Title: Narrative of the Battle of Cowan's Ford, February 1st, 1781
Author: Henry, Robert Mitchell
Language: English
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                               NARRATIVE

                                 OF THE

                        BATTLE OF COWAN’S FORD,

                          FEBRUARY 1ST, 1781,

                            BY ROBERT HENRY,

                                  AND

               Narrative of the Battle of Kings Mountain,
                        BY CAPTAIN DAVID VANCE.

               MANUSCRIPT PRESERVED BY ROBERT HENRY, ESQ.

               COPY FURNISHED BY LYMAN C. DRAPER, LL. D.,

                         OF MADISON, WISCONSIN.

                      PUBLISHED BY D. SCHENCK, SR.

                  Greensboro, N. C., March 28th, 1891.

                         Reece & Elam, Printers



                                PREFACE.


Having seen the following most valuable and interesting narrative quoted
very often in “KING’S MOUNTAIN AND ITS HEROES,” written by Lyman C.
Draper, L.L.D., of Wisconsin, I wrote the Doctor with a view of
obtaining the original manuscript if possible, but was unable to procure
it. He however very generously intrusted to me the following copy which
he had himself “carefully transcribed” from the original paper in his
hands, in January 1874, and which had been sent to him by Dr. J. F. E.
Hardy, of Asheville, North Carolina. The original manuscript had been
placed in Dr. Hardy’s possession by Wm. L. Henry, of Buncombe County, a
son of Robert Henry—William L. Henry is still living.

In a note to “King’s Mountain and its Heroes,” page 259, is the
following brief sketch of Robert Henry, who was wise enough to preserve
this contribution to our Revolutionary history—to-wit:

“Mr. Henry was born in a rail pen, in then Rowan,[1] now Iredell county,
North Carolina, January 10th 1765. Full of patriotism though young, he
shared in the trials and perils of the Revolution, and in due time
recovered from the severe wounds he received at King’s Mountain. In
1795, he was one of the party who ran the boundary line between North
Carolina and Tennessee. He subsequently studied law, and practiced his
profession many years in Buncombe County. He served in the House of
Commons in 1833 and 1834. He was a clear and forcible public speaker;
and his memory deserves to be held in grateful remembrance for
preserving the narrative of the King’s Mountain campaign and battle, so
frequently cited in this work. He died in the new County of Clay, North
Carolina, January 6th, 1863, within four days of attaining the
patriarchal age of ninety-eight years, and he was undoubtedly the last
of the heroes of King’s Mountain.”

Robert Henry lived in the vicinity of Tuckaseage Ford, on the Catawba
river, which is about ten miles below Cowan’s Ford, when Cornwallis
crossed at the latter ford. He lived on the West side of the river in
Lincoln County. For many years he owned the White Sulphur Springs about
five miles South west of Asheville. It was a popular resort in the
summer for the wealthy planters from the South and was the scene of much
gayety and pleasure. Mr. Henry died in Clay County, the extreme Western
county of the State, bordering on Georgia and Tennessee. I have myself
heard my grandfather Michael Schenck, of Lincolnton, N. C., speak of Mr.
Henry as “a great land lawyer.” His practice as a surveyor, no doubt,
making him formidable in such suits.

The public is indebted to the Hon. Theodore F. Davidson, Attorney
General of North Carolina, and a great-grandson of Captain David Vance,
for the publication of this narrative.

                                                     D. SCHENCK, SENIOR.

Greensboro, N. C., March the 28th, 1891.

Footnote 1:

  This is manifestly an error. He was born in Tryon. See W. L. Henry’s
  letter to Dr. Hardy. Tryon was changed to Lincoln County. Lincoln was
  divided and Mr. Henry’s birthplace is in the present Gaston county.



                       ROBERT HENRY’S NARRATIVE.

                      KING’S MOUNTAIN BATTLE, &c.


TO DR. J. F. E. HARDY,

      Asheville, N. C.:

    _My Dear Sir, and Kind Friend_:

I send you the MS. of my father, ROBERT HENRY. He was born in Tryon (now
Lincoln) county, N. C., _in a rail pen_, 10th February, 1765; was a
lawyer and surveyor by profession; was one of the first settlers in
Buncombe county; taught School on Swannanoa, the first school taught in
Buncombe county. He died in Clay county, N. C., February 6th, 1863,
wanting but four days of being 98 years old. THOMAS HENRY, his father,
died soon after the Revolution, of rheumatism contracted during the war.
THOMAS HENRY was from the North of Ireland.

I do not want this manuscript lost, as you see it is in ROBERT HENRY’S
own hand, and a little relic. If not used, I should like it should be
returned to

               Respectfully,

                  WM. L. HENRY,

                        ASHEVILLE,

                  Buncombe County, N. C.



                       ROBERT HENRY’S NARRATIVE.


I will proceed to point out and correct some of the errors in WHEELER’S
HISTORY of North Carolina, so far as respects the transactions of
Cornwallis crossing Cowan’s Ford, on Catawba river, the 1st of February,
1781; then I will give my own version of that transaction; then I will
give the common report of the transaction shortly after it happened.

Wheeler’s History, p. 232-33: “Here” (meaning at Cowan’s Ford) “about
six hundred militia under General Davidson were posted, and a slight
skirmish occurred. A British Colonel (Hall) and three privates were
killed, and thirty-six wounded.”

If we take this account to be true, we must conclude that these militia
were very bad marksmen, for they had time to have fired five rounds
each, which would have been three thousand single shots, at distances
varying from fifty yards to less than twenty yards, over a naked sheet
of water; that their enemy was not obscured by smoke, being in water
above the waist-band, and hanging together by their muskets; that not a
single gun was fired by them whilst in the water. This story, if it
bears telling, cannot be accredited to be true, that in firing three
thousand single shots they only killed four, including Col. Hall, and
wounded thirty-six. The story appears further incredible from this—that
in common battles on land, there are as many, and often more, men killed
than wounded where the whole force from head to foot is exposed to fire
of the opposite party. In the present case, the body, from above the
waist-band to the top of the head was exposed—for all below was under
water and secure from lead. Wounds in the upper part [of the body] are
doubly as apt to kill as those in the lower extremities, from the
waist-band downward; hence we would expect double as many killed on this
occasion as wounded—but the reverse is told, that only four were killed,
including Col. Hall, and thirty-six wounded.

A further mistake may be noticed. The account states that Davidson had
six hundred militia, whereas he had only three hundred. The whole of
this quotation should pass for nothing.

The next error that I will notice is on page 235 of Wheeler’s History,
which I quote: “Soon after the action commenced” (meaning at Cowan’s
Ford) “General William Davidson was killed, greatly lamented by all who
knew him as a talented, brave and generous officer.” The true statement
is this: Davidson was killed by the first gun that was fired on the
British side on that occasion, for they did not fire a gun whilst in the
river; and the gun that killed him was fired at the water’s edge on the
Mecklenburg side; and if Davidson’s clothes had been examined, it is
probable that they would have shown the mark of powder. The whole of the
Americans had left their stands or posts at the water’s edge and
judiciously fled, lest the British might hem them in by the river; and
an utter silence prevailed—not a gun firing on either side: Silence was
first broken by the report of the gun that killed Davidson.

A further quotation from the same page: “The Company commanded by Gen.
Graham was the first to commence the attack” (at Cowan’s Ford) “on the
British as they advanced through the river, which was resolutely
continued until they reached the bank, loaded their arms, and commenced
a heavy fire upon his men, two of whom were killed.” The whole of this
is a gratuitous statement, for Gen. Graham was not there—nor was there
either officer or private killed at that place except Gen. Davidson; nor
was there any one wounded there except Robert Beatty, who afterwards
died of the wound. Gen. Graham and his company may have been at
Davidson’s camp, three quarters of a mile from the Ford, and two of his
men might have been killed there, if they were too tardy in making their
escape before the British arrived there.

Another quotation from Wheeler’s History, p. 264: “At day break the
British army under Cornwallis, on the 1st February, 1781, entered the
waters of Catawba, then swollen by heavy rains, at Cowan’s Ford. The
morning was dark and rainy. The light infantry under Col. Hall entered
first, followed by the grenadiers and the battalions. The piquet of Gen.
Davidson challenged the enemy; receiving no reply the guard fired. This
turned out the whole force of Davidson, who kept up a galling fire from
the bank.”

Observe the morning was dark but not rainy. Davidson’s army was
stationed three quarters of a mile from the Ford, and did not fire a gun
at the British whilst in the river, nor after they came across; all the
firing by the American side in the river and on the bank was done by the
guard.

