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The following excerpts are taken from North Carolina State Archives and pertain to North Carolina Militia laws, correspondence, returns, equipage and employment during the period of the American War for Independence.
Letter from an inhabitant of North
Carolina to an inhabitant of England [Extract]
December 29, 1775
Volume 10, Pages 370-371
[Reprinted from the American
Archives. Vol. 4. P. 476.
Extract of a Letter received at Hull,
in England, from a gentleman in North Carolina, Dated December 29, 1775.]
Our Provincial Convention, at their
last meeting appointed Committees of Safety, consisting of thirteen members of
each of the six districts of the Province; and these Committees, by authority
of the Convention, elected a Provincial Council, consisting likewise of
thirteen. The Legislative, Judicial, and Executive powers of Government, are
now entirely in the hands of the said Council and Committees. Governor Martin
is still on board the Cruizer, Sloop-ofWar, from which he issued a
proclamation, forbidding a meeting of the Convention, which they resolved was a
false, scandalous, scurrilous, and malicious libel, tending to stir up tumults
and insurrections, dangerous to the peace of His Majesty's Government, &c.,
and ordered it to be burnt by the common hangman, which was accordingly done.
They appointed two Treasurers, and ordered them to draw on the Continental
Congress at Philadelphia for one hundred thousand dollars, for the pay and
maintenance of three thousand Minute-Men; and to replace that sum, they have
issued paper bills of credit for one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars,
and laid penalities on those who should speak disrespectfully of the bills, or
offer them at less than eight shillings for a dollar.
The Minute-Men are to be trained
every day, Sundays not excepted; the uniform is a hunting-shirt, leggins, or
splatter dashes, with garters. To encourage the supplying ourselves with what
we used to import from Great Britain, they have voted large premiums to any
person or persons who shall erect furnaces for refining iron, slitting mills,
steel furnaces, and also for the making of cotton cards, needles and pins; the
refining of sulphur, and making saltpetre and gunpowder in this Colony.
The following is a copy of a Test
drawn up by the Convention, signed by themselves, the Provincial Council,
Committees of Safety, &c., &c., Viz:
“We, the subscribers, professing our
allegiance to the King, and acknowledging the Constitutional Executive power of
Government, do solemnly profess, testify and declare, that we do absolutely
believe that neither the Parliament of Great Britain, nor any constituent
member thereof, have a right to
impose taxes on these Colonies to regulate the internal policy thereof; and
that all attempts, by fraud or force, to establish and exercise such claims and
powers, are violations of the peace and security of the people, and ought to be
resisted to the utmost. And, that the people of this Province, singly and
collectively, are bound by the acts and resolutions of the Continental and
Provincial Congress; because, in both they are freely represented by persons
choses by themselves.
“And we do solemnly and sincerely
promise and engage, under the sanction of virtue, honour, and the sacred love
of liberty and our country, to maintain and support all and every the acts,
resolutions and regulations of the said Continental and Provincial Congresses,
to the utmost of our power and abilities.
“In testimony whereof,” &c.
The former1 Convention voted fifty
thousand pounds for raising and embodying one thousand men, to be employed in
the common cause, which were accordingly raised. A body of five hundred of them
are now encamped near Wilmington. It is reported that many of them desert.
We have but little communication
with the neighbouring Provinces owing to the distracted state of the whole
Continent; and what we hear is not always to be depended upon. The last
accounts from Virginia say, that Lord Dunmore does not lose ground; and since
his proclamation, offering freedom to indented servants and slaves, many people
have joined him to save their property. He seized a printing press at Norfolk,
which he employs for his own purposes; and, by the means of Negroes and others,
continues to circulate his proclamations and intelligence through the country.
It is said that Colonel Henry, with a large body of men is gone against him;
and a General from the American camp, at Cambridge, in Massachusetts Bay, is
expected on the same service.
Acts of the North Carolina General
Assembly, 1778
North Carolina. General Assembly
April 14, 1778 - May 02, 1778
Volume 24, Pages 154-183
North Carolina. General Assembly
April 07, 1777 - May 09, 1777
Volume 24, Pages 1-42
...VI. And be it further enacted, that each Militia soldier shall be furnished with a good Gun, shot bag and powder horn, a Cutlass or Tomahawk, and every Soldier neglecting to appear at any muster, accoutered as above, shall forfeit for every such offence two shillings and six pence (unless he can make it appear that they were not to be procured) to be recovered as other fines. And where any person shall appear to the Field Officers not possessed of sufficient property to afford such arms and accouterments, the same shall be procured at the expence of the County, and given to such persons on muster Days, or when ordered into service, which Guns and Accouterments after such service, shall be returned to the Captain of the Company, and by him carefully preserved for future occasions. And whenever the Militia are called into service, they shall be allowed as follows, viz.: One Baggage Wagon or two Carts for every Company, and one Cart and two Horses for a Brigadier General, one Baggage Cart and two Horses for the Field Officers of each Regiment; Ammunition and Waggons at the Discretion of the Brigadier General; the same rations to them and officers as allowed to the Continental Army, to be supplied by Commissaries appointed by the Brigadier; one Bell tent to each Company, entrenching tools, six axes, and a sufficient number of camp kettles.
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LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA, 1778.
