New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-10-05
NUMBER 1os.

PaEe
liberal Win be made With hose who advertise By
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THE BATTLE OF RAMsA0UR's MILLS,
THE DARING SONS OF '76.
We present our readers with a most brilliant
partisan adventure Of the heroes Of rs, and we
think that it will be read with much interest.
We regret to say that it has been much neglect
ed in the history of our country. We take it
from DR.. Caldwells Memoirs of the Life Of Gen
Greene.
Equally, perhaps, unknown to most of the in
habitants, and singularly neglected in the his
tory of our country.is another gallant parti-
san adventure, achieved on the 22d of June,
1870. Neither American regulars nor British
soldiers having any concern in this spirited af
fair, it was fought entirely by raw militia men,
of the whig and tory parties.
| About twelve hundred of the latter having as
sembled under the command of Col. Moore, en-
camped in strong position at Ramsaour's Mill
3 few miles westward from the Catawba river
and in the vicinity of the line which separates
North from South Carolina. In which of the
i two States the encampment was situated is not
| at present distinctly recollected. although the
writer Of this narrative has been frequently on
the spot.
| In addition to rapine, and the production Of
general distress, a favorite object of this party
| was 10 OVeFaWe auu weaken tne aoJaCenb couQ-
ltry, by capturing and carrying within the
British lines number of its most influential
inhabitants. Besides being thus prevented from
taking a lead in the active measures of resist
ance, these were to be held as hostages for the
good conduct and neutrality of their friends.
To defeat the mischievous purposes of this
party. and to dislodge them from their strong
hold, the most spirited of the Wings from Iredell,
a neigh boring county, assembled to the number
Inf threa hppdrpd yuau urdar the nd ni
Col. Locke These consisted principally of foot,
but in part of a small corps of mounted infantry,
armed with rifles, pistols and sabers, led by
Capt Falls, an officer Of peculiar gallantry and
worth. sl ga5
This hasty levy of soldiers presented a spec
tacle eminently interesting. They were fresh
from their homes, their private habits unbroken,
no discipline or concert of action established
among them, and all their domestic feelings
clinging around their hearts. ,t t s
They were, in the true sense of the express
sion, band of friends and neighbors, being all
from the same settlement, and perfectly known
to each other in private life. In the whole
party there was not an individual who had not
4 repeatedly united with the others in rural
sports and social enjoyment AS citizens, they
were all of the same rank, and respectable.
They we're masters of the soil they had assem-
bled to defend. g @A9 s3e2 a
Of this corps of patriots, the military proves
was entirely untried; not one of them, with the
exception of Capt. Falls, having ever confronted
an enemy in the field Their only warlike &C,
quirement was great expertness and skill in the
| use of the rife In that qualification they hae
few superiors
Being all dressed in their common apparel
they exhibited no uniformity of appearance
To remedy this, and to distinguish them from
the tories, who we're known to be dressed il
: the same way, they fastened over the crown
of their hats, from back to front. descending E
the rims on seach side, strips of white paper
about two inches broad. Each one brought I,
the place of rendezvous his own rife, fifty
rounds of powder and ball, weeks provision
and light blanket. That they might be per
! fectly unincumbered, neither baggage wagol
nor pack horse was attached to the party.
Thus accoutred, eager for battle, and painting
for glory, without waiting for considerable
force that was assembling in Rowan, a neighbor
ing county, under Gen. Rutherford, to joil
. them, they moved in haste and silence toward
the scene of action.
The second days march brought them int
the immediate vicinity of their object. The,
encamped for the night, determined to strik
and hoping to surprise the enemy in the morn
ing But in this they were disappointed.
On advancing to the attack, about break o
day, they found the foe on the alert, and read
> to receive them. They therefore resolved t
wait until it should be completely. light, tina
the aim of their rifles might be the NOR
!. deadly.
: The morning opening, disclosed to them
e preparation for defense and resistance, muc
: more than they expected to find. The enem
), were posted on top of q hill covered with tim
ber, which afforded them o shelter. Thei
j, fanks were protected on one side by mill dan
y and on the other bv swamp, q small streaI
:. of water flowing in the rear. In front OF thei
;; encampment was erected. of stakes and brush
10 wood, q breastwork SO compact as to be prot
i, against small arms, and to impede, in a grea
n. measure, the operation OF cavalry. A stron
Il detachment of the foe was stationed in adyant
s of the breastwOrk, armed with rifles and cor
cealed behind trees. s,.f = .5z.5.. ..
At first, this array of men and means ws
appalling But the Rubicon was passed. r.
treat would be ruin, accompanied with disgra
battle might also be ruinous, but could n
be dishonorable Without hesitation, therefor
the latter was resolved on.
At his own request, Captain Falls with h
:, mounted infantry led the attack. When at Il
distance of about eighty PAGES, he received Il
" fire of the enemy's advance Returning tn
with considerable effect, he rushed, sword
hand, into the midst of them, threw them in
''' confusion, and forced them to fall back Pres
: ing his fortune with too much ardor, he receiv
ball through his breast, and he fell dead fro
.ge his horse. u
His party, however, undlsmayed by the ID
l. of their leader, continued the action with gre
= gallantry, until the foot advanced to their su
I'd port, when the enemy was driven behind
breastwork. ~
Here ensued most murderous conflict. I
wings, having so far leveled the obstruction
!, to render it passable, rushed over it, mingl
j, with the enemy, and in many instances grappl
i. with them man to man. Every instrument a
aeh means of death was now resorted to- The b,
= let, the sword, the rife-butt, and even t
hatchet, with which some were provided, We
abundantly employed. Rarely, in any case, !
~ blood been more inexorably, or by the sa
number of combatants, more prodigally shed
!. For time, the issue was doubtful Pres
by superior numbers, the wings were once &C
PEELED to give ground, some of them retreat
across the breastwork. But resolutely bent
victory or death, they returned to the cha
q with such fierce impetuosity and great effect
bore down all resistance
The tories broke and fed in confusion,
wings for some distance hanging on their r.
with terrible slaughter.
Thus terminated an affair in which SO ma
gallant spirits made their first. and too many
them, alas! their last essay in arms. In
eg course of it. the Wings performed prodigies, q
the royalists manifested degree of resolut