The Hillsborough recorder., 1853-06-01

patenee and iortitudf with which these
{ unhappy people bear the most oppres-
lsive and cruel tyranny. that ever was
exercised over any .cenntry, deserve
! our greatest admiration In the off,
eial account ef the VICTORY obtained At
Camden on the 10th, he records the
. fact that on this occasion. j" Gov. Mar
tin became again 4 military man and
behaved with the spirit of a young yo-
lanteer.s' Samuel Bryan. who led the
500 men from the forks of the Yadkin.
j. was one Of the persons named in the
Commission issued by Gov. Martin on
the 10th January. l776, and authorize
ed to raise men in Rowan, and march
!, them TO Brunswick.
i Much the ablest and most indefati-
gable instrument in the hands of the
Governor was Major Patrick Fergu-
son, q native Of Scotland and son Of
Lord Pitfour. one Of the Lords.of ses>
sion. At the time he was killed, he
was 81 years Of age. Of middle size
and slender frame, with thoughtful
and serious expression Of countenance.
I Burke remarks that "he was perhaps
the best marksman living, and proba-
bly, brought the art Of rifle shooting to
its highest perfection. He had invent
ed rife which in facility Of loading.
and in execution, was great improve
ment upon those previously used. Ge-
neral Washington is supposed to have
owed his life at Germantown to Fergu-
sons ignorance Of his person, as he had
him completely within the range Of his .
rife.f
Ferguson's great quality, however,
! was tact and patience in the manage
ment and training Of militia. Inaddi-
tion to his exact skill in discipline, il
was natural to him to attract and re-
tain the affections Of his men. He
would sit for hours and converse with
the country people, and point out the
ruinous consequences which would
ensure TO the leaders Of the rebellion
and to the. country. The effects Of this
condescension and familiarity were
manifest wherever he went.t His de-
feat and fall were fatal to the second
attempt to invade North Carolina.
Had he been the leader Of the British
forces at Moore's Creek, or had he
been able to maintain his position at
Kings Mountain, and been placed as
he probably would have been, at the
head of the militia, in the impending
invasion, very important consequences
might have resulted. His Scotch birth
would have recommended him to the
sHighlanders, and he had by. nature all
the qualities that were requisite to en-
sure ascendency over the Regulators.
i Preparatory to the third invasion Of
North Carolina. Major James H. Craig.
an able and experienced officer, subse-
quenly Governor General of Canada,
was directed to occupy Wilmington.
With detachment Of about 500 men
from the slst regiment. and a small
{ naval armament under the command
. Of Capt Barclay, he summoned the
town TO surrender, and received an un.
conditional submission on the 29th
J January, l78l.N On the lst OF Februa.
ry, Lord CORVALLIS crossed the Ca
tawba, and on the Goth took posses.
sion Of Hillsborough, the temporary
J seat Of government. A proclamation
Is was Immediately issued, inviting the
i loyalists ,tolscome in, but no one
was permitted to enter the lines unless
introduced by James Monroe, one Of
+ the persons named in the. commisson
, five years before, to erect the royal
. standard. On the 22d the army was
z drawn up and the royal standard dis
} played under the supervision of his
$ lordship.S The horrible slaughter Of
: the tories Fastening to the standard,
{ under the command Of Col. Piles, oc.
CURED three days thereafter. In the
: official report. made on the 18th, Of the
J, victory gained at Guilford on the 18th
d Of March, CORVALLIS bears cheerful
y testimony that che has constantly re.
" ceived the most jealous assistance from
e Gov. Martin during his command in
b the southern district. Hoping that his
# presence would tend to excite the 10y
). al subjects Of this province to take an
J, active part with US, he has cheerful,
IS submitted to the dangers and fatigue.
l. Of our campaign. But his delicate
constitution has suffered from his pub
Of lie spirit, for he is now obliged to re
a turn to England for the recovery Of hi
i. health."G This design, however, a
o. will be perceived in due time. was de
a. ferred until later period.
th Lnid Cornwallis. after this Pyrrha
in victory, was compelled by the necessitle
t. Of his position, mainly by The imposIbilit
ly Of procuring sus,enance for his army. !
in rellre towards Wilmington. A. Cros
Creek, Tarleton informs US that moi
IL wi,hslanding the cruel prosecutions ,ll
at Idem, p. ls4.
Am. Reg. lfsl, PIP. 81, 50.
as Political Mag, Feb. 1871, p. 60. ID. Marc
p. l25.
Idem, March, 1881, PIP. 2a3-4.
8 Cornwalls's Order Book, dSs.
4 1arleton's csmpsigns, p. 324.