v'lii o E 241 1 . K5 U6 i Copy 1 XESS, ) n. \ SENATE. \ Report No. 932. MONUMENT TO GEN. WILLIAM CAMPBELL. December 16, 1910. — Ordered to be printed. Mr. SwANSON, from the Committee od the Library^ submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 2517.] The Committee on the Library, to whom was referred the bill (S. 2517) for the erection of a monument to the memory of Gen. William Campbell, have had the same under consideration and report it back without amendment. A similar bill was favorably reported from the Library Committee in the Sixtieth Congress and passed the Senate. The report on that occasion is reprinted herewith. [Senate Report 557, Sixtieth Congress, first session.] The Committee on the LiBrary, to whom was refen-ed the bill (S. 5295) for the erection of a monument to the memory of Gen. William Campbell, submit the follow- ing report and recommend that the bill do pass. In 1780, in the dark days of the Revolutionary War, William Campbell, a colonel of militia, in the service of Virginia, led 400 men from Washington County, Va^ to South Carolina. AVith the militia from North and South Carolina, and a few from Georgia, he marched against the British commander, Ferguson, who had his forces on tlie crown of Kings Mountain, in South Carolina, near the North Carolina border, and completely annihilated them. The victory, which was won on the 7th of October, 1780, was great and the exploit one of the most intrepid and brilliant in the annals of war. It was decisive and far- reaching in results, inspiriting the patriots of the Revolution, turning the ill-starred course of war, and largely contributing to the surrender of Lord CornwalliF at York- The battle was between about 900 American militia under Campbell, while Col. Ferguson, the British commander, marshaled some 1,000 Tories and about 125 British Tf^O"!! 1 ill's The importance of the event and the valor of Col. William Campbell, the coni; mander, as well as that of his fellow soldiers from Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, who, with a few Georgians, who share in its glory, deserve this commem- oration. They were three time^ flung back by Ferguson and his men, but their tenacious and indomitable pluck in about one hour completely destroyed or cap- tured the whole of their enemv's forces. \<.^'^'^ 2 MONUMENT TO GEN. WILLIAM CAMPBELL. / It was a battle ia which there was not a regular soldier of the American Army, but was fou<;ht solely by the people of a few States who helped to create the country and to win it.s indej)endence. It is well to scatter over the country the memorials of its foundation and to celebrate the great deeds of our forefathers. Draper remarks, in the preface of his book on the Kings Mountain battle, that — "The worthy Kings Mountain centennial very naturally exc-ited much interest in the minds of the public regarding the battle itself and its heroic actors, and prompted the writer to set about the preparation of his long-promised work." There is no greater a.ssurance of our jx'ace and hap}>ine.ranches of mathematics. "Nature had formed him for a commander in military capacity. His personal appearance was grave and masculine, being about 6 feet high, and well proportioned; JAN :iai!9ii MONUMENT TO GEN. WILLIAM CAMPBELL. 3 in conversation rather reserved and thoughtful; in his written communications expressive and elegant. His patriotism was not of a timid cast. He never balanced between his military duty and prudential maxims. When his ire was excited he ' showed in his countenance the fury of Achilles. The trusty Andreferrars, the sword he wore on the day of battle, was once the property of his grandfather from Scotland, and , hehad an arm and a spirit that could wield it with effect." '^ -c::?^,.,,^ THE EXPEDITION TO POINT PLEASANT. z Gen. William Campbell's military life began at the age of 29, when he commanded £ a company of militia from the county of Fincastle, Va. (now Washington County), ^ upon an expedition to Point Pleasant, on the Ohio River, being under Gen. Andrew * Lewis. S THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY AND THE RESOLUTIONS OF RESISTANCE OF JANUARY 20, 1775. Immediately after his return from that expedition, on the 20th day of January, 1775, he was one of the committee on safety appointed by the freeholders of Fincastle (now Washington) County, to draft resolutions in response to the Continental Congress. This committee was composed of Rev. Charles Cummings, Col. William Preston, Col. Walliam Christian, Capt. Stephen Trigg, Maj. Arthur Campbell, Maj. W^illiam Ingles, Capt. Walter Crockett, Capt. John Montgomery, Capt. James McGacock, €apt. William Campbell, Capt. Thomas Madison (brother of James Madison, after- wards Pi'esident of the United States), Capt. Daniel Smith, Capt. William Russell, Capt. Evans Shelby, and Lieut. W^illiam Thompson, names which have become memorable in history both of our civil and military life. This committee assembled on the day of their appointment, and, so far as we have any record, their resolutions were the first in which the freeholders of any coimty of the colonies declared against the oppression and misrule of the British GoveiTiment. The concluding