Isaac Shelby, a distinguished American revolutionary officer, was born
on the 11th of December, 1750, near the North Mountain, in Maryland,
where his father and grandfather settled after their emigration to
America from Wales. In that early settlement of the country, which
was much annoyed by wars with the Indians, Shelby obtained only
the elements of a plain English education; but born with a rugged
constitution, capable of bearing privations and fatigue, he became
accustomed to the early use of arms and pursuit of game. General Evan
Shelby, the father of the subject of this memoir, was born in Wales,
and arrived in this country when quite a small lad with his father, and
settled near Hagerstown, Maryland. He possessed a strong mind, with
great perseverance and unshaken courage, which, with his skill as a
hunter and woodsman, induced his appointment as captain of a company of
rangers, in the French and Indian war, which commenced in 1754. During
this year he made several successful expeditions into the Alleghany
mountains. He fought many severe battles with the unfortunate Braddock,
and was appointed a captain in the provincial army destined for the
reduction of Fort Du Quesne, now Pittsburgh. He planned and laid out
the old Pennsylvania road across the Alleghany mountains, and led the
advance of the army commanded by General Forbes, which took possession
of Fort Du Quesne in 1758. He was distinguished for his bravery at the
battle of Loyal Hanning, now Bedford, Pennsylvania. In 1772 he removed
to the western waters, and commanded a company in 1774, in the campaign
under Lewis and Lord Dunmore, against the Indians on the Scioto river.
Isaac Shelby was appointed a lieutenant in the company of his father,
and fought in the memorable battle of Kenhawa, and at the close of
that campaign was appointed by Lord Dunmore to be second in command of
a garrison, to be erected on the ground where this battle was fought.
This was considered to be the most severe battle ever fought with the
western Indians; the contest continued from sunrise to sunsetting,
and the ground along the banks of the Ohio, for nearly half a mile,
was scattered with bodies at the end of the conflict. The Indians,
under their celebrated chief, Cornstalk, abandoned the ground during
the darkness of the night. Lieutenant Isaac Shelby remained in this
garrison until 1775, when it was disbanded by Governor Dunmore, fearing
it might be held for the benefit of the rebel authorities; he then
removed to Kentucky, and engaged in the business of a land surveyor;
but after living for nearly twelve months in the cane-breaks, without
either bread or salt, his health began to decline and he returned to
Virginia.
Immediately on his return in 1776, the committee of safety in
Virginia, appointed him captain of a minute company--a species of
troops organized upon the first breaking out of the revolution, but not
called into service from the extreme frontier where he lived. In the
year 1777 he was appointed by Governor Henry a commissary of supplies
for an extensive body of militia, posted at different garrisons to
guard the frontier settlements, and for a treaty to be held at the
Long Island of Holston river with the Cherokee tribe of Indians.
These supplies could not be obtained nearer than Staunton, Virginia,
a distance of three hundred miles; but, by the most indefatigable
perseverance, one of the most prominent traits in his character,
he accomplished it to the satisfaction of his country. In 1778 he
was still engaged in the commissary department to provide supplies
for the continental army, and for a formidable expedition, by the
way of Pittsburgh, against the northwestern Indians. In 1779 he was
appointed by Governor Henry to furnish supplies for a campaign against
the Chicamanga Indians--a numerous banditti on the south side of the
Tennessee river, under the control of a daring Cherokee chief, called
Dragon Canoe, who, after his defeat at the Long Island of Holston, in
1776, had declared eternal war against the whites.
The frontiers from Georgia to Pennsylvania suffered from their
depredations, more than from all the other hostile tribes together.
Owing to the poverty of the treasury at this time, the government was
unable to advance the necessary funds, and the whole expense of the
supplies, including transportation, was sustained by his own individual
credit. In the spring of that year he was elected a member of the
Virginia legislature from Washington county, and in the fall of that
year, was commissioned by Governor Jefferson as a major in the escort
of guards to the commissioners for extending the boundary line between
that state and the state of North Carolina. By the extension of that
line Major Shelby became a resident of North Carolina, and Governor
Caswell immediately appointed him a colonel of the militia of the
new county of Sullivan, established in consequence of the additional
territory acquired by the running of that line. During the summer of
1780, whilst Colonel Shelby was in Kentucky, securing and laying out
those lands which he had five years previously improved for himself,
the intelligence of the surrender of Charleston and the loss of the
army, reached him.
He immediately returned home, determined to enter the service of his
country, to quit it no more but by death, or until her independence
should be secured. He was not willing to be a cool spectator of a
contest in which the dearest rights and interests of his country were
involved. On his arrival in Sullivan, he found a requisition from
General McDowell, requesting him to furnish all the aid in his power to
check the enemy, who had overrun the two southern states, and were on
the borders of North Carolina.
Colonel Shelby without delay called on the militia of his county
to volunteer their services for only a short time, on an occasion so
trying, and accordingly he collected three hundred mounted riflemen,
and marched across the Alleghany mountains. Having arrived at
McDowell’s camp, near the Cherokee ford of Broad river, Colonel Shelby
was detached with Lieutenant-Colonels Sevier and Clarke, with six
hundred men, to surprise a post of the enemy in front, on the waters of
the Pacolet river. This post was a strong fort surrounded by abattis,
built in the Cherokee war, and commanded by Captain Patrick Moore. The
Americans surrounded the post within musket-shot and gave the summons
to surrender; this was unheeded, but the second had the desired effect.
