North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-06-11

/ in professional attainmens, invented specie
of rife, that combined unprecedented quickness o
repetition with certainty of effect and security 10 tn
! soldiers.
1.-THE Invention beng not only approved, but high
ly admired, its author appointed to form and train
corps tor the purpose of practice. but opportunl
~ did not offer Of calling their skill into action until
the period at which we are now arrived. Ferguson
with his corps, supported by Weliniss's American
Rangers appointed TO the front of knyPhau
sens troops, and secured the ground sectuafy ina
there shot fred by the Americans to annoy
the column in its march. So secured, kDayPhauseI
was enabled advance without Interruption attacReo
the enemy, obliged them, though protected oy Lnel
batteries to cross the river, made good the passage
of his division, and opened Inc way 10 ''e Ies'
| of the arm. ="
The meIitorous conduct of Col. Ferguson was ac-
knowledged by the whole army, and publicly attest
ed by order of the commander-In-chief. FERGUSON
in private letter, of which MI Adam ferguson mas
transmitted me a copy, mentions very cHrIous incl
dent from which tappears that the life OF the Amer
lean General was in imminent danger. While Fergu-
son Law with part of his rhenen skirt OF wood
in front of Gen. knyphausens division, the circum-
happened ot which the letter In questlon gives
the following account:
We had not lain long (says Ferguson in this let
teri when a rebel officer, remarkable by hussar
dress, passed towards army, within hundred
yards of my right flank, not Perceiving US. tie was
followed by another dressed in dark green and blue
mounted good bay horse, with remarkably high
cooked hat. ordered three good shots to steal near
10 them bat the idea disguised me. recalled the
order. The bussar in returning, made circuit but
the other passed within hundred yards of upon
which advanced from the woods towards him. Up
on my calling he stopped butt after looking at me,
proceeded again drew his attention; and made
sign to him to stop, dwelling my piece at him; but
distance at which. in the quickest firing, could have
lod ged half dozen balls in about him before heJ
was out of my reach, had only to determine; but
not pleasant to fire at thu back OF an unottending
-b,x llu
of his duty. So let him alone The day after, l
had been telling this story to wounded officers,
who lay in the same room with me, when one Of our
surgeons who had been dressing the wounded rebel
officers, came and told that they had been in
forming him that Gen. Washington all the morn
ing with the light troops, and only attended by
French officer in hussar dress, he himself dressed
and mounted in every point as above described. I
LvaS."
In the year 1878 Col. Ferguson was employed in
several of the detached expeditions, which, unimpor-
tant as they proved in the result yet, as we have
seen, called forth great degree of British vaor and
ability, and particularly distinguished himself in the
incursive war the North river in 1873. Ferguson,
being engaged in the expedition to Charleston, was
of very signal importance to the British army, and is
mentioned with great praises by Sir Henry Clinton,
the comnamder-in-chief of the British army. After
the reduction of Charleston in May, 1880, when
CORVALLIS attempting by justice and midness-i
justice and mdness, such perhaps as Tarleton prac
when Lord Corvallis CONTINUES this British
wrier) "was attempting by justice and mildness to
restore harmony between the province and the mother
country, he called for the assistance of Ferguson. TO
the vaior, enterprise and invention which were so
important in war, Ferguson was known to add the |
benignan disposition and conciliang manners which
generate good will and friendship in situations
of peace. Among the propositions of CORVALLIS for
the security and tranquility of the recovered colony,
one scheme 10 arm the well-affected for their
defeuCP. a m
America, entrusted with the charge of marshall |
ling the militia throughout wide extent of country.
Under his direction and conduct, militia, at once |
numerous and select, enrolled and disciplined.
One of the great tests of clearness and vigor of
Outstanding ready classification either of things
men, according to The qualities which they possess
and the purposes they fitted intended answer
Ferguson exercised his genius in devisng summary
Of the ordinary tactics and manual exercises for the
uses of the militia. He had them divided in every
district into two classes-One of The young men, the
single and unmarried, who should be ready to join
he Kings troops to repel any enemy that infested
he provnce another of the aged and heads of fam;-
les, who should be ready unite in defending their
'wn townships habitaiions, and farms. In his pro-
yress among them he aoon gained their confidence by
he attention he paid to the interests of the well-a
ected, and by his humanity to the families of
hose who were in arms against him. We come
Tot, said hes to make war upon women and children,
ind gave them money to relieve their disiresses The
movements of the Americans having compelled Lord
Corvallis to proceed with great caution in his north
I'm expedition, the genius and rapid efforts of Fergu-
required for protecting and facilitating the
march of the army, and plan of collateral operations
vas devised for that purpose. In the execution of
hrse schemes, he had advanced as far Nnety-SiX
bout two hundred miles from Charleston and with
lis usual vigor and success acting against diff
rent bodies of the cooniss that still disputed the
when intelligence arrived from the Brit
sh officer, Col. Brown, commander of the Kings
orces in upper Georgia, that corps of rebels, under
Col. Clarke, had made attempt Upon Augusta,
nd, being repulsed, was rerealing by the back set
lements of Carolina. TO this information COL Brown
dded that he meant to hang the of the enemy,
nd that if Furguson would cut across his route he
night be intercepted and his party dispersed. This
ervce seemed TO be perfectly consistent with the
purposes of his expedition art did give time to
ielded 10 his usual ardor. and pushed with his de-
composed of fcw regulars and militia,
nto Tryon county.
50 In ths mean time numerous bodies of back set
ers west of the Allegheny mountains were in arms.
ONE of them intending 10 seize upon the presents in
ended for the Creek and Cherokee Indians, which
ney understood were but slightly guarded Angus
4, Georgia. Others had assembled upon the alarm
enemies likely visit them from South Carolina.
hese, meeting with Col. Clarke, secured his retreat.
nd made it expedent for Brown to desst from his
ursut and return to his station at Augusta; while
ergnson, having intelligence OF Browns retreat,
till continued the march which was undertaken at
is request
8. AS he continuing his route numerous, fierce,
nd unexpected enemy suddenly sprung up in the
woods and wilds. The Inhabitants of the Allegheny
Mountains assembled, without noise warning, un-
er the conduct of six seven of their militia colo
els, 10 the number of 600 daring, well mounted.
nd excellent horsemen. Discovering these enemies
S he crossed Kings Mountain, Ferguson took the
would