At a General Assembly, begun and held at New Bern on the Fourteenth Day of April, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Eight, and in the Second Year of our Independence: Being the First Session of this Assembly. Richard Caswell, Esq., Governor… II. Be it therefore Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same, That Two Thousand Six Hundred and Forty Eight Men shall be raised and detached from the Militia of this State towards compleating the same, in the following Proportion and Manner, viz. From the County of Craven Eighty Six, Carteret Thirty, Beaufort Twenty Six, Johnston Thirty Four, Hyde Twenty Eight, Dobbs One Hundred and Three, Pitt Thirty Five, New Hanover Thirty Two, Onslow Forty-Seven, Bladen Sixty Three, Duplin Sixty Two, Cumberland Seventy Three, Brunswick Thirteen, Rowan One Hundred and Seventy Four, Mecklenburg One Hundred, Tryon Eighty Three, Anson Seventy Eight, Surry Eighty Eight, Guilford One Hundred and Fifty Six, Burke Sixty Two, Washington Sixty Two, Wilkes Thirty Five, Orange One Hundred, Granville Seventy, Wake Sixty, Chatham Sixty Six, Caswell Seventy Seven, Halifax Eighty Six, Northampton Sixty Two, Edgecombe Sixty Three, Bute One Hundred and Five, Martin Thirty Seven, Nash Fifty Six, Chowan Thirty Three, Perquimons Thirty Three, Pasquotank Forty Five, Currituck Fifty, Bertie Seventy Six, Tyrrell Thirty Four, Hertford Sixty Two, and Cambden Forty One. And the Colonel or Commanding Officer in each County is hereby directed to order the Field Officers and Captains to his Regiment belonging to meet at the Court House on or before the Twenty-Fifth Day of May next, and the Field Officers and Captains shall then and there apportion the Men to be raised in the County to the several Companies, in Proportion to the Number of Militia, including Officers of every Rank, his Excellency the Governor only excepted, in each Company respectively, after deducting for such Militia Men only as shall have heretofore actually inlisted good and able bodied Men as regular Soldiers, or cause such to be inlisted, to serve in the continental Army agreeable to the Act passed in May One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven, for encouraging the recruiting Service, which said Inlistments they shall prove by their own Oath, and the Testimony of an indifferent Person, to be obtained without Fraud or Collusion in due Time, and without the Procurement of Assistance of any continental Officer or Soldier, and the commanding Officer in each and every County shall, within Five Days after such Meeting, order a General Muster at the Place or Places by Law appointed, and he is hereby authorized to offer a Bounty of One Hundred Dollars to every able bodied Man who shall voluntarily enter into the Service, and if a sufficient Number of Voluntiers do not turn out,
then the several Companies shall immediately proceed to determine by Ballot who shall go out of each Company, to make up its particular Quota; and the Persons so voted in shall go themselves, or provide able bodied Men to serve in their Stead, and shall be intitled to a Bounty of Fifty Dollars each… IV. And be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That each and every Person who shall voluntarily enter or be voted into the Service as aforesaid, shall be intitled to have and receive from the commanding Officer of the County a Pair of Shoes and Stockings, two Shirts, a Hunting Shirt, Waiscoat with Sleeves, a Pair of Breeches and Trousers, a Hat and a Blanket, and Five Yards of Tent Cloth; and every Six Men shall be intitled to have and receive from the said commanding Officer One Axe, and a Pot or Camp Kettle.
V. And in order to procure the Cloathing
afore mentioned, Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every Company shall furnish and provide One Pair of Shoes and
Stockings, Two Shirts, a Hunting Shirt, a Waistcoat with Sleeves, a Pair of
Breeches and Trousers, a Hat and a Blanket, Five Yards of Tent Cloth for each
and every Man, and One Axe, and a Pot or Camp Kettle, for every six Men raised
out of such Company respectively; and the said Articles shall be valued
on Oath by Three Freeholders or Householders, who shall grant Certificates of
Valuation to the Persons furnishing the same, which Certificates, with Receipts
endorsed from the commanding Officer of the County for Delivery thereof, shall
be received by the Taxgatherers in Part of Public Taxes: And if any Company
shall fail to furnish its Quota of Cloathing, Tent Cloth, Camp Kettles, and
Axes, or any Part thereof, the commanding officer of the County shall have
Power to cause so much of the property of any Person or Persons belonging to
such Company, refusing to furnish his or their quota of the aforesaid Articles,
to be seized and sold, as will procure the Cloathing and other Articles wanted,
and shall grant Certificates of the Amount, which shall also be received by the
Taxgatherers in Part of Public Taxes.
VI. And be it further Enacted, by
the Authority aforesaid, That the Brigadier Generals of each District shall
take into their Possession, and distribute to the Troops so raised, such Guns
as belong to the Public, and are good and sufficient; and in case there should
not be Arms for every Man, then, and in that Case, the Colonel or commanding Officer of each County shall purchase Guns
for the Men marching from the same, and shall give Certificates to those from
whom the Guns are bought; which Certificates, countersigned by the Clerks of
the respective Counties, shall be paid by the Treasurer of either District, and
allowed in the Settlement of their Accounts with the Public.
VII. And be it Enacted, by the
Authority aforesaid, That the Men who shall be raised in Manner aforesaid in
the Districts of Halifax, Edenton, New
Bern and Wilmington, shall march to
Halifax, and from thence to Petersburg in Virginia, and those who shall be
raised in the Districts of Hillsborough and Salisbury, shall rendezvous at
Peytonsburg in Pittsylvania, with all possible Expedition, under the command of
such continental Officer or Officers as the commanding officer in the
continental Service in this State shall appoint for that Purpose; and if there
be none such appointed in any County then the commanding Officer of the Militia
in such County shall appoint a Person to conduct the Men thereto belonging
either to Halifax, or to Peytonsburg in Virginia, as the Case may require,
there to be delivered to the continental Officer appointed to receive them, and
such Person shall be allowed Captain's Pay and Rations during the Time of his
Employment; and the Men who shall be raised in Manner aforesaid, shall serve in
the continental Battalions of this State for the Space of Nine Months from the
Time that they shall arrive at either of the Places aforesaid, unless sooner
discharged, and shall be subject to the same Rules and Discipline and have the
same Pay and Rations, as the continental Troops, from the Day of their being
voted in or inlisted.
VIII. And be it Enacted, by the
Authority aforesaid, That in case any Person so voted in, or voluntarily
entering as a Soldier agreeable to the Directions of this Act, shall fail to
appear in due Time at the Place of general Rendezvous, or shall desert his Duty
during the Time specified in this Act, such Person shall from thenceforward be
held and deemed a continental Soldier during the present War, and shall be
liable to be taken as such; and every Person who shall voluntarily inlist, or
be voted into the Service, in Consequence of this Act, and shall well and
faithfully serve as a Soldier, agreeable to the true Intent and Meaning of this
Act, shall be free and exempt from serving again as a Soldier for the Space of
Three Years next after the Time of his procuring a Certificate of his having
served as aforesaid. And if any Person shall harbour or conceal any of the Men
who shall voluntarily enter or be voted into the Service as aforesaid, such
Person, on Conviction thereof before any Justice of Peace in the County wherein
the Offence shall be committed, shall be deemed a continental Soldier, and
shall be turned over by the said Justice to a continental Officer, or committed
to Gaol for that Purpose, and shall serve for Three Years, or during the War.
IX. And be it Enacted, by the
Authority aforesaid, That the Captains of each and every Company shall return
descriptive Lists of the Men raised in such Company, specifying the Name, Size,
Age, Complection and Occupation, of the Men so raised, and also the Name and
Number of the Company from whence they were taken: And the said commanding
Officer shall make two fair Copies of such descriptive Lists, one of which he
shall deliver to the continental or other Officer appointed to take Charge of
the Men, and he shall take a Receipt for the Delivery of the Men on the other.
