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1780 about 440 efcaped. The whole number of British re

gulars was fhort of a hundred. The Americans took 1500 ftand of arms. Their lofs of men killed in the field was only about twenty; but they had a great many wounded. That distinguished militia officer, who has been repeatedly mentioned, col. Williams, was mortally wounded.

Major Ferguson was overfeen in making his ftand on the mountain, which being much covered with woods, gave the militia who were all riflemen,, the opportunity of approaching near with greater fafety to themselves, than if they had been upon plain open ground. The major however might have made good his retreat, if not with the whole, at leaft with a great part of his men, had he purfued his march immediately upon his charging and driving the firft detachment: for though the militia acted with fpirit for undifciplined troops, it was with difficulty that they could be prevailed upon to renew their attack, after being charged with the bayonet. They kept aloof, and continued popping: then gathered round, and crept nearer, till at length they levelled the major with one of their fhot.

Ten of the men who had furrendered were hanged by the conquerors. Col. Cleveland had early given out, that if he caught certain perfons, who had forfeited their lives by the laws of the land, he would execute them. Among thofe whom he doomed to execution was a militia officer, who had taken a British commiffion, though he had before been in the fervice of the ftate. The British officers finding what was to be the fate of the ty, would have remonftrated. The colonel cut them fhort with-Gentlemen, you are British officers and

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fhall be treated accordingly therefore give your paroles, 1780. and march off immediately: the other perfon is a fubject of the state." The fpirited mountaineers having demolished their enemy returned home.

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Lord Cornwallis was fo confident of the fuccefs of his fchemes, that he did not wait the arrival of major Fergufon at Charlotte; but advanced toward Salisbury, and obliged the militia for fecurity to cross the Yadkin and take poft on its north bank: he was deliberate however in his march. He halted fhort of Salisbury; and upon hearing of major Ferguson's fate, faced about and returned to Charlotte. About the 14th, he retreated to Oct. Wynfborough. This was the more needful, as major Davie's corps being greatly increased, frequently intercepted his lordship's foraging parties and convoys. Riflemen alfo often penetrated near his camp, and from be hind trees took care to make fure of their object. Thus the late conquerors found their fituation very uneasy, being expofed to unfeen danger if they attempted to make an excurfion of only a few hundred yards from their encampment. As his lordship retired, the militia took feveral waggons, loaded with stores and the knapfacks of the light infantry and legion; and fingle men repeatedly rode up within gun fhot of his army, discharged their pieces, and made their efcape.

On the 10th of November, lord Cornwallis wrote to gen. Smallwood" I must now obferve, that the cruelty exercised on the prifoners taken under major Fergufon is fhocking to humanity; and the hanging poor old col. Mills, who was always a fair and open enemy to your caufe, was an act of the most favage barbarity. It has also been reported to me, that capt. Qates of

1780. col. Gray's militia, who was taken near the Peedee, was lately put to death without any crime being laid to his charge. From the character which I have heard of you, Sir, I cannot fuppofe that you can approve of these moft cruel murders: but I hope you will fee the neceffity of interpofing your authority to ftop this bloody fcene, which must oblige me in justice to the fuffering loyalists, to retaliate on the unfortunate perfons now in my power. I am not confcious, that any perfons have hitherto been executed by us, unless for bearing arms, after having given a military parole to remain quietly at home; or for enrolling themselves voluntarily in our militia, receiving arms and ammunition from the king's ftore, and taking the first opportunity of joining our enemies. The only perfons who were hanged at Camden, after the actions of the 16th and 18th, except fome deferters from our army, were two or three of the latter defcription, who were picked out from about thirty, convicted of the like offence, on account of fome particular aggravating circumftances which attended their cafe." Notwithstanding it was manifeft, that there was a powerful party in the state, which was determined to oppose the establishing of royal government; yet to convince the inhabitants, that the British were seriously resolved to remove from the country all who refufed to become fubjects, a further number of twenty-two citizens, who ftill remained prisoners on parole, was shipped off about the 16th of November for St. Auguftine, to whom were added gen. Rutherford and col. Ifaacs of North Carolina, who were taken near Camden in Auguft. These were treated with more politeness than the first fet. The only charge exhibited against them, as the reafon of

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their exile was, that "they discovered no difpofition to 1780. return to their allegiance, and would, if in their power, overturn the British government."

2.

General Gates wrote to the prefident of congress→ Oct. "The enemy have, fo far, the worst of the campaign, 16. having loft confiderably more men, officers and arms, than your army; and even loft ground, as they had several pofts at the beginning of the campaign on Peedee, all which are now evacuated," Gen. Smallwood having left Hillsborough to take the command at Sa+ lifbury, the command of the brigade at the first place devolved on col. Williams; officers and foldiers were impatient for taking the field: every exertion was used; and the clothing being wrought up, old fuits mended, and the blankets proportionably diftributed, report thereof was made to head quarters; when the general gave orders for the brigade to march on the 2d of Novem- Nov. ber, with all the artillery, ammunition and baggage under the command of col. Otho H. Williams. On the 8th the troops reached Salisbury, having marched 100 miles in less than eight days, upon three pounds and a half of Indian meal per man and fome beef. Having no tents, they were fortunate in a fucceffion of fine days, till the fourth after their arrival. Gates had now done every thing in his power to repair the injuries of his defeat; and was endeavouring to recover as much territory to the United States, as the circumftances of the war in the fouthern department would admit of, when. he received advice from fome of his friends, but from no one officially, that congrefs had appointed an officer to supersede him, and had ordered a court of inquiry to be held on his conduct. He had even a very polite

1786. col. Gray's militia, who was taken near the Peedee, was lately put to death without any crime being laid to his charge. From the character which I have heard of you, Sir, I cannot fuppofe that you can approve of these moft cruel murders: but I hope you will fee the neceffity of interpofing your authority to stop this bloody fcene, which must oblige me in justice to the fuffering loyalists, to retaliate on the unfortunate persons now in my power. -I am not conscious, that any perfons have hitherto been executed by us, unless for bearing arms, after having given a military parole to remain quietly at home; or for enrolling themselves voluntarily in our militia, receiving arms and ammunition from the king's store, and taking the first opportunity of joining our enemies. The only perfons who were hanged at Camden, after the actions of the 16th and 18th, except fome deferters from our army, were two or three of the latter defcription, who were picked out from about thirty, convicted of the like offence, on account of fome particular aggravating circumstances which attended their cafe." Notwithstanding it was manifeft, that there was a powerful party in the state, which was determined to oppose the establishing of royal government; yet to convince the inhabitants, that the British were seriously refolved to remove from the country all who refused to become fubjects, a further number of twenty-two citizens, who ftill remained prifoners on parole, was fhipped off about the 16th of November for St. Auguftine, to whom were added gen. Rutherford and col. Ifaacs of North Carolina, who were taken near Camden in Auguft. These were treated with more politeness than the first fet. The only charge exhibited against them, as the reafon of

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