paragraph of what might well be termed "the first declaration of independence" was as follows: |gjj "But if no pacific measures shall be proposed or adopted by Great Britain, and our enemies will attempt to dragoon us out of these inestimable privileges to which we are entitled as subjects, and to reduce us to a state of slavery, we declare that we are deliberately and resolutely determined never to surrender them to any power upon earth but at the expense of our lives. "These are our real, though unpolished sentiments of liberty and loyalty, and in them we are resolved to live and die." This address was unanimously agreed to by the people of Fincastle County and forwarded to Peyton Randolph, Richard Henry Lee, George Washington, Patrick Henry, jr., Richard Bland, Benjamin Harrison, and Edmund Pendleton, Esqs., dele- gates from the colony of Virginia, who had attended the Continental Congress held at Philadelphia. THE DUNMORE WAR AND THE RESOLUTION OP JULY 15, 1775. On the 9th day of April, 1775, the British governor, Dunmore, of the colony of Vnginia, upon a plea that insurrection existed in a neighboring county, removed" the powder stored in the public magazine at Williamsburg, Va., and placed it on board ship. This action provoked a great deal of discontent, and shortly thereafter Patrick Henry, who placed no confidence in the governor, resolved upon an effort to recover the powder. He organized a company in his own county and marched to Williamsburg. At the same time William Campbell, moved by the same spu-it, organized a company of militia in Fincastle (now W'ashington) County, and, joining Patrick Henry, the two companies went to Williamsburg. The committee of safety of Fincastle County, of which Capt. William Campbell was a member, again met on July 15, 1775, and adopted the following resolution; "Resolved, That the spirited and meritorious conduct of Patrick Henry, Esq., and the rest of the gentlemen volunteers attending him on the occasion of the removal of the gunpowder out of the magazine in Williamsburg, very justly merits the very hearty approbation of this committee, for which we return them our thanks, with an assurance that we will, at the risk of our own lives and fortunes, support and justify them with regard to the reprisal they made." THE FIGHT AT HAMPTON, SEPTEMBER 3, 1775. On the 3d day of September, 1775, a British ship of war was driven ashore near Hampton, Va., during a storm, and on the morning of the 4th the people set fire to it and destroyed the ship. The captain of the ship threatened to burn the town and 4 MONUMENT TO GEN. WILLIAM CAMPBELL. actually trit'd fc do s(.. But tho Virginia committee of safety dispatched Col. ^Vood- ford wi'th three iumpanies of riflemen to the assistance of the people of Hampton. Of the three comi^nit-.s thus dispatched one was the company of Fmcastle County troops under ("apt. Williaiu ("ani])bell. , ■ j Wlu-n thf Hritish cupiain hejran his attack on the town he was so warmly received by Col. Woodford an.l his men that he took to flight after the loss of a number of men. Thus it will be seen that troops from Fincastle County took part in the first engage- ment of the Revolutionary War on \'irginia soil in which blood was shed, Capt. William Campbell leading them. r, i. n < Howe, in his history of N'irginia. savs that in the year 1775 \\ illiam Campbell was of the first'regular troops raised in Virginia, beincj honored with a captain's commission in the first"regiment. The company which William Campbell commanded was com- posed of men"who were at that time living in the frontier settlements of Virginia and who marchi'd s.'veral hundred miles in fact, almost across the State— to testify to their devotion to the principles enunciated in their respective resolutions of January 20, 1775, and which may l)e termed "the first declaration of independence." flere Capt. Cami)bell served with distinction until ravages by Indians, who by that time had formed an alliance with the English troops, caused his resignation, to return and protect the homes of his people in P'incastle (now Washington) County. BATTLE AT LOXG ISLAND FLATS, JULY 19, 1776. Upon returning home Capt. William Campbell participated in the battle of Long Island Flats, about 15 miles west of the present city of Bristol, Va.-Tenn., which was an engagement between the colonists and Indians and occurred on the 19th day of July, 1776, resulting in an overwhelming victory for the frontiersmen. In this "battle Capt. Campbell had the cooperation and assistance of the men who afterwards accompanied him to Kings Mountain in 1780. COUNTIES OP WASHINGTON, MONTGOMERY, AND KENTUCKY FORMED DECEMBER, 1776. In the month of December, 1776, the county of Fincastle, Va., by act of the General Assembly of the State, was extinguished by the formation of three counties, to wit, Wa.shington. Montgomery, and Kentucky. William Campbell was commissioned a member of the county court of Washhigton County, and participated in the first meeting of that courtheld at Blacks Fort (now Abingdon) on the last Tuesday in January, 1777, it being the 28th day of the month. As a member of the county court he took a jjrominent part in all measures affecting his