z_2 60th Congress, 1st Session. SENATE, Report No. 557. MONIB'IENT TO MEMORY OF WILLIAM ( AMPBELL. April 22, 1908. — Ordered to be primed. Mr. Daniel, from the Committee on the Library, submitted the A following REPORT. [To accompany S. 5295.] The Committee on i\v^ Library, to whom was referred th? bill (S. 5295) for the erection of a monument to the memory of Gen. William Campbell, submit the following re])ort anil recommend that the bill do pass. In 1780, in the dark days of the Revolutionary war, William Camp- bell, a colonel of militia, in the service of Virginia, led 400 men from Washington County, Va., to South Carolina. With the militia from North and South Carolina, and a few from Georgia, he marchetl against the British commander, Ferguson, who had his forces on the crown of Kings Mountain, in South Carolina, near th^ North Carolina border, and comoletely annihilated thun. The victory, which was won on the 7th of October, 1780, was great and the exploit one of the most intrepid and brilliant in the annals of war. It was decisive and far-reaching in results, inspiriting the patriots of the Revolution, turning the ill-starred course of war, and largely contributing to the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at York- town. The battle was between about 900 American militia under Camp- bell, while Colonel Ferguson, the British commander, marshaled some 1,000 Tories and about 125 British regulars. The importance of the event and the valoi" of Col. William Camp- bell, the commander, as well as that of his fellow-soldiers from Vir- ginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, who, with a few Georgians, who share in its glory, deserve this commemoration. They were three times flung back by Ferguson and his men, but their tenacious and indomitable pluck in about one hour completely destroyed or captured the whole of their enemy's forces. It was a battle in which there was not a regular soldier of the American Army, but was fought solely by the people of a few States who helped to create the country and to win its independence. Sr ' ^ A- /^ "S 2 MONUMENT TO MKMOKV OF WILLIAM CAMPHELL. It is well to scatter over the country the meinorials of its founda- tion and to celebrate the great deeds of our forefathers. Draper remarks, in the preface of his book on the King's Mountain battle, that — The worthy King's Mountain centennial Aery naturally excited much interest in the minds of the public regarding the battle itself and its heroic actors, and prompted the writer to sd uboul. the prepuration of his long-promised ivork. There is no greater assurance of our peace and happiness as a nation than may be found in cultivating acquaintance with our- selves and our common history. THE TURNING POINT OF THE REVOLUTION. The battle of Kings Mountain was the turning point in the Revo- lutionary war in favor of American independence. General Wash- ington proclaimed the result in general orders of congratulation to the Army as "An important advantage gained.'' Generals Gates, Gi'eene, and Lee, and Chief Justice Marshall all paid the highest compliments to General Campbell and his forces. Lossing says : No battle during the war was more obstinately contested than this: it completely crushed the spirits of the Loyalists and weakened beyond recovery the royal power in the Carolinas. The historian Bancroft says : The victory at Kings Mountain, which in the spirit of the American soldiers was like the rising at Concord, in its effects like the success at Bennington, changed the aspects of the war. The loyalists of North Carolina no longer dared rise. It fired the patriots of the two Carolinas with fresh zeal. It encouraged the fragments of the defeated and scattered American anny to seek each other, and organize themselves anew. It quickened the North Carolina legislature to earnest efforts. It encouraged Virginia to devote her resources to the country south of her border. The appearance on the frontiers of a numerous enemy from the settlements beyond the mountains, whose very names had been unknown to the British, took Cornwallis by surprise, and their success was fatal to his intended expedition. He had hoped to step with ease from one Carolina to the other, and from those to the conquest of Virginia; and he had now no choice but to retreat (p. 375). Washington Irving declares that "the battle of Bangs Mountain, inconsiderable thoug-h it was in numbers engaged, turned the tide of southern warfare/' Cornwallis fully recognized the extent of the great disaster. JetTerson declared "that memorable victory ^yas the joyful annunciation of the turning of the tide of success which terminated the war of the Revolution with the seal of independence." Doctor Draper says : And richly did the heroes who marched under Campbell's banners deserve all the praise so generously bestowed upon them. Kings Mountain paved the way for the successive advantages gained by the American armies at, first. Dam Fonl, Blackstocks. Cowpens, Guilford, and Eutaw.' and, ultimately, for the crowning victory of Yorktown with the glorious fruition of independence forever. The conclusions of Draper will be c[uoted time and again for t^ie rea- son that his painstaking care and his rare knowledge of the subject impart an historic value to his utterance which does not attach to tins writer. GEN. WILLIAM CAMPBELL. Gen. William Campbell was a leader of his times in many critical conjunctures. In all of them he acted with wisdom and courage, and D. OF D. AUG 27 1908 ' :.'