School History of North Carolina : from 1584 to the present time

by John W. Moore

2. Sir William Howe, the British Commander-in-Chief, had twenty- nine thousand trained soldiers available, and when Lord Cornwallis, who had been pursuing the Americans, was halted by him, it was the salvation of the force left with General Washington. Had Sir William forborne to stop the pursuit of Cornwallis the struggle might have soon ended in the capture of Washington. After a week of delay, Cornwallis was permitted to advance, and even then came up in time to see the last boatloads of the American troops crossing the great river which so effectually stopped all further pursuit.

1777.

3. When General Nash arrived at the American camp, after his long march from the south, he brought six full regiments of North Carolina Continentals, nearly doubling the force upon which the hopes of America mainly depended. By this means General Washington was soon after able to confront the advancing enemy in the battle of Brandywine, on September 11th. At this and other engagements the North Carolina troops displayed both courage and discipline.

4. It was on the bloody occasion of the attack upon the British force at Germanton, October 4th, that their most glorious record was made. General Washington entrusted the post of honor on the extreme right flank of his line of attack to General Francis Nash. The British were driven by the North Carolinians a long distance on the right of the village, but the American divisions which had been sent in on the left failed to dislodge the enemy, and in this way left General Nash's force exposed both on his left and rear.

5. It was a glorious but bloody day for North Carolina. The brigade suffered heavy loss in advancing, but greater when compelled to fall back for want of support. General Nash and Colonel Edward Buncombe were mortally wounded. Lieutenant- Colonel Irwin and many other gallant officers were slain upon the field.

1778.

6. At length the British forces were directed again toward the south. On December 29th, General Robert Howe was driven from Savannah by General Prevost, on which occasion the Second Regiment of Continentals was confronted by a regiment of North Carolina Tories under Colonel John Hamilton. Howe and his command were transferred to West Point, on the Hudson River, of which important post he was soon commander, with the rank of Major-General.

1779.

7. After 1778 the courts were fully established, and Judges Ashe, Iredell and Spencer held terms at Wilmington and at five other towns twice a year. Waightstill Avery, as Attorney-General, was busy in trials for treason against the State. There were many men who yet labored to restore the King's authority, and against them was needed all the vigilance possible, both in the courts and at military headquarters.

8. More than three years of the war had passed away without serious disaster to North Carolina. No invaders disturbed her borders, and beyond the grief for friends slain in battle, there was cause for gratitude to God that so few evils of the war had yet visited the State.