county, including its organiza- tion. COLONEL OF MILITIA IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, VA. — OPPOSITION TO TORIES IN 1779. About this time, in response of resolutions passed by the Continental Congress, providing for the organization of militia in the several counties of the colonies, William Campbell was elected and commissioned lieutenant colonel of the militia for Wash- ington County. Subsequently, upon the resignation of the colonel, William Campbell became colonel of the regimental militia of Washington County. In the summer of 1779 Tories, living on the headwaters of the Yadkin River in North Carolina and New River in Virginia, began forming into a body with the inten- tion of destroying the lead mines on New River, robljing the well-affected citizens of Montgomery County, and forcing their way to the headquarters of Lord Cornwallis, who was at that time in the Carolinas. There was every prospect an insurrection would immediately take place. Col. William Campbell was requested by Col. Preston, of Montgomery County, to render assistance in suppressing the threatened insurrection. He responded i)romptly, and his presence in Montgomerv County and his reputation as a leader of the Continental forces struck consternation in the ranks of the Tories, who dispersed upon his approach and offered no open resistance. The threatened insurrection was thereby prevented. As a result of the operations of Col. Campbell during the summer of 1779, and with a view to protecting,' him, the General Assembly of \ir_rinia a(lo|)ted the following resolutions: "AN ACT To indemnify William Camiibell, Walter Crockett, and others concerned in suppressing a late conspiracy. "Whereas diyers evil-disposed persons on the frontiers of this Commonwealth had broken out into an open insurrection and conspiracy, and actually levied war against the Commonwealth, and it is represented to the present General" Assembly that Wil- liam Campbell, Walter Crockett, and other liege subjects of the Commonwealth, aided MONUMENT TO GEN. WILLIAM CAMPBELL. 5 by detachments of the militia and vohmteers from the county of Washington and other parts of the frontiers, did, by timely and effectual exertion, suppress and defeat such conspii'acy; and "Whereas the necessary measures taken for that purpose may not be strictly war- ranted by law, although justifiable from the immediate urgency and imminence of the danger; "Be it therefore declared a?id enacted, That the said William Campbell, Walter Crockett, and all other persons whosoever concerned in suppressing the said conspiracy and insurrection, or in advising, issuing, or executing any orders or measures taken for that purpose, stand indemnified and clearly exonerated of and from all pains, penal- ties, prosecutions, actions, suits, and damages on account thereof; and that if any indictment, prosecution, action, or suit shall be laid or brought against them or any of them for any act or thing done therein, the defendant or defendants may plead in bar, or the general issue, and give this act in CAddence." SUPPRESSION OF TORIES AND INDIANS IN 1780. During the months of August and September, 1780, 150 men from Washington County saw active service on New River about the lead mines and over the mountains in North Carolina, under the command of Col. William Campbell, in preventin and sup- pressing threatened insurrection of the Tories in those quarters. In the month of September, 1780, the Cherokee Indians began to give evidence of an unfriendly disposition, and every indication pointed to an Indian war. The governor of Virginia directed Col. Campbell to take command of an expedition against them. While preparation's were being made for this expedition and men were being mustered into service Col. Campbell received letters from Cols. Isaac Shelby and John Sevier requesting his assistance in a contemplated expedition against Col. Ferguson, a British officer then stationed at Gilberttown, N. C, with about 1,100 troops. THE UNION WITH THE NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINIANS. Acting under the orders of the governor previously given. Col. Campbell joined this expedition at Sycamore Shoals, on the Watauga River, with 400 men from Washington County, Va. This mountain army, upon reaching Quaker Meadows, the country home of Col. McDowell, in Surry County, N. C, was composed of about 1,500 men from the coun- ties of Surry, Wilkes, Burke, Washington, and Sullivan, N. C, the county of Washing- ton, Va., and the South Carolinians of Surry. The men with whom Campbell united on his march against Ferguson were under McDowell, Shelby, and Sevier. Williams, Cleveland, Winston, Lacey, Hambright, Hampton, Brandon, Stone, Chronicle, and others were entitled to their full sharer of the glory, which was soon won at Kings Mountain. History has recorded to all their meed of praise. The larger portion of the forces gathered together, and that Campbell joined were the North Carolinians under brave leaders; but Lacey came with Sumter's redoubtable veterans, a small but experienced corps from South Carolina. Their number can not be accurately stated, and those who participated in the battle were diminished by the hard march in