• MONUMENT TO MEMORY OF WILLIAM CAMPBELL. 3 died while under the Marquis de Lafayette, on his way to Yorktown, after being promoted to brigadier-general under an act of the general assembly of Virginia. He was a son of Charles Campbell, of Au- gusta County, Va., born in 1745. In Howe's History of Virginia, page 505, the historian makes the following statement: Gen. William Campbell, the subject of this memoir, was a native of Augusta, in the State of Virginia, of the true Caledonian race by the maternal line, as well as that by the father. Being an only son, he received a liberal education under the best teachers of those times. He had an ardent mind, very susceptible of literary improvement, and acquii'ed early in life a correct knowledge of the English language, of ancient and modern history, and of several branches of mathematics. Nature had formed him for a commander in military capacity. His personal appearance was grave and masculine, l)eing about 6 feet high, and well propor- tioned; in conversation rather reserved and thoughtful; in his written communica- tions expressive and elegant. His patriofism was not of a timid cast. He never balanced between his military duty and prudential maxims. Wlien his ire was excited he showed in his countenance the fury of Achilles. The trusty Andreferrars , the sword he wore on the day of battle was once the property of his grandfather from Scotland, and he had an arm and a spirit that could wield it with effect. THE EXPEDITION TO POINT PLEASANT. Gen. William Campbell's military life began at the age of 29, when he commanded a company of militia from the county of Fin- castle, Va. (now Washington County), upon an expedition to Point Pleasant, on the Ohio River, being under Gen. Andrew Lewis. THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY AND THE RESOLUTIONS OF RESISTANCE OF JANUARY^ 20, 1775. Immediately after his return from that expedition, on the 20th day of January, 1775, he was one of the committee on safety appointed ty the freeholders of Fincastle (now Washington) County, to draft resolutions in response to the Continental Congress. This com- mittee was composed of Rev. Charles Cummings, Col. William Pres- ton, Col. William Christian, Capt. Stephen Trigg, Maj. Arthur Camp- bell, Maj. WilKam Ingles, Capt. Walter Crockett, Capt. John Mont- gomery, Capt. James McGacock, Capt. William Campbell, Capt. Thomas Madison (brother of James Madison, afterwards President of the United States), Capt. Daniel Smith, Capt. William Russell, Capt. Evans Shelby, and Lieut. William Thompson, names which have become memorable in history both of our civil and military life. This committee assembled on the day of their appointment, and, so far as we have any record, their resolutions were the first in which the freeholders of any county of the colonies declared against the oppression and misrule of the British Government. The conclud- ing paragraph of what might well be termed "the first declaration of independence" was as follows: But if no pacific measures shall be proposed or adopted by Great Britain, and our enemies will attempt to dragoon us out of these inestimable privileges to which we are entitled as subjects, and to reduce us to a state of slavery, we declare that we are deliberately and resolutely determined never to surrender them to any power upon earth but at the expense of our lives. These are our real, though unpolished sentiments of liberty and loyalty, and in them we are resolved to live and die. This address was unanimously agreed to by the people of Fincastle County and forwarded to Peyton Randolph, Richard Henry Lee, 4 MONUMENT TO MEMORY OF WILLIAM CAMPBELL. George Washington, Patrick Henry, jr., Richard Bland, Benjamin Harrison, and Ednumd Pendleton, esqs., delegates from the colony of Virginia, who had attended the Continental Congress held at Phila- delphia. THE DUNMORE WAR AND THE RESOLUTION OF JULY 15, 1775. On the 9th day of April, 1775. the British governor, Dunmore, of the colony of Virginia, upon a ])lea that insurrection existed in a neighhoring county, removed the powder stored in the public mag- azine at Williamsburg, Va., and placed it on l)oard ship. This action provoked a great deal of discontent, and shortly thereafter Patrick Henry, who placed no confidence in the governor, resolved upon an