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REVISED AND PREPARED 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN M. ROBERTS, Esq. 
 
 
 CLINTON LA., 
 
 FELICIANA DEMOCRAT, PRINT, 
 1859. 
 
* 
 
 
 Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by John M, 
 Roberts, Esqr., in the Clerk’s Office of the United States District Court of the 
 
 State of Louisiana. 
 
.c^.s'rttr 
 
 \ 
 
 JAMES P. COLLINS, Dk c e a SE11. 
 
 the present W 0 R Iv , 
 
 IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, 
 
 BY JOHN M. ROBERTS. 
 
 Clinton, La. 
 
 t 
 
 <«: 
 
 
COMPTROLLER’S DEPARTMENT, ) 
 Raleigh, N.*C.., Jan. BO, 1858.. j 
 
 Dear Sir —Your letter, requesting me to examine the 
 Records in my Office, for evidence of the payments made to 
 James Collins, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, was duly 
 received. 
 
 On a full and thorough examination of the Records, I find 
 sundry payments made to James Collins, in the Halifax, Wil¬ 
 mington. Salisburv, and Morgan Districts. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 (Signed) C. H. BROGDEN, Comptroller, 
 
 To John M. Roberts, Esq., Clinton, La. 
 
I N 13 E X 
 
 Preface.. 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 I. Early days ar.d ancestry.‘. 
 
 II. Trouble among the Tories,. 4 . 
 
 III. Minute men,. 
 
 IV. Skirmish with the enemy,.„ ... 
 
 Y. Scouting. 
 
 VI. Battle of King’s Mountain,...... 
 
 VII. Battle of the Cowpens,. .... 
 
 VIII. A hazardous adventure,. 
 
 IX Forretting out Tories,.. 
 
 X. Return home,.... 
 
 . 
 
 XI. Various occupations,.. 
 
 XII. Scenes and adventures,... 
 
 XIII. The Spring of 1791. The Indians. 
 
 XIV. Religious views. Dancing and singing schools. Hunting,.. 
 
 PAGE lit 
 
 11 
 
 9 9 
 
 U+i 
 
 28 
 
 39 
 
 46 
 
 49 
 
 55 
 
 59 
 
 65 
 
 68 
 
 73 
 
 78 
 
 82 
 
 90 
 
 XV. “ The days when I went courting,”. 98 
 
 XVI. Visit to my father. Return to Georgia. Marriage,. 109 
 
 XVII. Roy attacked by Indians. Drunkenness. Spell of fever. 118 
 
 XVIII. Return to busiuess. Death of my wife. Second marriage,.. 125 
 
 XIX. Horse purchase. A strange disease. 138 
 
 XX. Visit to a celebrated docuor. New and strange religious sect, 148 
 
 XXL Preaches a sermon. Mysterious cure,. 151 
 
 XXII. Visit to Tennessee. Encounter with Indians,. 162 
 
 * 
 
 XXIII. Removal to Tennessee. Last Remarks,.... 
 
The publisher offers the present work, not with a view 
 through vanity, of adding to the catalogue of historical in for-, 
 mation of the brave and patriotic sires of the revolution—not 
 that lie expects to receive a larger amount of applause, than 
 those who have already filled the minds of the country with a 
 brilliant rehearsal of their illustrious deeds of heroism, and in 
 fact, whose merits have not yet been half told, and which is 
 fervently hoped will continue to be repeated in strains of enthu¬ 
 siasm, as long as a solitary vestige of republicanism is left to 
 linger in the American heart. No, ho feels that it is incum¬ 
 bent on him to make a disclosure as a child of this republic, 
 when in his power so to do, of all the acts and deeds of those 
 whose lives were tried in defence of the great 'cause of liberty, 
 ■happiness and peace of this, now, mighty and grand republic, 
 oven though these words should come from an humble soldier. It 
 is asserted, by some, that there is a sufficient amount of historical 
 knowledge already given : any more mould be superfluous . This 
 kind of reasoning is certainly poor and worthless. Are there 
 too many memoir authorities to sustain the glorious principles 
 ■of Christianity and religious truth? Certainly not, will be 
 answered by the friends of its progress. We take it then, that 
 principles of freedom, of republicanism, of brotherly union and 
 national enfranchisement, are some of the forced and legitimate 
 results issuing alone from the word of inspiration, and are inti¬ 
 mately blended and inseparably interwoven with the Bible. The 
 man who is unfriendly to one, is surely a stranger to the other;; 
 and there are certainly no grounds for compromise. Besides, 
 what can more easily quiet the turbulent and boisterous pas¬ 
 sions of an angry mind, than to dispel by force of reason, to 
 drive away the dark and benighted clouds of ignorance, that 
 the rays of intelligence may shed soft and congenial influences 
 in the heart, awakefting into being different thoughts and differ- 
 
 / 
 

 PREFACE. 
 
 IV 
 
 ent feelings. To stand aloof and not participate in these sen¬ 
 timents, is surely depriving ones-self of all the real enjoyments 
 
 of life. v , , . 
 
 The present work is written in an unpolished and plain 
 
 style ; but it is written in the words of truth. It is. written by 
 a soldier who stood in the front of the many battles of • the 
 enemy—whose liio was exposed to whatever dangci that should 
 be necessarily encountered, both by night and by day, undergo¬ 
 ing fatigue of all kinds. The latter part ot this work contains 
 more of the history ol his life in a private capacity, than of the 
 fields of battle, and his only characteristic as a man of bold¬ 
 ness of sentiments and “ truth unvarnished.” 
 
 There are facts, in the present work, in regard to the battle 
 of the King’s Mountain—which former historians have not 
 altogether taken so much notice—which goes to show the 
 9 actual situation of the scattering and small troops of Col. Moffit, 
 their difficulties and struggles with the home enemies at that 
 time (i. e., the Tories) being compelled to rely almost entirely 
 upon their own resources, or in fact, absolutely having no pros¬ 
 pect of future reward from the public, the majority being very 
 poor and unable to obtain the necessary means suited to the 
 field of battle. But these embarrassments did not baffle their 
 designs, for they were determined to conquer or lose their lives 
 in the contest. They were contending for freedom, for liberty and 
 for the prosperity of a new republic, that America should be the 
 home of social and national happiness, and it is presumed that 
 no one will doifbt but that their efforts have been crowned with 
 triumphant success. 
 
 It may appear strange to the reader that the author of the 
 present narrative closes his memoirs so suddenly and apparently 
 unfinished. It is doubtless that he did not more than half 
 finish his design, for he moved and lived in the State of Louisi¬ 
 ana quite a number of years after the time that his autobiogra¬ 
 phy closed, having reared a number of children, whom even 
 now, may be living in this State ; but at the time of his under¬ 
 taking the present work, he was of extreme age and nearly 
 blind. Not to boast of the merits of our old, and now nearly 
 all deceased, sires of the revolution, beggars a proper want of 
 knowledge as w r ell as a proper want of a pure principle of pat¬ 
 riotism in our hearts. 
 
 Everything that we may claim as a happy republic, is alone 
 through the bold and vigorous exertions of those bravo and 
 gallant men, their trials and undertakings, as well as all the 
 fatigues of war. They were guided by the spirit of freedom 
 and happiness. The atmosphere they inhaled, inspired them 
 with a love of freedom ; the pure water fhey drank from the 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 V 
 
 • 
 
 pebbly rivulets, stimulated them ; the evergreen shade, the 
 fertile soil enchanted them by their magic charms to industry ; 
 while an indomitable disposition not to be fettered in the chains 
 of despotism, awoke them to a double energy that has never 
 been equalled in the annals of the world. Yes,‘reader, this old 
 and venerable father of the revolution died before he had 
 completed his own story; but his “ handwriting is on the wall/ 7 
 and brings fresh and living associations of the loveliest char¬ 
 acter to our hearts—it calls as with a “bugle blast 77 to our 
 recollection, the perilous condition that awaited moral, religious 
 and civil liberty. To undertake to describe the boasted wealth 
 and honor of the American republic, in comparison with any 
 other nation now on the globe, would be extreme vanity ; but 
 we cannot charge our minds with too much veneration for the 
 character of our past and deceased fathers of the revolution, 
 however simple and plain may have been their manner and 
 style of speaking and writing, or however rough and seemingly 
 unpolished their habits and manners in comparison with the 
 present age of wealth and luxury, for like Napoleon, they had 
 no friend but their sword, yet the same untiring, immortal, 
 unalterable disposition to implant the true and genuine princi¬ 
 ples of social and national happiness inspired their souls to 
 deeds of noble daring and the “paean notes of liberty 77 clang to 
 them as the dreams of the Messiah Ben David does to the Wan¬ 
 dering Jew to this day. They beheld by faith the star of 
 freedom in the distance*. They beheld, the Star of Bethlehem 
 by inspiration whose cheering beams they fervently, hoped 
 would shoot athwart the else rayless void of more than midnight 
 gloom. Yes, yes,—the gentle dove that rested on Mount Olivet, 
 was not a stranger to their hearts’ feelings, although deluged in 
 blood and carnage and yet they hoped to see the gentle messen¬ 
 ger return with the olive branch of peace—not that they felt 
 like surrendering the love of country, but to accomplish a far 
 more rational deed—a deed of universal enfranchisement—to 
 establish an asylum for the oppressed of every nation, where 
 the altars of religion, the temples of justice and the free and 
 actual happiness of man could rest undisturbed and man should 
 gain his living “ by the sweat of his brow.' 7 These were the 
 sentiments of our old forefathers ; they loved their country, for 
 it is natural and should be so; for everything like prosperity 
 depends on that one sacred tie. Hear the words of a gentle¬ 
 man of this State, on the same subject, in a public address. I 
 here quote as I think them appropriate to the present theme : 
 “ Love of country seems to be an universal principle. Even 
 the inhabitant of the ice-bound and frozen regions of Green¬ 
 land regard it as the best country upon which the sun ever shone. 
 
VI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Should we compare then, ourselves to any nation on earth at 
 the present time? If the history of our country; if the 
 benign blessings which our glorious institutions shed like dews 
 from heaven upon each and every one of our citizens ; if a love 
 and veneration of the tombs of our fathers, the memory of 
 Washington and his time-honored compatriots and the sweet 
 name of America itself; if these are not sufficient to inspire 
 one of Columbia’s sons with emotions of patriotism, he is too 
 far lost for salvation to reach him—too detestable to dwell in 
 the habitations of man, and should be driven with eternal infa¬ 
 my from the face of the earth, banished to the dreary rock of 
 Patmos, or some solitary isle of the ocean, uninhabited by mor¬ 
 tal man, and unfrequented, save by loathsome vultures which 
 are drawn thither to feed and gloat themselves upon the putres¬ 
 cent substances which old ocean; in the mighty expurgating 
 commotion of her waters, indignantly heaves "from her surface. 
 No American, I repeat, need be advised of his duty as a patriot 
 and lover of Ids country: the scenes enacted -on the battle-fields 
 of _ York town, King’s Mountain, the Plains of Chalrnette, the 
 heights of Cerro Gordo are sufficient.” 
 
 This is one side of the picture and it is fervently hoped to 
 be a correct one ; but let us examine the matter a momernt by 
 way of premise : First, who would deny that it was the duty 
 of the parent to give and render all the care in the bounds of 
 reason, and even sometimes overleap this mark to protect their 
 offspring? Again, it must be admitted that it is the duty of 
 the parent to admonish and devise the best and most whole¬ 
 some comfort to the health and happiness of their offspring • 
 place before them the best advice, moral and religious, as well 
 as inculcate the feelings of love to country, kindred and 
 friends, to have the mind properly prepared to enter into the 
 various scenes and occupations of life, fulfilling in every sense 
 the sacred word of the old book of the Bible, “ Raise up a 
 child in the way he should go and when he gets old he will not 
 depart from it.” So great was this principle once inculcated in 
 the laws ol some of. the Oriental nations, that if the child was 
 2 iot educated for some ostensible occupation in life, the parent 
 was subject to the greatest penalty, and prevented from being 
 recognized on a par with the same advantages of other citizens, 
 and sometimes almost the forfeiture of life, so great has this 
 one principle been adhered to : ’so great has this point been 
 carried in the Divine Law of our Heavenly Father towards the 
 happiness and salvation of sin-atoning man, that he gave his 
 “only begotten Son” to ransom by a vicarious death on the 
 rugged cross, as an expiation of the guilt of man ; thereby set¬ 
 ting an example ol parental fidelity to man. God has by holy 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 YII 
 
 decree indelhbly stamped this cardinal feature in all animal 
 creation, from man, who was formed after his own image and 
 likeness, to the lowest of the beast creation. No opinion of 
 man can set aside the “ Law of God,” and it is to be regretted 
 as a lamentable error in the faculty of man to seek any means 
 to contradict these rules. 
 