X. And be it further Enacted, That
the Quakers, Dunkers, Moravians, and Menonists, shall furnish Men in Proportion
to their respective Numbers in each County, and in Default thereof, the
commanding officer of each and every County is hereby impowered to hire Men
instead of the Men to be by them furnished, and by Warrant under his Hand,
directed to the Sheriff of the County, to levy the Sum given for such Man or
Men on the Goods and Chattels, Lands and Tenements, of any Person belonging to
such Sect, as shall refuse or fail to find a Man or Men agreeable to this Act.
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Minutes of the North Carolina House
of Commons
North Carolina. General Assembly
April 14, 1778 - May 02, 1778
Volume 12, Pages 655-764…
-------------------- page 679
--------------------
Resolved that two thousand men be
raised as expeditiously as possible for that purpose to serve nine months from
the time they shall appear at the places of Rendezvous, and that the several
counties in State furnish their proper Quotas in proportion to the number of Militia
in each county after deducting for such exemptions as were allowed by the act
passed at last session of the General Assembly, for drafting five thousand men
to go to the Northward and in order to induce men to enter as Volunteers into
the Service,
Resolved, that a Bounty of one
hundred dollars be given to every person who shall Voluntarily enter, and the
several counties shall make up their respective Deficiencies out of the Militia
in the following manner: The Field Officers and Captains shall determine how
many each Company shall raise in proportion to their number of Militia, and the
men and officers of each Company shall vote and determine by ballot, being
first sworn to vote for such as they shall think can be best spared, who shall
go to make up its Deficiencies, and every
person so voted in shall have a bounty of fifty dollars, and each Company shall
also furnish and provide a pair of shoes and stockings, two shirts and hunting
shirt, waistcoat with sleeves, pair breeches and trowsers, a hat and a blanket
according to the several proportions, or Quotas of the Companies, for each and
every man who shall Voluntarily enlist or be voted in as aforesaid, and the
articles aforementioned, shall be valued on oath by three indifferent
Freeholders who shall grant Certificates to the persons furnishing the same,
and such Certificates shall be received by the Tax Gatherers in part of taxes.
Each and every Soldier who shall find a good gun of his own shall be allowed
three dollars, and the several Captains shall have power to press for
deficiency…
Willie Jones, Chairman.
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Acts of the North Carolina General
Assembly, 1781
North Carolina. General Assembly
June 1781
Volume 24, Pages 384-412
CHAPTER I.
An Act for raising Troops out of the
Militia of this State for the defence thereof, and for other purposes.
I. Whereas it is necessary to raise
troops for the better security and defence of this State, and to prevent as far
as may be the distresses occasioned by the frequent drafts from the battalions
of militia;
II. Be it therefore enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by
the authority of the same, that the colonel or commanding officer of each and
every battalion within this State shall, on or before the second Monday in
August next, order the field officers and captains of his battalion to meet at
the place by law appointed for the general musters of his battalion, or at some
other convenient place; and the field officers and captains then and there
present shall divide the said battalions, officers and men of every rank
included (his excellency the governor, judges of the superior courts of law,
attorney general, and continental delegates, excepted) into classes of forty
men each, after deducting all such who by themselves or substitutes faithfully
served for the space of nine months, agreeable to an act of assembly passed at
New Bern in May, 1778, and all such as have been captured and made prisoners
when in actual service of this or the United States, and are now on parole, and
all such as have been lately drafted or have voluntarily inlisted into the
continental service for the space of twelve months, and have hired substitutes:
And whereas it may happen that a number not sufficient to make a class, after
dividing the battalions into classes of forty men each, may be left, then, and
in that case, it shall and may be lawful for the said commissioned officers, by
lot, to determine to which class each of them shall be added, there to stand a
draft; and the commanding officer of the battalion shall within twenty days
thereafter order a general muster of his said battalion, and in case the
respective classes do not furnish each a volunteer, he shall proceed to draft
one man from each of the said classes so failing.
III. And be it further enacted by
the authority aforesaid, that the field officers and captains shall class the
men in such manner, that each class may be of equal value, as near as may be
agreeable to the assessment of their taxable property.
IV. And be it further enacted, that
the said volunteers, drafted men, or substitutes, who shall not be in actual
service, shall appear at the place of rendezvous appointed by the commanding
officer of the county on or before the twentieth day of September, under the
pains and penalties herein after mentioned; but if any of the said drafted men
should be in actual
service at that time, they shall be
allowed forty days after their discharge to appear at the place of rendezous,
or to join their regiment.
V. And be it further enacted, by the
authority aforesaid, that the troops raised by virtue of this act shall serve for
the term of twelve months, from the time of their general rendezvous at such
place or places in this State as may be appointed by his excelleny the
Governor; and the said troops shall be officered in the following manner: one
lieutenant colonel commandant, two majors, eight captains, eight lieutenants,
and eight ensigns, and be arranged and organized in the same manner as the
battalions of the continental army, the whole to be under the supreme command
of the Governor for the time being. Provided, that they shall not be marched
out of this State except for the better defence thereof, upon the immediate
approach of the enemy, or in pursuit of the enemy on a retreat therefrom.
VI. And be it further enacted by the
authority aforesaid, that any person harbouring, concealing or abetting, any
soldier deserting from the troops raised by virtue of this act, knowing him to
be such, shall on conviction thereof before two justices of the peace of any
county of this State, be deemed a continental soldier during the war.
VII. And be it further enacted, by
the authority aforesaid, that the commanding officer of each battalion shall
make out two exact lists of all the soldiers drafted, or procured by voluntary
enlistments, out of his battalion, specifying the names, age, size, complexion,
colour of hair and eyes, of each man, also where born, and the names of the
captains from whose company taken; one of which by him, or one of his field
officers, shall be delivered with the men so raised on or before the eleventh
day of October next, at such place of rendezvous in this State as may be
appointed by his excellency the Governor, commander of the said troops, or
other person appointed to receive them, and also take a receipt for the
delivery of the men on the other.