pursuit of Ferguson. ESTIMATES OF THE AMERICAN FORCE. Draper in a note estimates the force assembled for the march to Kings Mountain as follows: Campbell 's force 400 Shelby's 240 Sevier's 240 McDowell's (160, increased in Burke County to probably 180) 180 Cleveland and Winston 's 350 Canodlers's 30 Lacey's 270 Williams's 70 Hambright's, including Chronicle's 60 Total ■ 1, 840 It has been estimated as 3,000, and often higher, though by no means is this view accepted. (Draper, p. 214.) A much less number than this estimate was actually in the battle, as Draper shows. Mt>NUMl!:NT TO GEN. WILLIAM CAMPBELL. MAJ. PAT. FEUOU.SON's FOKCES. Tlu- histt.rv of tlu- liutlU' of Kings Mountain, by Lyman C. Draper, secretary of the Statf Historical S pui-sue and attack Ferguson was about 910, besides the squad of uncounted footmen, who were probably not so numerous as Spelt sup- posed. They may be estimated pro rata, according to the respective strength of their respective corps, about as follows: Chosen at Green River — Campbell's men, 200; Shel- by e, 120; Sevier's, 120; Cleveland's, 110: McDowell's, 90; and Winston's, 60; total, 700. Additional troops selected at the Cowpens: Lacey's, 100; Williams's, 60; and Graham and Hambright's, 50; total, 210; and making altogether 910 mounted men. The squad of uncounted footmen should be added to the number. The little party of Georgians seem to have been united with ^\■illiams's men, and served to swell that small corps: Chronicle's South Fork boys helped to make up the Lincoln force under Graham; while the few footmen doubtless generally joined their respective corps, though some, like Spelt's, united with the column most convenient to them when tiie time of trial arrived." (Draper, p. 227.) [the BATTLEFIELD AND THE BATTLE. Kings Mountain took its name from one King, who lived at the foot of the mount with his family. The Kings Mountain Range is about 16 miles in length. The ground on which the battle was fought is some 600 yards long and about 250 from one base across to the other, or from 60 to 120 wide on the top, tapering to the south, so narrow that a man standing on top of it may be shot on either side. Its summit is some 60 feet above the level of the surrounding country. (Draper, 209.) Ferguson had his encampment on this spot, and declared that he "was on Kings Mountain; that he was king of that mountain, and that God Almighty could not drive him from it." Shelby took place on the left of the mountain opposite Campbell, Campbell's left and Shelby's right eoming together. I'eyond Shelby were ^\'i^iams's command, including Brandon and Hammond and Candler, the South Carolinians under Lacey, Hathorne, and Steen, with the rest of the Wilkes and Surry men under Cleveland, and also the Lincoln troops under Chronicle and Hammond, all under the direction of Col. Cleveland. Campbell's force was arranged in four ( olumns. two on cither side of the mountain, led by Cols. Campbell and Sevier on the right, with Shelby and Cleveland on the left. Thus arranged the force advanced to the attack. Cam]ibell led his men A\'ith his coat off. The light was swift and fierce, T'eiguson ro] eatedly charging, first upon Camp- bell's men. who stood their ground uiitil some of them were thrust through with the bayonet, then retreating; then they assailed Shelby, a man of iron, who pressed upon them. They, too, had to retreat slowly, firing. Lacey's horse w'as shot under him as he and his South Carolinians rushed forward. Chroniclo was killed as he led forward his band, with his associates, Lieut. Col. Ham- bright. Maj. .loseph Dixon, and Ca]>ts. Mattox, Johnston, White, E.«pev, and Martin. Col. Sevier, with McDowell's and Winston's battalions, gainc d the .summit of the hill without b(ing charged with the bayonet, save a portion of their left, which hastened to support Campbell. W hen Cleveland advanced under fire he exclaimed to his men, "Yonder is your enemy and the enemy of mankind ; " and they fought, as did, indeed, the whole force of Americans, with resolute determination. The battle rolled to and fro until, at the end of about an hour, Ferguson, the com- mander, who continuously led his men with desperate courage, was killed, and Capt. De Peyster, the next in command, rai.«ed a white handkerchief as a token of sunender. MONUMENT TO GEN. WILLIAM CAMPBELL. 7 A fellow-officer struck it down, but it was quickly raised again, and the whole force surrendered . Never did a little army fight with more unanimous courage, and never did all of them more sternly win the title of heroes. THE CHARACTER OF CAMPBELL'S MEN. After speaking of Ferguson's men, Draper thus speaks of Campbell's men: ' ' In the confronting ranks was a very different class of men. Those from the Holston, under (Campbell, were a peculiar people — somewhat of the character of Cromwell's soldiery. They were, almost to a man, Presbyterians. In their homes, in the Holston Valley, they were settled in pretty compact congregations; quite tenacious of their religious and civil liberties, as handed down from father to son from their Scotch-Irish ancestors. Their preacher. Rev. Charles Cummins, was well fitted for the times; a man of piety and sterling patriotism, who