State

Revolutionary Generals \orlli Carolina supplied tlio Continental Army will* a dozen generals, all of whom rendered distinguished service during flie struggle for independence. SKVEHAL nf tin- more important bailie# of the Revolution were fought on Carolina «oil. such ns Moore's Creek, Kings Mountain, and Guilford Court House, and Carolina also played a considerable part in the High Command of the Continental Army. Let us look at the Carolina (ionerals of the struggle for inde¬ pendence. The order in which they are listed has no relation to the value nf their service: 1. MAJOR GENERAL ROBERT HOWE, of Brunswick. He was Caro¬ lina's ranking officer, originally Colo¬ nel of the 2nd Carolina Regiment authorized by the Provincial Congress in August 1775. General Howe was such an outstanding Patriot that when the British General Sir Henry Clin¬ ton offered pardon and amnesty to all who would return to their British allegiance, General Howe and Corne¬ lius Harnett were excepted. Clinton sent a detachment into Brunswick County and ravaged Howe's planta¬ tion. He became commander of the De¬ partment of the South, succeeding General Charles Lee in that behalf. His command of the Southern armies was not very successful, and his mili¬ tary tactics had their critics, among whom was (Governor) Christopher Gadsden, of South Carolina. Such criticism brought on a duel between the two men. Howe's bullet grazed the ear of Gadsden, and that gentle¬ man then fired not at Howe but in another direction ! 2. BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES MOORE. Leader of the Pa¬ triots and member of the assembly in 1765 when lower Capo Fear rose in opposition to the Stamp Act. Named Colonel of the 1st Regiment of Caro¬ lina troops by the Provincial Con¬ gress in August 1775. Posted on Rocky River to intercept the Tories under General Donald McDonald, as they marched toward Wilmington. They took another road, and there¬ fore the battle of Moore’s Creek was fought before his troops could arrive on the field. Died in Mareh 1777 in the same house and on the same day В I/ II. C. LAWRENCE as his brother, colonial judge Maurice Moore. He was ПП uncle of Alfred Moore. Justice of the Supreme Court nf the United States. :i. BRIGADIER GENERAL FRANCIS NASH. Originally Colo¬ nel of Carolina militia, promoted to lie Brigadier of the Continental Line. Commanded a brigade of Carolinians in Washington’s army at the battle of Germantown, where he was killed. Nashville, Tennessee; Nash County, and Nashville, North Carolina, were all named in his honor. Buried near where he fell and where u monument has lieen erected to his memory. 4. BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN ASHE, of New Hanover. Speaker of the Assembly 1 7G2- 1705. Lender in opposition to enforcement of the Stamp Aet in 1765. Defeated at Brier Creek on the Savannah River. Captured by the British in 1781. he contracted smallpox, 'lying of that disease at the home of Col. John Sampson, in whose honor Samp¬ son County was named. 5. BRIGADIER GENERAL EDWARD VAIL, of Chowan. I re¬ gret that I have been unable to find anything of the service of this officer, other than that he commanded the militia of the Edenton District in 1776. 7. BRIGADIER GENERAL RICHARD CASWELL, of Lenoir. President of the Convention which adopted the State Constitution. One of the commanders at the battle of Moore’s Creek, for which he had the thanks of Congress, bought at Cam¬ den courthouse. Speaker of the Sen¬ ate. Several times Governor. Dele¬ gate to the Fayetteville Convention which ratified the Federal Const it u- tion. leading statesman of his day. 8. BRIGADIER GENERAL ALLEN JONES, of Northampton. Not so well known as his brother, the famous Wilie Jones of Halifax. Mem¬ ber of the Continental Congress. Senator in 17S7. In the Hillsboro Con¬ vention he favored ratification of the Federal Constitution which his broth¬ er Wilio opposed. 8. BRIGADIER GENERAL THOMAS PERSON, of Granville. He made a large donation to the University, where a building was named in his honor, as was also the county of Person. He was repeatedly in the legislature, as late as 1814. So opposed to the ratification of the Fed¬ eral Constitution that he denounced President Washington ns a “damned rascal and traitor to his country for putting his hand to such an infamous paper as the new Constitution.” !). BRIGADIER GENERAL GRIFFITH RUTHERFORD of Rowan. In 1776 commanded 2.4(H) troops and subdued the Cherokee In¬ dians. Commanded a brigade at Cam¬ den where he was captured. Later com¬ manded at Wilmington. Became presi¬ dent of the Council in Tennesee. Counties in both Carolina and Tennes¬ see named in his honor. 10. BRIGADIER GENERAL JETHRO SUMNER, of Warren. In the battle of Camden; also at Eutaw Springs, where he commanded the Carolina line. When the outlaw, David Fanning, abducted Carolina’s Governor Thomas Burke, Sumner was ordered to this state and kept here dur¬ ing the remainder of the war. 11. BRIGADIER GE N E R A L WILLIAM DAVIDSON, of Meck¬ lenburg. Served with the Northern army under Washington. While on his way to join the Southern army be¬ sieging Charleston he slopped to visit his family and then could not pass through the British lines. When the army of Cornwallis started north¬ ward, Davidson sought to prevent his passage of the Catawba, where David¬ son was killed. Davidson County and college named in his honor. In 17S1 Congress passed resolution requesting (Continued on page fourteen) 6