Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-12-18

vier and Mcdowell at Sycamore Shoal, or
the Watauga, on the twenty.ffth of septem
Der, 1880.
After the battle of Kings Mountain, Col
Campbell returned home; not, however, te
remain idle. In January, 1881, Lord Corn
wallis broke up his camp at Winnsboro
South Carolina, and made second attempt
to lead his forces through the two Carolinas
Ten days after his Lordship left Winnsboro
Tarleton was defeated by Morgan at the Cow
pens The retreat of General Greene, before
CORVALLIS, commenced in few days. Dur
ing that retreat-about month before the
battle of Guilford Court House, Colonel
Campbell, with a corps of back.mountain
riaemen, Joined the army of General Greene
As was eminently proper, he was attached to
the legion commanded by Lieutenant Colo
mel Henry Lee.
On the fifteenth of March, 1881, the battle
of Guilford Court House was fought. The
British claimed that they gained victory.
The only evidence they had Of this, was the
simple fact that they held the field Of conflict.
The loss on the part of the Americans, in
killed and wounded, was about four hundred ;
while the British loss was more than five hun.
dred.
In the battle of Guilford Court House, Lees
Legion and Campbells rifemen were posted
on the left. At the first onset, the first Amer
ican line, which was composed Of North Carroll.
ma militia, broke and fled, although not a
single man of their number had, as yet, been
killed. This enabled the British to advance,
comparatively, unmolested, until they reached
the second American line, which was COM
posed of Virginians, commanded by Stevens
and Lawson. This second American line
nobly did~its duty, until overpowered, when
tt11ts fsft, under Lawson, wheeled and fed in
confusion. During this whole time, the bat
tie ragged without intermission on the Ameri-
can left. Lees legion and Campbell's rifle
men were attacked, with great energy, by the
British Seventy.First regiment, commanded
by General Leslie, the regiment Of Bose and
the first battalion of guards, under Norton.
The British centre and left still pressed for
ward and drove the Americans in their front
from the field. To the Americans the day
was now lost, but the troops under Lee and
Campbell held their ground, and only retired,
and that in comparatively good order, when
the British cavalry was massed against them.
In this contest, the courage Of Colonel Camp
bell and his riAemen was most conspicuous.
He was the last to leave the field, and, al.
though wounded, retired with grim defiance
pictured on his face.
After the battle of Guilford Court House,
Col. Campbell accompanied General Greene
in his return into South Carolina. He took
part in the battle of Hobkirks Hill, and in
the assault of Ninety-Six, he led the attack
on the left.
AS token of regard and reward of mer-
it, the Legislature of Virginia, in 1881, pro-
NOTED William Campbell to the rank Of
Brigadier-G General, and ordered him to report
to Lafayette, in Virginia. This officer gave
him the command ola brigade. A short time
previous to the siege of Yorktown, be took
sick and returned to the house Of a friend,
where, after a short illness, he died in the lat
ter part of the month Of August in the thirty.
sixth year of his age. The following is the
order of Lafayette on the OCCASION,
sThe General has no doubt that the army will
unite with him in regrettng General Campbell's
of3o yyho N.
deared him to every citizen; and in particular to
every American soldier. The glory which Gen.
eral Campbell has acquired in the affairs OF
Kings Mountain and Guilford Court House, will
do his memory everlasting honor and ensure him
an high rank among the defenders of liberty IN
the American cause. The General wishes it had
been possible for himself and the officers of the
army to have paid those honors to which his
tie him. But his great distance from the army,
and our present situation, render 1t Impossible.
The Lieutenant of the county will assemble
corps Of militia and pay military honors to the
deceased General. General Stevens is requested
to name deputation Of four field officers, who
will Immediately repair to Rocky Mills and, in
the name of the army, pay General Campbell
their last respects.
August 25th, 1881. LAFAYETTE"
After the battle of Kings Mountain
the Legislature of Virginia presented Col.
Campbell with horse, a sword and pistol,
and the Continental Congress passed the fol-
lowing resolution:
"Resolved, That Congress entertains high
sense of the spirited and military conduct of Col
| onel Campbell, and the officers and privates of
the militia under his command, displayed in the
action of October 7th, in which complete vic
tory was obtained over superior numbers Of the
enemy, advantageously posted on Kings Noun
tain, in the State of North Carolina (South Caro-
lina) and this resolution be published by the
commanding officer Of the Southern army in
General ORDERS"
After the battle of Guilford Court House,
Colonel Lee addressed the following note to
Colonel Campbell:
the bravery of your battalion, displayed in the
action of the 18th, is particularly noticed by the
| General. HENRY LEE
March 18th, 1871. ...... -. 1885,.
On account of the complete overthrow Of
Ferguson at Kings Mountain, Lord Cornwall.
lis threatened, that should Colonel Campbell
ever fall into his hands, that he would have
him instantly put to death. Colonel Camp
bell resolved so soon as he became apprised
of this threat, that in the event Lord Corn
wallis ever fell into his hands, that his fate
should be that of Col. Ferguson. At the bat
tie of Guilford, this would have been the
case had not the militia fled.
In person, Colonel Campbell was large and
well proportioned. He was fully six feel
high, with we'll developed muscles. Hi
grandson, William G.. Preston, is said to have
borne close resemblance to him: So much
so, that an old lady at whose house, on one