The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-11-10

tho light Infantry was 10 annoy the British
van, aud retreat as became necessary
each optional and independent in firing and
selecting his position.
Early in the morning Of tina! bloody day
the British commenced their attack on thus
division OF tie American army-lhey were
mostly ntlemen and took their position be- .
hind trees; and many an Enelishnan was
picked off before lie saw his enemy. Cap
tain John Hunter, who commanded com.
pany Of this body, was standing behind a
tree, loading his gun he whirled his hat
around and exclaimed, +" huZza boys !" two
or three times by way of encouragement
TO those near him: no sooner had he done
this, when, attracted by the exclamation
no doubt, some one Of the enemy lodged a
bail into the tree directly before the face OF
. Capt. Hunter; the bark blinded him for
some seconds aud as he found cIrcumstan
ces portcntous, notwithstanding his wall
Of wood he advanced IN open ground and
continued TO fight brasely with his other
companions till forced TO retire on the first
line. The British we're considerably an.
moved by this detachment and their advance
retarded.
They mex, came in collision with the
line OF \. c. militia, the left of which
fought bravely aud withslood them for some
time, until detachment of the enemy's
cavalry debouched on their flank, cut them
to pieces, and rendered the contest extreme
~ bloody. Capt. Forbis, Of Guilford,
Tough, most brayey and was the principal
sutferer-he was killed and nearly all his
brave company, fighting infantry aud horse
far superior u numbers and discipline
though no, IN bravery. After the defeat o..
the first line, the middle line, or Virginia
militia, had to sustain the shock. They
held the foe in check long tune, till their
numbers being thinned, they were compel
ed to withdraw from superior force. The
enemy at length met the line oil regulars
and here met with the most serious and
bloody opposliiop. The regulars we're or.
deGed 10 advance 4. tolerable quick PACE
to meet the foe, and not 10 fire until they
approached very near them, With view to
give sudden aud overwhelming shock (;
this they did aud nearly the whole line 81
. simultaneously fired the lambert and wayer
Ing columns Of the enemy proved the effect
Of this policy. Our first Ere was followed
by successive fires SO appropos and delete
rious that lie enemvs rank began 10 min
Gle aud rccoil. II was at this luncture that
Col. James Martin and Col. Samuel Hen,
derson, (who were stationed al Marinvlllc
in recess Of the regular line as rallying Off
GERS, though vany as it resulted percev.
. ed British officer al rank, in full red,
mounted on j beautiful charger, advance
in front Of his line in the hottest OF the fire
and address his men in these words, shall
the Queens guards retreat from rebels !!
Other incitative exhor,ations were used by
this officer but the expression have rela
ted was distinctly audible to Col Martin il
the moinentarv cessation OF roar ard tumult
|: IS presumabic 10 was no, Lord Cornwall
!! lis, though no doubt an officer very little in
ferior in grade. II is altogether probable
he was Gen. Webster, as that officer wa
5 seriously wounded in the action, and died ,
few days afterwards on their route towart
. Fayetteville. TRy recklessness Of dealt
and deeds OF valor, the British officers a
: length restored order and courage in the
. ranks aud returned TO the contest. II wa
Q about this period Of the battle that Col. Lee
engaged Tareton and the battle became
6 more general and more destructive than i
: had heretofore been. Firing Of muskets
e pistols, now and then canton, aud the blck
g ering Of swords and bayonets were hear,
Z mn2ling their sounds with the grnans 0
y ACCUSING nature. Thus lndiscrimnalely
' were,
= order and horse, friend and foe, in
One red ruin bent."
a The Americans al length retreated, Coils
:, Lee and Washington ablr protecting thea
: with the cayalrv. n. iiaas # tie militia
i routed in Tue early pas Of th5 day had new
! er re formed, although Coils. Martin ant
:, Henderson used thea utmost exertions Il
that effect: no sooner was che company O.
4 battalion restored TO otder than Il woulC
y, break eli and retreat again While Inc re
cruiing officers were falying another CON
pany. The militia thus led bu, tho resu
:, lars rctreated 10 toerabe order. 4 grea
" many American officers were killed, anC
: many too Of the enemy " b!, the dust.
y Jam r'deor dace5 qoa iEdccoro Pufrere
a .Sordid0S.
e Captains VIM Jones, Thomas Helen, an'
!. Jacob Moon, from Virginia, fell in the ac
e ton. Capt. Forbis, Of Guillord, as obscrv
. ed before, found brave mans grave.
!. Far other scene IS he plain Of Martnvill'
nov. The aspect Of the place seems as pla
/. cid as though that red rain had never hap
!. pened. 1t is calm as the image oil death at
@ ter the turbulence OF dissolution. Thu
,, same sun that shone on vanqajshcd and dy
10 Ing patriots now wurms their dust mingled
= with the soil OF the battle field. The SAINT
n moon and stars that cleaned awfully owe
d clay mounds, broken arms, aud pailid corses
pou uhcd ihotr nlarid lipht nm trees anf