had been taken, many taking two guns each and proceeded on until they met with the footmen who had been left behind. Together they marched to and halted in Rutherford County, where a court martial, composed of fieldl officers, selected about 32 of the most obnoxions of the Tories who had been taken, and ordered them to be hung. After executing three at a time until nine werc excented, the remainder were respited. The army then left Ruther- ford County with the prisoners for the Moravian towns in Stokes County, where they were stationed a considerable time guarding them, until relieved by other troops, then Capt. Lenoir with his Company returned home. Absent three months.
About the time, but before, Lord Cornwallis arrived at Salisbury from S. C., Capt. Lenoir, with his Company volunteered and also six other Captains from Wilkes County with their Companies, marched to join Gen. Greene, as they expected, at Salisbury. On the way, there being no Field Officers with the troops, a dispute arose be-
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tween Lenoir and Capt. Benjamin Herndon respecting their seniority, or who was entitled to assume the command, and being unable to de- termine it themselves, agreed to leave it to the soldiers to make choice of a commander for that tour, when all but six followed Lenoir, and he assumed command accordingly. Before reaching Salisbury he was informed Gen. Greene had marched toward Virginia, and Cornwallis was in or near Salisbury and he changed his course towards Salem, crossing the Yadkin at Enoch's Ferry. On the way he suceceded by stratagem in retaking three British officers, who had been captured by General Morgan at the battle of the Cowpens, but had made their escape from the guard. Several outlying Tories were also taken who were in the Company of the British officers. In pursuing his march they eamped all night near the old Moravian town, where he learned that the British Army was then in that place. Not knowing where to find Gen. Greene he turned his course up the country to effect a junction with General Pickens, which took place near Mitchell's River in Surry County. Selecting about forty mounted infantry he joined him and leaving the remainder of his troops which were under his command, under the command of Capt. Herndon, immediately set out with General Pickens towards Hillsboro, at which place Corn- wallis was. Gen. Pickens having understood that Tarleton with his. dragoons and infantry had crossed Haw River, set off immediately in pursuit, after being joined by Colonel Lee with his cavalry. They crossed Haw River at Batler's Ford, but before overtaking Tarleton, fell in with a body of Tories under Doctor Pyles, a Tory Colonel, with whom they immediately engaged and literally eut them to pieces, some, however, made their escape and some were taken prisoners. When the conflict first commenced it was believed that they were a part of Col. Tarleton's infantry, but they were not. Lenoir escaped without a wound himself, but had his horse wounded and his sword broken. General Piekens learning that Tarleton was encamped at Colo. O'Neil's Mill detached Capt. Lenoir with a few men to reeon- moitre his camp, by which means he learned that Tarleton had de. eamped about midnight going on the road towards Hillsboro. Gen eral Pickens being apprised of this movement, started forthwith in pursuit, but finding that he could not be overtaken before arriving at Hillsboro, it was abandoned and he turned his course up the north side of Ilaw River. On the following second or third night it was learned that the whole British Army was after General Pickens and near at
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hand, Colonel Lee, with his dragoons, having left General Pickens. Major Micajah Lewis a Federal officer went out to reconnoitre, as well as to ascertain the facts, but unfortunately approaching too near to Tarleton's dragoons, believing them to be Lee's, he received several wounds that terminated his life. General Pickens continued his march and joined General Greene near the High Rock Ford on Haw River.
At this time Lenoir being Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Wilkes County, and the session of the Court coming on in a few days, it was necessary for him to return home. He accordingly obtained leave of absence from the service. Absent six weeks. This last expedition terminated his military service during the war, al- though considerable other service was performed which has not been enumerated herein. He died May 6th, 1839. In a letter dated Fort Defiance May 16th, 1833, he states that he was commissioned Colonel of cavalry of the 5th Division of N. C. Militia, and Major General of said 5th Division in January, 1795.
DANIEL LANE.
