SIGNS OF A GATHERING STORM.--MUSTER OF THE BACKWOODSMEN.
In arms the huts and hamlets rise,
From winding glen, from upland brown,
They poured each hardy tenant down.--LADY OF THE LAKE.
In gathering up the ends of our story, as we draw towards a conclusion,
we are forced, after the fashion of a stirring drama, to a frequent
change of scene. Accordingly, leaving Mildred and her friends to pursue
their own way until we shall find leisure to look after their footsteps,
we must introduce our reader to some new acquaintances, whose motions,
it will be seen, are destined greatly to influence the interests of this
history.
The time was about the second of October, when a considerable body of
troops were seen marching through that district which is situated
between the Allegany mountain and the head waters of Catawba, in North
Carolina. This force might have numbered perhaps something over one
thousand men. Its organization and general aspect were sufficiently
striking to entitle it to a particular description. It consisted almost
entirely of cavalry; and a spectator might have seen in the rude,
weather-beaten faces, and muscular forms of the soldiers, as well as in
the simplicity of their equipments, a hastily-levied band of
mountaineers, whose ordinary pursuits had been familiar with the arduous
toils of Indian warfare and the active labors of the chase. They were,
almost without exception, arrayed in the hunting shirt--a dress so dear
to the recollections of the revolution, and which, it is much to be
regretted, the foppery of modern times has been allowed to displace.
Their weapons in but few instances were other than the long rifle and
its accompanying hunting-knife.
It was to be observed that this little army consisted of various corps,
which were in general designated either by the color of the
hunting-shirt, or by that of the fringe with which this cheap and
simple uniform was somewhat ostentatiously garnished. Some few were clad
in the plain, homespun working-dress of the time; and here and there, an
officer might be recognised in the blue and buff cloth of the regular
Continental army. The buck-tail, also, was an almost indispensable
ornament of the cap, or usual round hat of the soldiers; and where this
was wanting, its place was not unfrequently supplied by sprigs of green
pine or holly, or other specimens of the common foliage of the country.
The men were mounted on lean, shaggy, and travel-worn horses of every
variety of size, shape, and color; and their baggage consisted of
nothing more cumbersome than a light wallet attached to the rear of
their saddles, or of a meagrely supplied pair of saddle-bags. The small
party on foot were in no wise to be distinguished from the mounted men,
except in the absence of horses, and in the mode of carrying their
baggage, which was contained in knapsacks of deer-skin strapped to their
shoulders. These moved over the ground with, perhaps, even more facility
than the cavalry, and appeared in no degree to regret the toil of the
march, which was so far the lighter to them, as they were exempt from
the solicitude which their companions suffered of providing forage for
their beasts.
The officers in command of this party were young men, in whose general
demeanor and bearing was to be seen that bold, enterprising, and hardy
character, which at that period, even more than at present,
distinguished the frontier population. The frequent expeditions against
the savages, which the times had rendered familiar to them, as well as
the service of the common war, in which they had all partaken, had
impressed upon their exteriors the rugged lines of thoughtful
soldiership.
The troops now associated, consisted of distinct bodies of volunteers,
who had each assembled under their own leaders, without the requisition
of the government, entirely independent of each other, and more
resembling the promiscuous meeting of hunters than a regularly-organized
military corps.
They had convened, about a week before the period at which I have
presented them to my reader, at Wattauga, on the border of Tennessee, in
pursuance of an invitation from Shelby, who was now one of the principal
officers in command. He had himself embodied a force of between two and
three hundred men, in his own district of the mountains; and Colonel
Campbell, now also present, had repaired to the rendezvous with four
hundred soldiers from the adjoining county in Virginia. These two had
soon afterwards formed a junction with Colonels M'Dowell and Sevier, of
North Carolina, who had thus augmented the joint force to the number
which I have already mentioned as constituting the whole array. They had
marched slowly and wearily from the mountains into the district of
country which lay between the forks of Catawba, somewhere near to the
present village of Morgantown--and might now be said to be rather
hovering in the neighborhood of Ferguson, then advancing directly
towards him. The force of the British partisan was, as yet, too
formidable for the attack of these allies, and he was still in a
position to make his way in safety to the main army under Cornwallis--at
this time stationed at Charlotte, some seventy or eighty miles distant.
