THE PROCLAMATION.
It can well be understood with what eagerness we listened to the
messenger as he read from the paper in a loud tone; but he remained at
such a distance that I found it impossible to catch every word,
although the general purport was made sufficiently plain.
The fellow, whom we afterward came to know was one of the clerks from
the sheriff's office, regaled us with a high-sounding proclamation
from the governor, in which his excellency graciously pardoned all the
Regulators save thirteen, whose names were twice repeated in order
that there should be no mistake.
I set them down here that the world may know who were the patriots of
upper Carolina in the opinion of William Tryon:
"James Hunter, Ninian Bell Hamilton, Peter Craven, Isaack Jackson,
Herman Husband, Matthew Hamilton, William Payne, Malichi Tyke,
William Moffat, Christopher Nation, Solomon Goff, John O'Neil, and
Rednap Howell."
When the clerk ceased reading and marched back from whence he came, we
on the hillside looked at each other in silent amazement while one
might have counted twenty, and then on the instant every tongue was
loosened.
All that had been gained by the truce was an act of outlawry against
our best men, and Fanning was still the trusted servant of the king!
The one thought in the minds of all was to seize the person of the
villain who held a commission from the crown as governor of the
Carolinas, and a thousand voices were crying out against delay.
The officers of the Regulation held a brief consultation, and then
came that command which all expected and demanded.
"To horse, gentlemen! The moment has arrived when we must declare
ourselves against the king, unless he redresses our wrongs by
recalling such officials as have misruled the colony!" General
Hamilton cried in a loud tone, and he had no more than concluded
before every Regulator was in the saddle burning to avenge the insult
offered by Tryon.
The earth literally trembled beneath the hoofs of a thousand horses as
we rode at full speed to the ford, then across the river, and on to
the governor's residence.
The royal "army" remained on guard until we were come to within an
hundred yards, and then they scattered like chaff before the wind,
running in every direction, crying for quarter.
No attention was given to the cowards. Tryon, Fanning and Edwards were
the men we counted on teaching a lesson, and the dwelling was
surrounded in a twinkling.
Fifty gentlemen entered the building, some of them to reappear a few
moments later with the fellow who had read the proclamation.
"Tryon! Tryon!" our people shouted in anger, and then came the truth
which, in our simplicity and honesty, we had not suspected.
"Tryon and his henchmen left town last night escorted by twenty men!"
one of those who had come out with the prisoner shouted, and we who
heard the words gazed in open-mouthed astonishment, failing on the
instant to understand that the villainous representative of the king
had simply proposed the truce in order that he might save his own
precious body.
The clerk, fearing for his life, and hoping to save it by answering
the questions which were literally hurled at him, told the entire
story twenty times over, until we came to realize that the three
rascals had set off at full speed immediately after sunset on the day
previous. By this time they were half-way to Brunswick, and however
good our steeds, there was no possibility we could overtake them.
Unless we might hold the governor of the colony as our prisoner,
rebellion would avail us little, save that we should retain possession
of upper Carolina until such time as he could send an overwhelming
force against us.
There was not a man in the ranks of the Regulators who did not realize
that Tryon had outwitted us, and that our only hope lay in remaining
together year after year until the other colonies should be willing to
join us in the struggle for liberty.
And in the meantime, while holding out against the king, how might we
gain means of subsistence? The richest among us owned only so much
land, and this could not be tilled if we were forced to fight day
after day to retain possession of a small extent of territory.
When all this was fully understood as we sat in our saddles near about
the governor's house, I saw this man and that, the bravest among us,
give way to tears, and for the time being it seemed to me that the
cause of liberty was crushed.
I could not then foresee that in the principal towns of the eastern
colonies would spring up branches of our association, styled "Sons of
Liberty," who would resist, as we had done, the unjust demands of an
unjust king until the beacon lights of rebellion were kindled on every
hill. I could not foresee that massacre at Lexington and at Concord
which was needed to arouse the people until no sacrifice appeared too
great, so that we purchased liberty for those who should live after
us.
In silence, each man hanging his head as if having suffered an
ignominious defeat, instead of allowing ourselves to be tricked
because of believing that a gentleman's word was sacred, we returned
to the encampment on the hill, and were there formed in line for what
I believed would be the last time.
There were more than Sidney and myself who looked as if bowed down
with sorrow, and when we most needed words of encouragement they came
from our commander, that noble old man who was, by the proclamation of
one false to all the instincts of a gentleman, an outlaw on whose head
a price was shortly to be set.
"Gentlemen of the Regulation," General Hamilton began, speaking loud
and clear as becomes an honest man who knows in his heart that he is
in the true path, "we have been deceived, and are thereby cast down by
sorrow. At a time when it appeared as if we held the threads which
could be woven fairly to the interests of this colony, we have, by
trusting in the words of one who has no honor in his heart, lost all
our advantage; but we would be proving ourselves faint-hearted indeed
if such a misfortune was accepted as final defeat. Now more than
ever, must we struggle against wrong and oppression. It is not
necessary you should again swear to be true to the cause; neither will
it be of service to remain together just now, therefore I have this to
propose, and it is for you to decide if it be the proper course: Let
us disperse, each going to his home, there to remain one month; at the
expiration of such time we will meet at Maddock's Mill to settle upon
a further course of action."