 Second—It is for the purpose of perpetuating natural 
 kindness and brotherly union that the “golden rule of charity ” 
 was pronounced with so much emphasis in the expressions of 
 the Apostle .Paul in his writings to the first Corinthians, in his 
 chapter thirteenth, and particularly in his first verse, ho 
 remarks : “ Though I speak with the tongues of men and an¬ 
 
 gels and have not charity. I am become as sounding brass or a 
 tinkling cymbal.” (Please read this chapter.) 
 
 Now let us turn and contemplate the reciprocal affections 
 that should be manifested from the offspring to the natural 
 parent, and let us apply these rules to our natural, national, 
 moral and civil conditions in life : First—Is it natural for the 
 child to love the'parent to which it owes all its protection and 
 care, being entirely weak and destitute of all power of self- 
 protection ? 
 
 Second—Why should these principles be* applied in a 
 national sense? In the great volume of universal love the lan¬ 
 guage bursts forth in strains too eloquent and apprises man of 
 the truth. Not to love home—the place from which he first 
 inhaled his breath of existence—not to love the numerous fond 
 and endearing associations of youthful recollections—the little- 
 stream, the tall tree, the old fence overgrown with the briar—- 
 where the wild bird builds her annual nest; the mother's smile* 
 and the father’s stern advice, the old schoolhouse, the college 
 wall, the youthful girl with sweet and innocent caress, the 
 friend’s warm hand, the prayer, the song, the “ dance of fearless, 
 thoughtless joy ”—can these be erased from the human heart ?' 
 Methinks not. 
 
 Third—The moral condition that may exist, brings a dif¬ 
 ferent tide of feeling, and places man under a different position 
 
 in life. 
 
 Fourth—The civil or social state. In this character man 
 stands amenable and quite responsible to the power above him as- 
 well as to the earthly power equal with him. The responsibility 
 lie owes to his fellow man in this world, is the highest consider¬ 
 ation he can contemplate ; to forget this, man forgets the link 
 of chain by which he is bound, he becomes a drone and dies as 
 he lived : fashion, pomp and wealth are buried with him. This 
 theme is worthy of our serious reflection ; to comment would be 
 but to strain the mind and lead to endless disclosures and mere 
 
VIII 
 
 PREFACE-. 
 
 waste of time. Let ns again ask, why should there be a dere¬ 
 liction of duty on man to continue an unceasing devotion to 
 country, home and friends? Is it for the .purpose of personal 
 gain? This question requires some investigation. 1. There 
 are reasons that may induce a man (as I may say) to leave or 
 forsake the early idols of his heart, youthful affections, and all 
 the circumstances that surround his happiness or his interest—• 
 condition in this life. 2. Oppressive control, ungenerous and 
 predominant suasion, the cruel exercise of self-will and regard¬ 
 less management are some* causes, perhaps the hope of health 
 is one :■ these are plain reasons, under qualified circumstances. 
 Now let us ask ourselves—Is the love of honor, love of ambi¬ 
 tion, and unrestrained power, and self-sacrifice a cause sufficient 
 to erase those earth-born principles and national fidelity. Is 
 it the love of mammon or sordid gold a useless ornament to 
 the miser who cannot take one cent with him when the last 
 duty is required of him, (that is to die, leaving all his earthly 
 hoardings here behind him?) Is it for the sake of health? 
 Let him remember that all mankind are subjected alike to 
 the same dispensations of Divine Providence. It is a 
 lifeless subterfuge and weighs not a fraction in the scale of 
 reason. Let us, as a nation apply the foregoing questions to 
 our own hearts. Have we by wealth and almost unrestrained 
 power forgotten “ the Dock whence ye are hewn, and the hole 
 of the pit whence ye are digged ?” Are the memorable days 
 that have been celebrated as typical of our national independ¬ 
 ence, such as the Fourth of July, Washington’s birthday and 
 the Eighth of January beginning to fall back into the shades 
 of forgetfulness? Is the nation engulphed in a political mania, 
 or is it mammon or ostensible wealth, false show, that causes us 
 to turn a deaf ear to those memorable and early scenes? It is 
 to be hoped that the foregoing hints will be sufficient and duly 
 appreciated. 
 
 Yes, our venerable father of the revolution, died in his 
 eighty-first year, in the State of Texas, after “ running the race 
 that was set before him.” after enjoying immeasurable happi¬ 
 ness and devotional thankfulness, and submissive feeling of ad¬ 
 oration for the mercies and blessings of that omnipotent God 
 who crowned the efforts of his life in establishing “ peace on 
 earth and good will to men.” He died as he lived, resigned to 
 his fate—he died without a murmur, composed, serene—his body 
 was consigned to the dust, and his soul to bloom in an undying 
 immortality. Our venerable patriarch was known to be a man 
 of exceedingly industrious habits, was always engaged in some 
 enterprise or business—lie threw away but a few hours, believ¬ 
 ing it a great error in man to while away the hours of his life 
 
rilEFACE. 
 
 IX 
 
 in idleness and frivolity—“that Satan doth still mischief find 
 for idle hands to do.” Thus, we may ascribe as one reason for 
 his longevity. He was small in stature ; he had but little sick¬ 
 ness in comparison to other persons ; he possessed robust health ; 
 he was also a very neat person in his dress ; easy and polite in 
 his manners; filled with good humor and jokes, and was very 
 fond of company at times ; his manners were nevertheless grave 
 and dignified. He made it a rule not to be forward in break- 
 . ing conversation, rather reserved ; yet you could see the fire of 
 wit kindling in his eye, which is said to be the unerring index 
 that declares the power of the soul that sits enthroned within. 
 He was kind and generous to a fault—the chamber of the sick, 
 the pillow of the dying, the vigils of the dead, never missed his 
 sympathy and kind attention; administering on all occasions 
 whatever services he could render. Many will long remember 
 him for it, for if there is a sentiment in the human heart that 
 truly indicates a noble, God-like spirit, a spirit of a great and 
 generous soul, filled to the last expansion with patriotism and 
 philanthrophy, it is to visit our poor and afflicted humanity in 
 hours of sickness and want. Our old friend was universally 
 respected by all who knew him, and. greatly beloved by those 
 who were intimately acquainted with him. Asa husband- - as 
 a father—in those attributes the time honored and lasting re- 
 collections cling, if possible, closer than the bark to the tree, to 
 the bosom of his family ; for like the lofty tree which lifts its 
 umbrageous head towards Heaven, basking in the free air in 
 majestic grandeur, where thousands take repose and exult 
 beneath its refreshing shade, so did our venerable friend stand 
 among the children of men, “ that no power could break or 
 favor bend ”■—one straight and onward way in life-—always ob¬ 
 serving truth and punctuality as the polar star and sheet-anchor 
 to direct and maintain his course; for he was never known to 
 fall behind, if possible, with his obligations to his fellow men. 
 This was his tried character. His accumulations of wealth 
 were comparatively small, but he always strove to have a 
 sufficiency to meet the necessary wants of a respectable life, 
 and enjoyed it to the full fruition. His doors were thrown open 
 to distress, and the hand of charity extended, wherever he 
 thought it really necessary. He was remarkable for his frank¬ 
 ness of expression, and candid in the transactions of business. 
 He was a man who had not all the early opportunities of what 
 is termed a liberal education, but he devoted in the latter part 
 of his life, considerable of his time to reading, especially the 
 Bible, and seemed to reflect a great deal on its holy pages. 
 His opinions were received in all matters, when consulted ; he 
 had few enemies which caused his opinions to go farther than 
 
 o 
 
X 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 perhaps the most of men, as he was not meddlesome with other 
 people's affairs. He was not quarrelsome, but at times, we sup¬ 
 pose, from the many early conflicts with the enemies of his 
 country, became excited at the mention of the revolutionary 
 war, especially at the mention of the name of Tory, for he had 
 an undying hatred for them which sometimes caused him to 
 betray the weakness of his feelings, and would become trans¬ 
 ported by that monster which he termed his greatest self-enemy. 
 We consider it to be almost universally the case in those whose • 
 temperaments are naturally given to excitement, and who have 
 had to go through sanguinary scenes, and have coine off Victo¬ 
 rious, to give way at times to exuberance of passion ; but they 
 were soon over with him, provided the object of his indignation 
 was removed immediately, otherwise, battle to the hilt. As 
 observed, he devoted a great deal of his time in his old age to 
 reading, and among other works, were those containing descrip¬ 
 tions of the battles of the revolution, and among them were 
 those in which he was engaged. He thought that their descrip¬ 
 tion was not sufficiently elaborate, which brought him to the 
 conclusion to write a narrative of his own life and adventures. 
 The relative position he stood in as a spy, in the beginning of 
 the war, and as a soldier at its conclusion, he thought it “ might 
 not be amiss 7; to add a few words in his way, to the world, and 
 to the rising generation. We believe that it is a natural in¬ 
 stinct in the bosom of all men, who have passed through similar 
 trials—as our venerable father did—to tell all about it as far as 
 possible ; and it is right that we should listen to their stories 
 with care and attention. In this w# show respect to them as 
 well as gratitude on our part. . This light which he has left, is 
 fervently hoped to burn forever in the heart of every true lover 
 of liberty : it is his tribute that he owes to his country—come 
 and get it. 
 

 AUTOBIOGRAPHY 
 
 OP 
 
 A REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER: 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EARLY DAYS AND ANCESTRY. 
 
 ** Praise to the warriors, who fought and who bled 
 In Liberty’s battles. Praise ! Praise to the dead. 
 
 Bind on the brows of the living’, though hoary, 
 
 A chaplet of laurels they merit so well, 
 
 And sing to the dead one loud anthem of glory. 
 
 Loud, louder, yet louder, their proud notes shall swell.” 
 
 N REFLECTING on past events, and conn 
 paring them with the present, and having 
 arrived at that period of life which unfits 
 me for the more active employments and busy 
 pursuits that have hitherto occupied my time, 
 I thought it might not be amiss to amuse my¬ 
 self by writing a few incidents of my life, 
 although they may not be interesting to any one 
 (who may chance to read these pages), yet might 
 be, in some instances, amusing as well as important 
 to -some of my progeny when I am no more. In 
 writing the incidents of my past life, I am forced to 
 depend entirely upon memory ; by moving from one 
 place to another, and meeting with sundry accidents, I lost all 
 the important papers and notes which I could apply to as refe« 
 
12 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 * 
 
 rences, and can therefore give but an incomplete and unfinished 
 idea of many things. 
 