Now, I will give my own version of the transaction of Cornwallis
crossing Catawba River at Cowan’s Ford, 1st February, 1781. Robert
Beatty, a lame man, had taken up a school near the Tuckaseage Ford, and
had taught two days, and was teaching the third, when news came to the
School-house that Cornwallis was camped at Forney’s, about seven miles
from the School-house; that Tarleton was ranging through the country
catching whig boys to make musicians of them in the British army. The
master instantly dismissed the scholars, directing them to go home and
spread the news, and retired himself. I went home, and that night Moses
Starret, Alexander Starret, George Gillespie, Robert Gillespie, and
Charles Rutledge came to my father’s! We lay out that night, and shortly
before day-light my brother, Joseph Henry, who had left the army to give
the news, and had crossed Catawba at John Beattie’s in a canoe; and when
he left the army, it was expected that Cornwallis would cross the river
at Tuckaseage Ford. Early in the morning this company crossed the river
at Beatties, about two miles below Tuckaseage Ford, where we hid our
canoe, staid some time at Beatties’—then went up to the Tuckaseage Ford,
and the army was at Cowan’s Ford, we went up the river to John
Nighten’s, who treated us well by giving us potatoes to roast, and some
whisky to drink. We became noisy and mischievous. Nighten said we should
not have any more whisky. I proposed to go to the camp at the Ford, if
any one would let me have a gun and ammunition. My brother said he would
give me his; Charles Rutledge proposed also to accompany me if he had a
gun and ammunition; when Moses Starret gave him his gun. When about to
start, I gave Nighten a hundred dollar Continental bill for a half a
pint of whisky. My brother gave another bill of the same size for half a
bushel of potatoes. We dispatched the whiskey. Being thus equipped, we
went to the Ford, which was about a mile and a half. When we arrived,
the guard that was there, thirty in number, made us welcome; the officer
of the guard told us that Cornwallis would certainly attempt to cross
that night or early in the morning; that each one of the guard had
picked their stands to annoy the British as they crossed, so that when
the alarm was given they would not be crowded, or be in each other’s
way—and said we must choose our stands. He accompanied us—Charles
Rutledge chose the uppermost stand, and I chose the lowest, next the
getting out place of the Ford; the officer observed, that he considered
that Davidson had done wrong, for that the army should have been
stationed at the Ford—instead of which it was encamped three-fourths of
a mile off, and that some person acquainted in the neighborhood of
Forney should watch the movements of Cornwallis’ army, and immediately
when they would attempt to march, to hasten to the river and give the
alarm; then that Davidson’s army might be in readiness to receive them;
the river being in the situation that it was then in, and the army thus
prepared to receive them, said that Cornwallis and a million of men
could not cross without cannon as long as our ammunition would last.
This I thought was a large expression; but since I think he was
correct.[2] He mentioned to each man of the guard to go to his stand
again and examine it, so that when the alarm was given, that there
should be no mistakes then made. I went to mine, and was well pleased
with it—for in shooting, if I would miss my first aim, my lead would
range along the British army obliquely and still do damage, and that I
could stand it until the British would come to a place the water was
riffling over a rock, then it would be time to run away. I remember that
I looked over the guard to see if there was any person with whom I was
acquainted, and found none but Joel Jetton, and my lame school-master,
Robert Beatty, with my comrade, Charles Rutledge.

Gen. Joseph Graham’s name is mentioned by Wheeler. I was acquainted with
him; but he was not there. Shortly after dark a man across the river
hooted like an owl, and was answered; a man went to a canoe some
distance off, and brought word from him that all was silent in the
British camp. The guard all lay down with their guns in their arms, and
all were sound asleep at day-break, except Joel Jetton, who discovered
the noise of horses in deep water. The British pilot, Dick Beal being
deceived by our fires, had led them into swimming water. Jetton ran to
the Ford, the sentry being sound asleep, Jetton kicked him into the
river, endeavored to fire his gun, but it was wet: Having discovered the
army, ran to our fires, having a fine voice, cried “the British! the
British!” and fired a gun—then each man ran to his stand; when I got to
my stand, I saw them red, but thought from loss of sleep my eyes might
be mistaken, threw water into them; by the time I was ready to fire, the
rest of the guard had fired. I then heard the British splashing and
making a noise as if drowning. I fired, and continued firing until I saw
that one on horse-back had passed my rock in the river, and saw that it
was Dick Beal moving his gun from his shoulder, I expected, to shoot me.
I ran with all speed up the bank, and when at the top of it, William
Polk’s horse breasted me, and Gen. Davidson’s horse, about twenty or
thirty feet before Polk’s horse, and near to the water’s edge. All being
silent on both sides, I heard the report of a gun, at the water’s edge,
being the first gun fired on the British side, and which I thought Dick
Beal had fired at me. That moment Polk wheeled his horse, and cried
“fire away, boys; there is help at hand.” Turning my eye round,
designing to run away, I saw my lame school-master, Beatty, loading his
gun by a tree; I thought I could stand it as long as he could, and
commenced loading. Beatty fired, then I fired, the heads and shoulders
of the British being just above the bank; they made no return fire;
silence still prevailed. I observed Beatty loading again; I ran down
another load—when he fired, he cried “it’s time to run, Bob.” I looked
past my tree, and saw their guns lowered, and then straightened myself
behind my tree. They fired and knocked off some bark from my tree.

In the meantime Beatty had turned from his tree, and a bullet hit him in
the hip, and broke the upper end of his thigh bone; he fell, still
hallowing for me to run. I then ran at the top of my speed about one
hundred yards, when a thought struck me that the British had no horsemen
to follow me, and that Davidson’s army would be down at the river, and a
battle would take place. Whereupon I loaded my gun, and went opposite to
the Ford, and chose a large tree, sat down by it, and fired about fifty
yards at the British. They fired several guns toward the place where I
was; but their lead did not come nearer to me than about two rods.

I will now account for the great difference between the number of the
British killed and those wounded, as stated by Wheeler. The water at the
Ford was fully waist-band deep, and in many places much deeper, with a
very heavy pressing current, and when a man was killed or badly wounded,
the current immediately floated him away, so that none of them that were
killed or badly wounded were ever brought to the shore; and none but
those slightly wounded reached the bank; Col. Hall fell at the bank—I
account for the three British that were killed as stated by Wheeler, in
this way: Beatty, the lame schoolmaster, an excellent marksman, fired
twice, at a distance of not more than twenty yards, at the British,
after they had ascended the high bank, as before stated; and I fired
twice about the same distance. I therefore think Beatty being the best
marksman killed two, and I killed one.

Wheeler states that on the American side there were two killed: I
observe, if there was any one killed that it was not at the river, for
the British did not fire a gun whilst in the river, and when they arose
the high bank, all were gone but Beatty and myself; that if any were
killed, it was at Davidson’s camp, three quarters of a mile from the
Ford of the river. But I never heard of any one either killed or wounded
of the Americans except Robert Beatty on that occasion.

I will give an account of the balance of my route after firing the last
time, as heretofore stated. I went down the river to John Beattie’s,
where we had left our canoe; there I found my company, the two Starrets,
the two Gillespies, my brother Joseph, and my comrade Charles Rutledge.
I returned the gun to my brother after counting the cartridges—found
seven missing—therefore I had fired seven times, as I supposed. The
company remained at Beattie’s until the next morning; when we took our
canoe to cross the river to the Lincoln side, it was proposed that we
would go to James Cunningham’s fish-trap, and see if there were any fish
in it. When we arrived at the trap, there were fourteen dead men lodged
in it, several of whom appeared to have no wound, but had drowned. We
pushed them into the water, they floated off, and went each to his own
home. This is my version of that transaction.

Now, I will give the common report of it. I will begin with the report
of Nicholas Gosnell, one of our neighbors, a Tory, who was in
Cornwallis’ army when they crossed the Catawba at Cowan’s Ford. It was
frequently repeated from the extraordinary language he used, and from
his manner of expression—it is therefore better imprinted on my memory.
I will endeavor to give it in his own language: “His Lordship chose Dick
Beal for his pilot, as he well know’d the Ford, and a durned pretty
pilot he was, for he suffered himself to be led astray by the Rebel
fires, and then had to go down to the Ford afterwards; but if he did bad
one way, he did good another, for he killed their damned Rebel General.
The Rebels were posted at the water’s edge—there wan’t many on ’em; but
I’ll be durned if they didn’t slap the wad to his Majesty’s men
suicidally! for a while; for I saw ’em hollerin and a snortin and a
drownin—the river was full on ’em a snortin, a hollerin and a drownin
until his Lordship reached the off bank; then the Rebels made straight
shirt tales, and all was silent—then I tell you his Lordship was Bo sure
Super gille cristilum [?],[3] and when he rose the bank he was the best
dog in the hunt, and not a rebel to be seen.” This is the Tory version
of Cornwallis crossing Catawba at Cowan’s Ford.

The following is the report of every person who lived at or near the
river between Cowan’s Ford and Tuckaseage Ford: That a great number of
British dead were found on Thompson’s fish-dam, and in his trap, and
numbers lodged on brush, and drifted to the banks: that the river stunk
with dead carcases; that the British could not have lost less than one
hundred men on that occasion.

Report of soldiers who were in Davidson’s army. When Wm. Polk returned
from the river after General Davidson was killed at Cowan’s Ford, three
quarters of a mile from the Ford—they stated that when William Polk
returned from the Ford, and reported the death of Gen. Davidson, that
some of the army had left, and the rest were in confusion; that Polk
prudently marched them off, not being able to fight Cornwallis on equal
terms.