VIII. And be it further enacted, by
the authority aforesaid, that each
and every class shall furnish and deliver unto the commanding officer of the
battalion to which they belong, one blanket, two pairs of stockings, two pair
of shoes, two shirts, two leather stocks, one pair of buckskin or thick cloth
breeches, one pair of linen overhalls, one waistcoat lined, one coat of thick
woollen cloth lined with linen, with cape and cuffs of white cloth, one strong
hunting shirt, one good woollen or fur hat of a middle size, and also five
yards of strong linen, for tents, for the volunteers and drafts of their own
class, and in proportion to their taxable property; and the commanding
officer is hereby required to cause the said cloathing to be appraised by two
freeholders, and give certificates to the persons furnishing the same, which
shall, after being allowed by the auditors of the district, and a certificate
of such allowance obtained from them as in other cases of allowances, be
received in payment of public taxes: Any class failing to deliver the same to
the commanding officer of the battalion to which they belong on or before the
day of general rendezvous, that then the field officers and captains shall
appoint a person, whose duty shall be to furnish such articles as the law
directs his said class to furnish; and each of the classes who fail to furnish
their proportion of cloathing, the said person shall have full power and
authority to seize and sell such part of the property of such person neglecting
as shall be sufficient to defray the proportion of such person, agreeable to
his assessment in the year 1781: And in case such person so appointed as
aforesaid shall fail or neglect to comply with his duty, then the colonel or
commanding officer shall by
warrant seize and sell so much of
the property of such person appointed as aforesaid as shall be sufficient to
furnish such volunteer, draft or substitute, with such articles as the law
directs.
IX. And be it further enacted, by
the authority aforesaid, that no substitute for any volunteer or draft shall be
received, unless approved of by the officer, or other person appointed to
receive the same.
X. And be it further enacted, that
officers and soldiers raised by virtue of this act shall in all cases
whatsoever be subject to the same rules and discipline, and have the same pay
and rations, as the officers and soldiers raised by virtue of the continental
congress, during the time they shall continue in service.
XI. And be it further enacted, that
all the taxable property within the district of each battalion, whose owners
are neither in continental service, or liable to be classed as by this act
directed, shall be subject to a tax of three pounds upon every hundred pounds
value of their taxable property, agreeable to their assessment for the year
1781 (the property of widows and orphans, and also the property of all quakers,
moravians, menonists and dunkards, whose owners are liable to a threefold tax,
excepted) an exact list of the owners of which property shall be returned by
the respective captains of each battalion to the collectors of public taxes on
or before the first day of October next, which tax is to be collected for the
present year, and accounted for as other public taxes.
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Return of North Carolina artificers
at Halifax
Long, Nicholas, ca. 1726-1797
August 23, 1781
Volume 15, Pages 619-620
RETURN FROM COL. LONG OF ARTIFICERS
AT HALIFAX, AUGUST 23, 1781.
Armourers:
|
||
David Arnold,
|
12 Months
|
1
|
John Coleman,
|
12 do
|
2
|
George Dilliard,
|
12 do
|
3
|
Blacksmiths:
|
||
Levi Guthree,
|
12 do
|
4
|
Samuel Weldon,
|
12 do
|
5
|
Gabriel Long,
|
12 do
|
6
|
Samuel Williams,
|
12 do
|
7
|
Gun Stockers:
|
||
John Fitz. Garrold,
|
12 do
|
8
|
Jesse Lane,
|
Continental
|
9
|
Peter Roberson,
|
12 Months
|
10
|
Thomas Neal,
|
3 ditto
|
11
|
Wagon Makers:
|
||
James Fawcitt,
|
12 Months
|
12
|
Richd. Thompson,
|
12 do
|
13
|
James Amis,
|
Continental
|
14
|
Timber Gitters for Wagons, Gun
Stocks, &c.:
|
||
Zacariah Dillard,
|
12 Months
|
15
|
Isham Scott,
|
12 do
|
16
|
William Curlew,
|
3 do
|
17
|
Jesse Rowan,
|
3 do
|
18
|
John Barrot,
|
12 do
|
19
|
Canteen Makers:
|
||
Joshua Jones,
|
12 Months
|
20
|
Joshua Gammon,
|
12 do
|
21
|
Henry Overstreet.
|
12 do
|
22
|
Shoe Makers to furnish Shoes clear
of Expence to the Public:
|
||
William Travathan,
|
240 pair in 12 Months
|
23
|
Thomas Bird,
|
240 do do
|
24
|
Robert Thompson,
|
240 do do
|
25
|
James Turner,
|
240 do do
|
26
|
James Carlisle,
|
60 3 do
|
27
|
John Knight,
|
60 3 do
|
28
|
Willis Halyon.
|
60 3 do
|
29
|
Saddlers, Cap Makers, Harness
ditto, &c.:
|
||
William Stephinson, Superintendent
hired 12 months
|
30
|
|
Thomas Collom,
|
12 Months
|
31
|
Thomas Tuchor,
|
12 do Invalid
|
32
|
Joseph Hawkins,
|
12 do Invalid
|
33
|
William Watson,
|
12 do
|
34
|
David Pugh,
|
3 Months
|
35
|
John Hews,
|
3 do
|
36
|
William Sikes.
|
12 do Delinquent
|
37
|
Taylors:
|
||
George Ware, 2 years to serve
enlisted as a Taylor
|
38
|
|
Nickolas Bryant,
|
12 Months
|
39
|
Benj. Bell,
|
12 do
|
40
|
Joel Wooten, to furnish the Public
with 60 Hatts for 3 Months Tour duty
|
41
|
|
William Campbell, blacksmith, he
says his time is Expired some time ago
|
42
|
|
Thomas Hines, Express rider 12
months
|
43
|
|
NICHOLAS LONG, D. Q. M. Gl.
There may be some more who have
agreed to serve a Tour of duty but they are not yet come in.
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Raiford, Robert
August 22, 1782
Volume 16, Page 645
RETURN OF THE MEN FROM WILMINGTON
DISTRICT, AUG. 22ND. ’82.
You will please to excuse its being
crowded but the reason is I am very scarce of paper. The waggons when they come
in I shall order off immediately to Col. Long. I understand the Countys of
Brunswick and N. Hanover has their men and intends delivering them at
Wilmington. As soon as Major Blount Joins I shall march to Wilmington.
R. RAIFORD.
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Memorandum from William Green
concerning supplies
Green, William
Volume 16, Pages 469-470
RETURNS OF QUARTER MASTER W. GREEN.
1782. Received of William Gilmore,
vizt:
125 lbs. Ball & Shot, 6 Barl.
Powder, 620 Doz. Cart., 220 Lead, 370 Candles, 41 Bayonet Belts, 12 lbs Iron,
10 lbs Sugar & a parcel of Carpenter’s tools with 250 Nails.
Bought to Oct, 1780, of Messrs.