 Before I proceed farther, it will perhaps be necessary to 
 say something of my parentage, of which I can detail but little, 
 being only in possession of some statements given to me by my 
 father, after I became of an age to listen, and hear him recite, 
 the most interesting stories about our ancestors and familiy. I 
 learned from him, that my grand-father, Charles Collins, resided 
 in the city of Waterford, in Ireland, a man of considerable 
 wealth ; my grand mother Susannah was of a noted family of 
 the Radcliffes. Their family consisted of seven sons and one 
 daughter ; the sons were, John, James, Edward, Charles, Josi- 
 ah, Alexander, and Daniel. My grandfather, after giving his 
 sons a liberal education, settled them in some professional busi¬ 
 ness ; but what particular occupations or business I am unable 
 to say, except that the two eldest sons, John and James, were 
 put in command of two ships engaged in the African slave-trade. 
 My father, Daniel, the youngest son, was continued at school, 
 and my grandfather about that time dying, my father was left 
 under the control of his mother, who continued him at school 
 until he completed his education, as far as w r as intended. He 
 being of a restless disposition, became dissatisfied with his 
 mother’s plans respecting his future course of life : every prop¬ 
 osition he made to his mother was discountenanced and abso¬ 
 lutely rejected, and she on the other hand, being of a resolute 
 and determined mind, forced him to obedience contrary^ to his 
 will. His mother, however, furnished him with a sufficient 
 amount of money necessary for his expenses on all occasions, re¬ 
 quiring at the same time, a strict account of the manner in which 
 it was expended. While matters were in this state between 
 them, he determined to leave his country and sail for America. 
 This design he had to keep a profound secret, for if his plans 
 weie discovered by his mother, immediate steps would be taken 
 to pi event his leaving. He found an opportunity of conferring 
 
13 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 with the captain of a vessel, then bound for America—perhaps 
 for the sake of getting some money. The captain agreed to 
 favor his plans, and also assisted him in devising schemes to 
 obtain the requisite amount of funds from his mother. Success 
 favored his plans, and all things were arranged satisfactorily, 
 for my father. When the ship was ready to sail, he was con¬ 
 veyed on board without the knowledge, or even suspicion, of 
 any of his friends, and accordingly sailed for America. The 
 exact age of my father at that time, I am unable, positively to 
 give, because I am without dates, and can only guess from sub¬ 
 sequent events : at all events it was while he was under control 
 of his mother, and not authorized to manage his own affairs. 
 He landed at Philadelphia, and there got into some temporary 
 
 * i 
 
 business, being a good penman and calculator, for I believe I 
 can say, without being in error, he was one of the first class of 
 penman I have ever met with ; he was so considered, at least, 
 by those who professed to be good judges, besides which he 
 stood in the first class in arithmetic. He next undertook to 
 teach an English school in the country, near Philadelphia, and 
 continued in that business until the commencement of what was 
 called the French and Indian war. He then quit his school 
 and joinec^the army—I think according to his statement to me, 
 this was in 1754. He continued in the army until some time in 
 the winter after Braddock was defeated, and his time of service 
 expiring, he quit the army and returned to Philadelphia, when 
 some short time after he married my mother ; this was early in 
 the winter of 1756. He again resumed his former occupation of 
 school teaching, out in the country, where he continued about five * 
 years. People were at that time emigrating to the South*; but be¬ 
 fore I proceed further, I must here mention a circumstance which 
 occurred one day while my father was at his school. The house 
 caught fire, and my mother with difficulty, saved her children, 
 while the house and every article in it were consumed. 
 
 My father, in order to secure land on which to support a 
 
14 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 family tliat appeared to bo increasing, determined to look in 
 the South for the object, and immediately set out in the spriug 
 of 1763, in order to view the country. In the fall of the same 
 year, perhaps in the month of October, he started with his fam¬ 
 ily for his place of destination, and had arrived within four 
 miles of it when he stopped at the house of a Mr. Jourdau. In 
 the morning, my mother was unable to proceed, and the good 
 man furnished my father with a house, or rather a cabin, in 
 which to shelter the family from the weather, at which place my 
 mother brought me forth on the 22d November. Thus was I 
 born by the way and have been a wayfaring man ever since. 
 My father proceeded to build some kind of shelter, and improve 
 the land on which he had determined to settle, and move his 
 family, so soon as my mother's situation admitted. The place 
 was then supposed to be within the limits of North Carolina 
 and then called Tryon County, and my father was appointed 
 Clerk of the first court that was ever held in the countv, called 
 Tryon Court; but afterwards, when the boundary of the State 
 was ascertained, it fell about four miles in the State of South 
 
 Carolina, in what was called York County, or District. Of 
 
 » 
 
 my mother I have but a very imperfect recollection ; however, 
 as well as I can remember the statement given metier parents 
 had emigrated from Ireland previous to the time that iny father 
 came over and settled in Philadelphia. Her name was Eliza¬ 
 beth Helarid ; she was a small woman and of a delicate consti¬ 
 tution, and old women, who were her neighbors, have since spo¬ 
 ken of her to me in highly flattering terms. She lived to have 
 seven children, of which I was the fourth ; three sons and four 
 daughters. She died a few days aficr the birth of her seventh 
 child, and it died a few days after her. My father was then 
 left with six children, all young. I was about three years old. 
 Some of the neighboring women took three of my sisters, and 
 my father retained his sons at home, I being one of that num¬ 
 ber. Occasionally, a neighboring woman, who had no children, 
 
REVOUU'TIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 15 
 
 would take me with her and keep me sometime. My father 
 continued to stay at home and keep house, after some manner, I 
 know not how, for perhaps about fourteen months, when he 
 married a young widow, with one child ; who, after marriage 
 with my father, had thirteen children. I recollect to have eat- 
 en at my father’s table, when fifteen of his children, all grown, 
 and mostly all heads of families, sat at the same table. It was 
 my father’s practice to be engaged in teaching every winter 
 season and working on his farm during the summer ; so soon 
 as the marriage with bis second wife took place I was put at 
 school. During the summer season, the schoolhouse was ahvays 
 occupied by some other teacher, but was invariably reserved 
 for my father during the winter. In summer, I was only sent 
 to school at intervals, as I could not be spared out of the farm, 
 for I was put to ploughing before I could turn the plough at 
 the end of the land. 
 
 My father was rigid in his discipline, both at school and at 
 home, and every rule that he laid down, must be strictly com¬ 
 plied with, or on failure, punishment was the inevitable conse¬ 
 quence, and I often thought he used more severity towards me 
 than necessary, in order to make me an example for others. So 
 it was, I was continued at school, sometimes under his tuition 
 and sometimes under that of other teachers, until I was about 
 twelve years old; but, by the way, I always got more indulgence 
 when under the control of any other teacher, than of my father. 
 
 My father was also a man of strict morals and never ad¬ 
 mitted any immoral conversation or conduct in his presence, or 
 otherwise ; if the same was reported to him, he would punish 
 ‘ the offender. He wms also a strict observer of the Sabbath 
 day, consequently he enjoined it on all his family to attend 
 to religious duties, and on that day the Bible must be read, 
 and every Sunday evening a certain portion must be com¬ 
 mitted to memory and rehearsed under his inspection, togethei 
 with the Lord’s Prayer, and what is called the Larger and 
 
16 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 Shorter Catechism. There was no fishing, shooting, hunting or 
 visiting permitted on that day, or trading or dealing of any 
 kind whatever, nor was it fashionable in the neighborhood. 
 I omitted to mention in the proper place, that agreeable to the 
 rules of the Church to which my father belonged, all children 
 were presented to the Church when young, for baptism. Accord¬ 
 ingly I was presented and was baptized by a clergyman, to 
 whom my father was somewhat partial, named James Potter, 
 after whom I was called ; hence the name, J. P. 
 
 But to return to my subject—when I was about twelve 
 years of age, I had learned to read English pretty well and 
 write a fair hand, and gained a tolerable knowledge of arith¬ 
 metic and my father proposed sending me to college, in order 
 to prepare me for studying divinity, but I, not feeling a willing¬ 
 ness, objected and my father being somewhat straitened in 
 circumstances on account of an increasing family, determined I 
 should engage in some mechanical occupation, and proposed 
 binding me to a tailor. I objected to that also, and sug¬ 
 gested that I would rather work in wood, but he took his own 
 way in the matter and bound me to a tailor by the name of 
 McMavey, for the term of five years. It was stipulated in the 
 contract that my father v T as to furnish all my necessary cloth¬ 
 ing, and that I should not, during my apprenticeship, be remov¬ 
 ed out of the State or county. The man to whom I was bound, 
 was a man of very agreeable disposition, and remarkably good- 
 humored, a good workman, very attentive to business, and of 
 sober, industrious habits, so that I found myself placed in quite 
 an agreeable situation. When I was placed under him, his 
 family was small, having only a wife and one child, and 
 another apprentice boy something older than myself, and who 
 had been at work sometime. We then worked regularly in the 
 shop ; for my own part, I was put to some trifling business 
 such as sewing up lining, &c. I had been at work about two 
 months when Christmas came on—and here 1 must relate a 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 17 
 
 •little anecdote. The principal and his lady were invited to a 
 parly among their friends, and the other boy was permitted to 
 go to his father’s to spend the holidays, while it devolved on 
 me to stay at home and keep house. There was nothing left 
 me in charge to do, only to take care of the house. There was 
 a large cat that generally lay about the fire. In order to try 
 my mechanical powers, I concluded to make a suit of clothing 
 for puss, and for my purpose gathered some scraps of cloth that 
 lay about the shop-board, and went to work as hard as I could. 
 Late in the evening I got my suit of clothes finished ; I caught 
 the cat, put on the whole suit—coat, vest and small-clothes—but¬ 
 toned all on tight, and set down my cat to inspect the fit; un¬ 
 fortunately for me there was a hole through the floor close to 
 the fireplace, just large enough for the cat to pass down ; after 
 making some efforts to get rid of the clothes, and failing, pussy 
 descended through the hole and disappeared ; the floor was 
 tight and the house underpinned with brick, so there was no 
 chance of pursuit. I consoled myself with a hope that the cat 
 would extricate itself from its incumbrance, but not so ; night 
 came and I had made on a good fire and seated myself for some 
 two or three hours after dark, when who should make their ap¬ 
 pearance but my master and mistress and two young men, all in 
 good humor, with two or three bottles of rum. After all were 
 seated around the fire, who should appear amongst us but the 
 cat in his uniform. I was struck speechless, the secret was out 
 and no chance of concealing; the cat was caught, the whole 
 work inspected and the question asked, is this your day s work? 
 I was obliged to answer in the affirmative ; I would then have 
 been willing to have taken a good whipping, and let it stop 
 there, but no, to complete my mortification the clothes were 
 carefully taken off the cat and hung up in the shop for the 
 inspection of all customers that came in. I lived and went on 
 very agreeably for two years and two months, when the revolu¬ 
 tionary war began to make some interruption in the South, and 
 3 
 
18 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 the man with whom I lived took a notion to move high up in 
 North Carolina, and as he was hound not to remove me, gave 
 me up again to my father. 
 
 After returning home, the affairs of the country became 
 more unsettled, and the people began to divide into parties. It 
 was again proposed I should go to college. Accordingly ar¬ 
 rangements were made and I was sent to Charlotte, in North 
 Carolina. I had not remained there long until times became 
 more troublesome, and I was again recalled home. 
 
 It was then customary for intinerant shoemakers to pass 
 through the* country and stop at the house of any farmer and 
 make shoes for the family, and pass on to the next house where 
 they were wanted. It was also a custom for every farmer to 
 tan his own leather. It had been the practice of my father to 
 have one of these shoemakers every winter, and his family in¬ 
 creasing rapidly and he being somewhat straitened in circum¬ 
 stances, concluded to have me taught how to make shoes. Ac¬ 
 cordingly he agreed with an old man wlfb set me to work, gave 
 me some instructions, and I worked about three weeks, when I 
 
 came home with some shoes as a sample of my performance. 
 
 ♦ 
 
 My father was a little hard to please and disliked the work, and 
 truly it would not recommend itself. I gave asfair a statement 
 as I could of the inattention to business, on the part of the old 
 man, and it was determined that I should go to another, who it 
 was thought, would be more attentive. The latter was a man 
 who kept a shop, also, and was very industrious. There were 
 two who worked at the business, and both took every pains 
 they could to instruct me, and I soon made pretty smart im¬ 
 provement which pleased my father very much. With these 
 two men I worked one winter season. I disliked the business 
 and made great complaint to my father, and as he was inclined 
 to industry and economy, he concluded he would put me to 
 weaving. It was then the fashion for every family to manufac¬ 
 ture every article of clothing that was worn, and the loom was 
 
19 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 occupied by the men while the females performed the spinning*. 
 Cotton was little used, then—only as fillings, as it was called, 
 for shirts, and clothing for females—while flax and wool com- 
 posed the main materials for domestic clothing ; as to broad 
 cloth, it was but little used among the common people, and it 
 was not uncommon for the son when grown up to become heir 
 to his father’s wedding coat, if his father had been able to pro¬ 
 cure broad cloth for that purpose. 
 
 It was concluded that I should learn to weave to save 
 some expense in that way, and in the spring season I was put 
 under the care of an Irish weaver to learn that business, where 
 I continued during the summer. 1 was not averse to the weav¬ 
 ing business and made considerable proficiency in the trade I 
 could then weave ten yards daily of what was called seven 
 hundred linen. I had worked all this time for nothing, save 
 information. Another weaver proposed to my father to give 
 me wages. Mv father agreed and hired me to him ; this man 
 kept three looms and sometimes four in constant employ. I 
 must here relate a little anecdote : I have mentioned before, 
 that my father was rigid respecting Sunday, though not more so 
 than some of his neighbors. I had no time to lose from the 
 loom during the week, so one Sunday morning 1 concluded I 
 must go home, some six or seven miles to get some clothing. 
 My employer objected as it would be a breach of the Sabbath ; 
 I urged the necessity on the ground of losing no time in the 
 week. He still stood opposed to the motion, threatening me with 
 the vengeance of my father and utterly refusing his consent. 
 While we were discussing the subject, a flock of sheep in a pas¬ 
 ture fronting the door began to run and there appeared to be 
 some confusion among them which drew the attention of the 
 old man. A wolf had gotten among them, and before all hands 
 could arrest his progress he had killed four, right in full 
 view. The weaver then pleaded the right of necessity to skin 
 the sheep and save his mutton, so I left him to save his meat 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 20 
 
 and I went home to abide the consequences of my father’s 
 wrath on the subject. This, if I mistake not, was of 1^79. 
 