The idea that we should remain as the Regulation, subject at any time
to a call from our leaders, heartened us wonderfully, and with one
accord our people agreed that Master Hamilton's plan should be
adopted.
We broke ranks, each vowing friendship for his comrades, and entire
devotion to the cause, and then went our several ways home firmly
believing that in due course of time the purpose of the Regulation
would be accomplished.
And now has come the time when I must hasten over the months and even
years, without entering into details as to what Sidney or I did while
we waited an opportunity to strike a blow for our distressed country.
True to the proposition of Master Hamilton, we met once each month,
either at Maddock's Mill, or some other place equally central, and
thus kept pace with the events which particularly concerned us of the
Carolinas.
Tryon remained in Newbern in his palace which had been paid for by
money wrung from a people who at times actually suffered for food, and
flattered himself that he had finally destroyed the germs of rebellion
that had been sowed by his own tyranny.
Contrary to our expectations, he did not make any decided effort to
get into his clutches those of the Regulation whom he had declared
outlaws, and it was quite as well that he remained quiet on that
score, for a thousand of the king's soldiers could not have taken them
from us.
The sheriffs of the counties in the upper Carolinas, knowing full well
that the Regulation was neither crushed nor disheartened, no longer
attempted to collect the unjust taxes, and thus it was that our
people had been benefited in some slight degree.
We cultivated our lands, moved about at will without fear of being
molested during nearly two years, and then, on a certain day in
September, Sidney came to my home in hot haste, acting as messenger of
the Regulation.
Word had come from Newbern that the Superior Court was to be convened
on the 24th day of the month, and then would efforts be made to secure
the bodies of those whom Tryon had styled "outlaws."
Master Hamilton, who yet remained in command of the Regulators,
despite his many years, had decided that our wisest method of
procedure was to interfere at the outset, claiming that we had the
right to make certain that justice, not the will of Governor Tryon,
should influence the decisions given by judges who were inclined to
listen to the orders of the governor rather than the evidence before
them.
It can well be supposed that neither my father nor myself lost any
time in saddling our horses, and within twenty-four hours we were at
the old encampment which overlooked the town of Hillsborough.
This time we were perfect masters of the situation. Tryon, believing
the Regulation had been crushed out of existence, neglected to send
soldiers to overawe us, and twenty of our people took possession of
the court-house, while the remainder occupied the hill on the opposite
side of the river ready to cross whenever a signal should be given
that the services of armed men were necessary.
Because of our superior numbers, there was little chance the king's
minions could do very much harm, therefore we were not held to rigid
military discipline, and Sidney Hubbard and myself had no difficulty
in obtaining permission to accompany that party which was to make
certain no wrongs were inflicted upon us in the name of the law.
When we arrived at the court-house, having left our horses on the
opposite side of the river, we found there but one judge, and he the
man above all others who was ready to give such verdicts as would
please the governor. It is needless for me to set down the fact that
this man was Richard Henderson.
Seeing our party enter the building Fanning took it upon himself to
ask that we be put out, and not allowed to enter even the yard,
because, as he said, there were outlaws among us who had come for no
other purpose than to create a disturbance.
All those of whom he thus spoke had suffered many wrongs at the hands
of this same attorney, and foremost in the list of the oppressed were
Herman Husband, the two Hunters, and Rednap Howell, not one of whom
felt inclined to take additional abuse from such a traitor as Fanning.
That they acted hastily in the matter, I must admit; but at the same
time one should remember the wrongs they had received. The miserable
cur of an attorney had no sooner ceased speaking than the gentlemen I
have named, aided by all the Regulators present, seized Fanning
roughly and literally dragged him into the courtyard, where Sidney and
I were set over him as guards until such time as our people might be
at liberty to attend to him properly.
Because of being thus occupied, I did not see that which followed; but
later in the day my comrade and I were told that our people demanded
the trial of those belonging to the Regulation who had been declared
outlaws, which was no more than just, since the court had been called
together for that sole purpose.
It was not the purpose of Judge Henderson to give the Regulators a
fair trial, and, therefore, in order to outwit us, he declared the
court adjourned for the day.
Then he left the building, walking swiftly through the yard as if
expecting to be roughly treated, and once he was out of sight our
party set about giving Fanning a lesson.
He was taken across the river to our encampment, being dragged by the
heels a portion of the way, and there we held a little court of our
own, the decisions of which I dare venture to say were more in
accordance with strict justice than any Judge Richardson would have
delivered.