Ocheltree, Martin & Compy, vizt:
10 Reams paper, 976 Iron & 65
lbs. Steel, is all I purchased of any person.
W. GREEN.
Then 24th, Oct. ’80, Delivered the
Quarter Master of Genl. Butler’s Brigade, vizt: 976 lbs Iron, 65 lbs steel, 5
Ream & 5 Quire paper. To Genl. Gregory, 2 Ream; to Col. Seawell, 1 Ream
& 4 Quire, 8 Quire for hospital; 2 Quire to Col. McDowell, 2 Quire Col. Taylor’s
order. 2 Do to somebody by your order, no name; 3 Do to Col. Peasley, which
you’ll find to be Nine Ream and 6 quire besides some that was Expended for
Cart.
I have sundry orders & Rects.
for 2, 3, & four Quire paper for Cart. not mentd. in this return.
Retrieved from http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr16-0229 on 08 Oct 16
______________________________________________________________________________
Letter from George Doherty to
Richard Caswell
Doherty, George
September 26, 1787****
Volume 20, Pages 781-782
GOV. CASWELL FROM GEORGE DOHERTY,
CLOTHIER CUMBERLAND BATTALION.
September 26th, 1787.
Sir:
I received by Mr. Markham two
letters from Major Evans, one dated 26th August and the other of the 10th
Instant, in which he requests Clothing for his Men in the most pressing terms
as the Men declare they will not march without them; I make no doubt but he has
communicated his situation to your Excellency with a Return of those who are
enlisted to get Cloathing; to me he has enclosed an attested Copy of a Return
for that purpose, amounting to 93 in number for the following Articles, viz: 93
Hatts, 93 Hunting Shirts, 93 Vest, 93 prs. of Leather Breeches, 93 Blankets,
186 Shirts, 186 Stocks, 186 prs. of Shoes and 186 pr. Stockings. How to make an
estimate of the Sum necessary to purchase and get those Articles
made up is more than I can pretend
to do with any degree of precision the prices of imported Goods being so fluctuating
of late, but if your Excellency will grant a warrant on the Treasury for the
amount of the following rough Sketch, partly guess work, I shall proceed
immediately to purchase or if it is for a smaller sum I can be getting some
made up till more can be purchased when the prices are ascertained. Your answer
per first opportunity will oblige your Excellency’s
Most Obedient humble Servant,
GEO. DOHERTY,
Cloth’r Cumberland Batt’n.
Cloth’r Cumberland Batt’n.
93 Hatts, at 10s
|
£46
|
10
|
00
|
|||
93 Hunting Shirts, 2½ yds. each,
232½ yds. at 2s
|
23
|
5
|
00
|
|||
186 Shirts, 3½ yds. each, 641
yards at 4s
|
128
|
4
|
00
|
|||
186 Stocks, at 1s 6d
|
13
|
19
|
00
|
|||
Lining, pocket & facing for
Vest at 2 yards each, is 186 yds., at 2s
|
18
|
12
|
00
|
|||
93 Vest ¾ yd. Cloth each, 69¾
yards each at 20s
|
69
|
15
|
00
|
|||
93 Stocks Mohair, at 1s
|
4
|
13
|
00
|
|||
93 Doz. Buttons, at 1s 6d
|
6
|
19
|
00
|
|||
93 pr. Leather Breeches, at 40s
|
186
|
00
|
00
|
|||
186 pr. Stockings, at 9s
|
83
|
14
|
00
|
|||
186 pr. Shoes, at 16s
|
148
|
16
|
00
|
|||
93 Good Blankets, at 30s
|
139
|
10
|
00
|
|||
£869
|
17
|
00
|
||||
Making 93 Hunting Shirts, at 2s 6d
|
£11
|
12
|
6
|
|||
186 Shirts, at 4s
|
37
|
4
|
00
|
|||
93 Vests, at 8s
|
37
|
4
|
00
|
£86
|
00
|
6
|
£955
|
17
|
6
|
**** This is a bit late for AWI, but it gives valuable
information regarding clothing the militia, fabrics and yardage.
Deployments and engagements
Thursday, November 21st, 1776.
Met according to Adjournment.
Mr Charles Bruce and Mr Ralph
Gorrell, two of the members for Guilford County, appeared.
Resolved, That General Person, Mr
Irwin, Mr Bradford, Mr Nesbit and Mr Willie Jones, be a Committee to re-examine
the accounts of Col. Nicholas Long, rendered to last Congress at Halifax.
It being moved and seconded, that
the House take into consideration the Expediency of continuing or disbanding
the militia at Cross Creek, under the command of Colonel Folsome, and the
independent companies stationed on the sea coast of this State,
Resolved, That all the militia
stationed at Cross Creek, whether they be foot or horse, under the command of
Col. Ebenezer Folsome be henceforth disbanded and discharged from the pay of
this State.
Resolved that the two Southern
independent companies stationed on the Sea Coast, under the command of Capt.
Silby Harvey and
Capt.
William Purviance, he henceforth disbanded, and discharged from the Pay of this
State.
Retrieved
from http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr10-0442 on 08 Oct 16
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Description by J. G. M. Ramsey of an
attack by the North Carolina Militia on the Cherokee Nation [Extracts]
Ramsey, J. G. M. (James Gettys
McGready), 1797-1884
1853
Volume 10, Pages 881-885
[Reprinted from Ramsay's History of
Tennessee. P. 162.]
An account of the subjugation of the
Cherokees.
The Indians were true to their
engagement. Being informed that a British fleet with troops had arrived off
Charleston they proceeded to take up the war club and with the dawn of day on
the first day of July [1776] the Cherokees poured down upon the frontiers of
South Carolina, massacreing without distinction of age or sex, all persons who
fell into their power. ∗ ∗ ∗ The news of the gallant defence at Sullivan's Island and
the repulse of Sir Peter Parker in the harbor of Charleston on the 28th of
June, arrived soon after that glorious victory and frustrated in part the plan
as concerted.
Preparations were immediately made
to march with an imposing force upon the Cherokee Nation. ∗ ∗ ∗ They were the most warlike and enterprising of the native
tribes and except the Creeks, were the most numerous. ∗ ∗ ∗ They lived in towns of various sizes; their government was
simple and in time of war especially, the authority of their chiefs and
warriors was supreme. Their country was known by three great geographical
divisions: The Lower Towns, the Middle Settlements and Vallies and the Overhill
Towns. The number of warriors in the
Middle settlements and Vallies
|
878
|
In Lower Towns
|
356
|
In Over-hill Towns
|
757
|
Total Cherokee men in Towns
|
1991
|
To these may be added such warriors
as lived in the less compact settlements estimated at five hundred.