Footnote 2:

  Gen. Greene had admonished Davidson of the danger of Tarleton crossing
  secretly at some private ford and falling on his rear, and for this
  reason he kept his main force at some distance from the river.

                                                                   D. S.

Footnote 3:

  This seems to be some silly slang of that day.



                      KING’S MOUNTAIN EXPEDITION.


I will now give the statement of Col. D. Vance and Gen. Joseph McDowell
of the manner of raising the army to oppose Col. Ferguson—its march—and
the defeat of Ferguson.

This part is the statement of Col. Vance; and on a sarcastic and
sneering reply by M. Matthews saying that they, to wit the army under
Campbell, was a fierce and formidable set of chickens, and could make
great havoc among eggs, if each one was provided with a stick. This
elicited a more extensive reply and statement of the whole affair and
its consequences from Gen. J. McDowell. I will first give the reasons
why Vance and McDowell made these statements.

The General Assembly of North Carolina made an agreement with that of
Tennessee to run and mark the Division line between the two States, and
in the year 1799, the State of North Carolina appointed Gen. J.
McDowell, Col. David Vance,[4] and Mussentine Matthews,[5] commissioners
on the part of North Carolina, who associated John Strother and Robert
Henry surveyors, with the necessary numbers of chain-bearers, markers,
and pack-horsemen for that business, who met and went to the White-Top
Mountain, a spur of the Stone Mountain, where the Virginia line crossed
the latter. Strother did not appear at the commencement. The company
were asking a great many detached questions relative to Ferguson’s
defeat—at length requested that McDowell or Vance would give them a
connected account of the whole transaction from first to last. It was
agreed that Col. Vance should give that account. The Colonel agreed to
do so on consulting with McDowell, our pilot, Gideon Lewis, who had been
a news-carrier, and myself, [and relate it] on the first wet day that
should happen so that we could not progress with the line.

Accordingly a wet day happened, when we were at the head of the
Round-About on the Stone Mountain. Our bark camp was soon fixed, and
Col. Vance gave the account, ending with the details of the battle of
King’s Mountain. Whereupon M. Matthews observed that we (meaning the
army) were a fierce and formidable set of blue hen’s chickens among
eggs, if each one was provided with a stick. This brought a reply from
McDowell. That being done, I was provided with a note-book, separate
from my surveyor’s book, to take down a memorandum of particular things
that happened, and commenced taking a memorandum of Vance’s account of
that transaction. Whereupon Col. Vance, who was an elegant clerk, told
me as there was only one surveyor, that I had not time to do it—and if I
would give him my book, that he would write it for me, as he had
leisure. He took the book, and returned it to me, saying he had paper of
his own, at a Spring by the side of Bright’s Path in the Bald Ground on
the Yellow Mountain. Having taken down his own recollections, and also
Gen. McDowell’s reply to M. Matthews—which is as follows:

“As I have in some measure to depend on my memory, I will begin with
Col. Shelby’s retreat after his defeating the British at Ennoree. Col.
Charles McDowell had detached Shelby, Sevier, &c., with a party to go
round where Ferguson was camped—who defeated the British and Tories at
Ennoree. When Col. McDowell received intelligence of Gate’s defeat, and
sent an express to Col. Shelby to retreat, Gen. Joseph McDowell was then
Major, and I was Captain. Col. Shelby called a council of all his
officers to know what was best to do. It was agreed that we must make a
wood’s trip to get round Ferguson and join Col. C. McDowell, carrying
the prisoners alternately on horseback, and running on foot short
distances. After going some distance, found that Col. C. McDowell had
left his camp, and was retreating towards Gilbert Town, we altered our
course and overtook him and the main army.”

After joining Col. C. McDowell, it was proposed by Cols. Shelby and
Sevier that they thought an army of volunteers could be raised to defeat
Ferguson, stating that Ferguson’s main business was to kill the Whig
stock; that he would be at the heads of Broad River, and then go to the
head of Catawba to execute that purpose, which would give time to raise
an army of volunteers over the mountains, and in Wilkes and Surry
counties. All the officers, and some of the privates were consulted, and
all agreed that it was right to make the trial to raise an army. It was
then agreed that the prisoners should be sent to Virginia; that Cols.
Shelby and Sevier and their men should immediately go over the Mountains
home and procure volunteers; that Col. Chas. McDowell should send an
express to Cols. Cleveland and Herndon in Wilkes for them to raise
volunteers; and that Col. C. McDowell should provide some way to
preserve the Whig stock on the head of Catawba, and provide some way
also to give intelligence of Ferguson’s movements.

The prisoners were accordingly dispatched to Virginia. Cols. Shelby and
Sevier went immediately over the mountains; and Col. C. McDowell wrote
to Cols. Cleveland and Herndon to raise volunteers to be ready to march
upon the shortest notice;—he then called the men on the head of Catawba,
and first proposed that they who could not go over the mountains, should
take protection on the advance of Ferguson and thereby save the whig
stock: Daniel Smith (afterwards Colonel), Thomas Lytle, Robert Patton
and J. McDowell of the Pleasant Garden, absolutely refused, and stated
that they would drive the Whig stock into the deep coves under the eave
of the Black Mountain; that others might take protection and save the
stock that remained behind. John Carson, afterwards Colonel, Wm.
Davidson, Ben. Davidson and others were appointed to take protection to
save the remaining whig stock.

James Jack and Archibald Nail were appointed to be news-bearers over the
Yellow Mountains to Shelby and were to be passing continually—that they
were to receive the news in the Turkey Cove relative to Ferguson’s
movements. That Joseph Dobson and James McKoy were to be bearers of the
like news to Cols. Cleveland and Herndon, and that they were to receive
their news at the Montgomery place, afterwards Joseph Dobson’s place.

Col. Ben. Cleveland appointed his brother, Robert Cleveland and Gideon
Lewis, our pilot, to be news-bearers from B. Cleveland to Shelby. Thus
the news went the rounds as fast as horses could carry their riders.

After Col. C. McDowell had thus arranged his business, he received the
news that Ferguson was at Gilbert Town. He then collected all the men
that he could procure from Burke county and went to Shelby and Sevier,
who had engaged Col. Campbell, of Virginia, also to raise volunteers.
The orders given to the volunteers were to equip themselves as quick as
possible and have nothing to provide when they were called on to march,
but to saddle their horses and march on the shortest notice. Those who
could not go supplied those who could with any thing they stood in need
of. It was also announced to the volunteers by the officers, that a
battle with Ferguson was determined upon, and that they might rely on a
battle before they returned home.

The news went the rounds by the news-carriers already mentioned, of
every thing that happened in Ferguson’s camp—until the news came that
John Carson had played a supple trick on Ferguson—that having saved
almost all the whig stock that had not been driven into the coves by
Daniel Smith and company—that Ferguson began to suspect Carson for
saving whig stock—there being a large quantity of Tory cattle ranging
about the large cane-breaks where David Greenlee lives, and that a party
of Ferguson’s were fitted out to kill whig stock, and that they
designing to go to that place, and another party was going to the
Montgomery place—that is the place where Joseph Dobson lives on—for the
like purpose. Carson went with the party going to the Montgomery place,
without informing the party going to the Greenlee place that the cattle
ranging there were Tory stock, the owners being in Ferguson’s camp. The
parties each went to their places of destination, and returned into
camp; those who went to the Greenlee place reported that they had killed
over one hundred head of three, four, five and six year old rebel steers
at the McGonaugh place. J. Carson observed that he expected that those
steers were the stock of Joseph Brown, Dement and Johnstone, who were
there in the camp. Whereupon Brown, Dement and Johnstone went and
discovered that the steers there killed were every one theirs. This
turned the Tories rather against Ferguson; whereupon Ferguson stated
that the Rebels had out-witted him, and that he could not effect his
purpose there—that he would start back to Gilbert Town on a given day.

The news was on its passage to Shelby and Cleveland as soon as the
breath left Ferguson’s mouth—it did not stop day or night—it was soon at
the place of destination. Immediately Shelby directed Campbell and his
men to meet him at a given time at Wautaga and Sevier to meet him and
Campbell at ten o’clock on a given day at the Spring in the Bald Ground,
on the Yellow Mountain, at the side of Bright’s path—all of which were
done with great exactness. He issued orders for Cleveland and Herndon to
meet him on a given day on Silver Creek, in Burke county; and ordered D.
Smith, J. McDowell, Lytle, Patton, and those who had taken protection,
to meet him at Wm. Nail’s by a given night, which was the night next
after the meeting on the Yellow Mountain.