Captain Moore surrendered the garrison with one British sergeant-major,
ninety-three loyalists, and two hundred and fifty stand of arms, loaded
with ball and buckshot, and so arranged at the port-holes, that with
a very little sagacity, they might have repulsed double the number of
the American detachment. Shortly after this affair, Colonels Shelby
and Clarke were detached, with six hundred mounted men, to watch
the enemy and intercept, if possible, his foraging parties. Several
attempts were made by a party of about twenty-five hundred, composed of
British and tories, with a small squadron of British horse, commanded
by Major Ferguson, an officer of some enterprise, to surprise Colonel
Shelby, but the enemy was baffled. On the first of August, however,
the American commander had reached a place called Cedar Spring,
where the advance of Major Ferguson, amounting to about six or seven
hundred, came up, and a sharp conflict ensued for half an hour, when
Ferguson approached with his whole force. The Americans then retreated,
carrying off the field fifty prisoners, mostly British, including
two officers. The enemy followed in quick pursuit for nearly five
miles, in order to regain the prisoners; but the American commander,
by forming frequently on the most advantageous ground to give battle,
so retarded the pursuit, that the prisoners were placed beyond their
reach. The American loss was ten or twelve killed and wounded. Only a
few days after this conflict, intelligence was received from General
McDowell, that five or six hundred tories were encamped at Musgrove’s
Mill, on the south side of the Enoree, about forty miles distance, with
orders to Colonels Shelby, Clarke and Williams, of South Carolina,
with about seven hundred horsemen, to surprise and disperse them. The
American commanders took up their line of march from Smith’s Ford of
Broad river, on the evening of the 18th of August, continuing through
the woods until dark, and then pursuing a road, leaving Ferguson’s
camp about three miles to the left. After riding hard all night,
frequently on a gallop, and just at the dawn of day, and about half
a mile from the enemy’s camp, they met a strong patrol party, with
whom a short skirmish ensued, and several of them were killed. At
that juncture, a countryman living just at hand, came up and informed
Colonel Shelby, that the enemy had been reinforced the evening before
with six hundred regular troops from New York, under Colonel Innes,
destined to reinforce Ferguson’s army. This intelligence, which was
found to be correct, changed the movement of the troops, for, fatigued
and exhausted as they were, it was deemed improper to march on and
attack the enemy. They instantly determined to form a breastwork of
old logs and brush, and make the best defence in their power. Captain
Inman and a detachment of twenty-five men were sent out to meet the
enemy, and skirmish with them as soon as they crossed the Enoree river.
Captain Inman was ordered to fire upon them, and retreat according to
discretion. This stratagem drew the enemy out in disorder, supposing
the whole army was near. When they came within seventy yards, a most
destructive fire commenced from the American riflemen, concealed behind
the breastwork of logs. For an hour the American army kept possession
of the slender breastwork, during which Colonel Innes was wounded,
and all the British officers, except a subaltern, being previously
killed or wounded, and Captain Hawzey, a noted tory leader, being
shot down, the whole of the enemy’s line made a precipitate retreat,
closely pursued by the Americans, who beat them across the river. In
this pursuit Captain Inman was killed, bravely fighting hand to hand.
Colonel Shelby commanded the right wing, Colonel Clarke the left, and
Colonel Williams the centre. In M’Call’s History of Georgia, (the only
work in which this battle is related,) the British loss is stated to
be sixty-three killed and one hundred and sixty wounded and taken;
the American loss to be four killed and nine wounded. Amongst the
killed was Captain Inman, and amongst the wounded, Colonel Clarke
and Captain Clarke. The Americans mounted their horses, intending to
reach Ninety-six, a small British post, that night, but before they
had commenced their march, an express in great haste arrived from
General McDowell, apprising them of the defeat of the grand American
army under General Gates, near Camden, and advising them to be on the
alert, as the enemy would, no doubt, endeavor to improve their victory
by destroying all the small corps of the American army within their
reach. Colonel Shelby disposed of his British prisoners by distributing
them amongst the companies, so as to make one to every three men, who
carried them alternately, directly towards the mountains, and commenced
a rapid march all that day and night, and the next day until late in
the evening, without even halting to refresh. Harassing as this long
and rapid march must have been, it saved them, as they were pursued
until late in the afternoon of the second day after the action, by
a strong detachment from Ferguson’s army. Ferguson was so anxious
and determined to recapture the prisoners, and to check those daring
adventures of the mountaineers, that, in order to intercept their
march, he, with his main body, took post at a place called Gilbert
Town, whence he sent messages, by paroled prisoners, to the officers
west of the mountains, threatening the devastation of their country if
they did not cease their opposition to the British government.
This was the most critical period of the revolutionary war at the
south. It appeared doubtful whether a force sufficient could be raised
to prevent the entire devastation of that portion of the continent.