That he entered the service of the United States under the follow- ing named officers and served as herein stated: that when this appli- cant was in his 17th year he was drafted to guard the jail in New- berne where he served one month and was relieved by one James Ilorsekins ( Iloskins), who was hired by the brother in law of this applicant as his substitute; the latter part of 1779 this applicant volunteered under James Pearce, Captain, from Swift Creek in Craven County, James MeDaniel, Lieutenant, from Jones, and Roger Bratcher, Ensign. We rendezvoused at Kinston in Lenoir, where we found a small regiment under the command of Colonel Shepard. We marched under Captain Pearce to Wilmington, thence to Georgetown in South Carolina, to Monks Corner near Charleston where we encamped between two and three weeks and then marched into Charleston just before the seige commenced. When we arrived in Charleston we were put under the immediate command of Col. Shepard-the general command was assimned by General Lincoln. The town was besieged by British troops and orders having been given that those whose time was about to expire could either retire or enlist again for three months, and there being a great scarcity of provisions
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and an expectation of starvation, and this applicant's time of service being about to expire the company to which this applicant belonged was put on board of a vessel in the month of March and sailed out of the Harbor of Charleston, on the very day that Fort Moultrie was taken by the British, up the Cooper river about four miles where we were landed and marched thenee to the town of Georgetown. At this latter place the company was separated, part going round by land with the baggage, and the rest, with whom was this applicant, crossed the bay from Georgetown to Wilmington, N. C. From Wilmington we came on home to Craven County where we were discharged having served five months. This applicant never received a discharge.
Whilst in Charleston this applicant was ordered under Colonel Wallace to face the British who appeared on the South side of Ashley river. The British (here being the ferry on Ashley river), fired across upon us and we were not injured but the foraging party belonging to the Americans which was sent on the south side of Ashley river were nearly all destroyed. This applicant is not cer- tain that Fort Moultrie was taken on the day he left Charleston Har- bor but was induced to believe so from the fact that a cannonading took place between the British fleet and the fort (Moultrie) and af- terwards the British fleet sailed by the fort up to the city.
This applicant did recolleet some of the regiments and officers but so long a time has elapsed that his memory has failed him in re- calling them to his memory. This applicant served as a sergeant in his company from the time that he entered it until his discharge. This applicant has no documentary evidence to support the statement herein contained. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to u pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name : is not on the pension roll of the ageney of any State.
D. LANE.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
J. T. STANLEY, Clerk.
JAMES McBRIDE.
IIe was residing in October 1832 in Lincoln County, Tennessee, and states that he was born in Angust 1750 in the County of Down, Ireland, from thence emigrated to Lancaster County, Penn., and in
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1771 or 2 removed to Guilford County, North Carolina. After the war he lived in Guilford County mitil 1800, when he went to Ten- nessee and resided principally in Williamson County, then, in 1806, returned to Guilford County, N. C., where he remained until the Spring of 1812, when he finally settled in Lincoln County, Tenn. While living in Guilford County, N. C., he enlisted for six months about the close of 1775, with Capt. George Davidson in the first N. C. Regiment, Colonel Francis Nash. Although he was comman- der of the Regiment he did not see him until he ( MeBride) reached Charleston, S. C. Ile was placed with his Company under the com- mand of Colonel Alexander Martin, who marched first to Fayette- ville, then by water to Wilmington, from thence to Brunswick, and Long Bay, to Wochama River, where going on board of vessels sailed to Georgetown then by land to Charleston, where remaining until the attack on Sullivan's Island, he was transported across the Bay to Hladrill's Point and was there during the firing of the ship Aetcon. Afterwards he was stationed on the Island until his term expired. On his return home he joined the Company of Capt. Arthur Forbis and his Company with those of Captains Moore, Whitsell and Gilles- pie, in the regiment of Col. John Paisley, were employed princi- pally against the Tories under Fields and Willesby, in several tours, the duration and number of cach not recollected, with an exception which was three months. Ile ranged through Randolph, Chatham, Moore, Anson, Montgomery and Rowan Counties. In the Fall of 1778 three regiments were raised by draft to go to S. C., commanded by Colonels Paisley, Locke and Sanders, and the brigade by General Rutherford. McBride served with Capt. John Donnell, in Col. Paisley's regiment, going to Purysburg, on the Savannah River, where they lay until Spring, when he was detached to the command of Colonel Archibald Lyttle and Major Jolin Nelson, who first marched him to the Black Swamp, then to Augusta. In a few days he crossed the Savannah River, going about sixty miles to Brier Creek, near which place they were joined by General Ashe, with about 700 men, and on March 3rd, 1779, they were surprised by the British under General Provost and Colonel Campbell. McBride and 170 others were made prisoners including General Elbert of Georgia. Late in August MeBride with two others, made their escape, and he returned home after an absence of ten months. He was again engaged in "Tory hunting" under Capt. Forbis, but the periods of the different
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tours he could not recollect. Ile served three months with Capt. Robert Paisley in Colonel Isaac's regiment, but whether this was be- fore or after 1780 he was unable to determine. The service was ranging for Tories through the same country as that previously men- tioned under Col. Paisley. Shortly before the defeat of Gates at Camden (August 16th, 1780) he volunteered with Capt. Whitsell to go to Suffolk, Virginia, for arms and ammunition, and lay some wirks at Halifax, N. C., by order of Col. Long, who he thinks was Quarter Master General, but finally procceded by way of Winton, on Chowan River, to Suffolk, where they received two wagon loads of arms and lead and returned by the same route to Halifax, there stopping to brand the arms, as he believed. Absent about two or three months.