It was decided that Fanning should be beaten with rods in the presence
of the Regulation, and Masters Husband and James Hunter were the
gentlemen selected to inflict the punishment, therefore it can well be
fancied that it was done in proper fashion.
We kept the attorney with us during the night, and next morning all
our company rode over to Hillsborough, only to find that the brave
judge had run away during the night, after declaring that the court
was adjourned until one year from that day. He could not pronounce the
sentences which Tryon demanded, therefore had no idea of being forced
to act honestly for once in his life.
Well, some of the hotter heads, taking advantage of the general
confusion, utterly destroyed Fanning's house, beating him again before
setting the scoundrel at liberty.
This done we went home once more, agreeing to meet each month as
before.
I can best tell the remainder of my story, up to the time when
Governor Tryon decided to wage war upon us, by quoting from a history
of the Carolinas which I have lately seen; and while it is written
from the standpoint of the royalists, it is correct as to the acts and
movements of our enemy: [2] "Judge Henderson, who was driven from the
bench, called upon Tryon to restore order in his district. The
governor perceived that a temporizing policy would no longer be
expedient, and resolved to employ the military force to subdue the
rebellious spirit of the Regulators. He deferred operations, however,
until the meeting of the Legislature, in December.
"Herman Husband was a member of the Lower House, from Orange, and
there were others in that body who sympathized with the oppressed
people. Various measures were proposed to weaken the strength of the
Regulators; and among others, four new counties were formed of
portions of Orange, Cumberland, and Johnson. These counties were named
Guilford, Chatham, Wake and Surrey. Finally, when the Legislature was
about to adjourn without authorizing a military expedition,
information came that the Regulators had assembled at Cross Creek,
with the intention of marching upon Newbern, having heard that Husband
had been imprisoned."
Now at this point I must interrupt the historian in order to explain
that we of the Regulation did indeed make this march. We knew full
well that Tryon both hated and feared Herman Husband, and, therefore,
kept one or more of our people in Newbern all the time the Legislature
was assembled in order that the news, if there was any of importance,
might be sent without loss of time to our leaders.
It is a fact that Tryon even went so far as to prefer charges against
Master Husband, and that the council caused his arrest and
imprisonment. Word to this effect was brought to us at once, and we
set out for Cross Creek; but Governor Tryon had his spies out, and
when it was known that the Regulators, a thousand strong, were riding
to aid one of their number who was illegally deprived of his liberty,
the council made haste to examine the charges against Master Husband.
They finally decided, in order to save their own worthless skins, that
the charges were not sustained, and set the prisoner at liberty,
imploring him to ride with all speed in order to prevent us from
entering Newbern.
He met us at Cross Creek, and we escorted him home; but this time it
was decided that the Regulation go into camp at Maddock's Mill, and
there remain ready for war until it was learned how far our enemy
proposed to go in his effort to exterminate us, for that was what he
had boldly said he would do. Now we will copy once more from the
printed story of our struggle:
"The Assembly immediately voted two thousand dollars for the use of
the governor. The alarmed chief magistrate fortified his palace, and
placed the town in a state of defense. He also issued a proclamation,
and orders to the colonels of the counties in the vicinity, to have
the militia in readiness. These precautions were unnecessary, for the
Regulators, after crossing the Haw, a few miles above Pittsborough, to
the number of more than one thousand, met Husband on his way home, and
retraced their steps.
"The governor soon issued another proclamation, prohibiting the sale
of powder, shot, or lead, until further notice. This was to prevent
the Regulators supplying themselves with munitions of war. This
measure added fuel to the flame of excitement, and finally, the
governor becoming again alarmed, he made a virtual declaration of war,
through his council. That body authorized him to raise a sufficient
force to march into the rebellious districts and establish law and
order.
"The governor issued a circular to the colonels, ordering them to
select fifty volunteers from their respective regiments and send them
to Newbern. With about three hundred militiamen, a small train of
artillery, some baggage wagons, and several personal friends, Tryon
left Newbern on the 24th of April. On the 4th of May he encamped on
the Eno, having been reinforced by detachments on the way. General
Hugh Waddel was directed to collect the forces from the western
counties, rendezvous at Salisbury, and join the governor in Orange
County."
It goes without saying that while these preparations were being made,
whereby Tryon counted on driving us from the face of the earth, our
spies were scattered around the country plentifully, and, therefore,
we knew exactly the size of his force, and how it was made up, when he
went into camp.
Colonel Joseph Leech commanded the infantry, Captain Moore the
artillery, and Captain Neale a company of rangers. On his way to the
Eno Tryon was joined by a detachment from Hanover, under Colonel John
Ashe; another from Carteret, under Colonel Craig; another from
Johnston, under Colonel William Thompson; another from Beaufort, under
Colonel Needham Bryan; another from Wake, under Colonel Johnson
Hinton; and at his camp on the Eno he was joined by Fanning, with a
corps of clerks, constables, sheriffs and others.
FOOTNOTE:
[2] Lossing's "Field Book of the Revolution."