Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-02-19
TIE TORY MASSACRE.
BY RICHARD EvERErr.

ter, we made tour through the Southern
S.NttS. and in the course of our rambles
tarri "a while at the Iittle village HILLSIDE
rough in North Carolina. II was loca.
tion haliowed to our, mind by many Rev.
olutiOnary associations. In his memorable
retreat acr.,ss North Carolina, in Februa-
~. 1871, the rugged but gallant army of
G .neral Greene forded the river Haw, a
sliort dis ance from Hlllsborough. All
through the Revolutionary struggle the
Eeighboring county was noted for its af-
trays, which were constantly nearly oc
curing, either between the patriots and
che E69lish troops, or the patriots and
their II .itorous enemies, the tories.
Not far from Hiilsborough we were
shown the Scene of terrible massacre of
'tories BY the troopers of % Lees Legion" :"
GreSt chan .es have taken place since
these evenIfnI times. and our guide could
only point out the vicinity Of the conflict
there being no old veteran to designate
the "xact spot. Let US recall the circum-
stances oflhat terrible affair"
Although driven acress the river Dan,
into Virginia, Greene had 40 idea Of
alb; ndunIng the South; hut in the old and
weA.thy county of Halifax. endeavored to
recruit his wearied troops. and prepare
A!ain to meet the foe. AS preliminary
step to the movements OF his whole army.
Greene sent Col Henry Lee with his Ie
gi"u Of cavalry and two companies o
Maryland militia. to harass the British
tree and dispeGse the bands Of tories
= hich were organizing throughout Caro-
IInas.
Col. Lee had formed q squadron Of
csvalry. uniformed and armed precisely
= ter the fashion of TArleton's celebrated
rSrps; and no man in the Americac ser
vice WAS more dreaded by the foe than
''LeXinn Harry" rs he was generally
yIed throughout the American camp.
especially backed by his troopers About
tie middie Of February, L 'rd CORVALLIS
issued Il proclamation. inviting those who
we're loyal to the king to join his sian,
dNrd, promising protection and reward.
at the same time threatening rebels wi h
tn. halter. if found with arms in their
hands. Soon after this event. Lee cross
ed the Dan and advanced slowly into
North Carolina 80 ~
by curious circumstance it happened
tha, lust at this time Col. Tarlsten, with
his legion and some companies OF infan
try. left the British camp and moved to-
watl the Virginia line on u maraudng
expt dition. Lee had advanced only one
days. march when his scouts brought in
form atiun of TArleton's appro"cn. and
that he was then encamped at a planta>
ton only six or eight miles distance. -
Lee resolved to attack the English troops
that very night. Arranging his forces,
he m we'd up within short distance ol
the 3 rilish camp and waited for darkness.
1t so happened, however. that Tarleton
was on the point of removing his camp to
another plantation; that very afternoon
he put his arrangement in iorce, and
moved away some fifteen miles in di.
reclion contrary TO- Lees calculations,-
There ore. in the evening. on approach
ing the BriIiSd eucamp pment, with great
circum spection, the American troops
were 3, rely mortified to discover the sa>
gacous Briton was no where to be found
1t was rule with Col. Tarleton never to
camp two n'gh's in the same place, if an
euemy vas within fifty miles. ,....... ,
Greatly chargrined, Lee was on. the
point Of ushing with all haste after the
British Colonel. when the incomir able
scouts ag in came 10 with information
They brou %ht Intelligence that one G u.
Pyle, noted tory, with a company ol
four 'hundr,:d mounted Loyalsts. was
close at hand. making for Tarleton' 5
camp, .unaw1res that he had moved. -
Lee resolved 20 capture the whole party
by stratagem. Sending forward a couple
of troops to M ct. the tories and conduct
them to camp.ahe placed his militia and
rifle men in ambuSh on each side of the
road and draw up his legion in proper
form to receive the tory battalion. 1t
was his intention / o lead the tories into
an ambuscade, and take them all piiso.
ners. TO, the honor Of Col. Lee, be!it.re-
corded, that he did not contemplate nor
plan the massacre Wh CHI followed. -
As the tory band approached, Lee
sent his Adjutant to greet The Colonel
aud direct him where to post his" men.7-
The Ad]utant returned with word that
"Col. Tarleton's wishes should; be cheer
fully complied with J." Lse saw that his
strata Iem was working to psrfection.-
Col. Pyle marched his -men-to the place
indicated by Lee. and drew. them IN in
two ranks along the road. in such, man.
rnsr that they we're hemmed in by the
conceal militia on one side and Lee's rle-
gIon on the other. When the tory. lioe
was formed. Lee. at thegahead of his
troopers, rode slowly toward a Q it, and
passed along directly I'M froat, uuntil the
f"o coionels were opposite o oh other
.s9tal1 hsfig -f 20 nsvi,i9