Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-01-14
q boits giteratnrt.
The Tory Massacre.
BY RICH ARD EVERETT

States, and in the course of our ramhles tar
rie1 awhile at the little village of Hillshor
ough, in North Carolina It was location |
hallowed to our mind by maHy Revolutiona-
ry associations. In his memorable retreat |
across North Carolina, in Febuary, 1881, the |
ragged but gallant army Of General GREENE
forded the river HaN, q short distance from
Hiiisboreugh. All through the Revolutiena-
ry struggle the neighboring country was no.
ted for It's afray (which were constantly oc-
curing. either between the patriots aud the
English troops, or the patriots and their trai-
torous enemies, the tories
| Not far from Hillsboraugh we were shown
the scene of the terrible massacre of tories by
| thetroopers of Lees Legion" Greatchanees
have taken place since those eventlul times, |
and oar guide could only point out the vicin-
lty OF the conflict, there being no old veteran
to designate the exact SPOT Let US recall
the circumstances Of that celebrated affair.
Although driven across the river Dan. into
Virginia, Greene had no idea of abanLonino
the South, butin the old and wealthy county
OF Halifax, endeavered to recruit his wear
ried troops, and prepare again to meet the foe.
AS preliminary step for the movements of
his whole army, Greene sent Col Henry Lee
with his legion of cavalry and two com panies
OF Maryland militia, to harrass the British
force and disperse the bands of tories which
were organizing throughout the Carolinas.
col. Lee bad formed a squadron of cavalry
uniformed and armed precisely after the
fashion of Table toms celebrated CORPS. and
no man in the American service was rqore
dreaded by the foe than Legion Harry" as
he was generally styled throughout the A
merican camp, especially when backed by his
sturdy troopers. About the middle Of Fehua-
~, Lord Corwnwallis issued a proclamation,
inviting all those who were loyal to the kingt
join his standard, at the same time threaten
ing rebels" with the halter, if found with
arms in their hands. Soon after this event.
Lee crossed the Dan, and advanced SLOWLY
into North Carolina
By a curious circumstance it happened
that just at this time Col. Tarleton, with his
legion and some companies of infantry left
the British camp and moved towards the Vir-
ginla line on marauding expedition Lee
had advanced only days march, when his
scourts br ought information of Tarletons
approach, and that he was then encamped at
a plantation only six Or eight miles distant.
Lee resolved to attack the English troops that
very night. Arranging his force he remov-
ed up within short distance of the British
camp and waited for darkness. 1t so hap-
pened. however, that Tarleton was on the
point OF removing his camp to another plan
tation; thatvery afternoon he put his arrange
, ment IN force, and moved away some fifteen
miles In direction contrary to Lees caIcu-
s cs.latieRe,-Iha aEafo-as IN the eyepinr on an
t'fotOi'frr S0rfc1sfr ,t.~--.,--...
great circunlspection, the American troops
: were sorely mortified to discover that the sa-
gaclous Briton was nowhere to be found /!
1t was rule with Col. Tarleton never TO
camp two nights in the same place, if an en-
envy was within fifty miles.
Greatly chagrined, Lee was on the point
OF pushing with all haste after the British
colonel, when the indomitable scouts again
: came IN with information. They brought
intelligence that one Colonel PYLE, noted
tory. with company of four hundred noun
ted Loyalists, was close at hand, making for
Iarleton's camp, unaware that he had moved.
5 Lee resolved 70 capture the whole party by
! stratagem. Sending forward couple Of
troopers to meet the tories and conduct them
to camp, he placed his militia and rifemen
in ambush on each side of the road and drew
up his legion IN proper form to receive the
tory battalion. 1t was his intention to lead
I the tories into an ambuscade, and take them
: all prisoners. To the honor of Col. Lee be
E it recorded that he did not contemplate nor
plan the massacre which followed.
: As the tory band approached, Lee sent his
W SICCt lub COlDHCl anu ulr6cC MN
: where to post his men. The adiutant return
, ed with word that ''Col Tareton's wishes
! should be cheerlully complied With" Lee
Y saw that his stratagem was working to per.
6 tection. COL Pyle marched his men to the
! place indicated by Lee and drew them up
In two ranks along the road, in such a man
> ner that they were hemmed in by the con
> cealed militia on one side and Lees legion
i on the other. When the tory line was form.
il ed, Lee, at the head Of his troopers, rode
r slowly towards it, and passe9wlong directly
9 In front, until the tGo colonels were oppo
4 site each other As Lee extended mis- hand
II to Pyle, the loyalists raised The shout of Goo
= save the king, in which the Americans Join
e ed, IN order to carry out their plan and pre-
vent discovery. Col. Lee then complimenteC
the tory colonel on the number md fin,
equipment of his corps, and hoped the,
n would do good service in the kings cause =
lie then turned, and was about TO give tht
e signal for his legion to cover the tory troop
with their carbines, when a sudden burst O
/ musketry, mingled with yells and cheers
- broke from the lower extremity of the line
Inc torres discovering the American militi
4 aiming at them, perceived they were betray
er ed, and commenced firing their carbines. !.
e The militia returned with heavy volIey
IF which killed more than forty men. A terri
; bic hand to hand fight now ensued, in " hic
the Americans were completely victorious
2 Lee aud his chief officers endeavored TO sto
u = the carnage, but the memory of many tor
j. outrages nerved the arms of the troopers an
:, they hewed their hated enemies without bee
,e ding their cries for quarter Some two hun
IS dred men. according to some accounts, wer
n killed In less than twenty inmates. Sted
man, in his history of the war, puts til
number OF killed and wounded at three nun
PC dred, but Botta. who is generally first rat
authority, thinks this number too large
IN Tradition says that ninety horses were ais
We killed and wounded. Col. Pyle, badly injr
IN red by sabre cut, fed for shelter to sma
pond near by, and plunging into the watel
concealed himself among the reeds, wit
nothing but his head above the surface unit
81 the hight was over and the field deserted
as he then crawled out and made his way t
10 the British camp. The Americans did M
=. lose man killed or wounded A few of Jh
W tories managed to reach the British cam
IN and carry to Tarleton the terrible inteligenc
In that Pyle's detachment was cut to pieces b
the rebel vagabonds." Expecting, wit
/ good reason, that those same " vagabonds
ID were in search Of him, the colonel broke u
es his camp and pushed for the main arm,
Lee following hard upon his track.
Much valuable plunder was taken from IL