constantly exerted himself to encourage his people to make every needed sacrifice and put forth every possible exertion in defense of the liberties of their country. "They were a remarkable body of men, both physically and mentally. Inured to frontier life, raised mostly in Augusta and Rockbridge Counties, Va., a frontier region in the French and Indian War, they early settled on the Holston, and were accustomed from their childhood to border life and hardships; ever ready at the tap of the drum to turn out on military service; if in the busiest crop season, their wives, sisters, and daughters could, in their absence, plant and sow and harvest. They were better educa'ted than most of the frontier settlers, and had a more thorough understanding of the questions at issue between the colonies and their mother country. These men went forth to strike their country's foes, as did the patriarchs of old, feeling assured that the God of battles was with them, and that He would surely crown their efforts with success. They had no doubts nor fears. They trusted in God and kept their powder dry. Such a thing as a coward was not known among them. How fitting it was, that to such a band of men should have been assigned, by Campbell's own good judgment, the attack on Ferguson's choicest troops — his Provincial Rangers. It was a happv omen of success — literallv the forlorn hope — the right men in the right place." (Pp. 242-243.) THE KILLED AND WOUNDED OF THE AMERICAN.S. Draper says: "Of the killed and wounded of the Americans, it is less difficult to get at the facts, or at least they are not involved in such contradictory statements as those relating to the British losses. Col. Shelby, in his letter to his father, October 12, 1780, men- tions 6 officers and 23 privates killed and 54 wounded, but adds that he believes with more accurate returns the killed will prove to be 35 and the wounded betAveen 50 and 60. Col. Campbell, in his letter of October 20, places the number at about 30 killed and 60 wounded. In the official report, made out apparently somewhat later, and hence more reliable, the killed are stated at 28 and the wounded at 62." (Draper p. 302.) LOSSE.S OF WILLIAMS, BRANDON, STEEN, AND HAMMOND. H- In the commands of Williams, Brandon, Steen, and Hammond we have no record of any loss save that of their gallant leader and the person, whose name is unknown, who iaad a presentiment of his death; and William Giles, as already related, slightly wounded. Among the South Carolinians, under Lacey and Hawthorn, no killed are reported, save, perhaps, David Duff and William Watson, who probably belonged to this corps, and but one wounded, Robert Miller, of Chester County, who was badly disabled in his thigh. In both of these commands there were probably other losses. Of the Rutherford men under Col. Hampton, John Smart and Preston Goforth were killed, and Maj. James Porter and William Robertson wounded; but of McDowell's Burke County men, we have no knowledge of any deaths or disabilities. (Draper, p. 302.) LOSSES OF LINCOLN MEN. The Lincoln County men, considering their small number, suffered considerably in the engagement — Maj. Chronicle, Capt. Mattocks, William Rabb, John Boyd, and Arthur Patterson, killed, and Moses Henery mortally wounded; Lieut. Col. Ham- bright, Capt. Espey, Robert Henry, William Gilmer, John Chittim, and William Bradley, wounded. There must have been other losses, for of Capt. Samuel Martin's company of about 20 men, he relates in his pension statement that four were killed and two mortally wounded. (Draper, p. 302.) 8 MONUMENT TO GEN. WILLIAM CAMPBELL. LOSSES OP SEVIER'S REGIMENT. Of Sevier's regiment, William Steele, John Ihwvn, and Michael Mahoney are known to have lost their lives in the contest, while Capt. Sevier was mortally, and one Gilleland and Patrick Murphv severely wounded. Near the close of the action, ('apt. Sevier, while stoopin-,' to pick up his ramrod, received a buckshot wound near his kidnev; alter the action the British surgeon, Dr. Johnson, endeavored to extract the shot, but failed in the effort. (Draper, pp. 302-303.) LOSSES OF Shelby's men. Col. Shelby's regiment no doubt suffered from lo.sses in the action; but the particu- lars are wanting, save that (apt. Shelby, William I'ox, and John Fagon Avere wounded. As Shelby's men encountered hard fighting and were repeatedly charged down the mountain, they must, necessarily, have lost some of their number and had more wounded than (he three whose names are mentioned. LOSSES OF Cleveland's and Winston's men. Oi the Wilkes and Surry men, under Cleveland and Winston, we have only the names of two men killed— Thoma- Bicknell and Daniel Siske, of Wilkes County. Maj. Lewis, Capts. Lewis, Smith, and Lenoir, Lieuts. Johnson and J. M. Smith, and Charles Cmrdon and John Childers were wounded, the latter badly. \Miere so many officers were disabled there must have been several others of this gallant regi- meni killed and wounded." ( Drajier, ]). 