The narrative of Colonel David Fanning, (a Tory in the Revolutionary War with Great Britain;) giving an account of his adventures in North Carolina, from 1775 to 1783, as written by himself

16 August 1780

Battle of Camden

TX.K I

Two days following-, I retui-ned to the army at Chatham Court house, after being surprised and dispersed by the Rebel Dragoons; on my bringing in 70 Loyalists. I joined my company again and went with his Lordship, to 'Cross Creek, and as we had lost most of our horses, we determined to return to Deep River, and join his Lordship when on his way to Hillsborough. General Green followed his Lord- ship as far as Little River, au'i then returned to Ramseys Mills on his way to Camden ; his men marched in small parties and distressed the friends to Government, through the Deep River settlement ; I took 18 of them at different times, and paroled them, and after that we were not dis- tressed bv them for some little time ; after a little while

TX.K I

The party we had engagedl found to have consisted of four hundred Continentals under the command of Colo May- bin and Gren'l Butler. In twenty four days, I found niy- self able to set lip, arid then dispatched, fbiir of my Gaip- tains Hooker', Eaitis, Knight, and Lindly, to Wilmington' for a supply of ammunition ; and before their return, I had ^€!ni't)ht,'iitid einbod'ied 140 men, during whiclitimel heard' of a q^uantity of leather, which was prepared for the use of the rebel army, and was ordered for Gen'l Green's quarters at; Camden. I went to the place, and' finding the leather agreeable! ' to liiy informattoh, ' T took Enough thereof' 'to' equip the cdtiipatij completely, arid ordei'ed the rest tbbfe d'e- stroyed. On my return to Brush Creek, near where I had V^'6hl fjfeer'et'ed diir'itig'iny "illtiess, bcdasioned'by myVdtinds, i sehii tint spies for discovery. Two of them Telurned, in Ifess than an hour, with information of six hundred rebels, wTib' Were advancing for to attack me. -Brit'tih'ey p'rb^bd'ho irVirb'flia'T'i' I'T'O'. ' Thbir accounts disheartened a number of iriy men. 'Frotil my ieing'iri sb weak a state, they apprd- hended I would not be able, to command them. ' However' (iHc^ lifted mei'bri' my W6*d/.aifiai' Ibrhiefd^faiy 'hi^ifa J 'thW in two ranks and showed itwo fronts, as they ap|jeared botW in my front and rear; the fire continued for near an houi*.' r!Tbfet three men killed, and thr^e 'badly w*6ltn^ed=. ''-TM i-ebel« had one killed, and -several wounded. Then they retreated ; and rallied and attacked again, after retreating, about a mile, which was so unexpected, that I concluded thtey had been reinforced. I theti reti-eated ; btit" "without loss, except tily baggage. I, then, separated my nien into small parties, until the arrival of the four officers, I had

NOTES. ,,1

Charles, Eaul of CornwAlus was born in 1?38. In his early career friendlj^ fp the cause of the cofonists ; sent to America, and was in the battle of Brandj'* wine ntT ; commanded at Camden, S. C, and defeated Gen'l Gates in 1780;. also at Guilford, N. C, and defeated Gen'l Greene on 15th March, 11S\. Surren- dered atTorktowu with all his army t) Washington lOOct., 1781. Governor of East Indies in 1T8G. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 179^. Goyernor-General of India in .1804, and died at Ghazepiiore 1805, leaving issue.

NOTES. ,,1

DnuLEY, GciLFORi), inentioucd by Fanning on page 17, was born in 1756, and resided at Halifax, where he claims to have assisted in raising in 1774 the first volunteer company organized in America for the conflict. In 1776 he served in the campaign which terminated in the battle of Moore's Creek. He' was in the battle of Camden, and bore from ihe field the gallant Col. Porteifield