 .It was the custom in these times, for every farmer to 
 make all the provisions he wanted for his use, viz.: corn, wheat, 
 rye, barley, oats, pork, beef, and vegetables ; also, potatoes, and 
 whatever else was necessary ; or, on failure, to pay his neigh¬ 
 bor for whatever he might want, besides the risk of being called 
 lazy, unless sickness or some misfortune occurred, in which case 
 the neighbors were all very liberal to each other. Besides, if 
 so disposed, he could keep liquor about his house, which was 
 very general. He had his own malt, rye, corn, etc., prepared 
 and ground at the mill, and taken to the still-house, where he 
 received one gallon for every bushel of meal he delivered, or 
 one half the quantity that the whole produced, took it home, 
 stored it away in the cellar, and used it at pleasure. Here I 
 must remark, that my father was very economical in his distri¬ 
 bution, and reserved his whiskey for certain occasions. My 
 step-mother’s son and myself, being nearly the same age, were 
 always together, when I was about home and would never di¬ 
 vulge any thing on each other ; my step-mother, by the way, 
 was fully as great an economist as my father. We were both 
 named James, and for distinction, I was often called Potter. We 
 
 seldom got a dram more than once in the week and thought our 
 
 * 
 
 rations rather small ; we accordingly prepared us two small 
 gourds, cleaned them out and converted them into bottles ; they 
 contained not more than half a pint each. In my father’s ab¬ 
 sence we would keep a strict watch over the house, and when 
 the old lady would disappear for the purpose of washing, or on 
 some other business, which often happened, we would imme¬ 
 diately repair to the house, open the hatch-way of the cellar, 
 
 « when one of us would descend and fill the two gourds, while 
 the other would keep a good lookout for fear of being caught ; 
 we always came off clear without being suspected : our two 
 gourds lasted us about three weeks or longer, for we used it 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 21 
 
 very sparingly. At harvest time, or in gathering corn, it was 
 a practice for every man to invite all the neighbors, male and 
 famale, to assist in reaping, or husking his corn, for women 
 thought it no hardship or disgrace, to labor in the fields ; and 
 some females, who stood high in society, were hard to beat, in 
 the field, or at a corn heap. In the evening, or at night, when 
 the labor was over, it generally wound up with a dance, and it 
 was not rare to see women, more than forty years of age, cheer¬ 
 fully join in the same dance with the young. The old men who 
 did not choose to dance, would sit by the fire, look on, and take 
 their social glass of “ over lively,” and in the meantime, be sure 
 to sing a few songs. The boys selected a place at a convenient 
 distance from the house, kindled up a lire, and commenced run¬ 
 ning, jumping, and wrestling. They were always paired or 
 matched by some of the larger class, chosen as judges. When 
 the exercises were gone through, there came on a boxing match ; 
 any one that declined was declared a coward, yet some would 
 stand it. For my own part, I disliked it, but was unwilling to 
 own it, and determined to stand to the test. The rule was thus : 
 A mark was made on the ground, the parties placed opposite, 
 each with his toe to the mark, then a stick, handkerchief 
 or rope was drawn between them and held by two of the judges. 
 No man was to scratch, bite, gouge or strike in the eye ; neither 
 was he allowed to kick, but did the best he could, and hit to the 
 best advantage so as to hurt his opponent. So soon as one 
 gave back, the victory was proclaimed in favor of the other; 
 this was all to be done in good humor, without any quarreling 
 and if a fellow felt disposed to continue or was dissatisfied, he 
 had to wait for the next time and get his remedy in the same 
 way. Many of us went home pretty sore but never complained 
 for fear of being punished by our parents. Some old men sanc¬ 
 tioned the business, others were strongly opposed ; among that 
 number my father was one, and if ever be found out that I was in 
 the boxing party, I was sure to get a dressing which hurt worse 
 than all the boxing I ever was in. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 TROUBLE AMONG THE TORIES. 
 
 ET ME pass on. I began to grow up—times 
 v; began to be troublesome, and people began to 
 divide into parties. Those that had been good 
 friends in times past, became enemies ; they be- 
 gan to watch each other with jealous eyes, and were de¬ 
 signated by the names of. Whig, and Tory. Recruiting 
 officers were out in all directions, to enlist soldiers.. My 
 brother, cider than myself, enlisted, and went off to the 
 
 army. My father remonsi rated against it but in vain. There 
 was a Mr. Moffitt in the neighborhood who was then captain of 
 the militia, was pretty shrewd and an active partizan. I had 
 often been sent on business, by my father, in various directions 
 through the country, and was frequently employed by others to 
 hunt stray horses, Ac., consequently I became acquainted with 
 all the by-paths for twenty or thirty miles around. Moffitct on- 
 sultcd my father and it was agreed that I should be made use 
 of merely as a collector of news. In order to prepare me for 
 business, I had to receive several lectures. I was furnished with 
 documents—sometimes a list of several stray horses with marks 
 and brands, sometimes with papers and other business. I was 
 to attend all public places, make no inquiry only about the 
 business I was sent on, and pay strict attention to all that was 
 passing in conversation and otherwise. I succeeded for some 
 time without incurring the least suspicion, by which means the 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 o<> 
 
 Tories were several times disappointed in tlicir plans without 
 being able to account for the cause. 
 
 There existed at that time, at least three classes of "Whigs, 
 and three of Tories. The first class of Whigs were those who 
 determined to fight It out to the last let the consequence be 
 what it might; the second class were those who would fight a 
 little when the wind was favorable, but so soon as it shifted to 
 an unfavorable point would draw back and give up all for lost; 
 the third class were those who were favorable to the cause, pro¬ 
 vided it prospered and they could enjoy the benefit but would 
 not risk one hair of their heads to attain it. 
 
 There was a class of Tories who I believe were Tories 
 from principle ; another class believed it impossible for the 
 cause of liberty to succeed, and thought in the end, whatever 
 they # got, they would be eftabled to hold, and so become rich— 
 they resorted to murdering and plunder, and every means 
 to get hold of property ; another class were Tories cn- 
 tirely through fear, and fit for nothing only to be made tools of 
 by the others, and all cowards too. 
 
 There was another class of men amongst us, who pretended 
 neutrality entirely on both sides ; they pretended friendship to 
 all, and prayed, “Good God!’ 7 “Good Devil! 77 not knowing 
 into whose hands they might fall. Of these last there were 
 several in the neighborhood, and by some means, some one or 
 more became acquainted with the part I had acted ; it became 
 known to the Tories by the same means. They swore revenge. 
 By some of the same people this was communicated to me, and 
 I was cautioned of the danger that awaited me. It was also 
 communicated to my father, and he advised me not to act in 
 that part any longer, else I would suffer the penalty if caught. 
 
 I took some alarm, and proposed enlisting in order to avoid 
 danger. My father counseled me otherwise ; he said the time 
 v r as at hand when volunteers would be called for, and by join¬ 
 ing them I would be equally safe; if I went to battle I stood 
 
24 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 as fair a chance ; besides, I would be less exposed, less fatigued, 
 and if there should be any time of resting, I could come home 
 and enjoy it; he said he had had some experience and learned 
 a lesson from that. 
 
 The British and Tories had overrun Georgia, and even 
 driven out the celebrated Clarke, with all his veterans, as far 
 as the very confines of North Carolina. All the south and 
 south-western parts of South Carolina were nearly subjugated, 
 and but a small part stood out with firmness, and that part it¬ 
 self divided. The British were pressing on Charleston, and had 
 eventually got possession of it, and now began to come “ squally 
 times.” So soon as Charleston fell, there was a proclamation 
 for all to come forward, submit, and take protection ; peace and 
 
 pardon should be granted. In order to expedite the business, 
 
 * ■ 
 
 there were officers sent out in various directions, with guards 
 
 or companies of men, to receive the submission of the people. 
 
 Vast numbers flocked in and submitted ; some through fear, 
 
 some through willingness, and others, perhaps, through a hope 
 
 that all things would settle down and war cease. But not so ; 
 
 there was some conditions annexed, that some of the patriots of 
 
 the dav could not submit to and therefore determined to hold 
 •/ 
 
 out a little longer. Among the officers sent out on this occasion, 
 there was one Lord Hook, who came up and stationed himself 
 at or near Fishing Creek at some distance below where we 
 lived. His proclamation came out and a day was appointed to 
 deliver his speeches. Almost all the men of families attended. 
 He got up, harangued the people in a very rough and insult¬ 
 ing manner and submitted his propositions for their acceptance. 
 Some bowed to his sceptre, but far the greater part returned 
 home without submitting. 
 
 I omitted to mention in the proper place, that in conversa¬ 
 tion with my father on the subject of enlistment, he observed 
 to me that should volunteers be called which he confidently an¬ 
 ticipated, that he would join the ranks ; he said, “ though over 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 25 
 
 i 
 
 age for the laws of my country to demand it, yet I think the 
 nature of the case requires the best energies of every man who 
 is a friend to liberty.” Not many miles distant from where this 
 Lord Hook, whom I have mentioned, had made his stand, there 
 v~as a set of ironworks called Billy Hill’s Ironworks, which were 
 very profitable, both to the proprietor and all the country 
 around. Lord Hook, provoked at the non-compliance of the 
 people, determined to take vengeance ; and to that end mustered 
 his forces, charged on the ironworks, killed several men, set 
 the works on fire, and reduced them to ashes. I must here relate 
 the expression of my father, when he returned home from Lord 
 Hook’s exhibition. My step-mother asked him thus : “ Well 
 
 Daniel, what news? ” My father replied, “ Nothing very pleasant, 
 I have come home determined to take my gun and when I lay 
 it down, I lay down my life with it; ” then turning to me said, 
 “ my son you may prepare for the worst; the thing is fairly at 
 issue. We must submit and become slaves, or fight. For my 
 part I am determined—to-morrow I will go and join Moffitt.” 
 Moffitt, while these things were transpiring, had been engaged 
 in raising volunteers, to be all mounted and ready at a minute’s 
 warning, to be called “ Minute Men.” He had already raised 
 about seventy men. A nomination of officers had taken place, 
 and he was unanimously chosen colonel of the troops. Accord¬ 
 ingly, next day we shouldered our guns and went to Moffitt. 
 The gun that I had to take was what was called a blue barrel 
 shot gun. When we presented ourselves, “Well,” said the 
 colonel to my father, “ Daniel, I suppose you intend to fight.” 
 My father said he had come to that conclusion. “ Well, James,” 
 he said to me, “ we shall have plenty for you to do, and two or 
 three more such, if they could all have as good luck as you. 
 We will try to take care of you and not let the Tories catch 
 you.” 
 
 In a few days there was a meeting of several officers, and 
 
 it was determined to attack Lord Hook, and take vengeance 
 4 
 
26 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 for the burning of the ironworks. The time and place was ap¬ 
 pointed for a rendezvous, several parties united in tlie plan, we 
 met, mounted on horseback, and advanced towards his lordship, 
 early in the morning. Not long after sunrise, we came in sight 
 of their headquarters, which were in a log building. In the 
 rear of the building was a large peach orchard ; at some dis¬ 
 tance behind the peach orchard we all dismounted and tied our 
 horses ; we then proceeded on foot through the orchard, think¬ 
 ing the peach trees would be a good safeguard, against the 
 charge of the horseman. We had not proceeded far until the 
 sentinels discovered us—fired on us and fled. The troops were 
 soon mounted and paraded. This, I confess, was a very impos¬ 
 ing sight, at least to me, for I had never seen a troop of British 
 horse before, and thought they differed vastly in appearance 
 from us—poor hunting-shirt fellows. The leader drew his sword, 
 mounted his horse, and began to storm and rave, and advanced 
 on us ; but we kept close to the peach orchard. When they had 
 got pretty near the peach trees, their leader called out, “ dis¬ 
 perse you d—d rebels, or I will put every man of you to the 
 sword.” Our rifle balls began to whistle among them, and in a 
 few minutes my Lord Hook was shot off his horse and fell at 
 full length ; his sword flew out of his hand as he fell and lay at 
 some distance, and both lay till some of his men gathered about 
 him and around him two or three times. At lenglit one halted 
 and pointed his sword downward, seemed to pause a moment, then 
 raising his sword, wheeled off and all started at full gallop. 
 We then moved on to the house without opposition, but all had 
 disappeared. In the yard sat two good looking fellows bleeding 
 pretty freely, their horses standing at no great distance : one 
 of whom was shot through the thigh. 
 
