The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-07-08

that the fact is established that Col. Forbis,
commander of one OF the North Carolina
brigades. lay forty-eight hours upon the field
Of battle, wounded consequently could
make no return of his men to Adjutant Will
Hams; that this fact accounts for the Adju-
tant having reported them as missing and
gone home. And then, when this fact is
borne in mind, and the actual number OF the
North Caroinians killed and wounded is
compared with the Virginians, the mortality
was greater in the troops of the Old North
State, despite Porte Crayon's shout over the
yalor of the Virginians.
The mass of testimony we have adduced
establishes, beyond question, that the North
Carolina militia in the first fire killed and
wounded more than one-half Of the list, and
more than one-third of Webster's brigade.
did not commence this letter to assail
Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, or General
Greene, but to defend North Carolina from
the unjust aspersions of Harper. The mate
rial, thanks to DIR. Caruthers, exists to carry
the war into Africa, but it is not congenial
to the feelings of the right thinking and
proper minded. But we must be INDUCED
IN asking Porte Crayon one or fco questions :
II the Virginians were as valiant as you
represent them, and stationed three hundred
wards in the rear of the North Carolinians,
and numbering as they did more than one
half of the American force, and numbering
as many men as the British, why did not the
Virginians whip the British or why retreat
and fall back upon the third liner and why
did the second aud third lines retreat through
the thicket, down the hill some seven oreight
hundred yards towards Martinsyille! There
were no North Carolinians in the second
and third lines, yet they both retreated-
numbering over 5000 men. The first line
did the same, numbering 1000 men. Now
tif it was criminal in the first line, it was
frebiy criminal cowardice in the second and
third lines. This is meeting Porte Crayon
on his own ground-which we do merely for
the purpose of showing his injustice.
The position is not ours-we disown il ;
and assert our opinion that the Battle Of
Gniliord Court House was an American
/ triumph,-a victory of which North Caro-
] lima aud the Union should be proud. Ayic-
tory achieved over the best troops England
ever planted on a battle field. The elite,
the experienced, and the accomplished sol
diers, to an extraordinary degree, fought al
Guiltord Court House under the eye OF
CORVALLIS himself. The brother OF the
distinguished statesman Charles James Fox,
inspired his men TO deeds Of noble daring.
Tarleton and Webster from the onset TO the
close fought as if their watchWard was do o.
die. While IN the remnant OF the lst regi-
lnent alone, five Of its officers lived to attain
/ the rank OF Lieutenant General in the Brit
ish army, one that OF General, two Colonels,
three Lieut.. colunels, aud others the rank Of
/ Major. La all which offices and commands,
I they signallzed themselves in many well
contested battle in the Peninsular war,
Facts which Of themselves demonstrated,
that at the Battle Of Guiliord Court House
] Greene met loemen worthy Of his steel
foemen who were fighting for an outlet "a
I ,i'as tl'sy --i-lr imagined ,.ae ttiendl,
\ portion OF the State-tne Scotch Settlement
Of North Carolina. Thence TO Wilmington,
thence 10 Yorktown, where their capture
was complete.
I In thls article I have used freely facts
stated in communication ia the Observer
dated Greensborough, November ), 1856
facts which have since been embodied in
Caruthers's History, which | hope NAV cir
calate until the people Of the State resolve
to celebrate tile riciory Of Guilford Court
House, and rank il with M0ore's Greek and
Kings Mountain.
June u, 1857.