Cornwallis and the main army were posted at Charlottetown, in North
Carolina, and Ferguson, with three thousand at Gilbert Town; while
many of the best friends of the American government, despairing of the
eventual independence of America, sought protection under the British
standard. At this season of gloom, Colonel Shelby proposed to Colonels
Sevier and Campbell to raise a force from their several counties,
and to march hastily through the mountains, and attack and surprise
Ferguson in the night. Accordingly they collected about one thousand
strong, but when, on the 26th of September, they commenced their march,
it was discovered that three men had deserted to the enemy. This
disconcerted their first design, and induced them to turn to the left,
gain his front, instead of his rear, as was first intended, and act as
events might suggest. For days they traveled through mountains almost
inaccessible to horsemen, but soon entered the level country, where
they met Colonel Cleaveland with three hundred men, and with Colonels
Williams, Lacy and others, who had heard of Cleaveland’s advance. Three
hundred more were thus added to the force of the mountaineers. They
now considered themselves sufficiently strong to encounter Ferguson;
and by a council of officers it was agreed that Colonel Campbell,
of the Virginia regiment, should be appointed to the command. They
accordingly selected the best horses and rifles, and at the dawn of day
nine hundred and ten expert marksmen commenced their march. In their
council, also, they determined that as Ferguson was their object, they
would not be diverted from the main point by any collection of tories
in the vicinity of their march.
For the first thirty-six hours they traveled, they alighted from
their horses but once, and that only for one hour. They at last found
Ferguson securely encamped on King’s Mountain, which was about half a
mile long, and from which he declared but the evening before that “GOD
ALMIGHTY could not drive him.”
On approaching the mountain, the two centre columns displayed to the
right and left, formed a front, and commenced an attack; while the
right and left wings were marching to surround the enemy. In a few
minutes the action was general and severe. It continued furiously for
three-quarters of an hour, when the enemy, being driven from the east
to the west end of the mountain, surrendered at discretion. Ferguson
was killed, with three hundred and seventy-five of his officers and
men, and seven hundred and thirty taken prisoners. The Americans had
sixty killed and wounded; among the former was Colonel Williams.
This glorious victory took place at the most gloomy period of the
revolution, and may be styled the first link in the great chain of
events at the south, which established the independence of the United
States. It was achieved by raw, undisciplined riflemen, who had no
authority from the government under which they lived; who were without
pay, rations, ammunition, or even the expectation of reward, other than
that which resulted from the noble attempt to advance the independence
of their beloved country. The tories were completely dispirited, and
Cornwallis, who then lay within thirty miles of King’s Mountain, became
so alarmed that he ordered an immediate retreat to Winnesborough, sixty
or eighty miles distant, where he remained for three months, until
reinforced by General Leslie, with two thousand men from the Chesapeake.
The legislature of North Carolina passed a vote of thanks to Colonel
Shelby and his brother officers, and directed each to be presented with
an elegant sword, for his patriotic conduct in the attack and defeat of
the British on King’s Mountain, on the memorable 7th of October, 1780.
Colonel Shelby served the two following years under that distinguished
partisan officer, General Marion. In 1782, Colonel Shelby retired from
the army, and was appointed one of the commissioners to settle the
pre-emption claims upon the Cumberland river, and to lay off the lands
allotted to the officers and soldiers of the North Carolina line, south
of where Nashville now stands. In 1783, he returned to Boonsborough,
Kentucky, and married Susanna, second daughter of Captain Hart, one
of the first settlers of Kentucky, and one of the proprietors styled
Henderson & Co., by their purchase of the country from the Cherokees.
Colonel Shelby established himself on the first settlement and
pre-emption granted in Kentucky, for the purpose of cultivating the
soil; and it is a remarkable fact, that at the period of his death,
forty-three years after, he was the only individual in that state
residing upon his own settlement and pre-emption. In 1812 he was chosen
governor of the state in which he lived; and during the trying crisis
of 1813, at the request of the legislature, he organized a body of four
thousand volunteers, which he led in person, at the age of sixty-three,
under General Harrison, into Canada. His gallantry and patriotism at
that ever memorable victory on the Thames, were acknowledged by the
commanding general, and by President Madison, and in resolutions by the
legislature of Kentucky, which recognized “his plans and the execution
of them as splendid realities, which exact our gratitude and that of
his country, and justly entitle him to the applause of posterity.”
Congress also passed a vote of thanks, and awarded a gold medal (_see_
Plate VII.), as a testimony of its sense of his illustrious services.
In 1817, he was selected by President Monroe to fill the department
of war, but his advanced age induced him to decline the honor. In
February, 1820, he was seized with a paralytic affection, which
disabled his right arm and was the occasion of a lameness the remainder
of his life. His mind continued unimpaired until his death by apoplexy,
on the 18th of July, 1826, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. He
was fitted, by a vigorous constitution, to endure active and severe
bodily exercise, and the energetic symmetry of his person rendered his
deportment impressively dignified. His strong, natural sense was aided
by close observation of matters and things; and the valuable qualities
of method and perseverance imparted success to all his efforts.