 Before the body of Hook was examined, two claimed the 
 honor of killing him; both showed their guns and named the 
 part of his body they had taken aim at, and both claimed the 
 swoid. One presented a large rifle, the other a very small 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 ■27 
 
 one. The person having the small gnn, cried, “ I shot him! I 
 shot him! I shot two balls which entered close under the ear.” 
 When Hook was examined, the two small balls were found to 
 have passed through the place as described. We then bound 
 up the wounds of the two men, took three swords, three brace 
 of pistols, some powder and lead, perhaps my Lord Hook's 
 watch, and but little else, and departed, every man for his own 
 place. For my own part, I fired my old shot gun only twice 
 in the action. I suppose I did no more harm than burning so 
 much powder. 
 
 
 * 
 
 & 
 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 MINUTE MEN. 
 
 ;HE ONLY man, in that section of country, who 
 had raised or commanded Minute Men, was 
 Moffitt. His ranks increased, in a short time, 
 to number one hundred and twenty-six, exclu¬ 
 sive of our officers. The Tories became enra¬ 
 ged at this deed of cruelty committed on their worthy 
 friends, and swore revenge. In a short time we got the 
 news that they were preparing to give us a blow, but of 
 their plans, we were ignorant. It was resolved that I should 
 go on another mission towards what was called “ upper Tories,” 
 to find out something, if practicable. I was mounted on a 
 pretty fleet nag, with orders to proceed with great caution. I 
 started on Saturday morning, took a circuitous route, and went 
 on until I had proceeded more than twenty miles, when I got 
 to the house of a man by the name of Oats, on whom I could 
 rely. He had a youug man living with him whom he had raised 
 from a child, being an orphan, named Crago. This man lived 
 near a strong Tory settlement, and was obliged to act with the 
 greatest caution. Crago was quite a pleasant fellow, well ac¬ 
 quainted among them, and appeared to be a great favorite with 
 the old women and boys. He had often been among them, cock 
 fighting, which was a favorite sport in those days, and he was 
 thought to be a great hand at the business. It was agreed that 
 
 Crago should ride with me next day, beiug Sunday. I was to 
 
 28 
 
29 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 pass as a companion of Crago’s, and bo altogether careless, 
 while Crago, in his own way, should elicit all the news he could. 
 It was understood, at the same time, that most of the men were 
 from home, except the old ones, a sure sign that there was a 
 movement on foot; but not having fully ascertained it, we start¬ 
 ed on our journey, halted at three or four houses, and found no 
 one at home, but some women and boys. They all saluted Cra¬ 
 go with some degree of kindness, yet we could get no satisfac¬ 
 tory news. They would all inquire if there was any news from 
 Moffitt, and make remarks intimating that lie w^ould meet with 
 a check before long. At length we came to another house, got 
 off our horses and went in ; here Crago, as usual, began to chat 
 with the old woman. It was my wish, and Crago knew it, that 
 I did not want to be known by name. I had taken up an old 
 book that lay close at hand, and was perusing the same, when 
 an old man entered the house, who had been out somewhere. He 
 saluted Crago, glanced his eye at me, and spoke to me, After 
 talking to Crago a few moments, he turned around on his seat 
 and said, “ what young man is this you have with you ? 77 “ Oh, 
 
 it’s a young man that lives away down yonder by my uncle’s. 77 
 “Well, 77 said the old man, “what news from your uncle’s?—are 
 all well ? 77 “Oh, yes. 77 “Well, does the young man bring 
 any news from Moffitt and his gang, and what they are doing ? 77 
 “ Oh, no, he is a young man that has been working at the tailor 
 business down by uncle’s and knows nothing about Moffitt, for 
 they never go in that quarter ,* they are always about Broad 
 Biver or Ticketty, or lower down. 77 “Well,” said the old man, 
 “ be they where they may, I think they will get something to do 
 before long. There is a great meeting of our friends to take 
 place upon Buffalo, next Thursday night, at Elliot’s, and they 
 are going to send down to the Brushy Fork and Sandy Biver 
 boys to be ready to join them, and I think if they all get to¬ 
 gether they will soon settle the business with Moffitt and all his 
 gang. There will be another meeting on the South Fork about 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A * 
 
 30 
 
 Ramsour’s before long; so I think we will have* the country- 
 dear before long.” “Well,” said Crago, “I wish they may 
 have good luck for the times are troublesome ; I wish they may 
 settle it at once.” “Settle it,” exclaimed the old man, “if they 
 would all give up as they ought to do, and as they will be com¬ 
 pelled to do at last, they might easily settle it and save a great 
 many lives and save their property besides ; but it will be set¬ 
 tled to their cost and that before long—you will see it then. 
 The King has men enough to conquer them without help and 
 
 more than half the people are on his side.” 
 
 All this time I had confined myself closely to my book, not 
 
 saying a word on either side, hoping my silence would keep me 
 from being questioned—and it did. It will here be remember¬ 
 ed, that I and Crago had often been together before, and were 
 no strangers to each other. We took dinner with the old man 
 and left him. with the spirit of prophecy still hanging upon him. 
 Crago and I returned to my friend Oats, in the evening, and 
 eommunicated the outlines of our adventure, staying all night. 
 In the morning early, I started on my way back, taking a dif¬ 
 ferent route from that which I had gone. After riding some 
 ten or twelve miles, I had to fall into a main road that passes 
 through the gap of King’s mountain. At this place lived a 
 man by the name of Dixon, a little advanced in years, having 
 a family—daughters, five in number, and two small boys. He 
 was in-good circumstances for the times, and lived in a very 
 public place, situated on the northern road, where all, passing 
 from above or below, had to cross the mountain, and there was 
 no other house on the road for about twenty miles. He kept a 
 .good farm and consequently was in a way of making something. 
 Here I halted, my appetite being up, to . get something to eat. 
 I was well acquainted with this man and his family, and was 
 under no apprehension of danger, seated at the table, with some 
 bread, butter, and milk before me, which I was always fond of. 
 While I was thus enjoying my meal, an old woman and a boy 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 31 
 
 rode up to tlie gate, mounted on a couple of small nags, with 
 some baggage on each. They alighted without ceremony, came 
 in the house, and appeared quite familiar with the place. “ Good 
 morning, Mr, Dixon,” said the woman. “ Good morning, Mrs, 
 Hedgepith,” he replied, shaking hands very cordially. The old 
 lady drew a pipe out of her pocket, went to the fire, after salu¬ 
 ting all the females, filled her pipe, and lighting the same, com¬ 
 menced smoking. “ La me! Mr. Dixon,” said she, “ I want 
 something to eat for myself and little son ; we have been riding 
 all morning—have not had a mouthful to eat and feel hungry.” 
 “ How far have you come ?” said Mr. Dixon. “ Why, clear 
 from Mr. Hopes, away down yonder. I would have stopped at 
 your brother’s, but I was afraid ; for they are a bad set down 
 about your brother’s there, you know. It was late too, but I 
 was afraid, and I kept on all the way to Mr. Hope’s, and it was 
 some time in the night before I got there. Mr. Hope asked us 
 to stay and get breakfast, but I was in a hurry and could not 
 stay : I thought I would stop at Henry’s, but there was five or 
 six men there, and I did not like to stop, for that is another bad 
 place you know. I was afraid they would serve me like they 
 did the last time I was up there ; I came up the other road, for 
 it is the nighest; I met with some of Moffitt’s set and they took 
 away my little son’s beast, and left us one between us. I had 
 papers then, and do you think they didn’t search all my pockets 
 and took all my papers, and my little boy’s beast in the bargain. 
 But I brought no papers this time ; so I think they will hardly 
 find out my business this time.” I happened to be present at 
 the time of the search, and discovery of the papers, and imme¬ 
 diately recognized the old woman and her son, and kept silent 
 all the while she was talking. The lady of the house observed 
 she had nothing cooked or ready, and told her she had better 
 have her horses stripped and wait for dinner, which would not 
 be long, saying at the same time, “ Come girls, it is time you 
 were getting dinner.” 11 Oh, la ! I cannot wait,” said the old 
 
32 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 woman, “ I am in a great hurry; I am obliged to be back day- 
 after-to-morrow. A little bread and milk will do if you have 
 it—I cannot wait for dinner.’ 7 “ Well, 77 said the woman, “ I 
 have plenty of bread and milk, but I would rather you would 
 stay and get something better. 77 “ Oh, la, no! no, I think I can¬ 
 not stay. 77 So the bread and milk being prepared, the woman 
 and son commenced on it with a good grace. The man of the 
 house winked at me, and began some inquiries. “Well, 77 said 
 he, “what is all the news below? 77 Oh, la, dear me! there is 
 none very good about us ; there is that old turkey-cock of a 
 Sumpter just below us and he has a troublesome set about him— 
 we can get no rest for them; and there’s Moffitt and his set has 
 been down close by us, not long since—I wonder where abouts 
 he is now?—haven’t heard lately. 77 The old man said, “they 
 were down about Turkey Creek ; where they are now I know 
 not.” “ Oh,” said the old woman, “ I believe it is hard to tell 
 where they are, for they never stay long in one place; but they 
 will all get plenty to do before long—they will find warmer 
 times than when they killed Lord Hook. There’s Neel, and 
 Watson, and Moffitt, and even old Billy Hill must have had a 
 hand in the business. I wish Billy Hill had another set of iron¬ 
 works to burn down • I’ll be bound he would soon have it done 
 for him,— and there is old Brattin and Frank Boss are no bet- 
 ter than the rest; they will get plenty to do before long to 
 keep them from searching old women’s pockets. The Sandy 
 River Boys are fixing for them, and they have heard that the 
 Upper Boys are getting ready to help them—I have come up 
 to see when they will be ready, and hurry them on. The Sandy 
 Biver Boys will all be ready by Saturday next, and they want 
 the Upper Boys to meet them on Sunday. I am going up to 
 old friend Ponder s ; he has some sons, smart fellows ; I know 
 they will help, and then I will go up to Floyd’s ; there will be 
 more help, and I know they will hurry on the others ; when 
 they all get together I think they will be able to settle with 
 
REVOLITIO'nAKY SOLDIER. 
 
 o O 
 
 oo 
 
 Moffitt, if they find him, and they will soon hunt him up. I 
 wonder your brother don’t know better; he lias some five sons 
 and he will ruin them all. 77 “ Ah, 77 said Dixon, “I have talked 
 with him on the subject, but there is no doing anything with 
 him : when he puts his head to anything he will have his own 
 way ; and in fact he had two sons with Moffitt at the time you 
 allude to—the killing of Lord Hook. 77 
 
 One of the young women gave me a significant look, in 
 which I thought there was some meaning, and walked out of 
 the house. There was a loomhouse stood close in the yard ; 
 she entered it and commenced weaving. Such was my confi¬ 
 dence in the family, that I thought they would conceal me by 
 any means, if any possible danger should approach, and I 
 have not changed my opinion yet, and have often thought that 
 women were better calculated for an enterprise of that kind, 
 and imminent emergencies, than men.. I walked slowly, and 
 passed through the yard, near the door of the loomhouse, which 
 stood open. The young woman beckoned me to come in ; I en¬ 
 tered, when she observed to me, “ You had better not stay here 
 too long ; there are three of those upper fellows now gone below 
 — they passed here this morning, and have gone down to Clark’s 
 Fork, five or six miles below ; I expect they are gone to try to 
 get some others about that part of the country to join them in 
 their meeting alluded to by that old woman in the house : they 
 said they were going to old G-s, and there is quite a num¬ 
 
 ber who will be sure to help them. 77 “ You had better. 77 contin¬ 
 ued she, “leave the road here, and go down by the way ot 
 McArthur’s : it is very little out of the way, and then you will 
 fall into the road near Henry’s, where you will be safe. If you 
 should keep the road you are now on, and should meet any of 
 those lower fellows, you will be known and your situation will 
 be unpleasant; it is too perilous a task for you to undertake. 
 I entreat you take my advice this time ; the old woman will 
 
 not find out anything about you. 77 In a few minutes T was 
 
 5 
 
34 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 mounted on my horse and was off in a tangent. I took the 
 way the young lady advised me, and passed on without inter¬ 
 ruption. In the meantime, Moffitt had moved off from the place 
 where 1 left him stationed, about four miles, in order to be near 
 a blacksmith shop, but care was taken that I should be directed 
 to the place. Late in the evening I arrived at the place of my 
 . destination. I found all the men busy. I gave as correct an 
 account as I could of all I had seen or heard during my absence, 
 which was listened to with earnestness by all who heard me. 
 
