Memoirs of the war in the Southern department of the United States

CHAPTER III.

* Washington was quickly informed of the separation of the enemy's columns, as he was subsequently informed not only of its continuance, but that the left column was making a very cir- cuitous sweep. Persuaded of the fact, he wisely determined to pass the Brandywine with his whole force and strike at Knyp- hausen. In the very act of giving his orders to this effect, color nel Bland, of the Virginia horse, brought him intelligence which very much obscured, if it did not contradict, the previous information; and the original judicious decision was abandoned. Colonel Bland was noble, sensible, honorable, and amiable; but never intended for the department of military intelligence. The third regiment of Virginia, first Mercer's, who fell covered with glory at Princeton; next Weedon's, now Marshall's, exhibited an example worthy of itself, its country, and its leader. Already high in reputation from the gallant stand made by one battalion under major Leitch on York Island, when supporting the brave colonel Knowlton in the first check given to the enemy, flushed with his victory of Long Island, in which check Knowlton was killed and Leitch mortally wounded, having received three balls successively through his body, at the head of his victorious batta- lion; from its firmness on our retreat through New Jersey, from its intrepidity at Trenton, and its valor at Princeton, now sur- passed its pristine fame. Our loss amounted to 300 killed, 600 wounded, and 400 prisoners, chiefly wounded. Major general marquis dc la Fayette and brigadier Woodward we c wounded. Sir William Howe stated in his official report the British loss to be only 100 killed, and 400 wounded. The vanquished army wUT always suffer most.

CHAPTER V.

fleet, which, after disembarking the army, returned to sea, destined for the Delaware; the other, to impede, as long as was practicable, this much desired junction. The American general had neglected no means within his power to stop the advance of the fleet, by preparing to maintain the defence of the various obstructions fixed in the channel of the river. With this view, two fortresses had been erected: one on Mud Island, de- nominated Fort Mifflin, after general Mifflin, since governor of Pennsylvania; and the other at Billings- port, on a point of land, opposite to the lower line of chevaux-de-frise, of which three rows, formed of the heaviest timber, strengthened and pointed with iron, had been sunk across the channel. Billingsport was abandoned on the approach of a detachment, under colonel Stirling, sent to dislodge the American garri- son; and a high bluff on the same side of the river, opposite to Mud Island, called Red Bank, was fortified, which with Fort Mifflin protected the two upper lines of chevaux-de-frise. Above, and near to these, was stationed our maritime force, consisting of row- galleys, floating batteries, fire-ships, and rafts. The fortification of Red Bank consisted of an intrenchment and redoubt, called Fort Mercer, in commemoration of brigadier general Mercer of Virginia, who died of his wounds received at the battle of Princeton, nobly sustaining his beloved commander, in consummating the mas- terly movement made by him from his position in front of lord Cornwallis at Trenton; by which single Vol. I. D

CHAPTER XXIV.

Brigadier general Weedon served under Washington, and was with him when he made the brilliant manoeuvre from before Corn- wallis in Trenton; leaving his position in the night, and falling suddenly the next morning on the enemy at Princeton.

APPENDIX. 381

His father, visiting South Carolina soon after the peace of 1763, brought with him this son; and, returning to England, confided him to the care of the reverend William Richard- son, his maternal uncle; who, becoming much attached to his nephew, not only took charge of his education, but adopt- ed him as his son and heir. At the proper age William was sent to an academy in North Carolina; from whence he was, after a few years, removed to the college of Nassau-hall in Princeton, New Jersey, then becoming the resort of most of the southern youth under the auspices of the learned and respectable doctor Witherspoon. Here he finished his edu- cation, graduating in the autumn of 1776, a year memorable in our military as well as civil annals.

CHAPTER XI.

officer was a soldier of the revolution: his stock of ex- perimental knowledge, of course, could not have been very considerable, although he had seen more service than most of our officers of the same standing. He had uniformly possessed the confidence of Washington, who had often intrusted him with important com- mands; and he was second to Gates at Saratoga, greatly contributing by his judicious and spirited conduct, to the happy issue of that momentous campaign. Upright, mild, and amiable, he was universally respected and beloved; a truly good man, and a brave and prudent, but not consummate, soldier. Lincoln hastened towards his post, and, having reached Charleston, bestowed his unremitted attention to the timely completion of the requisite arrangements for the defence of the south.

CHAPTER XVII.