To inflict suitable chastisement
upon the Cherokees several expeditions were at once made into their territory.
Colonel McBury and Major Jack from Georgia entered the Indian settlements on
Tugaloo and defeating the enemy, destroyed all their towns on that River.
General Williamson of South Carolina early in July began to embody the militia
of that State and before the end of that month was at the head of an army of
eleven hundred and fifty men marching to meet Cameron who was with a large body
of Esseneca Indians and disaffected white men encamped at Oconoree.
Encountering and defeating this body of the enemy he destroyed their town and a
large amount of provisions. He burned Sugaw Town, Soconee, Keowee, Ostatory,
Tugaloo and Brass Town. He proceeded against Tomassee, Chehokee and Eustustie
where observing a recent trail of the enemy he made pursuit and soon met and
vanquished three hundred of their warriors. These towns he afterwards
destroyed.
In the meantime an army had been
raised in North Carolina under command of General Rutherford and a place of
joining their respective forces had been agreed upon by that officer and
Colonel Williamson under the supposition that nothing less than their united
force was adequate to the reduction of the Middle Settlements and Vallies.
Colonel Martin Armstrong of Surry County in August raised a small regiment of
Militia and marched with them to join General Rutherford. Benjamin Cleveland
was one of Armstrong's captains. William (afterwards General) Lenoir was
Cleveland's first Lieutenant and William Gray his second Lieutenant.
Armstrong's regiment crossed Johns River at McKenney's ford, passed the Quaker
Meadows and crossed the Catawba at Greenlee's ford and at Cathey's Fort joined
the army under General Rutherford, consisting of above two thousand men. The
Blue Ridge was crossed by this army at the Swannanoa Gap and the march
continued down the river of the same name to its mouth near to which
they crossed the French Broad. From
that river the army marched up Hominy leaving Pisgah on the left and crossing
Pigeon a little below the mouth of the East Fork. Thence through the mountains
to Richland Creek above the present Waynesville and ascending that Creek and
crossing Tuckaseigee River at an Indian town. They then crossed the Cowee
mountain where they had an engagement with the enemy in which but one white man
was wounded. The Indians carried off their dead. From thence the army marched
to the Middle Towns on Tennessee River where they expected to form a junction
with the South Carolina troops un er General Williamson. Here after waiting a
few days they left a strong guard and continued the march to the Hiwassee
towns. All the Indian villages were found evacuated the warriors having fled
without offering any resistance. Few were killed or wounded on either side and
but few prisoners taken by the whites, but they destroyed all the buildings,
crops and stock of the enemy and left them in a starving condition. This army
returned by the same route it had marched. They destroyed thirty or forty
Indian towns. The route has since been known as Rutherford's Trace.
While the troops commanded by
McBury, Williamson and Rutherford were thus desolating the Lower Towns and
Middle Settlements of the Cherokees, another army not less valiant or
enterprising had penetrated to the more secure, because more remote, Overhill
Towns. ∗ ∗ ∗ Orders were immediately given to Colonel William Christian
to raise an army and to march them at once into the heart of the Cherokee
country.1
The place of rendezvous was the Great Island of Holston. ∗ ∗ ∗ Soon after Col. Christian was reinforced by three or four
hundred North Carolina Militia under Col. Joseph Williams, Col. Love and Major
Winston. ∗ ∗ ∗ The whole force now amounted to eighteen hundred men,
including pack-horse men and bullock drivers. ∗
∗ ∗ Near the mouth of Lick Creek was extensive cane brakes,
which, with a lagoon or swamp of a mile long, obstructed the march. The army
succeeded, however, in crossing through the pass. ∗ ∗ ∗ At the bend of the Nollichucky the camps of the enemy were found
by the spies, deserted. ∗ ∗ ∗ The route to be pursued was unknown and through a
wilderness. Isaac Thomas, a trader among the Cherokees, acted as pilot. He
conducted the army along a narrow but plain
war path up long Creek to its source
and down Dumplin Creek to a point a few miles from its mouth, where the war
path struck across to the ford of French Broad, near what has since been known
as Buckingham's Island. ∗ ∗ ∗ Next morning the main body crossed the river near the Big
Island. They marched in order of battle, expecting an attack from the Indians,
who were supposed to be lying about in ambush; but to their surprise no trace
was found even of a recent camp. ∗
∗ ∗
When it was understood in the Cherokee
Nation that Christian was about to invade their territory, one thousand
warriors assembled at the Big Island of French Broad to resist the invaders. ∗ ∗ ∗ A trader named Starr, who was in the Indian encampment
harrangued the warriors in an earnest tone. ∗
∗ ∗ The trader's counsels prevailed, all defensive measures
were abandoned and without waiting for the return of their messengers the
warriors dispersed and the island was found deserted and their encampments
broken up and forsaken. The next morning the army resumed its march. The route
led along the valley of Boyd's Creek and down Ellejay to Little River. From
there to the Tennessee River not an Indian was seen. ∗ ∗ ∗ Next morning they marched to the Great Island Town which
was taken without resistance. ∗ ∗
∗ A panic had seized the Cherokee warriors and not one of
them could be found. Small detachments were therefore sent out from time to
time to different parts of the nation, and finding no armed enemy to contend
against, they adopted as not a less effectual chastisement of the implacable
enemy, the policy of laying waste and burning their fields and towns. In this
manner Neowee, Telico, Chilhowee and other villages were destroyed.
Occasionally during these excursions a few warriors were seen escaping from one
town to a place of greater safety and were killed. No males were taken
prisoners. These devastations were confined to such towns as were known to have
advised or consented to hostilities, while such, like the Beloved Town Chota,
as had been disposed to peace, were spared. Col. Christian endeavored to
convince the Cherokees that he warred only with enemies. He sent out three or
four men with white flags and requested a talk with the chiefs. Six or seven
immediately came in. In a few days several others from the more distant towns
came forward also and proposed peace. It was granted, but not to take effect
till a treaty should be made by representatives from the whole tribe to
assemble the succeeding May at Long Island. A suspension
of hostilities was in the mean time
provided for, with the exception of two towns high up in the mountains on
Tennessee River. These had burnt a prisoner, a youth named Moore, whom they had
taken at Watauga. Tuskega and the other excepted town were reduced to ashes.
