Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-03-16

vernon Tryon, with or 5000 militia and vol
unteers, the latter acting as cavalry, with three
or four small field pieces, about the 5th OF
May, 1771. approximate the insurgent army.
A disposition for battle was soon made on
both sides, and powder and ball were to de-
eide the hazardous and doubtful contest.
The regulators, although brave and hardy
people, were nevertheless very deficient IN pol
iticians to direct their course and skllful ON
GERS to lead them into battle, and knew but lit
tie of Military discipline and tacticks, and
Herman Husbands, before mentioned, who
was nothing at home but PLATA farmer, was
their Commander-in- Chief; whilst Col But
Ter, brave man and the most capable per-
haps of the two, was the second in command.
The battle commenced and was conducted with
spirit on both sides, while the issue was for
some time doubtful. At last disorder which
was to have been expected found its way into
the ranks of the Regulators. Nor was this
all. The cannon of the royal army played in
cessantly upon them and did great execution,
not one man among them in all probability
ever having heard the discharge of piece of
artillery before. This created panick, which
terribly increased their confusion and retreat
or rather flight ensued. Many were killed
duu "OubUCu3 oIIu LIOtC "CtO HlduC
soners among them was Col Butler and sew
eral other leading characters; but Herman
Husbands made his escape, and fled to the
back part of Pennsylvania, from whence he
had emigrated to North Carolina, and was ne
yer more seen there. But his influence was
not lost. He soon became member of the
Legislature of his native State land so contin-
uedl for many years and afterwards it IS be-
lieved was delegate to Congress. Governor
Tryon, after his victory. held court martial
for the trial of his prisoners and by martial
law hanged on gibbet six Of the most OBJ
noxious characters, among them. Col. But
Ter issued his proclamation requiring those
who fled as well as those who remained on
the ground and were captured, to repair to the
royal Standard, and take the oath OF allegl-
ance to his majesty or suffer the penalty OF
death for treason and have their estates con-
fscated This requisition was pretty general
ly complied with, and among those who made
their appearance for that purpose was included
the noted Col. Pyle of Orange or Chatham,
and of whom shall have occasion to speak
hereafter. And these people generally remain
ed faithful afterwards to the royal cause, and
were severe annoyance of the good people
! of North Carolina during the period OF our
hcVOlutlOndTy struggle
Tryon, after this victory, having forced the
submission oftbesc impatient and deluded men.
and having re-estahlished the civil authority
in HiIlsborough and other places, where ii had
been resisted, marched back to the low coun.
try and discharged them. Such was the eclat
the Governor derived from the success OF this
short campaign, both in the Province and IN
England, that in the course OF the year l771,
or the beginning of the next, he was transa-
ted by the Ministry from the Government OF
North Carolina to that of the rich commercial
Province of New York, much more hand
some snecure than the former, as probably
his salary was doubled, if not trebled. In
this post he was found when the American
war broke out, and in which he continued I'M
til its close In the commencement of the
summer of 1879, he was despatched from the
City of New York, by the Commander in
chief of the British forces, upon an expedition
to Connecticut, accompanied by numerous
force, and escorted by Admiral Collier; ne
landed at East Haven, then visited New h.,
ven, Fairfield and Norwalk in each of viii oh
places he exhibited the most barbarous scenes
of plumber and confagration, insult and de;vas.
tation-no object being too valuable, none toe
contemplate, to save it from his destructive
grasp. No building was sufficiently sacred to
protect it from the torch. What was spared
by one of his parties in the morning, was by
another destroyed in the evening satia
ted with revenge and plumber, the expedition
returned to New York, crowned with the lau.
rels of marauder and an incendiary
Conclusion an our nert)