It was both to gain increase of force, from certain auxiliaries who were
yet expected to join them, as also, without exciting suspicion of their
purpose, to attain a position from which Ferguson might more certainly
be cut off from Cornwallis, that the mountain leaders lingered with such
wily delay upon their march.
Ferguson was all intent upon Clarke--little suspecting the power which
could summon up, with such incredible alacrity, an army from the woods
fit to dispute his passage through any path of the country; and,
profiting by this confidence of the enemy, Shelby and his associates
were preparing, by secret movements, to put themselves in readiness to
spring upon their quarry at the most auspicious moment. In accordance
with this plan, Colonel Williams, who yet preserved his encampment on
the Fair Forest, was on the alert to act against the British leader, who
still marched further south--at every step lengthening the distance
between himself and his commander-in-chief, and so far favoring the
views of his enemy. Shelby and his comrades only tarried until their
numbers should be complete, designing as speedily as possible after that
to form a junction with Williams, and at once enter upon an open and hot
pursuit of their adversary.
Their uncertainty in regard to the present condition of Clarke added
greatly to their desire to strike, as early as possible, their
meditated blow. This officer had, a few weeks before, commenced his
retreat from Augusta through Ninety-Six, with some five hundred men,
closely followed by Brown and Cruger, and threatened by the Indian
tribes who inhabited the wilderness through which he journeyed. The
perils and hardships of this retreat arose not only from the necessity
Clarke was under to plunge into the inhospitable and almost unexplored
wilderness of the Allegany, by a path which would effectually baffle his
pursuers as well as escape the toils of Ferguson; but they were
painfully enhanced by the incumbrance of a troop of women and children,
who, having already felt the vengeance of the savages, and fearing its
further cruelties, and the scarcely less ruthless hatred of the Tories,
preferred to tempt the rigors of the mountain rather than remain in
their own dwellings. It is said that these terrified and helpless
fugitives amounted to somewhat above three hundred individuals.
There were no incidents of the war of independence that more strikingly
illustrated the heroism which grappled with the difficulties of that
struggle at its gloomiest moment, than the patient and persevering
gallantry of these brave wanderers and their confederates, whom we have
seen lately assembled in arms. History has not yet conferred upon Clarke
and his companions their merited tribute of renown. Some future
chronicler will find in their exploits a captivating theme for his pen,
when he tells the tale of their constancy, even in the midst of the
nation's despair; until fortune, at length successfully wooed, rewarded
their vigilance, bravery, and skill, by enabling them to subdue and
destroy the Tory Ascendency in the south.
The enemy, swarming in all the strong places, elate with recent victory,
well provided with the muniments of war, high in hope and proud of
heart, hunted these scattered, destitute, and slender bands, with a
keenness of scent, swiftness of foot, and exasperation of temper, that
can only be compared to the avidity of the bloodhound. This eagerness of
pursuit was, for the present, directed against Clarke; and it is one of
the most fortunate circumstances that belong to the events I have been
relating, that this purpose of waylaying our gallant partisan so
completely absorbed the attention of Ferguson, as to cause him to
neglect the most ordinary precautions for securing himself against the
reverses of the war.
In this state of things, Shelby and his compatriots waited for the
moment when they might direct their march immediately to the attack of
the British soldier--their anxiety stimulated to a painful acuteness by
the apprehension that Clarke might be overpowered by his enemies, or
that Cornwallis might receive information of the gathering bands, and
make a timely movement to reinforce or protect his outpost. It was in
this moment of doubt and concern that we have chosen to present them in
the course of our narrative.
