The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1853-02-16

A LECTURE
Dslirreibgore The Ns,r Iork Hisfofi-
cal Society.
By II0x. WILLIAM A. GRAHAM.

cn ooctrfy.
by II0x. WILLIAM A. GRAHAM.
Coprluded.
While the work Of reconstructing
the main army was pressed forward
With all possible expedition at Hills
borough. the command of Davidson
took up position ON Rocky River, in
Mecklenblrg. which, in his eorrespon-
dence, he styles "Camp MsKnitt Al
cxander." the name of an early and
ardent patriot in that. county, from
which he kept up system Of obser-
,ation ON the British army and the
disahected districts Of the country.
Gen. Sumner. with another force Of mi
litia, occupied " Camp Yadkin," west
oi tie river Of that name.
Gen. smallwood accepting the COM
rnand to which he had been invited by
the General Assembly, accompanied BY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS under therenown-
ed Col. Morgan, who had now reach
ed the Southern army, proceeded west
war,lly, and took command Of both
these brigades, a few days after the
retreat Of Lord CORVALLIS from Char
lotte. chastising the tories. in hand
some skirm:sh, by detachment Of his
troops under Major t.Ioyd, at Shallow
Ford, on the Yadkin, in a settlement
not far from which place Colonel Bry-
an had raised and marched regiment
Of loyalists, Immediately after the sur
render Of Charleston, and joined the
British in South Carolina, he advanced
TO the frontier of the State, ON the Ca
tawba, to watch the enemy and give
support to Genaral Sumpter, then ma
neuyring against rarleton in the up
per districts of that State.
General Gates, with the main army.
subsequently, took the same direction,
and had occupied Charlotte, when he
was superseded in the command by
General Greene. Need | add, that the
appointment of this illustrious man,
approaching, in his characteristics, so
much nearer to the great Commander
in-chief than any other officer in that
war; to the head Of the army of the
South, filled all hearts with gladness
and hope. The Board Of War, in a
correspondence which was Immediately
opened, expressed to him its great
satisfaction upon this event, and en-
gagged to draw forth all the powers OF
the State, aud every necessary re-
scource in it. to support him I" that"
say they, the command with which
YOU are digniiied, may be honorable
to Yourself, as well as satisfactory TO
the country" The transfer Of the
command was announced in general
orders on the Sd Of December.
General Smallwood having been pro-
NOTED to a Major Generalship, about
this time left the service in the South,
aud Colonel Dayie, being out of mil
itary employment by the expiration Of
the enlistment of his men, accepted
from the Board of War the Office q
Superintendent Commissary General,
made vacant by the resignation of Col,
Thomas Polk, and accompanied the
army Of Gen. Greene in that capacity
through the ensuing campaign.
Having thus occasion to mention
the name Of Colonel Polk, ! deem i
proper to correct an error into which
Mr.. LOSING has fallen, in his Fiel'
Book, upon the authority of the paper
of General Gates. and which--unin
tentionally, have no doubt-doe
great injustice to his memory. 1t j
am imputation of disaftection, at tn
very time he held the Office of Super
intendent Gommissary General. For
tunatelv, the Journal of the Boar'
Of War explains the whole matter
There was some complaint Of inatten
ton to duty on his part, in his impor
tant office, which he explained upo
the ground of a scarcity Of supplies
and necessary attention to his family
and Colonel Martin, member OF tn
Board to which he was amenable, ha,
ing visited the army in Mecklenburs
declares, in public letter recorded !
its journals, that in his opinion, Go
Polk, under the circumstances, ha
fulfilled the duties of his Office as we
as circumstances would admit. II
was immediately afterwards entrusted
BY General Greene, with the tempori
ry command Of a Brigadler Gener;
of militia, and in all after, as in pr;
time, was regarded as Rrm and vi
wayerlng patriot.
Surveying his troops and supple
Gen. Greene found himself at the hea
of about two thousand men, one hall
whom were militia, with provisions
hand but for three days, in an exhaus
ed country, and but a scanty supp
of ammunition, which could not be r
plenished short of Virginia. With q
quick eve of military genius. ne dett
mined tosdlyade his force, small as
was. Relying upon Oayidson's mllit
to be.called from their homes when, Il
emergency might require, as cent?