When the officers met at the Spring on the Yellow Mountain, it was
quickly agreed that they would send Col. Charles McDowell with an
express to Gen. Gates, for him to send an experienced officer to conduct
them in a battle with Ferguson, and as soon as Chas. McDowell, with his
silver-mounted Tom. Simpson rifle, had disappeared, steering for the
path on the Linville Ridge, the army descended the Mountain on Bright’s
path and went to Wm. Nail’s that night where they met Daniel Smith,
Thomas Lytle, Joseph McDowell and Robert Patton, the persons who had
driven the whig stock into the coves under the eave of the Black
Mountains, and also those who had taken protection. When it was agreed,
that D. Smith, T. Lytle and J. McDowell should remain at the head of the
river, as they were considered equal to a small army against Indians;
and that the Indians were expected to fall on the frontiers as soon as
Ferguson left it; and that they should have those who had taken
protection to assist them. It was agreed that Joseph McDowell, (now
Gen.) should take twenty men with him, and follow Ferguson’s trail for
fear of surprise—who at the head of Silver Creek, near the Pilot
Mountain, came on a squad of Tories who were designing to follow
Ferguson, and killed some of them and put the rest to flight and
returned to the army in the morning after staying the night at Wm.
Nails’s.

The army marched in to Silver Creek, and at the place appointed met
Cols. Cleveland and Herndon so exactly that it scarcely occasioned a
halt—proceeding on to Cane Creek of Broad River at a place afterwards
called Probit’s place.

Major Billy Chronicle with twenty men joined the army; no halt
called—still proceeding on. At Camp Creek Cols. William Graham, with one
hundred and sixty men well mounted, joined—who gave intelligence that
Ferguson had left Gilbert Town and had crossed Broad River at Twitty’s
Ford on his way to Cruger at Ninety-Six and that Col. Williams was near
to Gilbert Town. It was agreed among the officer’s [while] still on the
march, that Col. Herndon’s foot could not overhaul Ferguson before he
would reach Ninety Six. They then began to count the number of horsemen
that they could raise. Beginning with those under Col. Graham and those
of Major Chronicle, Graham’s men 160, Chronicle’s 20, were to count 200
instead of 180. Campbell mentioned to Chronicle that the lad whom he had
with him should not hear their enumeration. Chronicle replied that he
was a son of “Old Rugged and Tough;” that his cheek was too well hooped
to leak—the lad [Robert Henry] then [listening] is now our surveyor.
They numbered on, and found their true number to be between six and
seven hundred; but told the soldiers it was between 1100 and 2000 [1200]
counting Williams’ men.

Orders were then given for all who were unable, from any cause that
would hinder him in a severe march, should fall back into the foot
troops and give their horses to footmen [who needed them, in order to be
properly equipped for the march]; a number of exchanges were made.
Further orders were given at Gilbert Town to kill some beeves, which was
done; and orders were given for the horsemen to be ready to march at a
given time, which was very short. Some of the troops who were tardy got
none [of the beef?]. The line of march was taken to cross Broad River at
Pear’s Ford, below the mouth of Green River, to take a near cut on
Ferguson on his way to Ninety Six. The day and night were occasionally
showery. We marched on, crossing Ferguson’s trail in the track (?), and
proceeded to the Cowpens and came to a Tory’s house, pulled him out of
bed, treated him roughly, and asked him at what time Ferguson had passed
that place. He said he had not passed at all; that he had torch
pine—that we might light it and search, and if we could find the track
of an army we might hang him, or do what we pleased with him; and if no
sign of an army could be found, he would expect more mild treatment.
Search was made and no sign of an army found.

We then camped, and began to send persons to find Ferguson’s track.
Chronicle proposed to send Enoch Gilmer as one; it was objected to
because he was not acquainted with the country. Chronicle said that he
could find out any thing better than those acquainted, for he could act
any character that he pleased; that he could cry and laugh in the same
breath, and those best acquainted would believe that he was in earnest
in both; that he could act the fool so that those best acquainted with
him would believe him to be deranged; that he was a shrewd, cunning
fellow, and a stranger to fear. Hence he was [sent] among others. He
went to a Tory’s house on Ferguson’s trail and stated to him that he had
been waiting on Ferguson’s way from Twitty’s Ford to Ninety-Six, but
missed finding him; that he wished to join the army. The Tory replied,
that after Ferguson had crossed the river at Twitty’s Ford, he had
received an express from Lord Cornwallis for him to join the main army
at Charlotte; that he had called in Tarleton, and would call in his
out-posts, and give Gates another defeat, and reduce North Carolina to
British rule as he had South Carolina and Georgia, and would enter
Virginia with a larger army than ever had been in America. Gilmer gave
this account to the officers. This was some time in the day. They then
commenced marching to the Cherokee Ford on Broad River. Night came on,
and our pilots missed their way, the night being dark and occasionally
raining, so that when we came near to the river it was near day-light;
and when we came to the river hills it was agreed that we would send
Enoch Gilmer to see whether Ferguson had not been apprised of us and
would attack us in the river. Orders were given to keep our guns dry,
for it was raining. Gilmer was gone for some time, when his voice was
heard in the hollow singing Barney-Linn, a favorite black-guard song.
This was notice that all was right. Orders were given that the largest
horses should be on the upper side. The order was not obeyed. The river
was deep, but it was remarked that not one was ducked. After passing the
river, it was agreed that Enoch Gilmer should go ahead, and make all the
discoveries about Ferguson that he could. He went off in a gallop. The
officers kept in front of the privates at a very slow gait—the men
cursing and stating if we were to have a battle, to let it be over, &c.

All were very hungry, and when we would come to a cornfield, it was soon
pulled. The soldiers would cut part of the raw corn off the cobb, and
haul the remainder to their horses. After travelling some miles, the
officers saw Gilmer’s horse at a gate about three-quarters of a mile
ahead. They gave whip to their horses, and went at full speed to the
gate—alighted, and went into the house. Gilmer was sitting at a table
eating. Campbell exclaimed, “We have got you—you d——d rascal.” Gilmer
replied, “a true King’s man by G——d.” Campbell in order to try Gilmer’s
metamorphosis, had provided himself with a rope, with a running noose on
it, threw it over Gilmer’s neck. Gilmer commenced crying and begging.
Campbell swore that they would hang him on the bow of the gate—when
Chronicle stated that it was wrong to hang him there, for his ghost
would haunt the women, who were now in tears. Campbell observed that was
right, that we will hang him on the first stooping limb of a tree that
they should pass on the road—then sending Gilmer along one or two
hundred yards, Gilmer crying and begging for his life, the rope was
taken from his neck, and he mounted his horse, and was asked what news
he had obtained. He stated as follows:—That when he came to the Tory’s
house, he professed to be a true King’s man, that he was wishing to join
Col. Ferguson, and desired to know where he was, and that he had kissed
the two Tory women; that the youngest of the two informed him, that she
had been in Ferguson’s camp that morning; that the camp was about three
miles distant from that place; that she had carried him some chickens;
that he was camped on a ridge between two branches where some deer
hunters had a camp the last Fall. Major Chronicle and Capt. Mattocks
stated that the camp referred to was their camp, and that they well knew
the ground Ferguson was camped on.

Whereupon it was agreed on that they should plan the battle, as they
knew the ground. They rode a short distance by themselves, and reported
that it was an excellent place to surround Ferguson’s army, as the
shooting would all be up hill—that there would be no danger of our
destroying each other; but doubted whether we had men enough to surround
them. It was then instantly agreed on by all the officers, that we would
attempt to surround our foes. They immediately began to arrange their
men, without stopping and assigning to each officer the part he was to
take in surrounding the hill. By the time this was done, we were close
to our enemy. The last whose duty was to be prescribed was Col. Wm.
Graham with his men, who desired leave of absence, alleging that he had
received certain intelligence that his wife was dying with the colic,
about sixteen miles off, near Armstrong’s Ford on the South Fork.
Campbell stated to him that should be the greatest inducement for him to
stay, that he could carry the news—and if we were successful, it would
be to her as good as a dose of medicine. Graham exclaimed, “Oh my dear,
dear wife! Must I never see her again?” Campbell in an angry tone of
voice turned to Major Chronicle, and said “shall Col. Graham have leave
of absence?” To which Chronicle replied—“it is woman’s business, let him
go.” Campbell told Graham he might go. Graham said he must have an
escort—Chronicle told him he might have one; Graham chose David Dickey.
Dickey said that he would rather be shot in [battle] than go. Chronicle
said—“Dave—You must go.” Dickey said he would rather be shot on the
spot; “but if I must go, I must go, I must.” Then Col. Graham and Dickey
immediately took to the woods, and disappeared.[6]

Campbell then mentioned to Chronicle that as Graham has gone, you must
take his place: Turning to Col. Hambright, Campbell asked “have you any
objections?” He replied, that it was his wish, as Chronicle best knew
the ground. Whereupon Chronicle called “come on, my South Fork boys,”
and took the lead.

The hill was surrounded in a few minutes, and the battle commenced. Our
enemies had two to our one; of course their fire was double that of
ours. We killed 247 of them, and they killed 143 of our side, agreeably
to the account of E. Gilmer and Joseph Beatty, supposed to be the most
accurate of any. So that they having choice of ground, we fought them
two to one; we killed as many more of them as they killed of us, and
took more prisoners than we had men to guard them. But we had not a
coward to face the hill that day—they all faded off, until within ten
minutes of the battle, the last coward left us. Our equals were scarce,
and our superiors hard to find. This is the most particular and accurate
account, my friend, that I can give you.