The troops had halted about the middle of the day, to take some
refreshment. The ground they had chosen for this purpose was a narrow
valley or glen, encompassed by steep hills, between which a transparent
rivulet wound its way over a rough, stony bed. The margin of the stream
was clothed with grass of the liveliest verdure, and a natural grove of
huge forest trees covered the whole level space of the valley. The
season was the most pleasant of the year, being at that period when, in
the southern highlands, the hoar frost is first seen to sparkle on the
spray at early dawn. The noon-tide sun, though not oppressively warm,
was still sufficiently fervid to render the shade of the grove, and the
cool mountain brook in the deep ravine, no unpleasant objects to wearied
travellers. Here the whole of our little army were scattered through the
wood; some intent upon refreshing their steeds in the running water,
many seated beneath the trees discussing their own slender means, and
not a few carelessly and idly loitering about the grounds in the
enjoyment of the mere exemption from the constraint of discipline. The
march of the troops on this day had not exceeded ten or twelve
miles:--they might have been said to creep through the woods. Still,
however, they had been in motion ever since the dawn of day; and as they
measured the ground with their slow but ceaseless footfall, there was a
silent disquiet and an eagerness of expectation, that were scarcely less
fatiguing than more rapid and laborious operations.
"Cleveland will certainly join us?" said Shelby, as, in the vacancy of
the hour, he had fallen into company with his brother officers, who were
now assembled on the margin of the brook. "It is time he were here. I am
sick of this slow work. If we do not make our leap within the next two
or three days, the game is lost."
"Keep your temper, Isaac," replied Campbell, who, being somewhat older
than his comrade, assumed the freedom indicated in this reply, and now
laughed as he admonished the fretful soldier. "Keep your temper!
Williams is below, and on the look-out; and most usefully employed in
enticing Ferguson as far out of reach of my lord Buzzard, there at
Charlotte, as we could wish him. Ben Cleveland will be with us all in
good time: take my word for that. You forget that he had to muster his
lads from Wilkes and Surry both."
"And Brandon and Lacy are yet to join us," said M'Dowell.
"Damn it, they should be here, man!" interrupted Shelby again; "I hate
this creaking of my boots upon the soft grass, as if we had come to fish
for gudgeons. I am for greasing our horses' heels and putting them to
service."
"You were always a hot-headed devil," interrupted Campbell again, "and
have wasted more shoe-leather than discretion in this world, by at least
ten to one. You are huntsman enough to know, Isaac, that it is sometimes
well to steal round the game to get the wind of them. Your headlong
haste would only do us harm."
"You!" rejoined Shelby, with a laugh, excited by Campbell's face of good
humor. "Verily, you are a pattern of sobriety and moderation yourself,
to be preaching caution to us youngsters! All wisdom, forecast, and
discretion, I suppose, have taken up their quarters in your wiry-haired
noddle! How in the devil it came to pass, William, that yonder green and
grey shirts should have trusted themselves with such a piece of prudence
at their head, is more than I can guess."
At this moment a soldier pressed forward into the circle of officers:
"A letter for Colonel Shelby," he said, "brought by a trooper from
Cleveland."
"Ah, ha! This looks well," exclaimed Shelby, as he ran his eyes over the
lines. "Cleveland is but ten miles behind, and desires us to wait his
coming."
"With how many men?" asked one of the party.
"The rogue has forgotten to tell. I'll warrant, with all he could
find."
"With a good party, no doubt," interrupted Sevier. "I know the Whigs of
Wilkes and Surry will not be backward."
"From this despatch, gentlemen, I suppose we shall rest here for the
night--what say you?" was the interrogatory proposed to the group by
Shelby.
The proposition was agreed to, and the several officers repaired to
their commands. As soon as this order was communicated to the troops,
everything assumed the bustle incident to the preparation of a temporary
camp. Fires were kindled, the horses tethered, guards detailed, and
shelters erected of green wood cut from the surrounding forest. In
addition to this, a few cattle had been slaughtered from a small herd
that had been driven in the rear of the march; and long before night
came on, the scene presented a tolerably comfortable bivouac of
light-hearted, laughing woodsmen, whose familiar habits at home had
seasoned them to this forest-life, and gave to their present enterprise
something of the zest of a pastime.
In the first intervals of leisure, parties were seen setting out into
the neighboring hills in pursuit of game; and when the hour of the
evening meal arrived, good store of fat bucks and wild turkeys were not
wanting to flavor a repast, to which a sauce better than the wit of man
ever invented, was brought by every lusty feeder of the camp.