effort to recover the powder. He organized a company in his own county and marched to Williamsburg. At the same time William (Campbell, moved by the same spirit, organized a company of militia in Fincastle (now Washington) County, and, joining Patrick Henry, the two companies went to Williamsburg. Tiie committee of safety of Fincastle County, of which Capt. William Campbell was a member, again met on July 15, 1775, and adopted the following resolution : Resolved, That the spirited and meritorious conduct of Patrick Henry, esq., and the rest of the gentlemen volunteers attending him on the occasion of the removal of the gunpowder out of the magazine in Williamsl)urg, very justly merits the very hearty approbation of this committee, foi which we return them iiur thanks, with an assurance that we will, at the risk of our own lives and fortunes, support and justify them with regard to the reprisal they made. THE FIGHT AT HAMPTON, SEPTEMBER 3, 1775. On the 3d day of wSeptember, 1775, a British ship of war was driven ashore near Hampton, Va., during a storm, and on the morning of the 4th the people set fire to it and destroyed the ship. The captain of the ship threatened to burn the town and actually tried to do so. But the Virginia conmiittee of safety dispatched Colonel Woodford with three companies of riflemen to the assistance of the people of Hampton. Of the three companies thus dispatched one was the company of Fincastle County troops un MEMORY (»K WILLIAM CAMl'HELL. may be shot on either side. Its siiinniit is some 60 feet above the level of the surroiiiKJing country. (Draper, 209.) Fero^iison had his encampment cm this spot, and declared that he "was on Kinii's Mountain: that he was king of that mountain, and that (lod Ahnighty could not drive him from it." Shelby took place on the left of the mountain opposite Campbell, Campbell's left and Shelby's right condng together. Beyond Shelby were Williams's command, including Brandon and Hammond and Candler, the South Carolinians under Lacey, Ilathorne, and Steen, with the rest of the Wilkes and Surry men under Cleveland, and also the Lincoln troops under Chronicle and llaininond, all under the direction of Colonel Cleveland. Campbell's force was arranged in four cohinins, two on either side of the mountain, led by Colonels Campbell and Sevier on the right with Shelby and Cleveland on the left. Thus arranged the force advanced to the attack. Campbell led his men with his coat off. The fight was swift and fierce, Ferguson repeatedly charging, first upon Campbell's men, who stood their ground until some o? them were thrust through with the bayonet, then retreating: then they assailed Shen)y, a man of iron, who pressed ujxjn them. Tliev, too, had to retreat slowly, firing. Lacey 's horse was shot under him as he and his South Carolinians rushed forward. Chronicle was killed as he led forward his band, with his associates, Lieutenant-Colonel Ilambright, Maj. Jose})h Dixon, and Captains Mattox, Johnston, White, Es})ey, and Martin. Colonel Sevier, with McDowell's and Winston's battalions, gained the sum- mit of the hill without being charged with the bayonet, save a portion of their left which hastened to support Campbell. When Cleveland advanced under fire he exclaimed to his men, "Yonder is your enemy and the enemy of mankind:" and they fought, as did, indeed, the whole force of Americans, with resolute determination. The battle rolled to and fro until, at the end of about an hour, Fergu.son, the conunander, who continuously led his men with des- perate courage, was killed, and Captain De Peyster, the next in com- mand, raised a white handkerchief as a token of surrender. A fellow- oilicer struck it down, ])ut it was cjuickly raised again, and the whole force surrendered. Never did a little army fight with more unanimous courage, antl never did all of them more sternly win the title of heroes. THE CHARACTER OF CAMPBELLS MEN. After speaking of Ferguson's men. Draper thus speaks of Camp- bell's men: In the confronting rankr^ was a very difforonf class of men. Those from the Ilolston, under rainplx'll, were a peculiar people— somewhat of the character of ('romwell's soldiery. They were, almost to a man, Presl)yterians. In their homes, in tiie Ilols- ton Valley, they were settled in pretty comi)act congregations; (piite tenacious of their religious and civil liberties, as handed down from father to son from their Scotch- Irish ancestors. Their preacher. Rev. Charles Cummins, wivs well fitted for thi' times; a man of piety and sterling patriotism, who constantly exerted himself to encourage his people t(j make every needed sacrifice and put forth every possible exertion in defen.se of the lil)erties of their country. They were a remarkable body of men, both ])hysically and laentally. Inured to Irontier life, raised mostly in .Xiigusta and Rockbridge counties. Va., a frontier region in the l-'rench and Indian war. ihev