1 HE southern war, from its commencement, had been peculiarly disastrous to the United States. Army after army had been defeated, detachments cut off, posts carried; and at length two states were reannexed to the mother country, and the conquering army ready to invade a third. This alarming conjuncture necessa- rily engaged the ardent attention of congress and the commander in chief. Virginia and North Carolina were again called upon to hasten reinforcements from their respective militia to the south; the Maryland and Delaware lines, under the orders of major general Ba- ron de Kalb, were put in motion for North Carolina; and the conqueror at Saratoga was called from his retreat in Virginia, and charged to display the stars of America in the south.

CHAPTER XX.

states were struggling would be lost, or but partially gained. The enemy's strength had also very much dwindled, and his replenishment of the waste of war was not exempt from difficulty. He had to contend by sea and by land with potent nations, and to spread his force in every quarter of the globe. Such was the effect of our alliance with the house of Bourbon, and the result of Gates' victory at Saratoga.

CHAPTER XXL

but the important victory of Saratoga was forgotten. The unfortunate general at length reached Richmond, where the general assembly of Virginia was in ses- sion.* Great and good men then governed the state.

CHAPTER XVI.

This tragic exhibition sunk deep in the American breast, and produced the unanimous decision among the troops, to revenge their murdered comrades when- ever the blood-stained corps should give an opportu- nity. This happened soon after at the Cowpens; but lieutenant colonel Washington, who commanded the horse on that day with so much glory, while he pushed the just claims of vengeance, preserved his laurels pure and spotless.

CHAPTER XXIII.

The victory of the Cowpens was to the South what that of Bennington had been to the North. General Morgan, whose former services had placed him high in public estimation, was now deservedly ranked among the most illustrious defenders of his country. Starke fought an inferior, Morgan a superior, foe. The former contended with a German* corps; the

CHAPTER XXIV.

General Greene was quickly advised of the advance of the British army from Winnsborough and Camb- den, through the upper country; and accordingly issued his preparatory orders for movement. On the subsequent day he received the gratifying intelligence of the victory at the Cowpens. Foreseeing the enemy's objects, he hastened his march in conformity with his previous disposition, and despatched a courier to Ma- rion and Lee, apprising them of his decampment and ordering the latter to rejoin with all possible celerity. Escorted by a few dragoons, general Greene hastened to reach Morgan, which he happily accomplished on the last day of January, after that officer had passed the Catawba. Aware of the rapidity with which the British general would advance to strike him before he could gain that point, Morgan redoubled his exertions to reach it; but with all his activity, so keen and per- severing had been Cornwallis's pursuit, that he had just crossed the river on the evening of the 29th of January, when the British van appeared on the oppo- site banks. A heavy fall of rain, during the night, ren~

APPENDIX, 401

The battle of the Cowpens ensued, in which Washington, at the head of our horse, acquired fresh laurels. He continued with the light corps, performing with courage and precision the duties assigned him until the junction of the two divisions of the American army at Guilford court-house. Soon after this event a more powerful body of horse and foot was se- lected by general Greene, and placed under colonel Williams, of which Washington and his cavalry were a constituent part.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Lee, after the battle of Guilford, wrote to lieutenant colonel Taiieton, asking his care of the wounded of the legion and rifle corps; it being common for officers, in the habit of meeting in the course of service, mutually to solicit such favors. Taiieton very politely answered by an amanuensis, that he would, with plea- sure, execute the request; and apologised for not writing himself; saying, that he had received a ball in his right hand in our morn- ing rencontre. Captain Schuty, of the guards, was badly wounded, with other officers and soldiers of that corps.

CHAPTER XXVII.

* We shall here relate an anecdote of the late captain May- nard, of the guards. He was naturally of a cheerful disposition and great hilarity, and in several actions during the course of the war, he had shown great gallantry; but a certain presentiment of his fate on the day of the action at Guilford possessed his mind, which presentiment was too fatally realized. While the troops

CHAPTER XXVII.

and his army hung in mournful suspense; and after a grand display of military science in marches, counter- marches and positions, in consequence of the bold re- turn of the American army into North Carolina, con- cluded with our defeat at Guilford court-house. Re- plenished in military stores, grown stronger by defeat, and bolder from disaster, the American general is now seen seeking with keener appetite a renewal of the conflict, while the British conqueror seduously and successfully avoids it

CHAPTER XXVII.

The battle of Guilford following three days after, the negotiation became postponed; nor was it resumed until the latter end of April; when lieutenant colonel Carrington, and captain Cornwallis, of the thirty-third, (substituted for Broderick) entered upon it with a dis- position, by mutual concessions, to conclude the long spun discussion. It was, after some time, happily ac- complished; Carrington having engrafted in the cartel the following clause: " That no non-commissioned officer or private, admitted to parole, shall be consi-