At sundown, a long line of woodland cavalry, in all respects armed and
equipped in the same fashion with those who already occupied the valley,
were seen winding down the rugged road which led from the high grounds
to the camp. At the first intimation of the approach of this body, the
troops below were ordered out on parade, and the new-comers were
received with all the military demonstrations of respect and joy usual
at the meeting of friendly bodies of soldiers. Some dozen horns of the
harshest tones, and with the most ear-piercing discord, kept up an
incessant braying, until the alarmed echoes were startled from a
thousand points amongst the hills. In spite of the commands of officers,
straggling shots of salutation were fired, and loud greetings of
individual acquaintances were exchanged from either ranks, as the
approaching body filed across the whole front of the drawn-up line. When
this ceremony was over, Colonel Cleveland rode up to the little group
of officers who awaited his report, and, after a long and hearty
welcome, announced his command to consist of three hundred and fifty
stout hearts, ready and tried friends to the issues of the war.
The force of the confederates, by this accession, now amounted to about
fourteen hundred men. It became necessary, at this juncture, to give to
these separate bands a more compact character, and with that view it was
indispensable that the command of the whole should be committed to one
of the present leaders. In the difficulty and delicacy of selecting an
individual for this duty, the common opinion inclined to the propriety
of submitting the appointment to General Gates. A messenger was
accordingly despatched on that night, to repair to the American
head-quarters at Hillsborough, to present this subject to the attention
of the General. In the meantime, Shelby, whose claim, perhaps, to the
honor of leading the expedition was most worthy of consideration, with
that patriotic and noble postponement of self which occurs so frequently
in the history of the men of the Revolution, himself suggested the
expediency of conferring the command upon his friend Campbell, until the
pleasure of Gates should be known. The suggestion was heartily adopted,
and Colonel William Campbell was accordingly, from this moment, the
chosen leader of our gallant and efficient little army.
On the following day the troops were in motion at an early
hour--designing to advance, with a steady pace, towards Gilbert-town,
and thence on the track of the enemy across the border into South
Carolina. In the course of the forenoon, the vanguard were met by a
small body of horsemen, whose travel-worn plight and haggard aspects
showed that they had lately been engaged in severe service. They were
now in quest of the very party whom they had thus fortunately
encountered upon the march; and it was with a lively demonstration of
joy that they now rode with the officer of the guard into the presence
of Campbell and his staff. Their report announced them to be Major
Chandler and Captain Johnson, of Clarke's party, who, with thirty
followers, had been despatched from the western side of the Allegany, to
announce to the confederated troops the complete success of that
officer's endeavor to reach the settlements on the Nolachuckie and
Wattauga rivers. Their tidings were immediately communicated to the
army; and the deep and earnest interest which officers and men took in
this agreeable intelligence, was evinced in a spontaneous acclamation
and cheering from one extremity of the column to the other. The
messengers proceeded to narrate the particulars of their late hazardous
expedition, and fully confirmed the most painful anticipations which the
listeners had previously entertained of the difficulties, toils, and
sufferings incident to the enterprise. Clarke's soldiers, they further
reported, were too much disabled to be in condition immediately to
recross the mountain and unite in the present movement against Ferguson;
but that, as soon as they should find themselves recruited by needful
rest, they would lose no time in repairing to the scene of action.
Towards sunset of the succeeding day, our sturdy adventurers entered
Gilbert-town. This post had been abandoned by Ferguson, and was now in
the occupation of the two staunch Whig leaders, Brandon and Lacy, at the
head of about three hundred men, who had repaired thither from the
adjacent mountains of Rutherford, to await the arrival of Campbell and
his friends. It was manifest that affairs were rapidly tending towards a
crisis. Ferguson had hitherto appeared indifferent to the dangers that
threatened him and his movements indicated either a fatal contempt for
his adversary, or an ignorance of the extent of his embarrassments--each
equally discreditable to the high renown which has been attributed to
him for careful and bold soldiership.