301.) losses OF Campbell's men. Col. Campbell's Virginians, who fought so nobly and persistently throughout the action, met with severer losses than any other regiment engaged in this hard day's contest. Of the killed were Capt. William Edmondson, Lieut. Reece Bowen, William Blackburn, and Robert Edmondson, sr.. Ensign Andrew Edmondson, John Beattie, James Corry, Nathaniel Dryden, Nathaniel Gist, James Philips, and Humberson Lyon, and Private Henry Ilenigar. Lieut. Thomas McCulloch and Ensign James Laird, who were mortally wounded, died a few days thereafter. Capt. James Dysart, Lieuts. Samuel Newell, Robert Edmondson, jr., and 18 privates wounded, of whom were Frederick Fisher, John Skeggs, I^enoni Banning, Charles Kilgore, William BuUen, Leonard Hyce, Israel Ilayter, and William Moore, who recovered. The names of the other 10 disabled Virginians have not been preserved. So badly wounded was William Moore that his leg had to be amputated on the field, lie wa.s neces.«arily left at some good Samaritan's, but when his associates returned to their distant Holston homes and told the story of their victory and its cost in life and suffering, his devoted wife, on learning of her husband's terrible misfortune, though in the month of November, mounted her horse and rode all the long and dreary journey to the neighborhood of Kings Mountain — such was the intrepidity of the frontier women, as well as the men, of those trying times; and having nursed him until eufliciently recovered she conveyed him home, and he lived to a good old age, dying in 1826, after having received from the Government an invalid pension for 37 years. It is remarkable that 13 officers to only a single private of Campbell's men were killed or mortally wounded during the battle — nearly one-half of the fatalities of the whole ^^'hig force engaged in the contest. This disparity of losses between the leaders and privates is a striking proof how fearlessly the officers exposed them- selves in rallying the regiment when broken, and leading on their men by their valor and heroic examples to victory. One-third of the wounded were of Campbell's regiment. Another remarkable fact is that of eight Edmondsons of the Virginia troops engaged that day three were killed and one was wounded — all ]irominent and efficient officers of that corps; the survivors haviu^' bcm William Edmondson, the major of the regiment, and Privates John, Samuel, and William Edmondson (])p. 304-305). draper's account of Campbell's conduct. The red-haired Campbell, the daymore of the Argyle gleaming in his hand, and his blue eye glittering with a lurid flame, wherever ne was, dashing here and there along the line, was himself a host. Mis clarion voice rang out above the clash of resounding arms and the peals of successive riflery, encouraging his heroic moun- taineers to victory. .\nd thus the battle raged with increased furv the mountain men constantly gaining more confidence and steadily lessening the" number of their foes (p. 257). MONUMENT TO GEN. WILLIAM CAMPBELL. 9 THE THANKS OF CONGRESS TO COL. CAMPBELL. On the 7th of November, 1780, Thomas Jefferson, then governor of Virginia, trans- mitted to Congress a letter from Maj. Gen. Gates with an account of the victory obtained by the militia over the enemy at Kings Mountain on the 7th of Octolber, whereupon, on the 13th day of November, the Continental Congress adopted the following resolution: ' ' Resolved, That Congress entertains a high sense of the spirited and military conduct of Colonel Campbell, officers and privates under his command, displayed in the action of October seventh, in which a complete victory was obtained over superior numbers of the enemy, advantageously posted on Kings Mountain, in the State of South Carolina; "And that this resolution be published by the commanding officers of the southern army in general orders." RESOLUTION OF THE TWO HOUSES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA. On the 15th day of November, 1780, the Senate of Virginia passed the following resolution : "Eesolved, nemine contradicente, That the thanks of this house are justly due to Colonel William Campbell, of Washington County, and the brave officers and soldiers under his command, who, with an ardor truly patriotic, in the month of September last, without waiting for the call of the Government, voluntarily marched out to oppose the common enemy, at the time making depredations on the frontiers of North Caro- lina, and on the seventh day of October, by a well-timed, judicious, and spirited attack, with a force inferior to that of Major Ferguson's, then advantageously posted on Kings Mountain with upwards to eleven hundred men, and by a perseverance and gallantry rarely to be met with even among veteran troops totally defeated the whole party, whereby a formidable and dangerous scheme of the enemy was effectually frustrated . ' ' PJJOn the 10th day of November, 1780, the House of Delegates of Virginia adopted the following resolution: "Resolved, That the thanks of this house be given to Colonel William Campbell, of the County of Washington, and the officers and soldiers under his command, who spontaneously equipped themselves and went forth to the aid of a sister State, suffer- ing distress under the invasion and ravage of the common enemy, and who, combined with some detachments from the neighboring States, judiciously concerted and bravely executed an attack on a party of the