Whereupon at the head of the Round-About, I made a similar statement to
our chain-bearers, pack-horsemen, &c. Mussentine Matthews made the
following reply: “Ah! you would have been a formidable and destructive
set of blue hen’s chickens among eggs, if each one of you had been
provided with a good stick. When anybody pretends to tell the story of
that transaction, it would be to his credit to play the game of shut
mouth.”[7] This elicited the following reply from Gen. Joseph McDowell:

Before that battle (referring to Ferguson’s defeat,) we had sustained
two shameful and disastrous defeats—that of Gates by treachery; and that
of Sumter by carelessness, in quick succession one after the other—upon
which, the Tories flocked to the British camps, and increased their
numbers to two or three fold; that the country was over-run, and fairly
deluged with them, so much that from the pressure of their numbers, the
souls of the brave, from necessity were obliged to cower under its
weight, and none but the bravest of the brave withstood the shock.

At the time when the news of Gates’ defeat reached Col. Charles
McDowell, he had detached Cols. Shelby and Sevier to go round Ferguson’s
camp to dislodge some British and Tories on the Ennoree, near to
Ninety-Six. He then sent an express to Shelby to take care of himself,
for Gates was defeated. Whereupon Shelby made the best of his way round
Ferguson, and fell in with Charles McDowell and the main body,
retreating towards Gilbert Town. Then it was suggested by Shelby, that a
sufficient force could be raised over the Mountains, with the assistance
from Wilkes and Surry counties, to defeat Ferguson. This was agreed to
by all the officers present. The troops were raised without Government
orders; each man had to furnish his own provisions, arms, ammunition,
horse, and all his equipage, without the value of a gun flint from the
public; without pay, or expectation of pay or reward, even to the amount
of a Continental dollar depreciated to eight hundred to one. They were
all volunteers; they were under no compulsion to go, but each man in
advance consulted his own courage, well knowing he was going to fight
before his return. They started in a rainy, inclement season of the
year, without baggage wagon, pack-horse, or tent cloth, across the most
rugged bar of mountains in the State, and almost pathless, having only a
hunter’s trail to travel, followed Ferguson through all his windings; at
length over took him at King’s Mountain, where he boasted the morning of
the battle, that “he was on King’s Mountain, and that he was king of
that Mountain, and that God Almighty could not drive him from it.” There
we over-hauled him, fought him two to one—hence their fire was double
that of ours; yet we killed 287 [247] of them, to 143 they killed of us.
Yet the fate of nations and of battles turn on a pivot. Ferguson, a
prudent officer, finding himself beset and surrounded on all sides,
ordered his regulars, who had muskets and bayonets, to charge bayonets
on Major Chronicle’s South Fork boys: The regulars having discharged
their muskets at a short distance with effect, in turn the Fork Boys
discharged their rifles with fatal effect, and retreated, keeping before
the points of the bayonets about twenty feet, until they loaded again,
when they discharged their rifles, each man dropping his man. This was
treatment that British courage could not stand; they in turn retreated
with precipitation; then the flag was hoisted, and all was over.

If they had succeeded in the charge, it would have made a pass-way for
his army, and they might have turned on our line on the one side of the
hill, and defeated us in detail, or have made good their march to Lord
Cornwallis at Charlotte, either of which would have been disastrous to
the American cause. We had neither a coward or a traitor to face the
hill that day. We were the bravest of the brave; we were a formidable
flock of blue hen’s chickens of the game blood, of indomitable courage,
and strangers to fear. We were well provided with sticks; we made the
egg shells—British and Tory skulls—fly, like onion peelings in a windy
day; the blue cocks flapped their wings and crowed—“we are all for
Liberty these times;” and all was over; our equals were scarce, and our
superiors hard to find.

Taking the whole campaign, including the battle, I know of no parallel
to it in the annals of ancient or Modern warfare; the nearest was that
of the Grecian Leonidas and his army at the battle of Thermopylae with
the Great Xerxes. Leonidas and his army were found, victualled and
clothed at public expense; each individual of our army had to find at
his own expense; Leonidas’ army were under Governmental orders; we were
under no government at all, but were volunteers; Leonidas’ army were
furnished with arms and camp equipage: We had to find our own arms,
ammunition and horses at our own expense; Leonidas’ army were under
Government pay; we were under no pay or reward, or the expectation of
any; Leonidas’ army had choice of ground at the pass at Thermopylae; our
enemies had the boasted choice of ground; Leonidas’ army had to fight
superior numbers—so had we; Leonidas had never a coward—neither had we
any; but Leonidas had a traitor who was his over-throw and destruction
of all but one man: We had neither coward or traitor to face our
enemy—hence we were successful: Leonidas would have been successful, and
have defeated or put to flight the great Xerxes if he had not had a
traitor aboard; Leonidas’ defeat was the destruction of the fine country
of Greece, and the burning and destruction of their fine city of Athens,
the labor of ages: Our success was the salvation of our country and our
liberty. There is no parallel here: We will see if there is any in
modern times.

The generosity and patriotism of the great Washington has been justly
boasted of; he did not charge the United States anything for his
services during the Revolution; he was found his food and camp equipage
by the public, and every thing else that he stood in need of; his
necessary incidental expenses he kept an accurate account of, and they
were paid by the public; he was paid for every thing else but his
military services. This has been justly considered as great generosity
and patriotism, and ought never to be forgotten. But this fight of the
blue hen’s chickens threw this into the shade of an eclipse.

Now we will make the comparison. Washington was rich, and had no family
to provide for; we were poor, and had families to provide for; he was
provided with a horse, victuals, clothing, arms, camp equipage and
necessary attendance. We had to provide our own horse, victuals,
clothing, arms, ammunition and blankets at our own expense. He charged
nothing for his military services; neither did we charge any thing for
military services, nor did we receive anything for them; he fought the
battles of our country with success; we did the same. The expedition
against Ferguson, including the battle at King’s Mountain, did not cost
the State, or the United States, the worth of a single Continental
dollar depreciated down to eight hundred to one. It was all done at the
expense of bravery of the actors in that transaction. There is no
parallel here.

We will now take a view of the situation of the country after the
defeats of Gates and Sumter, and before Ferguson’s defeat. Cornwallis
was in Charlotte with a large army; Rawdon was in Camden with another
large army; Leslie was at Winnsborough with a considerable army; Cruger
at Ninety-Six with a large army; McGirt, Cunningham and Brown, each
having considerable force, carrying on a savage war-fare of murdering,
robbing, burning and destroying. George Lumpkin, Ben. Moore and others
in Lincoln county, the chief of plunderers. Tarleton & Wemyss having
large bodies of dragoons, the best mounted of any that were ever in the
United States. For on the fall of Charleston, the British deluged the
country with Counterfeit Continental bills, sending emissaries through
the three Southern States to purchase up all the best horses belonging
to the Whigs, at any price. Beside these armies, numerous squads of
Tories, whenever they could collect ten or twelve, were plundering,
robbing, and destroying the last piece of whig property they could lay
their hands on belonging to the whigs. To finish the list, Ferguson with
about 1,200 men, three Fourths Tories, whose principal business it was
to destroy whig stock: It is to be observed, that more than one half of
their armies consisted of Tories.

This is a statement of facts that needs no proof; they cannot be
contradicted or denied, for every body knows them to be true. This
statement does not take into view the garrisons at Charleston, Savannah,
Augusta and other places in the lower country, or the numerous bodies of
Tories in the lower part of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia
completely under British rule, and North Carolina at the eve of it. We
had no army in any of the three Southern States, under Governmental
orders, of any account that I know of except the poor fragments of
Gates’ defeated army, lying near the Virginia line. Marion’s troops were
volunteers, for the State was under British rule. The Mecklenburg
Hornets were volunteers from the counties of Rowan, Lincoln and
Mecklenburg.

From this State of things, Cornwallis could easily have carried out his
avowed purpose of again defeating Gates, and entering Virginia, with the
most numerous army that had been on the Continent, by calling in some of
his needless out-posts, and these numerous squads of petty-larceny
plunderers, who were raised from poverty to affluence in a few days
plundering, and having still the expectation of further advancement by
getting the whig plantations if he had succeeded—the patriotic State of
Virginia would have had to contend with him and his army almost single
handed, for it could have received little aid from the conquered States,
and but little from Washington, or the Northern States, as they had
their hands full with Clinton and his New York Tories. This was the most
disastrous period for Liberty and Independence from the time of its
Declaration to the end of the war. Liberty and Independence were then
shrouded in Egyptian darkness. Ferguson’s defeat was the turning point
in American affairs. The battle, extraordinary as it was, was not more
extraordinary than its effects were.

