Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-10-21
THE BATTLE
OF RAMSAOUR'S MILLS.
THE DARING SONS OF '76.

partisan adventure OF tie heroes OF 40, anu 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.. Caldwe's Memoirs of the Life of
Gen. Green.
Equally, perhaps, unknown to most of the in
habitants, and singularly neglected in the his
tory Of our country, is another gallant partisan
adventure, achieved on the 22d of June, 1880.
Neither American regulars nor British soldiers
having any concern in this spirited affair." it was
fought entirely by raw militia men, of the whig
and tory parties.
About twelve hundred of the latter having
assembled under the command of Col Moore,
encamped in strong position at Ramasaour's
Mil, a few miles westward from the Catawba
river, and in the vicinity of the line which sepe.
rates North from South Carolina. In which of
the two States the encampment was situated is
not at present distinctly recolIected, 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 to overawe and weaken the adjacent coun-
try, by capturing and carrying within the Bri-
tish lines number of its most influential inhab.
itants. Besides being thus prevented from talk
ing lead in the active measures of resistance,
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 Ire
dell, a neighboring county, assembled to the
number of three hundred men, under the COM
mand of Col. Locke. These consisted princi-
palIy of foot, but in part of small corps Of
mounted infantry, armed with rifles, pistols and
sabers, led by Capt Falls, an officer of peculiar
galantry and worth.
This hasty levy of soldiers presented spec.
tacIe eminentIy 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.
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
repeatedly united with the others in rural sports
and social enjoyment. As citizens, they were
all of the same rank, and respectable. They
were masters of the soil they had assembled to
defend.
Of this corps of patriots, the military prowess
was entirely untried; not one of them, with the
exception of Capt Falls, having everconfronted
an enemy in the field. Their only warlike ac.
quirement was great expertness and skill in the
use of the rifle. In that qualification they had
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 were known to be dressed in
the same way. They fastened over the crowns
of their hats, from back to front, descending to
the rims on each side, strips of white paper,
about two inches broad. Each one brought to
the place of rendezvous his own rife, fifty
rounds of powder and ball, weeks provision,
and a light blanket. That they might be per-
fectly unncumbered, neither baggage wagon
nor pack-horse was attached to the party.
Thus accounted, eager for battle and painting
for glory, without waiting for considerable
force that was assembled in Rowan, neigh-
boring county, under Gen. Rutherford. to join
them, they moved in haste and silence towards
the scene of action.
The second days march brought them into
the immediate vicinity of their object. They
encamped for the night, determined to strike
and hopingto to surprise the enemy in the morn-
ing. But in this they were disappointed.
On advancing to the attack, about break Of
day, they found the foe on the alert, and ready
to receive them. They therefore resolved to
wait until it should be completely light that
the aim of their rifles would be the more
deadly.
The morning opening, disclosed to them a
preparation for defense and resistance, much
more than they expected to find. The enemy
were posted on top of hill covered with tim
Der, which afforded them shelter. Their
tanks were protected on one side by a mill.dam
and on the other by swamp, a small stream
Of water flowing in the rear. In front of theil
encampment was erected, of stakes and brush.
wood, a breastword so compact as to be proo
against small arms, and to impede. in a grea
measure, the operation Of cavalry. A strong
detachment Of the foe was stationed in advanc,
Of the breastwork, armed with rides and con