enemy commanded by Major Ferguson, consisting of about one thousand one hundred and five men, British and Tories, strongly posted on Kings Mountain, whereby, after a severe and bloody conflict of upward of an hour, the survivors of the enemy were compelled to surrender them- selves prisoners of war, and that Colonel Campbell be requested to communicate the contents of this resolution to the gallant officers and soldiers who composed his party." Richard Henry Lee, William Fleming, and Joseph Jones were appointed a com- mittee to communicate the foregoing vote of thanks to Col. Campbell, which they did, and to which Col. Campbell was pleased to return the following answer: Campbell's thanks. Gentlemen: I am iiiiinitely happy in receiving this public testimony of the approbation of my country for my late services in South Carolina. It is a reward far above my expectations, and I esteem it the noblest a soldier can receive from a virtuous people. Through you, gentlemen, I wish to communicate the high sense I have of it to the house of delegates. I owe, under Providence, much to the brave soldiers and officers who served with me, and I shall take the earliest opportunity of transmitting the resolve of your house to them, who, I am persuaded, will experience all the honest heartfelt satisfaction I feel m.yself on this occasion. THE general assembly OP VIRGINIA PRESENTS A HORSE TO GENERAL CAMPBELL. Upon the receipt of ('ol. Campbell's answer the General Assembly of Virginia adopted the following resolution: "Ordered, That a good horse, with elegant furniture, and a sword be purchased at the public expense and presented to General Campbell as a further testimony of the high sense the general assembly entertains of his late important services to his country'." The directions contained in this resolution were not carried into execution during the lifetime of Col. Campbell, but the horse and sword were afterwards presented to S. Rep. 932, 61-3 2 10 MONUMENT TO GEN. WILLIAM CAMPBELL. hH irraiul-..ii. William Cunipl.ell Preston, long a Senator of the United States from South Can.liiui. aiul for many years Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States. CAMrHELI. EI.ECTKI) A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRCilNIA AND MADE A BRKJADIER GENERAL OF MILITIA. On the lull oi J\ine, 1781, the General Assembly of Virginia adopted the followin;; resolution: , , . ,. , • ..l •• Resolved, That William Campbell. Esq., be appointed a brigadier general in the militia of this ( •ommonwealth, and the governor elect do commission him accordingly." CAMPBELL JOINS GREENE IN NORTH CAROLINA. The Continental Congress and the officers of the Continental Army ascertained the value of the mountain militia on the pressing application of Gen. Greene for men. Col. Arthur Campbell, county lieutenant of Washington County, immediately ordered out the militia of that county. WTiereupon. on February 25, 1781, 100 men under the command of Col. William Campbell left Abingdon and, on March 2, joined Gen. (ireene's army in North Carolina. Col. William Campbell was now to oppose Lord Conuvallis, who had imbibed a personal resentment toward him as the commander at Kings Mountain and who had threatened should Col. Campbell fall in his hands to have him instantly i)Ut to death for his rigor against the Tories. He evidently designed to hold Col. Campbell personally responsible for the execution of a number of Tory leaders at Mickerstadd in a fewdays after the capture of Col. Ferguson's army. ' This, instead of intimidating Col. Campbell, had the contrary effect, and, in turn, Cam|)bell resolved that should the fortunes of war place Comwallis in his power he should meet the same fate as befell Ferguson. HEROIC CONDUCT AT THE BATTLE OF GUILFORD. In January, 17S1, Gen. Nathanael Greene had wTitten a letter to the "famous Col. William Campbell," reminding him "of the glory he had already acquired and urging him to bring without loss of time a thousand good volunteers from over the mountains. At that time the Indians under Logan, with a northern band, were invading the Clinch Kiver region and Powells \'alley, and though the frontiersmen were pressed on that side, Campbell carried all that he could collect of them. At Whitsells Mills on Ready Creek, Campbell's and Preston's riflemen and Col. Washington's and Col. Lee's horsemen had a skirmish with the British and effected their object of saving flour and meal. On the loth of March, in the battle of Guilford Court House, Light-Horse Harry Lee's Legion and a portion of Campbell's riflemen were on the left flank. "During the obstinate contest," says Draper, "Campbell's corps fought with the h«'roic hraverv characteristic of their noble leader and of their own unrivaled repu- tation." Although they were finally pushed back. Col. Lee commended Campbell for the bravery of his battalion, and Greene declared that his faithful services claimed his warmest and entire approbation of his conduct. "Sensible of your merit," he said, "I feel a plea-surc in doing justice to it." SchenjK, a disiinguished North Carolina historian, in speaking of Col. Campbell's part in this battle, says: "Col. Cainpbell, with hLs Virginia and North