Cornwallis on hearing that Ferguson was defeated, immediately dropped
the notion of again defeating Gates and entering Virginia with a
numerous army, being already galled by the Mecklenburg Hornets, was
panic-struck to think that he would, alas! have, at the same time, to
encounter the gaffs and spurs of the blue hens’ chickens as soon as he
could filch a few days provisions from under the wings of the Hornets,
took night’s leave of the Hornets’ Nest, lest he should disturb the
wasps, made a precipitate retrograde march, stopping neither night nor
day until he joined Leslie of Winnsborough.

Instantly after Ferguson’s defeat, McGirt, Cunningham and Brown quit
their robbing, murdering, burning and destroying, and played the game of
“the least in sight,” and “shut-mouth” into the bargain. Lumpkin, Moore,
etc., fled to Nocachey; the petty larceny squads of Tories began to seek
their hiding places and holes, like rats and mice when the cat would
make her appearance. When Generals Greene and Morgan came from the North
with all the force that could be spared from that quarter, with the
fragments of Gates’ defeated army, the brave and cautious Gen. Morgan
found that he was unable to fight Tarleton, fled before him, until
Williams’ troops, being chiefly South Carolina and Georgia refugees, who
fought under Williams at Ferguson’s defeat, and the other troops who
lived on the east side of the mountains, who fought at the same place,
heard of Morgan’s retreating before Tarleton, and rushed to his
assistance. Being thus reinforced, Gen. Morgan turned about and defeated
Tarleton at the Cowpens; Gen. Greene had to retreat before Lord
Cornwallis until reinforced by the Mecklenburg Hornets, composed of
volunteers from Rowan, Lincoln and Mecklenburg counties. Greene turned
upon Cornwallis, and at Guilford made an equal fight, neither having the
victory. How would it have been with Generals Greene and Morgan if
Ferguson had not been defeated? Tarleton’s force would have been greatly
increased, and Cornwallis’ army would have been more than double the
number that appeared on the field of battle at Guilford. All then that
Morgan and Greene could have done would have been to retreat and keep
out of their way, and permit Cornwallis, agreeably to his avowed
intention, to have entered Virginia with the most numerous army that had
been in the field since the commencement of the war. Virginia would then
have had to contend single-handed with that formidable force, with the
assistance of Gen. Greene.

In short, Ferguson’s defeat was the turning point in American affairs.
The loss of this battle would, in all probability, have been the loss of
American Independence and the liberty we now enjoy. I never on any
occasion feel such dignified pride as when I think that my name counts
one of the number that faced the hill at King’s Mountain the day of that
battle. Others may think and speak disrespectfully of that transaction
who are in favor of monarchy and individual oppression; but that is not
Joseph McDowell, nor you, my friend Bob.

I have written down my narrative, and Gen. McDowell’s reply to Musentine
Matthews which he delivered to the boys at head of the Round-About, on
the Stone Mountain, as nearly as memory would serve—thinking that
reading it might fill up a blank in your leisure hours, reflecting on
the situation of the times to which the recited facts refer.

                              Your Friend,

                                                               D. VANCE.

Footnote 4:

  Member of the House of Commons from Burke, 1791.

Footnote 5:

  Member of House Commons from Iredell from 1789 to 1802.

Footnote 6:

  Col. William Graham must not be confounded with Major (afterwards
  General) Joseph Graham. They were not related to each other—Col.
  Graham came from Augusta County, Virginia and settled on the First
  Broad river then Tryon now Cleveland County. He married Susan,
  daughter of William Twitty. Previous to this battle he had been a good
  soldier and Indian fighter and was a popular man. See an honorable
  sketch of him in “Hunters’s Sketches of North Carolina,” p. 522.

Footnote 7:

  All we know about Mussentine Matthews is that he represented Iredell
  County in the House of Commons from 1789 to 1802 continuously. He was
  either a Tory or a cynic, it seems.



                        ROBERT HENRY’S ACCOUNT.


I will now relate a few facts relative to the battle at King’s Mountain
that came within my own view, and not related by Col. Vance. In Vance’s
narrative, he refers to Col. W. Graham’s and David Dickey’s leaving the
army to visit his wife, and Major Billy Chronicle taking his place, and
calling on his South Fork boys to follow him. At that time Enoch Gilmer
called on Hugh Ewin, Adam Barry and myself to follow him close to the
foot of the hill. We marched with a quick step, letting Major Chronicle
advance about ten steps before us, but further from the hill than we
were, until we met the wing from the other side of the hill, then
Chronicle having a military hat, but had let it down to shelter the rain
from him, and had it not set up, clapped his hand to it in front, and
raised it up, and cried “Face to the hill.” The words were scarcely
uttered, when a ball struck him and he dropped; and in a second after a
ball struck Wm. Rabb, about six feet from Chronicle,[8] and he dropped.
We then advanced up the hill close to the Tory lines: There was a log
across a hollow that I took my stand by; and stepping one step back, I
was safe from the British fire. I there remained firing until the
British charged bayonets. When they made the charge, they first fired
their guns, at which fire it is supposed they killed Capt. Mattocks, and
J. Boyd, wounded Wm. Gilmer and John Chittim. The Fork boys fired and
did considerable execution. I was preparing to fire when one of the
British advancing, I stepped [back] and was in the act of cocking my gun
when his bayonet was running along the barrel of my gun, and gave me a
thrust through my hand and into my thigh; my antagonist and myself both
fell. The Fork boys retreated and loaded their guns. I was then lying
under the smoke, and it appeared that some of them were not more than a
gun’s length in front of the bayonets, and the farthest could not have
been more than twenty feet in front when they discharged their rifles.
It was said that every one dropped his man. The British then retreated
in great haste, and were pursued by the Fork boys.

Wm. Caldwell saw my condition, and pulled the bayonet out of my thigh,
but it hung to my hand; he gave my hand a kick, and went on. The thrust
gave me much pain, but the pulling of it [out] was much more severe.
With my well hand I picked up my gun, and found her discharged. I
suppose that when the soldier made the thrust, I gripped the trigger and
discharged her—the load must have passed through his bladder and cut a
main artery of his back, as he bled profusely.

Immediately after Wm. Caldwell drew the bayonet from me, then the word
was that the flag was up—the whigs then shouted “Hurra for Liberty,”
three times at the top of their voices. It was immediately announced
that Ferguson was killed. I had a desire to see him, and went and found
him dead; he was shot in the face, and in the breast. It was said he had
received other wounds. Samuel Talbot turned him over, and got his pocket
pistol.

Being in much pain and drouthy, went down, left my gun, being unable to
carry her, and when I got near to the branch met David Dickey and Col.
Wm. Graham riding his large black horse, wielding his sword round his
head, crying at the top of his voice, “Dam the Tories,” and ascended the
hill. Having seen him get leave of absence at the commencement of the
battle to see his wife, I was filled with excitement and a conflict of
passion and extreme pain; but this brought on another set of feelings,
that may be understood, but I am not possessed of language to describe.

I then went into the branch, drank, bathed my thigh and hand—then went
to see whether Major Chronicle and Wm. Rabb were dead or wounded—found
them dead. I saw some of the boys hauling Capt. Mattocks and John Boyd
down the hill; and Samuel Martin carrying Wm. Gilmer, who was wounded in
the thigh.

Several of the South Fork boys were desirous to start for home that
night, and were desirous to know how many were killed on each side.
Joseph Beatty and Enoch Gilmer were appointed for that purpose of
counting: They reported that 248 British and Tories were killed, and
that 143 whigs were killed; they gave no account of the wounded.

In the mean time Hugh Ewin, Andrew Barry and Nathaniel Cook brought
their horses and mine; put me on my horse, but could not take my gun. We
rode over the battle-ground; saw in some places the dead lay thick, and
other places thin. We went about five miles from the battle-ground, and
staid for the night. My wounds pained me extremely. Sunday morning we
started for home. When we came to the South Fork, the waters were high,
and my company would not suffer me to ride the river, but took me across
in a canoe, and hauled me home in a slide.

I continued in extreme pain when my mother made a poultice of wet ashes,
and applied it to my wounds. This gave me the first ease. On Monday
morning by sun-rise Hugh Ewin and Andrew Barry came to see me, and
immediately after came several Neutralists, as they called themselves,
but were really Tories, to hear the news about the battle, when the
following dialogue took place between Ewin and Barry on one part, and
the Tories on the other: Is it certain that Col. Ferguson is killed, and
his army defeated and taken prisoners?

E. and B. It is certain, for we saw Ferguson after he was dead, and his
army prisoners.

Tory. How many men had Col. Ferguson?

E. and B. Nearly 1200, but not quite 1200.

Tory. Where did they get men enough to defeat him?

E. and B. They had the South Carolina and Georgia Refugees, Col.
Graham’s men, some from Virginia, some from the head of the Yadkin, some
from the head of the Catawba, some from over the mountains, and some
from every where else.

Tory. Tell us how it happened, and all about it.

E. and B. We met at Gilbert Town, and found that the foot troops could
not overtake Ferguson, and we took between six and seven hundred
horsemen, having as many or more footmen to follow; and we overtook
Ferguson at King’s Mountain, where we surrounded and defeated him.