It was at this period that the Tories under Colonel Fanning put on a "bold appearance" and MeBride was employed under Capt. l'aisley, in Capt. Paisley's regiment, for three months, against them, by ranging the country as far south as the Pee Dee River. From this period he served, as the occasion required, a number of short tours of duty against the Tories, until peace,
JAMES MARTIN.
In May, 1774, I moved from the State of New Jersey to Guilford County on Dan River and on the 22nd day of April, 1774, I was ap- pointed Colonel Commandant of the Guilford Regiment of Militia by Samuel Johnson, President in Congress, then setting, and afterwards made Governor of this State, and soon after, in the year 1775, there was an insurrection of the Scotch Tories in and about Fayetteville. I was ordered by my brother, Alexander Martin, who was appointed Colonel of the Second regular Regiment, to raise the Guilford Militia and, as ordered by Congress then setting, march them to Fayette in order to suppress them. I accordingly marched to Fayette where said Colonel A. Martin was placed having been made Colonel of the Second Regiment in the regular service of the United States; but previons to my having marched there the Scotch Tories had embodied and had started to march to Wilmington, but were met by an armed force of Militia commanded by Colonel Caswell and a battle ensned at a place called Moore's Bridge. He killed their commander as he at- 22-10
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tempted to cross said bridge and the rest took to flight and said Colonel Martin and myself took most of their head men and imprisoned them and then I was ordered home with my regiment. The time that I spent in raising the men until I returned home was abont two months as near as I can recollect for I kept no written journal.
About the middle of June, 1776, soon after the above campaign, I was called upon and commanded by General Rutherford of Rowan to raise as many of the Guilford Militia as I could muster and to march them to join him at the Catawba river and to march thence to the Cherokee towns of the Indians in order to destroy them. Accord- ingly I marched with about 400 Militiamen and joined the General as he ordered. Lieut. Colonel John Paisley assisted me to raise the men and marched with us and thence we marched to the Turkey Cove at the foot of the Blue Ridge and then crossed over it to Swananoa, thence to Pigcon river, thence to French Road river and thence to Tennessee river where we came to some of their towns which we burned and ent down their corn moving from one town as we destroyed it and marched to another. Our commissary had about 3,000 beeves and about as many pack horses loaded with sacks of flour and where we encamped one night the beeves and pack horses destroyed the whole of it to the very stumps and destroyed the grass to the bare ground.
General Rutherford took the pick of the better half of the army and went to the over hills towns as they were called and left me with the remainder of the troops to guard the provisions until he came back. TIe was gone about two or three weeks before he returned but had no skirmishes with the Indians and I believe saw none and destroyed some of their towns as he reported. While he was gone the Southern Army of Militia, on the same intentions we had, marched through our camp and fell into an ambuseade the Indians had made about a mile and a half from our camp and had a smart skirmish with them. I heard their guns firing very plain and their commander sent to me for assistance and in the meantime I sent a Colonel Cleveland with about 150 men for his assistance, but before Cleveland got to them they had routed the Indians and killed abont ten or twelve of them and they lost about as many of their inilitiamen. I had sent out scouts every day to reconnoitre the country but they never happened to fall into their ambuscade. After destroying all their towns and corn we took our march for home by orders from our General. A few of the
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