Carolina riflemen, was the last to fire a gun on this bloody field, and was still firing when Greene sounded retreat." Campbell's death while mabching to torktown. (Jen. Campbell, with his command, was marching through Cumberland County, Va., in the direction of Yorktown, when he was afflicted with a pain in his breast, disabling him, and from which he expired on the 22d of August, 1781, in his thirty-sixth year, without seeing the great consummation for which his life's best energies and services had been expended, TRIBUTE OF LAFAYETTE. When (Jen. Lafayette received intelligence of the death of Gen. Campbell, he issued the folhiwing (trder: ^ "The ^cm-ral has no doubt that the Army will unite with him in regretting Gen. tamitbell's death, an officer whose service must have endeared him to every citizen and in jmrticular to every American soldier. The glorv which Gen. Campbell acquired in tlie affairs of Kings Mountain and Guilford Court House does his memory MONUMENT TO GEN. WILLIAM CAMPBELL. 11 everlasting honor and insures him a high rank among the defenders of liberty in the American cause. ' ' The general wishes it had been possible for himself and the officers of the Army to pay him those honors to which his rank, but particularly his merit, so highly entitled him, but his great distance from the Army and our present situation render it impossible. "The lieutenants of the county will assemble a corps to pay military honors to the deceased general. "Gen. Stephens is requested to name a deputation of four field officers who will immediately repair to Rocky Mills (Hanover County), and in the name of the Army pay Gen. Campbell their last respects." And thus is presented, as briefly as may be, the recordof Gen. William Campbell as a citizen and soldier. Campbell is buried at Seven Mile Ford, near the Norfolk & Western Railroad, in Smyth County, which was once a part of Washington. The adjacent region is populous with his kinsfolk and with the descendants of the men of Kings Mountain, CAMPBELL COUNTY NAMED IN HIS HONOR. Campbell County, Va., was formed out of Bedford in 1784 and named in honor of Gen. William Campbell. There are five Campbell counties in the United States — in Georgia, Kentucky,. Tennessee,, Virginia, and South Dakota. GEN. Campbell's connections. About the year 1775 Gen. Campbell married Elizabeth Henry, a sister of Patrick Henry, of Virginia. By this marriage two children were born, viz, Charles Henry Campbell, a son, and Sarah Buchanan Campbell, a daughter. The son died before reaching maturity. The daughter became the wife of Col. Francis Preston, the first Member of the House of Representatives of the United States from southwestern Virginia. Sarah Buchanan Campbell, who married Col. Francis Preston, reared a distinguished family of children, to wit, William C. Preston, of South Carolina; Gen. John S. Preston, of South Carolina; Thomas L. Preston, of the University of Virginia^ Mrs. Wade Hampton, of South Carolina; Mrs. Robert J. Breckenridge, of Kentucky; Mrs. John Carrington, of Virginia; Mrs. John E. Floyd, of Washington County; Mrs. James McDowell, of Virginia, and Mrs. John M. Preston, of Abingdon, Va. Sarah Buchanan Campbell was reared by Thomas Madison, a brother of James Madison, President of the United States, and, after her marriage, lived in Abingdon until her death. THE claim foe CAMPBELl's RECOGNITION. It is respectfully submitted that the claims of Gen. William Campbell to national recognition are: First. That he was skillful and brave in a battle that reversed the ill fortunes of our country. Second. That he was the most commanding figure on the frontier in the Colonies in the great movement for civil, political, and religious liberty that resulted in the War of Independence. Third. That he was the leading spirit on that committee of safety in Virginia that made the first public declaration among the Colonies looking to armed resistance to British tyranny. Fourth. That the Battle of Kings Mountain, in which he was the commander of the colonial forces, was one of the most important of the battles of the Revolution and the turning point of that great war. Fifth. That his military life was one of great glory and renown, and that a monu- ment by the United States would be a fitting tribute to a soldier whose services were recognized by the Continental Congress, by the Senate and House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia, by Gen. Lafayette, Gen. Greene, and other leaders of the American Army. Sixth. That he was a typical representative of that class of people living on the frontier that rendered such valuable services to the Continental Congress in the strug- gle of the Colonies for liberty; and this monument should be erected at Abingdon, Washington County, Va., because it was for 50 years the principal frontier town in the development of the great West, because it was the home of Gen. Campbell, and during his life and to-day is the center of the homes of his descendants and the descend- ants of those brave soldiers who followed him to battle. o LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 011 800 266 € LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 011 800 266 l36Rnulil^*