 It will be, perhaps, proper here to mention, that we were a 
 set of men acting entirely on our own footing, without tho 
 promise or expectation of any pay. There was nothing fur¬ 
 nished us from the public ; we furnished our own clothes, com¬ 
 posed of coarse materials, and all home spun ; our over dress 
 was a hunting shirt, of what was called linsey woolsey, well 
 belted around us. We furnished our own horses, saddles, bri¬ 
 dles, guns, swords, butcher knives, and our own spurs ; we got 
 our powder and lead as we could, and had often to apply to the 
 old women of the country, for their old pewter dishes and 
 spoons, to supply the place of lead ; and if we had lead sufficient 
 to make balls, half lead and the other pewter, we felt well sup¬ 
 plied. Swords, at first, were scarce, but we had several good 
 blacksmiths among us ; besides, there were several in the coun¬ 
 try. If we got hold of a piece of good steel, we would keep it ; 
 and likewise, go to all the sawmills, and take all the old whip 
 saws we could find, set three or four smiths to work, in one 
 shop, and take the steel we had, to another. In thi 3 wav we 
 soon had a pretty good supply of swords and butcher knives. 
 Mostly all of our spurs, bridle bits, and horsemen’s caps, were 
 manufactured by us. We would go to a turner or wheelwright, 
 and get head blocks turned, of various sizes, according to the 
 heads that had to wear them, in shape resembling a sugar loaf * 
 we would then get some strong upper, or light sole leather, cut 
 it out in shape, close it on the block, then grease it well with 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 tallow, and set it before a warm fire, still on the block, and 
 keep turning it round before the fire, still rubbing on the tab 
 low, until it became almost as hard as a sheet of iron ; we then 
 got two small straps or plates of steel, made by our own smiths, 
 of a good spring temper, and crossing in the centre above, one 
 reaching from ear to ear, the other, in the contrary direction; 
 the lining was made of strong cloth, padded with wool, and • 
 fixed so as to prevent the cap from pressing too hard on the 
 ears ; there was a small brim attached to the front, resembling 
 the caps now worn, a piece of bear skin lined with strong cloth, 
 padded with wool, passed over from the front to the back of the 
 head ; then a large bunch of hair taken from the tail of a horse, 
 generally white, was attached to the back part and hung down 
 the back ; then, a bunch of white feathers, or deer’s-tail, was 
 attached to the sides, which completed the cap. The cap was 
 heavy, but custom soon made it so that it could be worn with¬ 
 out inconvenience. We made the scabbards of our swords of 
 leather, by closing on a pattern of wood, and treating it similar 
 to the cap. Our swords and knives, we polished mostly with a 
 grindstone—not a very fine polish to be sure ; but they were of 
 a good temper, sharpened to a keen edge, and seldom failed to 
 do execution, when brought into requisition. 
 
 At these occupations they were busily engaged, when I re¬ 
 turned from my last excursion. My communication had been 
 received in private, only by the Colonel and a few ot his confi¬ 
 dential officers, and I was peremptorily charged not to divulge 
 the communication to any one. In fact when I was sent out on 
 any similar occasion, the business was known only to the colonel 
 and my father, and by the way, my father was promoted to the 
 rank of a brigade major. The troops still continued their prep¬ 
 arations for battle until Wednesday evening, when we were all 
 paraded, and orders given' to every man to look to his gun, and 
 see that it was in good order, report the amount of his stock of 
 powder and balls, see that it was in good order, and be reach to 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 36 
 
 inarch at a minute’s warning, on the next morning. Most of 
 the troops had by this time been pretty well furnished with swords; 
 for my own part I received one, the first I had ever used. Wc 
 carried no camp equipage, no cooking utensils, nor any thing to 
 encumber us ; we depended on what chance or kind providence 
 might cast in our way, and were always ready to decamp in a 
 short time, so that we were what might be called the harum* 
 scarum-ramstan boys—the ranting squad. Next morning pretty 
 early, we were mounted and under marching orders : few could 
 guess the object, but it was evident that there was something 
 in the wind ; we steered on in nearly a northern direction, so 
 that if our movement should be noticed, it might seem that we 
 were rather marching for Ilamsour’s, the other contemplated 
 place of rendezvous. In the evening, we turned more to the 
 west until we were within about twelve miles of the intended 
 place ; here wc halted near a farm, where we knew we had 
 friends, and obtained some provisions, and forage for our horses. 
 After placing out guards, we were directed to keep our horses 
 with the saddles, lie down on our arms, and be ready when call¬ 
 ed. We all laid down, the weather was warm and we needed 
 no fires ; some perhaps did not sleep, but for my part, I fell 
 asleep immediately : however, not many hours had passed until 
 we were called up, without much noise, and the nature of the 
 movement explained to all. We then mounted our horses, when 
 profound silence was enjoined on all. We had good guides, 
 who took the lead, and all followed ; not long before day, we 
 crossed the creek at a short distance above the place of our 
 destination ; we halted and sent out spies on foot, to ascertain 
 the position of the enemy, who soon returned bringing intelli¬ 
 gence that the enemy were posted in a large log building, hav¬ 
 ing three guards placed out—one.in the yard and the other two 
 at no great distance from each end of a long lane, through 
 which the main road passed by the house. 
 
 As soon as day broke, we again moved on slowlv, and in 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 37 
 
 silence, keeping the strip of woods between us and the building*, 
 in order to gain the main road, if possible, undiscovered. We 
 succeeded—got close to the road, halted, and again sent out 
 two or three men to make what discovery they could. They 
 soon returned, reporting that the house doors were open, that 
 the enemy were passing in and out, and appeared to apprehend 
 no alarm, We then formed into regular order, the sun now 
 being up, moved on, and were within a short distance of the 
 guard before we were discovered. The enemy began to rally, 
 but they had no time—we were too close upon them ; they fired 
 a few guns, but without effect, and fled, some leaving their guns ; 
 we w*ere in the yard by the time they issued from the house. 
 As we entered the yard, their leader came out, storming at his 
 men. He was shot down, and two others fell by his side, with 
 several of the guard ; the other guard advanced, but the rifle 
 balls stopped their progress, and they soon retreated. I 11 an 
 instant, after entering the yard, some of our men rushed into the 
 house ; the windows flew open, and the enemy tumbled out, one 
 over the other. Numbers of them fell in their hurry, and ran 
 some distance on all fours before they could recover their legs. 
 Others went helter skelter, most of them bareheaded, for a large 
 swamp on the creek, not far distant, though several were com¬ 
 pelled to halt by the way from the effect of our rifle balls. We - 
 took possession of most of their guns, which were stacked in the 
 yard, and also took several of them prisoners ; likewise, most 
 of their ammunition, swords, and pistols. When all was over, 
 we found that we had killed three of their best officers, and five 
 others ; sixteen were badly wounded. 
 
 On a large table set some decanters or rather 'cased bot¬ 
 tles, with some peach brandy in them ; our colonel ordered the 
 man of the house who had surrendered on our first entering, to 
 produce some more of his brandy, which was done. The men 
 were all paraded and the roll called 5 it was found that all 
 

 
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CHAPTER IV, 
 
 SKIRMISH WITH THE ENEMY. 
 
 IRECTING our course down Broad River) 
 we then marched, after thus defeating the 
 designs and stratagems of old Jezebel, which 
 she had concerted—to put Naboth to death 
 and obtain the vineyard. Her schemes were 
 all baffled, and so it would appear from the 
 whole history of this manoeuvre ; we, resting 
 our hopes under the strong and protecting arm of 
 freedom, which has paved the way and laid the 
 foundation of this great Republic. She had this 
 time carried no papers to betray her. We moved on 
 some miles, and encamped for the night, using at the 
 same time every precaution, knowing that we were 
 among enemies. Next morning, w^e learned that there was a 
 party gathering below us, at one Harrison’s, a noted Tory. 
 We immediately marched for the place, but when we arrived 
 there, all was silent, and not a man to be seen. One of those 
 Ponders, of whom I have spoken, being an active man, had 
 turned out in order to raise some recruits, for the purpose of 
 strengthening the parties contemplated by the old Jezabel. 
 They had collected, but by some means had got wind of us. 
 When we arrived, there were several women about the house } 
 inquiry was made if there had been some men there that morn¬ 
 ing? The replv was in the affirmative but they had gone 
 
 39 
 
40 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 two hours or more. “ Which way did they go? ” “ Oh ! they 
 went off down that way some place, but we don’t know where.” 
 AVe moved off our road, passed round part of the farm, and a 
 rough thicket on the other side. Before we had proceeced far 
 one of our men observed : “1 don't like the looks of those 
 
 women ; those fellows are not far off, perhaps looking at us now.” 
 AVe had not proceeded more than half way round the fence, when 
 all at once we were saluted with the report of twenty or per¬ 
 haps thirty guns out of the thicket, and the whizzing of the 
 balls about our heads. Down came two of our men just ahead 
 of where I was; one soon recovered his feet, but the other in 
 attempting to rise would stagger and fall. The thicket was not 
 very extensive and a part of the men in front dashed on to go 
 round it: some in the rear wheeled the other way, while a num- 
 ber of the centre dismounted near the wounded to defend them. 
 In a few moments four men advanced from the thicket, within a 
 short distance, Bonder, being at their head. I saw my father 
 level his gun at Bonder ; both fired nearly at the same instant; 
 Bonder’s gun fell from his hands; Bonder wheeled and moved 
 off in haste, leaving his gun, the others following his example. 
 A few guns fired on the other side of the thicket; the enemy 
 had retreated down a steep hill into a creek swamp, pursued by 
 
 our men, who soon returned. It was discovered that one of the 
 • 
 
 men who fell at the first fire, by the name of AVatson, a lieu¬ 
 tenant, was uninjured ; his horse was shot dead under him. 
 The other, named Burns, was shot in the hip, the ball passing 
 through the hind tree of his saddle, entered his hip and lodged 
 against the bone, just below the hip-joint. AVe picked up Bon¬ 
 der’s gun, an excellent rifle, then supporting our wounded man 
 on a horse, we bore him to a house at no great distance, where 
 we constructed a litter and conveyed him to a place of safety. 
 The ball was extracted, and it was but a few weeks until he 
 was again in the field. In a few days we ascertained that 
 Bonder had been shot through the wrist, so as to prevent him 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 41 
 
 from using a gun any more. Harrison was slightly wounded 
 through the fleshy part of the arm. In a few days it was ascer¬ 
 tained that the meeting had taken place at Ramsour’s. We mus¬ 
 tered and started for the place, but we were too late ; we arriv¬ 
 ed at the place in the evening, where we found our friends in¬ 
 stead of enemies. A Capt. Falls, with some other officers, and 
 a party of men from North Carolina, had attacked them in the 
 early part of the day, and entirely defeated them; there were 
 several killed on both sides and among the rest Capt. Falls him¬ 
 self lay dead. After assisting some of the wounded and help¬ 
 ing to bury the dead belonging to our own side, we retreated 
 to our own place. The Tory party on the west side of Broad 
 River, were numerous ; they began to muster up and threaten 
 us; they commenced house burning and plundering. Among 
 their leaders was one called Bill Cunningham, a man that will 
 be execrated by some of the descendants of the sufferers, per¬ 
 haps to generations yet unborn. Women were insulted, and 
 stripped of every particle of decent clothing they might have on, 
 and every article of bedding, clothing or furniture was taken— 
 knives, forks, dishes, spoons, in fact everything that could be 
 carried off. Not a piece of meat or a pint of salt was left. 
 They even entered houses where men lay sick of the small-pox, 
 that they knew were opposed to them, dragged them out of 
 their sick beds into the yard and put them to death, in cold 
 blood, in presence of their wives and children, or relatives. 
 We were too weak to repel them, and it seemed as though they 
 had been let loose from the bottomless pit, to execute infernal 
 vengeance on all that disobeyed the mandates of the British. 
 It seemed like our time, to suffer in the flesh, was at hand. In 
 order to save ourselves a little longer, it was determined to join 
 Sumpter, below, but we jumped out of the frying pan into the 
 fire; we met Sumpter retreating rapidly ; we joined in the 
 retreat until we came to Fishing Creek, a place where it was 
 