Colonel Christian, finding nothing
more to occupy his army longer, broke up his camp at Great Island Town, marched
to Chota, re-crossed the Tennessee and returned to the settlements. In this
campaign of about three months not one man was killed. A few from inclement
weather and undue fatigue became sick. No one died. ∗ ∗ ∗ The volunteers who composed the command of Christian were,
many of them, from the more interior counties of North Carolina and Virginia.
In their marches they had seen and noticed the fertile vallies, the rich
uplands, the sparkling fountains, the pellucid streams, the extensive grazing
and hunting grounds and had felt the genial influences of the climate of the
best part of East Tennessee. Each soldier upon his return home, gave a glowing
account of the adaptation of the country to all the purposes of agriculture.
The story was repeated from one to another till upon the Roanoke and the Yadkin
the people spoke familiarly of the Holston, the Nollichucky, the French Broad,
Little River and the Tennessee.”
———
1 Haywood's History of Tennessee, page 52.
Letter from John Ashe to Richard
Caswell
Ashe, John, 1725-1781
March 17, 1779
Volume 14, Pages 39-43
GENL. JOHN ASHE TO GOVERNOR CASWELL.
[From Executive Letter Book.]
Camp, Zubley's Ferry, March 17th, 1779.
Sir:
I should have wrote you long since,
had I had time or opportunity, but we have been constantly marching since we
left Elizabeth—from thence to Charlestown, to Purisburg, to Augusta—to prevent
the Enemies' crossing into this State and making a junction with the
disaffected (which are numerous) of this and our State. The night of our
arrival opposite to Augusta, the Enemy encamped and made a precipitate retreat
down the Savannah River (tho' double our number), from an information that my
command amounted to eleven thousand, when in fact it did not exceed twelve
hundred. I halted at this place, considering it an important pass to the State
of South Carolina, till directed by General Lincoln to cross the River, and
march down to a place called Bryer Creek, the bridge of which the Enemy had
burnt down on their Retreat. The Creek makes out of the Savannah River, on the
Georgia side, about sixty miles below Augusta; runs at right Angles from the
River, about half a mile back of the River Swamp, and then runs almost parallel
with the River, so that forty miles up the River it is but ten miles distant,
the swamp of the River being generally three miles wide; and on the creek a
deep swamp, eight miles above the bridge a Mill, and several fords
between the bridge and
, and also above. Here we reached, on the 27th Ulto.,
and till the 3rd Instant, expecting to be reinforced
with such of the Georgia Militia as were well affected—about one hundred and
thirty Georgia Continentals, horse, and some of the Militia from South
Carolina, and General Rutherford's Brigade—none of which, except two hundred
and seven horse from South Carolina, one hundred and fifty only of which were
fit for duty, joined us. Genl. Rutherford, with part of his Brigade, had
reached Matthews' Bluff, about five miles above, with the River between, and
Col. Marbury, of the Georgia horse, lay a few miles above on Bryer Creek, so
that I had with me only Genl. Bryan's Brigade, consisting of nine hundred men;
Lieut. Col. Lytle's light Infantry of about two hundred, fit for duty; about
seventy Georgia Continental Troops (the South Carolina light horse being sent
over the Creek to reconnoitre); one four-pound brass fieldpiece, and two iron
two-pound Swivels, mounted as field-pieces. From these are to be deducted near
a hundred waggoners & Carters, which were always returned as Soldiers in
Gen. Bryan's Brigade, with a guard of 50 men that had been sent to guard the
baggage across the River, about eight miles above us (which had fortunately
been effected a few minutes before the enemy appeared), and fifty on a fatigue
party, to make bridges and clear the road (about three miles above us) to the River,
for General Rutherford's Brigade, and two brass field-pieces, that had been
sent from Head Quarters to Matthews' Bluff. In this situation, without a
possibility of Retreat, I had advice of the Enemy being about eight miles
above, in full march toward us. We immediately beat to Arms, formed the Troops
into two lines, and served them with Cartridges, which they could not prudently
have been served with sooner, as they had several times received Cartridges
which had been destroyed and lost for want of Cartouch Boxes. We marched out of
lines to meet the Enemy—some carrying their Cartridges under their arms, others
in the bosoms of their shirts, and some tied up in the corners of their hunting
shirts. Having advanced about a quarter of a mile from our encampment, I saw
the Enemy on a quick march, in force amounting, as I have since been informed,
to eighteen hundred regulars. Several hundred Georgia and Florida Scouts, with
four or five hundred horse (by some said to be nine hundred), formed in three
Columns, with
several field-pieces, called
Grasshoppers. When they came within one hundred and fifty yards of us, they
then displayed their Columns to the right and left to form a line. It was now
that the Georgia Continentals and Col. Perkins' Regiment, which formed the
right of our first line, began their fire. The Georgia Continentals, under
Genl. Elbert, who acted as Col., after two or three Rounds advanced without
orders a few steps beyond the line, and moved to the left in front of the
Regiment from the district of New Bern, which much impeded their firing. By
this movement, and that of the Edenton Regiment, which had been obliged to move
a little to the Right, there was a vacancy in the line. At this instant of time
the Halifax Regiment, which was upon the left of the second line, broke and
took to flight, without firing a gun. The Wilmington (except a small part under
the command of Lieut. Col. Young, who were advancing in their line to the right
to prevent being flanked, and fired two or three rounds) and the New Bern
Regiments followed their example. The Edenton Regiment continued for two or
three discharges longer, when they gave way and took to flight, just as Lieut.
Col. Lytle, with his light Infantry and a brass field-piece (which had been
posted at the Bridge, about a mile and a half from the field), came up. As he
saw the impossibility of the Troops being rallied, and that it would be only
exposing his small corps to no purpose, he moved off in order in the rear of
the fugitives, reserving his fire. The Georgia Continentals still continued in
action some little time longer, till their Genl. surrendered himself a
prisoner.
When I found the second line had
given way, I rode across from the rear of Perkins' Regiment and the Georgians,
where I had taken post for a better observation of the movement of the Enemy,
to the rear of the fugitives, and called to the officers to rally their men,
which I was in expectation might be done, while there was an opposition made by
the first line, but by the time I had wheeled my horse and got a few paces on
my return, I saw the Edenton Regiment break and take to flight. I then used my
utmost exertions to get in front of the fugitives for half a mile or
three-quarters, in order to rally them; in which I was assisted by Col.
