Early on the 26th [September] his [William Richardson Davie's] patrols were driven in by the enemy's light troops, and in a few moments the legion and light infantry were seen advancing, followed by the whole army. Davie was reinforced in the night by a few volunteers under Major Joseph Graham. Charlotte was then a village of about twenty houses, built on two streets, which crossed each other at right angles. At their intersection stood the court-house.
Colonel Davie dismounted one company and stationed it under the courthouse, where they were protected by a stone wall. The other two companies were advanced about eighty yards and posted behind some houses and gardens. The legion formed at a distance of three hundred yards with a front to fill the street. On sounding the charge the enemy's cavalry advanced at full gallop, but at sixty yards from the courthouse the Americans opened fire and drove them back with great precipitation. A second and third charge had the same result. Yet, being outflanked by the legion infantry, Davie withdrew his companies in good order, successively covering each other, and retreated on the Salisbury road.
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| 1770 Map Of North Carolina (LOC) See Salisbury Road |
The enemy followed with great caution and respect for some distance, when they at length ventured to charge the small rear guard. In this charge Lieutenant Locke and four privates were killed and Major Graham and five privates wounded. The coolness and skill of Davie in this ever memorable combat, in which, with a mere handful of men, he held the whole British army for hours at bay, and drove back repeatedly its best troops, and finally brought off his command unbroken and in good order, stamp him as a soldier of no ordinary capacity. [Source]
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