The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-04-09
r'"hirt at Powles Hook, August 10Th

unfortunate. North Carolina WAS filled
with Britishers, and South Carolina and
Georgia were almost entirely in THEN
nandS. Congress resolved, therefore. t"
send the Maryland and Delaware lines i"
reinforce the Southern department, and
III May. l1S0. all that We're left of thu
hrigades that had fought at White Plains.
Fort Washington, Harlem Heights, and
on Long Island, or rather through five
campaigns, passed through their native
State of Mar, land without reviSitiu"
| their homes or seeing friends. intent upon
securing the South. many never to re
turn to their homes and friends then ST.
near at hand as they passed.
General Gates. though thus reinforced.
through the faltering of the Virginia and
North Carolina troops, lost the battle OF
| Camden, when Congress resolved to sr-
perSedc him with General Nathaniel
Greene. but the only reinforcement Gen
rral Washington could then spare Greene
was Lees LEGION then composed of
three companies each of cavalry and in,
,antry, or about $50 men.
\ writer in the .SoUthcrn Literary Ns
sengfr, i'll January. 1917. in the cndravnI
to establish the identity Of Michael Ru-
iulph and Michael Ney, though erro-
nenusly attrihnting all the Rudulph hero
ism to Captain Michael. gives undoubt-
cdly Il most true narrative, if we substi-
tnte the name of Major John for Captain
Nike Rudolph i'll most of the daring
leeds recorded. and which LOSING. i'll
his :. Field Book of the Revolution.
gives John the credit for. The MSsth-
ger writer says: In January. 1880 Lees
| Legion reached the Pedec in excellent
condition, and was Immediately dis
patched to form junction with Marion.
then preparing to make descent upon
Georgetown, South Carolina. The de-
| scent was made by the united forces oi
! Marion and Lee, John Rndulph being en-
| trusted with the command of one of the
attacking parties. Rudolph was entireIs
successful. though the expedition was )"
only in part. The British commandment
OF the place WAS taken in his bed. and
many Of his troops were slain. but the
lack Of efficient cooperation baffied the
iull desires of the asSailantS. The part
here played by Rudulph was true to his
wcll-known skill. coIIage and activity.
To pursue the active and spirited ca
reer of Lees Legion would be only t"
trace that of Major john or Capt. Mike
Rudolph as conspicuous among and over
I'll his officers. Lieutenant Garden. i'll
the same command. writes: There was
not an officer of the same grade in all
the Southern army whose activity and
daring spiri: produced such essential adj
vantaGes to the service, yet i'll the page
of history he is scarcely named This.
unfortunately. is not exactly true. Ru-
dnlph is, perhaps. quite as frequently
mentioned in our domestic history as We
ordinarily find persons of his rank.
LOSING. at this date. 1871. had not yet
published his Field Book (of 1850. from
every page of which that records the
deeds of the Legion. Hc now learn that
the Rudulphs Especially Major John)
were among the most morally heroic.
The Messenger writer of 1917 proceeds
to say: The events in the progress OF
the legion were always stirring-they
were continual. 1t would be impossible
in the space we have allowed ourselves
to glance upon its numerous marches and
count Almarches. its surties and escapes,
ard frequent Skirmishes.'
The Rudulphs' men there all bore an
emincntly conspicuous part in the cap
ture of several of the armed places Of
the British.
LOSING, speaking of the skirmsh at
New Garden Quaker Meeting House.
which was ST. important rs Immediately
preceding the battle of Guilford Court
House. says: The vi.ilaut Lee, W til
his legion, was near New Garden Meet
ing House when the van of the British
army consisting of cavalry. some light
infantry and wagons, under Lieutenant
Colonel Tarleton. approached.
| DESTROYS of drawing them as far from
the royal army us possible Lee ordered
Il change of front and slow retreat.
| Hoping to produce Il rout. Tarleton and
his cavalry pressed forward upon Lee.
who was now in the rear, but with little
effect. They made a second charge and
cmptied their pistols. when Lee, with the
troops of Ruduph J"hn) and Egglestor,
suddenly wheeled. and i'll a close column,
advanced upon carleton.
The moment Tareton saw the whole
cavalry of the legion pressing upon him.
he sounded Il retreat, for he well knew
the superiority of the horses OF the Ameri-
cans. Only one front section of the Brit
ish cavalry met the shock. and these Were
all ,iamounted aud most of the horses
were Frustrated; some of the Dragons
we're killed and others made prisoners.
| The Americans lost neither man nor
horse. Tarltton, with the remainder "I
his corps. Withdrew in great haste and
! sought 10 gam the main army.
This skirmsh. SO admirably managed
by Rudulph. brought on the battle OF
Guilford Court House in March, 1871.
We next find the Rululphs with their
usual gallantry at the taking OF Fort
Watson by Lee and Marion. April 2G.
1881. On the 14th of May. 1871. in the
evening. Lee arrived with his legion in
the vicinity of Fort Granny 1.-THE same
day on which Sumter took possession Of
| Orangeburg] !, and in the edge of Il wood
| within six hundred yards OF the fort he
began the erection of il battery. dense
fog the next morning enabled him to
complete it and mount the si<-p,nnder
taken from Fort Motto, before they were
discovered by the garrison. When the
fog rolled away the cannon was dis
charged. and at the same moment the
legion infantry advanced and took an
advantageous position and opened fire
upon the enemy'S pickets. This sudden
annunciation of the presence of an enemy
and his imposing display alarmed Max
well. the commander of the fort excess
sively, and he received Captain Egge-
mand surrender. with great respect
After brief consultation with his Off
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