 thought we could halt in safe tv, and rest, but not so. Sumpter 
 6 
 
42 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 encamped on the main road, near the creek ; we were encamped 
 a short distance above, on his left, where another road crossed 
 the creek ; there was a guard or picket posted at a short dis¬ 
 tance in the rear ; the men were all fatigued ; some had kindled 
 fires and were cooking and eating ; others tumbled down and 
 were fast asleep, and all scattered in every direction. We had 
 drawn some provisions, and forage for our horses, and were 
 engaged in about the same way, with, however, but few asleep. 
 Our horses were mostly close at hand, and but few saddles off ; 
 all at once the picket guns gave the alarm—they retreated on 
 the main body with the enemy at their heels. Before Sumpter 
 could wake up his men and form, the enemy were among them 
 cutting down everything in their way. Sumpter, with all the 
 men he had collected, retreated across the creek at the main 
 road, leaving the remainder to the mercy of the enemy. It was 
 a perfect rout, and an indiscriminate slaughter. No quar¬ 
 ter was given; we were preparing in all haste to secure 
 our own safety. The greater part of our number dashed through 
 the creek, at the fording place, and pushing on with all possible 
 speed, reached the highland. After we had gotten fairly to the 
 top of the hill, we halted. No enemy appeared, and we re¬ 
 mained quiet for some time, waiting for some of our men, who 
 were missing ; but no tidings—no one, neither friend or foe ap¬ 
 pearing. There had been but little firing, except the pistols of 
 the enemy, and all seemed to be silent. At length a few blasts 
 of the bugle brought some of our men in sight, who in their 
 hurry had missed the fording place, and had gone up the creek 
 where they found it difficult to pass, and were looking for our 
 trail. Near sunset, a few more came up, but there were still 
 some missing, of whom we could hear nothing. We then left 
 the road, keeping a high, open ridge and went off some distance ; 
 night coming on, we dismounted in the woods and tied our 
 horses ; we had nothing for man or beast to eat, and the weath¬ 
 er being warm, (August,) we kindled no fires. We lay down, 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 43 
 
 every man with his sword by his side, his gun in his hands, 
 and his pistol near his head. All were silent, for we expected 
 the whole army had been taken prisoners, or put to the sword. 
 
 After I had laid down, I began to refleet. Well, thought 
 I, if this be the fate of war, I would willingly be excused. I 
 devised several plans to get out of the scrape, but none appear¬ 
 ed likely to have the desired effect. The thing had gone too 
 far, and there was no safety in retreating. At length, weary 
 with thinking, I fell asleep. Before it was light, in the morn¬ 
 ing, we were all up, and on enquiry, it was found that five of 
 our number were missing. It was resolved that we should re¬ 
 turn to the battle ground ; a few spies having been sent forward, 
 we followed at some distance. When we arrived, there was 110 
 appearance of the enemy—all was silent. In a few moments, a 
 party of Sumpter's men made their appearance, crossing the 
 ereek. The dead and wounded lay scattered in every direction 
 over the field ; numbers lay stretched cold and lifeless; some 
 were yet struggling in the agonies of death, while here and 
 there, lay others, faint with the loss of blood, almost famished 
 for water, and begging for assistance. The scene before me, I 
 could not reconcile to my feelings, and I again began to repent 
 that I had ever taken any part in the matter; however, by cus¬ 
 tom, such things become familiar. We commenced our search^ 
 and soon found two of our own party, one named Enloe, and 
 the other Jackson, some distance apart, both setting up, unable 
 to walk without assistance, and mangled by the sword. The 
 other three we could not find among the living or the dead ; 
 what their fate was, we never knew, for we never heard of them 
 afterwards. One was a lieutenant named Bryan, one of our 
 most active men. We collected all the wounded we could ; but 
 poor fellows, we had little nourishment to give them; they all 
 craved water, and even the little they received, seemed to re¬ 
 vive them. We then began to look out some provisions, for 
 ourselves and horses ; we found corn lying about in many pla- 
 
44 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 ces, that had not been consumed the day before, and there were 
 several kettles, setting about, where the fire had been kindled, 
 with provisions ready cooked—and provisions scattered about 
 on the ground in various places. There was no time for choos¬ 
 ing, and every man ate whatever he got hold of, asking no 
 questions; then, taking a glass of cold water, we all felt some 
 what braced up. There were several horses grazing about the 
 old field, that appeared to be nearly worn out, some with bridles 
 and saddles on, others without. 
 
 The guns lay scattered over the field, also various articles 
 of camp equipage. Among the guns there was one picked up, 
 a good looking rifle, with a shot-bag and all the apparatus be¬ 
 longing. The gun had apparently been laid down by some one 
 who intended taking a little sleep., in order to have her ready 
 when he awoke. The gun was presented to the Colonel, and 
 after viewing her some time, he observed “ Well, boys I have a 
 use for this gun—I shall have to claim her as my part of the 
 spoils.” Then calling me up, said, ‘‘Well, James, you have 
 been wanting a rifle for some time ; here is one I think will 
 suit you; she is light, and I think, a good one ; she has an ex¬ 
 cellent lock ; lay down your little shot-gun ; take her, and take 
 good care of her ; I think you can do better with her than with 
 the little shot-gun.” A Capt. Chambers, who stood by, exclaim¬ 
 ed, “That is right colonel, you have made a good disposition of 
 the gun. I hope we shall have need of James, yet; he seems 
 to be a lucky boy, and it is well to encourage him.” I confess 
 it had the effect of a stimulent, and in some measure reconciled 
 me to my lot. After giving what help we could in burying the 
 dead, in haste,—poor fellows it was badly done,—we caught two 
 of the best looking horses we could find, and placing our two 
 wounded men upon them, and supporting them as well as we 
 could, we moved off, taking with us no plunder, (or very little) 
 of what was considered of right to belong to Sumpter’s men, 
 being the property of their companions who had fallen. All 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 45 
 
 the baggage, and everything valuable, had fallen into the hands 
 of the enemy, and they had taken it off. We got to a house, a 
 few miles distant, where we obtained some nourishment for the 
 wounded, and finding an old horse-cart, we placed them in it, 
 and next day, got them to their home, where they both recover¬ 
 ed, but not without being much disfigured by their wounds. 
 
 / 
 
 
 
 V - * 
 
CHAPTER Y. 
 
 SCOUTING. 
 
 N xl BAD BOX, we now were, for tlie enemy 
 was increasing in power. There was a small 
 section of country that was united, lying partly 
 in North, and partly in South Carolina. To 
 this we were confined ; we kept a flying camp> 
 never staying long in one place—never camp¬ 
 ing near a public road. We were often invi¬ 
 ted by our friends, who were able to afford it, to 
 partake of a dinner prepared for us; in these cases 
 there was a long table, prepared of planks, set in 
 an open place, at some distance from the house. Never 
 stripping off saddles, and only unbitting our bridles, our 
 horses were put to feed, placing a guard over them, and 
 then placing out sentinels ; each one sat down with his sword by 
 his side; his gun lying across his lap, or under the seat on 
 which he sat, and so eating in his turn, until all were done, and 
 then often as playful as though there was no danger ; we then 
 mounted our horses and moved off. We were sometimes di¬ 
 vided into two companies, still keeping up a communication, so 
 as to know the movements of each other. While lying at 
 camp, one day, on the background of a large farm of one of 
 our friends, the report came in that a large party of Tories were 
 advancing to invade our territory, and give us a scourging, and 
 get some plunder. After some consultation among the officers, 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 47 
 
 the colonel called me up, saying : “ James, I have some busi¬ 
 ness for you to do, and recollect, much depends on your perform¬ 
 ance.” Then giving the outlines of the duty required, said) 
 “ You are acquainted with all the passways—you are light 
 and a good rider; I will send James Kidd with you.” He 
 was a little more talkative 'than myself, but by no means infe¬ 
 rior as a rider. “You must by all means avoid being taken 
 prisoner, for much depends on your safe return.” 
 
 There was a place about live or six miles distant where 
 two public ways met; a large farm extended all around the 
 buildings ; there were three lanes by this place through which 
 the enemy must necessarily pass, to arrive at the place where 
 we encamped. We were directed to go and gain information ; 
 the owner of the farm was with us in camp, and was afraid to 
 appear at home. In the evening, about sunset, we approached 
 the end of one of the lanes, and taking a view, could see no 
 kind of danger : we then rode up to the house, concluding if 
 danger appeared in one lane, we could run out at the other. 
 The woman of the house informed us, that she had had intelli¬ 
 gence in the early part of the day, that the enemy were not far 
 distant, and were momentarily expected; that they could not 
 be, according to the best information, more than two miles dis¬ 
 tant. By this time, it was in the dusk of the evening. Seeing 
 no danger, we rode off through one of the lanes, and after 
 passing out a little distance on the way that we intended taking, 
 turned off; just as we arrived at the spot, we heard some noise 
 ahead—we halted and discovered a crowd advancing—we 
 wheeled off in silence, but were discovered—they hailed us but 
 we made no reply, hoping they would not pursue. In a moment 
 a voice roared out, “ Stop, you d—d rascals, or we will shoot 
 you.” There was was a small creek ahead—we passed that at 
 a pretty brisk rate, when we heard the pursuit commence, 
 and a voice exclaim, “ Damn the buggers, we will have them! ” 
 “In a minute, now,” thought I; “do thy speedy utmost, ‘Meg/ 
 
48 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY 
 
 or I may be troubled with a halter.” I reckon that Tam 
 O’Shanter did not urge his flight with more energy from the 
 witches of Kirk Alloway, than we did. We were well mount¬ 
 ed and unincumbered, which perhaps gave us some advantage. 
 Having confidence in my nag and my own horsemanship, and 
 knowing my companion to be nothing inferior, we pressed on 
 at full speed. After running about a mile, or perhaps a little 
 more, we completely distanced our pursuers. There was a 
 small path turned off to the right, which we intended taking ; 
 we suddenly tacked, and after leaving the road a short distance, 
 we halted and stood still. The noise of their own horses had 
 prevented them from hearing our tack—they came on under a 
 crowd of sail, and went along the road—we could see their 
 shadows as they passed, but it was too dark to count them. 
 After they had passed us we moved off a short distance far¬ 
 ther and remained silent; after some time, they returned along 
 the road, talking pretty loud, and making some remarks about 
 the chase. As soon as they were out of hearing, we moved off 
 in silence, and in a short time arrived at camp to make our 
 report. 
 
 How many were in pursuit of us, I know not—it would 
 seem to me, from the noise there must have been ten or a doz¬ 
 en. It was determined that next morning we should fall on 
 their rear, and give them a brush, but we were too late—they 
 had taken a different direction from the one calculated, and be¬ 
 fore we could strike their trail they were too far gone for us 
 to pursue them in safety. 
 
CHAPTER VL 
 
 BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN. 
 
