Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-04-11
WOODSTOCK, VIRGINIA: APRIL II, 1874


barrel of his gun, raised - as to keep the
lock above water, descended the banks
and entered the river. The taller men
FOUND less difficulty; those of lower stat
ure' were scarcely able to keep their
mouths and noses above water; but all
safety reached the opposite shoreresum-
Ell their dress, fixed their arms for ac-
ton, made their way through the low
grounds, thickFy set with cane. assembled
] The hills which were high ard precipi-
tous, crossed Kings road leading through
the town, and took position in its
rear. Here they formed and in about
too hours after crossing a nile below,
commenced furious attack, driving IN
the Tory sentries and guards; they con.
tlnued rapidly to advance, keeping up a
brisk and we'll directed fire and were
soon II tie midst of the foe,mostly High
land Scotchmen, as brave. as loyal, and
hlishmnded, as any of his Maesty's sub
Jects; so sudden and violent an onset for
I :he moment produced disorder; but they
were rallied by their gallart leader, and
made Tor while tl.e mos: determined
resistance. .Slingsby fell mortaly
wounded, and Golden was killed. with
most of the officers Of inferior grade
They retreated, some taking refuge in
houses. others, the largest portion, leap
ing peIi-mell into a deep ravine, since
called the Tory Hole. AS the Tories
had unlimited sway from the. river to
little Pee Dee, the Wings re-crosaed ia
king with them their wounded. Such
was the general panic produced by this
action, the Torres became dispirited, and
never after were so troublesome. The
Whighs soon returned to their homes in
safety. In the death of SIipesby, the
Torres were deprived of an officer whose
place it was difficult to fill; but few were
equal to Golden in partizan warfare.
This battle was fought mostly by rIy-
er planters; men who bad sacrificed
much for their country. To judge oft
correctly, it should not be forgotten that
the country from Little Pee Dee to the
Cabarras was overrun by the Tories.
Wilmington was in possession Of the
British, and Cross Creek of ths Tories.
Thus situated, the attack, made on
them at Elizabethtown, assumed much
of the character of lorlorn hope;
had the Wings not succeeded, they
must have been cut off to a man
. If they had fed to the South, thou
sands would have risen to destroy
: them; if to the Eastward, the Tories il
that case, flushed with victory, would
have intercepted their retreat, and they
I would have sought in vain their former
:. "ey u'u. rms tso,run Pruuuvvu tHte
part OF North Carolina as sudden and
as happy results as the battles of Tren-
ton and Princeton in New Jersey. The
: contest was unequal but yalor supplied
the place of numbers. 1t is due to Col
one Brown. who when youth marched
with with General WaddeI from Baden
and fought under Governor Tryon at the
battle of Alamance. and was afterwards
wounded at the Big Bridge, TO say, he
: fully realized, the expectation of his
friends and the wishes of those who Sc
lected MIN to commands and when the
history OF. our State shall be written, this
this action alone, apart from his chiTal-
rIc conduct at the Big Bridge. will place
him By the side OF his compatriots, Hor-
ry, Marion, and Sumpter, of the South.
] must, it will form an Interesting page
in our history, OH which the Young men
of North Carolina will delight to dwell.
1t is an achievement which bespeaks not
only the most determined bravery, but
great military skill. The most Of these
men, like the ten thousand Greeks,
were fitted to command. Owen had
fought at Camden, Morehead commanded
the nine Months men sent to the South;
Robeenson and Evine were the Percy's
OF the Wings, and might justly be called
the Hot Spurs of Cape Fear.
The foregoing narrative was detailed
to me by two or three respectable com
/ batants. who now,sleep with their faith
ers; the substance of which have en-
deavored to preserve with all The accu-
racy a memory not very retentive per-
init.
4 very respectable resident of Eliza
BEETHOVEN has recently informed me that
he was a small boy at the tine of the bat
tie and lived with his mother in one of
the houses to which the Tories repaired
for safety: that he has distinct recoIlec-
ton of the fire OF the Wings, which APP
peared like one continued stream. Doc
umentary evidence have none.
With great respect, -