earlv .settled on the Ilolston, and were accustomed MONUMENT TO MEMORY OF WILLIAM CAMPBELL, 9 from their fliildliood to border life and hardships; ever ready at the tap of the drum to turn out on military service; if in the busiest crop season, their wives, sisters, and daughters could, in their absence, plant, and sow and harvest. They were better educated than most of the frontier settlers, and had a more thorough understanding of the questions at issue between the colonies and their mother country. These men went forth to strike their country's foes, as did the patriarchs of old, feeling assured that the God of battles was with them, and that He would surely crown their efforts with success. They had no doubts nor fears. They trusted in God and kept their powder dry. Such a thing as a coward was not known among them. How fitting it was, that to such a band of men should have been assigned, by Campbell's own good judgment, the attack on Ferguson's choicest troops — ^liis Provincial Rangers. It was a happy omen of success — literally the forlorn hope — the right men in the right place. (Pp. 242-243.) THE KILLED AND WOtTNDED OF THE AMERICANS. Draper says: ''Of the killed and wounded of. the Americans, it is less difficult to get at the facts, or at least they are not involvetl in such contra- dictory statements as those relating to the British losses. Colonel Shelby, in his letter to his father, October 12, 1780, mentions 6 officers and 23 privates killed and 54 wounded, but adds that he believes with more accurate returns the killed will prove to be 35 and the wounded between 50 and 60. Colonel Campbell, in his letter of October 20, places the number at about 30 killed and 60 wounded. In the ofhcial report, made out apparently somewhat later, and hence more reliable, the killed ar^ stated at 28 and the wounded at 62. (Draper, p. 302.) LOSSES OF WILLIAMS, BRANDON, STEEX, AND HAMMOND. In the commands of Williams, Brandon, Steen, and Hammond we have no record of any loss save that of their gallant leader and the person, whose name is unknown, who had a j)resentiment of his death; and William Giles, as already related, slightly wounded. Among the South Carolinians, under Lacey and Hawthorn, no killed are reported, save, perhaps, David Duff and William Watson, who probably belonged to this corps, and but one wounded, Robert Miller, of Chester County, who was badly disabled in his thigh. In both of these commands there were ])robably other losses. Of the Ruther- ford men under Colonel Hampton, John Smart and Preston Goforth were kihed, and Maj. James Porter and WilUam Robertson wounded; but of McDowell's Burke County men, we have no knowledge of any deaths or disal)ilities. (Draper, p. 302.) LOSSES OF LINCOLN MEN. ri"The Lincoln County men, considering their small number, suf- fered considerably in the engagement — Major Chronicle, Captain Mattocks, William Rabb, John Boyd, and Arthur Patterson, killed, and Moses Henery mortally wounded; Lieutenant-Colonel Ham- bright, Captain Espey, Robert Henry, William Gilmer, John Chittim, and William Bradley, wounded. There must have been other losses, for of Capt. "Samuel Martin's company of about twenty men, he relates in his pension statement that four were killed and two mortallv wounded. (Draper, p. 302.) 10 MONUMENT To MKMoKV oF WILLIAM CAMPBELL. LOSSES OF SEVlElf S KEtiLMENT. "Of Sevier's regiment, Williaiu Steele, John Brown, and Miehael Mahoney are known to liave lost their lives in the contest, while Captain Sevier was mortally, and one Gilleland and Patrick Mnrphy severely wounded. Near the close of the action, Captain Sevier, wliile stooping to pick up liis rann'od, received a huckshol wound near his ki(hiev: after the action the British surgeon. Doctor Jolmson, endeavored to extract the shot, I)ut fail(Ml in tlie ("(fort." (Draper, pp. 302-303.) LOSSES OF SHELBY S MEN. "Colonel Shelby's regiment no doubt su tiered from losses in the action; but the particulars wanting, save that Captain Shelby, Wil- liam Cox, and John Fagon were wounded. As Shelby's men encoun- tered hard fighting and were repeatedly charged down the mountain, the}' must necessarily have lost some of their number and had more wounded than the three whose names are mentione(l. LOSSES OF Cleveland's and Winston's men. ''Of the Wilkes and Surry men, under Cleveland and Winston, we have only the names of two men killed — Thonuis Bicknell and Daniel Siske, of Wilkes County; Major Lewis, Captains j^ewis. Smith, and Lenoir, Lieutenants Johnson and J. M. Smith, Charles Gordon and John Childers woun.ded, the latter badly. Where so many officers were disabled there must have been several others of this gallant regiment killed and wounded. (Draper, p. 301.) LOSSES OF Campbell's men. "Colonel Campbell's A'irginians, who fought so nobly and })ersist- ently throughout the action, met with severer losses than any other regiment engaged in this hard