Perkins, Lieut. Cols. Young & Williams, Majors Blount & Doherty, with
some few others, who exerted themselves on this occasion, when, finding it
impossible, and that if I proceeded much further
I must unavoidably fall into the
hands of the Enemy, I wheeled to the left into the River Swamp, and made my
escape to Matthews' Bluff, which I had crossed on my return from Genl. Lincoln
the preceding day—a place unknown to the Troops, about four miles up the
Swamp—accompanied by Majors Pointer and McIlhean, and one light horseman,
swimming several Lagoons on our horses.
I imagined most of the troops would
have been either killed or taken, as they had very little further to fly before
the broken Bridge at Bryer Creek must stop them; but by a lucky halt which the
Enemy made for a few moments at the place of our encampment, they made their
escape down the Creek and thro' the River Swamp, many of which swam the River;
some crossed on rafts which they made, and others were fetched across in
Canoes, which were ordered down from Matthews' Bluff; so that we have only one
hundred and fifty missing, upwards of fifty of which, we hear, crossed the
River above and returned into our State. Col. Alston and two Captains, one from
Perkins' the other from Eaton's Regiments, are prisoners, with two Lieutenants
and four Ensigns. Your son had that morning got leave to go up to his baggage
to get some clothes, and the next in command, Lieut. Col. Smith, had been
appointed by Genl. Bryan (in my absence to meet Genl. Lincoln at the Two
Sisters) to command the Baggage Guard. I enclose you a Return (the best I can
procure) of Genl. Bryan's Brigade since the action of the 3rd Instant. The little
attention paid to orders, both by officers and soldiers, the several Mutinies
of the Halifax Regiment, and Desertions from the Brigade, and Genl. Bryan's
unhappy temper, from my march from Elizabeth to Bryer Creek, have rendered my
command very disagreeable; and since the action, his conduct has been such as
will forever render him contemptible to me; of which I shall inform you when I
have the pleasure of seeing you, which I hope will be ere long. Let it suffice
that at present I only add that he has, by himself and his Tools, endeavored to
propagate a Report that I was both a traitor and coward, on which I have
procured a Court of Inquiry to be held. It was waiting for their Report, in
order to send to you, that I have not sent the dispatch sooner. Whenever it is
made, I shall forward it to you, be what it will.
I hope to return before the rising
of the next Assembly, when, I make not the least doubt, I shall render such an
account to you
and my Country as will give
satisfaction and justify my conduct.
Our loss in the field was about Ten
or Twelve killed; about the same number drowned in the Lagoons. Their loss in
the field supposed to be double to that of ours. We are now encamped at
Zubley's Ferry, about two miles above Purisburg, where Head Quarters are. The
Enemies' lines from the Town of Savannah to above the Two Sisters. 'Tis
supposed they are drawing in their Troops to Savannah, in order to move round
to Beaufort or Charlestown. They still continue superior in number to us.
I am, with respect ane esteem,
Your Excellency's mo. ob. humbl. Serv't,
Your Excellency's mo. ob. humbl. Serv't,
J. ASHE.
Retrieved from http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr14-0041 on 08 Oct 16
_____________________________________________________________________________
Letter from [Charles Magill] to
Magill (his father) [Extract]
Magill, Charles
August 1780
Volume 14, Pages 584-585
-------------------- page 584
--------------------
MAJOR McGILL TO HIS FATHER.
No date___probably August, 1780 (the battle of Camden having been fought on the 16th August, 1780.)
Field of Battle within eight miles
of Camden.
In the Evening of the 15th Inst. a
council of Genr'l officers were unanimously of opinion that our Army should
move within five miles of Camden, to an advantageous post, with a swamp in our
front, fordable only at the road, and no other within seven miles on each side.
At ten O'clock the Army moved in the following order: Colo. Armand's Corps,
about seventy Horse in front; Colo. Porterfield with 50 men belonging to our
Reg't and 150 Militia upon Armand's right flank, about two Hundred yards off
the road; Maj'r Anderson with a party of No. Carolina Militia upon Armand's
left Flank, in the same order. Colo. Armand's orders were, should the Enemy's
Horse attack him, to stand their charge, and Porterfield with the other Light
Infantry to flank them. Genrl Smallwood's Brigade in front, Genl Gist's
followed, the No. Carolina Division, under Genrl. Caswell next, and in the rear
the Virginia Brigade, commanded by Genl. Stevens. After marching in this order
nigh five miles, about half after two in the morning, the British Horse made a
most violent onset, Huzzaing all the time, but were bravely repulsed by
Porterfield with considerable loss. The Enemy's Light Infantry next came up;
the Virginia Militia, or the Greatest part that were with Porterfield, took to
their heels, and left the men belonging to our Regt. to stand the Attack of the
whole light troops, which to their Honour they did for about five minutes, in
which a warm and incessant fire was kept up. Colo. Porterfield then ordered a
retreat, and in turning his horse about had his Leg shattered by a musket ball,
which struck him upon his shin Bone. After some time the firing ceased, our
line was formed, and Half an Hour before sunrise the Enemy advanced. Our Army
Drawn up in the same order as in their march, only that Gist's Brigade was on
our right, Smallwood's being formed in the Rear as a Corps Du reserve.
Immediately on the Enemy's driving in our Party in Front, Genl. Stevens was
ordered to advance & attack their right,
and Gist with his Brigade to attack
their left. The orders were immediately complied with; but upon the first fire
the whole line of Militia broke and ran, the firing upon our right had begun. I
was there with Genl. Gates, who perceiving the militia run, Rode about twenty
yards in the rear of the line to rally them, which he found impossible to do
there; about half a mile further, Genrl. Gates and Caswell made another
fruitless attempt, and a third was made at a still greater distance with no better
success. Genl. Smallwood or Stevens advancing to the attack, advanced to
support him, and on the militia's giving away, occupy'd the ground where the
Right of Stevens and the left of the No. Carolina Militia were drawn up. This
made a Chasm between the two Brigades, through which the Enemy's Horse came and
charged our rear. The men to their Immortal Honour made a brave defence, but
were at last obliged to give ground, and are allmost all killed or taken.
Gist's Brigade behaved like heroes; so did Smallwood's, but they being more to
our left afforded us no opportunity of seeing them. Upon Genl. Gates' Riding to
stop the Militia, Gist's Brigade charged Bayonets, and at first made the Enemy
give way, but they were reinforced. We owe all our misfortune to the Militia;
had they not run like dastardly cowards, our Army was sufficient to cope with
theirs, drawn up as we were upon a rising and advantageous ground.
[Extract of Major McGill's letter to
his Father, copied at my desire by George Neite.]