Tory. Ah! That won’t do. Between Six and seven hundred to surround
nearly 1200. It would take more than 2000 to surround and take Col.
Ferguson.

E. and B. But we were all of us blue hen’s chickens.

Tory. There must have been of your foot and horse in all over 4000. We
see what you are about—that is, to catch Lord Cornwallis napping.

Thus ended the dialogue, not more than two hours after sun-rise on
Monday; and the Neutralists or Tories immediately departed. It was
reported that they immediately swam a horse across the Catawba river by
the side of a canoe (the Catawba was much higher than the South Fork,)
and gave Lord Cornwallis the news of Ferguson’s defeat.

Before my wounds were well, I went to Charlotte, and after Cornwallis
had left it, where I met a David Knox, a brother or near relation of
James Knox, the grandfather of President Polk, who gave me the following
information, to wit: That on Monday next after Ferguson’s defeat, he,
Knox, being a prisoner in the street in Charlotte, that an officer came
to the officer of the guard, and the following dialogue took place.

The first officer said to the officer of the guard, Did you hear the
news?

Officer of Guard. No, what news?

First Officer. Col. Ferguson is killed, and his whole army defeated and
taken prisoners.

Officer of Guard. How can that be—where did the men come from to do
that?

First Officer. Some of them were from South Carolina and Georgia
Refugees, some from Virginia, some from the head of the Yadkin, some
from the head of Catawba, some from over the Mountains, and some from
every where else: They met at Gilbert Town, about 2000 desperadoes on
horseback, calling themselves blue hen’s chickens—started in pursuit of
Ferguson, leaving as many footmen to follow. They overtook Col. Ferguson
at a place called King’s Mountain; there they killed Col. Ferguson after
surrounding his army, defeated them and took them prisoners.

Officer of Guard. Can this be true?

First Officer. As true as the gospel, and we may look out for breakers.

Officer of Guard. God bless us!

Whereupon David Knox jumped on a pile of fire-wood in the street,
slapped his hands and thighs, and crowed like a cock, exclaiming “Day is
at hand!” Hence he was called Peter’s Cock, having some analogy to the
crowing of the cock when Peter denied his Lord the third time.

It was generally considered about Charlotte and elsewhere, that this
exaggerated account, given by the Neutralists, of Col. Campbell’s army,
foot and horse, at 4000, which carried a strong air of plausibility with
it, was the reason why Lord Cornwallis immediately left Charlotte in the
night, after the waters were passable, and did not stop day nor night
until he met Gen. Leslie at or near Winnsborough.

MEM.—Carefully transcribed from the original Manuscript in Robert
  Henry’s hand-writing, sent me by mail for the purpose, by Dr. J. F.
  E. Hardy, of Asheville, N. C., Jan. 26th, 27th, 28th and early the
  29th, 1874.

                                                           L. C. DRAPER.

Footnote 8:

  There is an interesting sketch of Major William Chronicle in “Hunter’s
  Sketches of North Carolina.” He lived in the S. E. part of Lincoln,
  now Gaston county, was born in 1755; his mother first married a McKee,
  and lived near Armstrong’s ford: When McKee died she married a
  Chronicle, by whom she had Major William Chronicle. Perhaps Col.
  Graham would have shared Chronicle’s fate, at the hand of the
  sharpshooters if he had remained.



                              DAVID VANCE.


When the war between the States began, there still lived in North
Carolina men and women who had come down to us from Revolutionary times.
They were the repositories of many interesting anecdotes and
reminiscences of that stirring period. In addition, a mass of
documentary matter had been collected by Hawks, Wheeler, Swain, Graham
and others ready for the pen of the historian. But the dreadful “clash
of resounding arms” in 1861, and the equally momentous events which
followed the close of military hostilities suspended completely all
efforts in this direction and the minds of men were absorbed in the
great political and social questions of the times which involved the
very existence of the community.

With returning peace and prosperity loyal hearts and loving hands
resumed the work of historical research, but alas! much precious time
and valuable matter had been irretrievably lost. The survivors of the
patriots of 1776-’81 had passed away and in their graves had been buried
the treasures of their recollections; and many valuable papers collected
with much care had been destroyed. Yet much has been done and much
remains to be done. We can “gather up the fragments” and preserve them
for those who may come after us. Incidents, trifling in themselves
apparently, but which exhibit the manners of the times and illustrate
the character of the men who took part in the establishment of our
government, now become of great interest. In addition there is the
obligation—“a pleasing burden”—we bear to preserve the memory and
perpetuate the virtues of those brave and good men to whose suffering
and wisdom we are indebted for the blessings we enjoy.

The following sketch of one who took an active part in the early history
of western North Carolina has been prepared chiefly for the use of his
descendants. It has been decided to print it in order that if it shall
contain anything of general interest it will be the more easily
preserved.

David Vance was descended from that remarkable people, known as
Scotch-Irish, who were among the earliest settlers of the Southern
colonies, and from the beginning exercised a powerful influence in every
department of affairs. His father, Samuel, about the middle of the
eighteenth century, lived in Frederick county, Virginia, near “Zane’s
Iron Works.” His wife was Miss Colville, and of this marriage there were
five sons and three daughters; David, the eldest, having been born about
the year 1745. His father removed to south-western Virginia and settled
near Abingdon in 1776, where some of his descendants still reside. At
what period David came to North Carolina is not precisely known, but
about the year 1775 he married, in what is now Burke, but was then Rowan
county, Priscilla Brank; and here, pursuing his avocation of surveyor
and school-teacher, the beginning of the Revolutionary war found him. He
seems to have been among the first in North Carolina who took up arms in
support of the cause of the Colonies. He was commissioned Ensign in the
Second North Carolina Continental Regiment on the 8th of June, 1776, and
in April following was promoted to a Lieutenancy. He served with his
regiment until May or June 1778 when, because of decimation from losses
in battle and from sickness the regiments composing the North Carolina
Brigade were consolidated by act of the Provincial Congress, he, with
many other officers, according to Col. John Patton’s return of September
9th, 1778, was sent to Carolina to be assigned to one of the four
regiments which were to be thereafter organized in North Carolina. He
was with his regiment at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and during
that dreadful winter of 1777-’78 at Valley Forge, and doubtless took
part in all the other minor engagements of those campaigns. One of his
daughters used to tell his grand-children that, during the privations of
the winter at Valley Forge, the officers endeavored to keep up the
spirits of their men by promoting games, contests and other amusements,
and her father brought home from the war a “Spanish Milled dollar” which
had been presented to him by Washington as the prize won in a running
match.

It does not seem that he ever re-entered the regular service, but
resided with his family on the Catawba river, near Morganton, during the
year 1778 and 1779, teaching school. He was the neighbor and fast friend
of Charles and Joseph McDowell. When the seat of war was transferred
from the Northern to the Southern Colonies and the campaigns of 1780-’81
opened in the Carolinas, he again became an active participant in the
field, serving under Generals Rutherford, Davidson and Morgan in the
militia and other temporary forces raised from time to time to meet the
emergencies resulting from Cornwallis’ invasion. He fought at Ramseur’s
Mill, Musgrove’s Mill, Cowpens (probably), and on that glorious day at
King’s Mountain, where the long struggle for independence and the
destiny of a continent were decided. In his narrative of the events
connected with that battle he says he “was a captain.” It is presumable
therefore that in the forces hastily gathered for the purpose of
resisting the advance of the British, he commanded a company, most
probably in the battalion under Major Joseph McDowell.

The war having been ended and the independence of his country secured,
he resumed his peaceful pursuits, taking, however, his share of the
burden and responsibility in the grave task of establishing a form of
government suitable to the condition and wants of the people. It is
impossible for us now to appreciate the gravity of the situation which
presented itself to the men of those times. The imperfect records which
have been preserved of the discussions of the problems they were called
upon to solve disclose the anxieties and difficulties which surrounded
them. Much as we admire their bravery, endurance and skill in war, it
was in the border-fields of politics and statesmanship their wisdom and
patriotism were more fully displayed. When we reflect upon the result of
their labors and recall the prosperity and happiness the whole country
so long enjoyed in consequence, we are almost impelled to believe the
marvellous sagacity they exhibited was of divine inspiration.

Captain Vance, as he was then called, represented Burke county in the
General Assembly of 1785-’86 and in 1791. He was one of the
commissioners appointed by the legislature of 1785 to carry into effect
the act passed at that session for the relief of the “officers, soldiers
and seamen who had been disabled in the service of the United States” in
the late war, and to adjust the controversies arising from the entries
of public lands in “the District of Morgan.”

Soon after the treaty of peace with Great Britain, hostilities with the
Cherokee Indians, who then occupied that portion the State west of the
Blue Ridge, ceased, and the fertile lands of the French Broad Valley
began to attract the attention of the emigrant. Some time between the
years of 1785 and 1790, Captain Vance crossed the mountains with his
family and settled at the head of the lovely little valley of Reems
Creek. He here acquired a large and valuable body of land upon which he
built a comfortable home—yet standing, a good type of the substantial
frontier architecture—in which he reared his family and resided the
balance of his life.

