See earlier post from A biography of General Davie (1756 - 1820) which was found in the Magazine Of America here.
"On Davie's return from Charlotte he hastened to the general rendezvous of Gates's army at Rugely's mills, and while hastening to join General Gates at Camden, and ten miles from the battlefield, he met the defeated army, with the general leading the retreat."
"Davie was ordered to fall back on Charlotte, but replied that his men had formed the acquaintance of Tarleton's legion and did not fear to meet them again. He continued his course towards the battle-ground, meeting the flying fragments of the routed army. He secured several wagons loaded with clothing and medicine which had been abandoned. With great thoughtfulness he immediately sent an officer to notify Colonel Sumter of the great disaster, who at once began his retreat along the west bank of the Catawba, towards the up country. Not taking sufficient precaution, however, Sumter was surprised on the 18th by Tarleton at Fishing creek, and his entire command of eight hundred men was captured or put to flight, with the total loss of all his artillery, arms, and baggage. Colonel Sumter himself, who was asleep under a wagon when the attack was made, barely escaped, and the next day reached Davie's camp at Charlotte alone, riding on horseback, without saddle or bridle. The tidings carried consternation into the fragments of Gates's army which had rallied there, and in a few moments Davie and his command were the only force left in front of the enemy. Instead of retiring, he boldly advanced to the Waxhaws and found that the enemy had fallen back to Camden."
"Davie was ordered to fall back on Charlotte, but replied that his men had formed the acquaintance of Tarleton's legion and did not fear to meet them again. He continued his course towards the battle-ground, meeting the flying fragments of the routed army. He secured several wagons loaded with clothing and medicine which had been abandoned. With great thoughtfulness he immediately sent an officer to notify Colonel Sumter of the great disaster, who at once began his retreat along the west bank of the Catawba, towards the up country. Not taking sufficient precaution, however, Sumter was surprised on the 18th by Tarleton at Fishing creek, and his entire command of eight hundred men was captured or put to flight, with the total loss of all his artillery, arms, and baggage. Colonel Sumter himself, who was asleep under a wagon when the attack was made, barely escaped, and the next day reached Davie's camp at Charlotte alone, riding on horseback, without saddle or bridle. The tidings carried consternation into the fragments of Gates's army which had rallied there, and in a few moments Davie and his command were the only force left in front of the enemy. Instead of retiring, he boldly advanced to the Waxhaws and found that the enemy had fallen back to Camden."
No comments:
Post a Comment