This territory was in then Burke county. At the session of the General
Assembly of 1791, Captain Vance introduced and had passed the bill
creating the county of Buncombe. As this is the genesis of that now
famous county, it will not be inappropriate to insert here an extract
from the Journal of the House of Commons for Saturday, December 17th,
1791, the General Assembly then sitting at New Berne:

“Mr. Vance presented the petition of the inhabitants of that part of
Burke county lying west of the Appalachian Mountain, praying that a part
of Rutherford county be made into a separate and distinct county. Mr.
William Davidson presented a petition to the same effect; both of which
being read, Mr. Vance moved for leave and presented a bill to answer the
prayer of the said petitions, which was read the first time, passed and
sent to the Senate.”

The Journal of the Senate shows that the bill was received and passed by
that body on the same day. The Mr. William Davidson referred to in this
extract was the representative from Rutherford county, and at that time
resided on the south side of the Swannanoa river not far from the
present site of the city of Asheville, that part of Buncombe then being,
or supposed to be in Rutherford county.

At the organization of the county of Buncombe in April 1792, David Vance
was chosen clerk of the County Court, which position he continuously
occupied until his death. Some of the records of that court while he was
its clerk are extant, and the beauty of his chirography, the order and
neatness, as well as the accuracy of his entries, bear witness of his
entire qualifications for the duties of his office.

A story is related of him in connection with his office of clerk, which
shows something of the manners of the time and the character of the man.
On one occasion two young men called at his house, one of whom desired
to procure a marriage license. They were invited to enter, and the
Captain soon produced from his side-board, a decanter, from which he
invited them to refresh themselves. They did so, whereupon the Captain
replaced his decanter and proceeded to dispatch the business for which
they had come. When they were about to leave, one of the young men
ventured to ask for another dram. The old gentleman indignantly refused,
and proceeded to read the young man a lecture, which perhaps he never
forgot, winding up with the declaration that “such a request had never
before been heard of in the house of a gentleman.”

About the time he was elected clerk, he was appointed colonel of militia
for Buncombe—a position then, and for many years after, regarded as the
highest dignity and influence in the county organizations. Thereafter he
was known as Colonel Vance.

He, with Gen. Joseph McDowell and Mussendine Matthews were appointed
commissioners by act of the General Assembly at the session of 1796 to
settle and mark the boundary line between the States of North Carolina
and Tennessee. Although the act was passed in 1796 the commissioners did
not run the line until the year 1799. They began at White Top Mountain,
a point where the boundaries of North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee
meet and ran westwardly, locating the boundary between Tennessee and
North Carolina, to a point at the eastern end of the great Smoky
Mountains in a gap near where the present Cattalooche turnpike leading
from Waynesville to Tennessee, crosses Mt. Starling. This, at that time,
was supposed to be the eastern boundary of the Indian Territory.

It was while running this line, the incident occurred which gave rise to
the preparation of the accounts of the campaign and Battle of King’s
Mountain by Colonel Vance and Robert Henry, Esquire, (the latter being
one of the surveyors appointed by the commissioners) known as the
“Vance-Henry Narrative.”

He survived until the early part of the year 1813, when, having
faithfully and honorably accepted and discharged the duties which the
conditions of his life demanded; having justly acquired the love and
veneration of his fellow-citizens; having lived long enough to see the
great principles for which he had fought securely established and his
countrymen marching onward toward a glorious and happy future, he
peacefully died, leaving behind him the record of a life worthy of the
emulation of all men and one which his descendants may proudly
contemplate and fondly cherish.

He was buried on a beautiful knoll a short distance north of his
residence, a spot selected by himself as a last resting-place, and
which, it is said, he often spoke of as “a beautiful place from which to
arise on the Resurrection Morn.”

He left surviving him, his wife, three sons, Samuel, David and Robert
Brank, and five daughters, Jean, who married Hugh Davidson; Elizabeth,
who married Mitchell Davidson and after his death Samuel W. Davidson;
Sarah, who married —— McLean; Priscilla who married —— Whitson, and
Celia, who married Benjamin S. Brittain. Samuel and Jean, Sarah and
Priscilla, with their husbands, about the beginning of this century,
removed to and settled upon the lands in Tennessee on the Duck river,
which their father had provided for them. They numerous children, some
of whom, together with many of their children, still reside in the
vicinity. The late Judge Hugh Law Davidson and his brother Robert B.
Davidson, who is still living, a highly esteemed citizen and a member of
the Bar at Shelbyville, Tennessee, were the sons of Jean.

David lived and died in the county of Buncombe. He was the father of
Hon. Zebulon B. Vance and Gen. Robert B. Vance.

Elizabeth and her husband settled on Jonathans creek in Haywood county,
where they reared a large family. Hon. Allen T. Davidson, now living in
Asheville, is one of their sons.

Robert Brank, never married, suffering from a physical infirmity which
forbade a more active life, was carefully educated and became a
physician, though he never practiced his profession. He resided in
Asheville. While still quite young, he entered public life and was
elected to Congress, succeeding Felix Walker, the first representative
from the Transmontane District. At the next election he was defeated by
Hon. Samuel Carson, and in November following was killed in a duel with
that gentleman—the unhappy event being the result of their canvas.

Celia, the youngest child, with her husband, located in that part of the
county of Haywood subsequently included in Macon county; but soon
afterwards upon the organization of Cherokee county removed to Murphy,
where she died in 1876, leaving a number of children and grand-children,
many of whom reside in that vicinity, useful and respected citizens.

Although the condition of the country denied to Colonel Vance the
opportunities for collegiate training, he seems to have had a taste for
books. At the time of his death he had accumulated a respectable library
for that period. He was careful that his children should enjoy all the
educational advantages which were accessible to them.

He was distinguished among his contemporaries for his soundness of
judgment, integrity of conduct, firmness of purpose and public spirit.

He accumulated a handsome estate for those times, which he disposed of
by will prepared by himself. It is an exceedingly interesting document,
and perhaps no better index to his character now remains to us or a more
fitting close of this imperfect sketch can be made than that contained
in the following extracts from it:

“I hope I may be excused for expatiating in divers parts of this last
solemn act upon subjects that require clearness and plainness, for I
have heard of so many instances of confusion and disagreement in
families, and so much doubt and difficulty for want of absolute
clearness in the testaments of departed persons, that I have often
concluded (were there no other reasons but those which respect the peace
of surviving friends) that the last act as to its designation and
operation, ought not to be the last in its composition or making; but
should be the result of cool deliberation; and (as is more frequently
than justly said) of a sound mind and memory, which are seldom to be met
with, but with sound health. All pretenses of insanity of mind are
likewise prevented when a testator is pointed and clear in what he
wills; all cavils about words are obviated; the obliged are assured, and
they enjoy the benefit, for whom the benefit was intended.

“I, David Vance, of the county of Buncombe, in the State of North
Carolina, being of sound and perfect mind and memory, as I hope these
presents, drawn up by myself and written with my own hand, will
testify,” &c.

In disposing of some old slaves, he directs:

“It is my will and desire that they have full liberty, and I do by these
presents give them full liberty, to go and live with any of my children
where their own children live, not as slaves, but as old acquaintances,
who labored and spent their strength to raise my said children and their
own also. I enjoin it upon my children who may have the children of said
black old people not to confine them, but to let them go awhile to one,
and awhile to another, where their children may be; and I enjoin it upon
my children to see that the evenings of the lives of those black people
slide down as comfortable as may be. **** And I charge and adjure my
negroes, old and young, as they will answer to God, to be obedient and
obliging to their mistress and not vex or contrary her in old age. ****

“And now, having disposed of and settled all my worldly business and
concerns, do I with a lively faith, humbly lay hold of the meritorious
death and sufferings of Christ Jesus and hope and trust thro’ His
atonement to triumph in redeeming love, the ceaseless age of eternity.”

[Illustration:

  Decorative
  Image
  (See TN)
]



TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE


Punctuation has been normalized.

Variations in hyphenation have been retained as they were in the
original publication.

Footnotes have been renumbered and relocated at the end of each chapter.

The following typographical errors have been fixed:

                  Page Original         As Corrected
                     9 Tuckoseage       Tuckaseage
                    10 to to hasten     to hasten
                    11 staightened      straightened
                    11 by the the time  by the time
                    15 firece           fierce
                    20 Monntain         Mountain
                    21 Willams          Williams
                    22 occassionally    occasionally
                    25 Carolna          Carolina
                    26 minntes          minutes
                    26 continously      continuously
                    28 pealings         peelings
               28, 29, Thermopyle       Thermopylae
                    28 Geat             Great
                    30 ammuition        ammunition
                    30 emmisaries       emissaries
                    33 fiill            fill
                    34 Willam           William
                    41 establishmant    establishment
                    43 batallion        battalion
               46, 47, Tennesse         Tennessee

Caption added to identify Page decoration.

Variant spellings of the names Beatty and Beattie have been maintained.

Italicized words and phrases are presented by surrounding the text with
_underscores_.





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