 T THIS TIME, there was Clarke, from 
 Georgia, with his adherents, driven to 
 take refuge in the confines of North 
 Carolina. There was a communication 
 between him and Moffitt. There were 
 two parties of Tories posted on the west 
 side of Broad River; one at a place 
 
 called Black Stock, the other, lower down at a place called 
 Musgrove’s Mills. It was agreed that we should attack both 
 places at the same time, if possible. It fell to our lot to attack 
 at Black Stock, while Clarke was to attack Musgrove’s ; both 
 parties succeeded in driving away the enemy. We had five 
 men wounded—three badly though not mortally, the other two 
 slightly ; while Clarke had several wounded and one or two 
 killed. What number the enemy lost 1 cannot say at this time, 
 but they had several killed and wounded at both places. We 
 all took care to secure what powder and balls we could in such 
 cases, never encumbering ourselves with heavy plunder. As 
 soon as the business was over, we fixed up our wounded as well 
 as we could, and moved off. We had not proceeded far, till we 
 fell in with a number of families, perhaps fifty, or more, push¬ 
 ing on with all possible speed to take refuge in North Carolina, 
 Some had wagons, some had packs, all the company being, old 
 men, women, and boys. We placed our wounded in some of the 
 
 7 
 
 40 
 
50 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 wagons, and guarded the whole until we got across Broa^ 
 River ; we then took the wounded and conveyed them to a place 
 of safety, where they recovered. Among the -wounded, was one 
 of our best blacksmiths, by the name of Shaw. In a few weeks 
 our danger began to increase ; Ferguson was coming on with 
 his boasted marksmen, and seemed to threaten the destruction 
 of the whole country. The Tories were flocking to his standard 
 from every quarter, and there appeared little safety for us ; but 
 as God would have it, a patriotic party sprung up about Hills¬ 
 boro, North Carolina, under Colonels Campbell, Williams, 
 Shelby, and Cleveland ; Sevier, from the mountains, joined in, 
 together with Hamright, and some other leaders. As they ad¬ 
 vanced their numbers kept augmenting : our chance of safety 
 was to join, if possible, the advancing patriots, to accomplish 
 which, we passed on through North Carolina ; but before w r e 
 reached them, the army had passed. We fell in their rear, took 
 their trail, and pushed on till w r e overtook them without being 
 intercepted. It had been expected, that Ferguson would cross 
 Broad River, high up, and they would meet him on his march. 
 But he had turned his course; took a road to the right, and 
 steered more to the east, towards Charlotte in North Carolina, 
 thus steering right through our section of country. Our army 
 fell in his rear, at no great distance behind and took his trail 
 and commenced pursuit. The spies brought in news that he had 
 crossed Broad River at a place called the Cherokee Ford, and 
 had made a stand. He had taken a position at a small distance 
 down the river, below the crossing place ; having the river on 
 one side, a high rocky ridge on the other, and a large old field 
 fronting where we must of necessity cross the river. The pur¬ 
 suing army had not a single baggage waggon or any kind of 
 camp equipage ; every one ate what he could get, and slept in 
 his own blanket, sometimes eating raw turnips, and often re¬ 
 sorting to a little parched corn, which by the by, I have often 
 thought, if a man would eat a mess of parched corn and swal- 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 51 
 
 low two or three spoonfuls of honey, then take a good draught 
 of cold water, he could pass longer without suffering than with 
 any other diet he could use. On Friday evening, we came to 
 the river, with the the full expectation of meeting them, and 
 being attacked in crossing : we passed over but no enemy ap¬ 
 peared. The enemy had moved on, I think, about nine miles, 
 and made a stand on a place called King’s Mountain, and de¬ 
 termined to give battle. We had encamped for the night, on 
 the ground the enemy had left; on Saturday morning, October 
 7th, 1780, we were paraded, and harangued in a short manner, 
 on the prospect before us. The sky was overcast with clouds, 
 and at times a light mist of rain falling* our provisions were 
 scanty, and hungry men are apt to be fractious ; each one felt 
 Iris situation ; the last stake was up and the severity of the 
 game must be played ; everything was at stake—life, liberty, 
 property, and even the late of wife, children and friends, seemed 
 to depend on the issue j death or victory was the only way to 
 escape suffering. Near two o’clock in the afternoon we came 
 in sight of the enemy, who seemed to be fully prepared to 
 give battle at all risks. When we came up, we halted, and 
 formed in order of battle, Shelby happened to be in command 
 that day as every colonel took command day about. The men 
 were disposed of in three divisions—the right was commanded 
 by Cleveland and Sevier, the left by Campbell and Williams, 
 and the centre by Shelby and Hamright. The enemy was 
 posted on a high, steep and rugged ridge, or spur of the moun¬ 
 tain, very difficult of access, with a small stream of water run¬ 
 ning on each side : along each stream was a narrow strip of 
 flat ground. The plan was, to surround the mountain and at¬ 
 tack them on all sides, if possible. In order to do this, the left 
 had to march under the fire of the enemy to gain the position 
 assigned to them, on the stream on the right of the enemy, 
 while the right was to take possession of the other stream ; in 
 doing this they were not exposed, the cliff being so steep as to 
 
52 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 cover them completely. Each leader made a short speech in 
 his own way to his men, desiring every coward to be off imme¬ 
 diately ; here I confess I would willingly have been excused, 
 for my feelings were not the most pleasant—this may be attrib¬ 
 uted to my youth, not being quite seventeen years of age—but 
 I could not well swallow the appellation of coward. I looked 
 around ; every man’s countenance seemed to change ; well, 
 thought I, fate is fate, everv man's fate is before him and he 
 
 O’ 7 •/ 
 
 has to run it out, which I am inclined to think vet. I was 
 commanded this day by Major Chronicle and Capt. Watson. 
 We were soon in motion, every man throwing four or five balls 
 in his mouth to prevent thirst, also to be in readiness to reload 
 quick. The shot of the enemy soon began to pass over us like 
 hail; the first shock was quickly over, and for my own part, 
 I was soon in a profuse sweat. My lot happened to be in the 
 centre, where the severest part of the battle was fought. We 
 soon attempted to climb the hill, but were fiercely charged upon 
 and forced to fall back to our first position ; we tried a second 
 time, but met the same fate ; the fight Then seemed to become 
 more furious. Their leader, F.erguson, came in full view, within 
 rifle shot as if to encourage his men, who by this time were fall¬ 
 ing very fast; he soon disappeared. We took to the hill a 
 third time; the enemy gave way ; when we had gotten near the 
 top, some of our leaders roared out, “ Hurra, my brave fellows! 
 Advance! They are crying for quarter ” 
 
 By this time, the right and left had gained the top of the 
 cliff; the enemy was completely hemmed in on all sides, and no 
 chance of escaping—besides, their leader had fallen. They soon 
 thiew down their arms and surrendered. After the fight was 
 over, the situation of the poor Tories appeared to be really 
 pitiable ; the dead lay in heaps on all sides, while the groans of 
 the wounded were heard in every direction. I could not help 
 turning away from the scene before me, with horror, and though 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 53 
 
 exulting in victory, could not refrain from shedding tears.— 
 “ Great God !” said I, “ Is this the fate of mortals, or was it for 
 this cause that man was brought into the world ?” 
 
 On examining the dead body of their great chief, it appear¬ 
 ed that almost fifty rifles must have been leveled at him, at the 
 same time ; seven rifle balls had passed through his body, both 
 of his arms were broken, and his hat and clothing were literally 
 shot to pieces. Their great elevation above us had proved their 
 ruin ; they overshot us altogether, scarce touching a man, ex¬ 
 cept those on horseback, while every rifle from below, seemed 
 to have the desired effect. In this conflict I had fired my rifle 
 six times, while others had perhaps fired nine or ten. I had by 
 this time learned to shoot a rifle pretty well, was not a bad 
 hand in the second class, and had come to this conclusion : never 
 to retreat alone, ihoot without an object, or lay down my gun 
 until the last extremity ; for, thought I, a gun, though empty, 
 might keep an enemy at bay. Whether I effected any thing or 
 not, is unknown to me. My first shot I ever doubted, for I 
 really had a shake on me at the time; but that soon passed 
 over, and I took the precaution to conceal myself as well as 
 I could, behind a tree or rock, of which there were plenty, and 
 take as good aim as possible. 
 
 Next morning, which was Sunday, the scene became really 
 |j distressing ; the wives and children of the poor Tories came in, 
 in great numbers. Their husbands, fathers, and brothers, lay 
 dead in heaps, while others lay wounded or dying; a melan¬ 
 choly sight indeed! while numbers of the survivors were doom¬ 
 ed to abide the sentence of a court martial, and several were 
 i actually hanged. As regards the numbers that fell, authors 
 have disagreed ; yet none have overrated the number. I know 
 our estimate, at the time, was something over three hundred.— 
 We proceeded to bury the dead, but it was badly done ; they 
 were thrown into convenient piles, and covered with old logs, 
 | the bark of old trees, and rocks ; yet not so as to secure them 
 
54 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY 
 
 from becoming a prey to the beasts of the forest, or the Miltirros 
 of the air ; and the wolves became so plenty, that it was dan¬ 
 gerous for any one to be out at night, for several miles around ; 
 also, the hogs in the neighborhood, gathered in to the place, to 
 devour the flesh of men, inasmuch as numbers chose to live on 
 , litlle meat rather than eat their hogs, though they were fat; 
 half of the dogs in the country were said to be mad, and were 
 put to death. I saw, myself, in passing the place, a few weeks 
 after, all parts of the human frame, lying scattered in every 
 direction. As God would have it, there had but few of our 
 
 4 
 
 men been slain—fifteen or sixteen—but of that number some of 
 our bravest men • Colonels Williams, and Hamright, with Ma¬ 
 jors Chronicle, and some other distinguished men, had fallen. 
 These we buried in the flat ground under the hill, .near where 
 the battle commenced, and I expect their graces are to be seen 
 there to this day. 
 
 Of the troop, or company, to which I belonged, we had two 
 badly wounded : one, a lieutenant, by the name of Watson, the 
 other, a private, named Caldwell ; we carried them to their 
 own homes, in the evening, where they both died, in a few days. 
 Poor fellows! they were raised together, fought together, died 
 nearlv at the same time iu the same house, and lie buried to- 
 gether. In the evening, there was a distribution made of the 
 plunder,.and we were dismissed. My father and myself drew 
 two fine horses, two guns, and some articles of clothing, with a 
 share of powder and lead ; every man repaired to his tent, or 
 home. It seemed like a calm, after a heavy storm had passed 
 over, and for a short time, every man could visit his home, or 
 his neighbor, without being afraid. After the result of the 
 battle was known, we seemed to gather strength, for many that 
 before lay neutral, through fear or some other cause, shouldered 
 their guns, and fell in the ranks ; some of them making good 
 soldiers. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 BATTLE OF THE COWPENS. 
 
 OWEVER, affairs could not long remain 
 s ^ ua ^ 011 ' The British and Tories 
 Vwere still in strength below, and also on 
 
 the west side of Broad River ; besides,. 
 Georgia was infested with them. It be¬ 
 came necessary for us to be again in mo¬ 
 tion ; the Tories were mustering up in small parties, to seek 
 revenge, and we again set out to chastise them. Those Pon¬ 
 ders, of whom I have before spoken, were still using all their 
 exertions. It was determined, if possible, to get hold of some 
 of them. For that purpose, we passed above King’s Mountain, 
 and got into their ranging ground, but they eluded us. Here, I 
 was put to a trial that I have not forgotten, nor never will forget. 
 We had caught the old father of the clan that we were in 
 search of; he was a very old, grayheaded man, and was brought 
 before the colonel and threatened with instant death unless he 
 would tell where his sons were. The old man declared he did 
 not know, but being still threatened, he fell on his knees, laid 
 off his hat and began to beg for his life. ITe no doubt thought 
 his life was at stake. While he was in this situation a man in 
 the company took me aside, and holding a long spear in his 
 hand, with a handle perhaps six or eight feet long, said, “ I 
 
 want you to take this spear and run it through that d—d old 
 
 55 
 
 i 
 
56 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY Ofr A 
 
 Tory ; lie ought to die.” “No,” said I, “lie is too old ; besides 
 the colonel would never forgive me; he is a prisoner and he 
 don't intend to kill him.” “ Oh,” said he, “I can easily plead 
 you off with the colonel; ” then putting his hand in his pocket 
 he drew out a purse of money, saying, “Here is twenty dob 
 lars—[showing the silver]—I will give you this to kill him.” 
 I felt insulted. I thought he underrated mv real character, and 
 thought that through my youth and inexperience, he would bribe 
 me to do a deed that he himself Would be ashamed of. I turn¬ 
 ed away, saying, “ It will take but one to do it, and you can do 
 it as easily as I can.” I thank God, I escaped the temptation, 
 for I verily believe had I committed the deed, the ghost of that 
 old man would have haunted me to this day ; but 1 thank God, 
 I never had a desire to take away the life of any man, even my 
 worst enemy. A man in battle, or in the heat of passion, 
 might deem it necessary, but after much reflection, I am inclined 
 to think that no man, possessed of the spirit of real patriotism, 
 would seek revenge by taking away his enemy’s life. At all 
 events it gave me a dislike to the man that made the proposal, 
 and I never thought favorably of him afterwards. I knew him 
 a number of years after ; he at last ran distracted and died so, 
 and I have often thought that he was rotten at the core, and 
 consequently remorse had overtaken him, for something wrong. 
 However, the poor old Tory was set at liberty, after getting a 
 friendly admonition from the colonel. It was not long until it 
 became necessary for us to seek safety by joining Morgan, who 
 was encamped at the Cowpens, but we were not permitted fo 
 remain long idle, for Tarleton came on like a thunder storm, 
 which soon put us to our best mettle. After the tidings of his 
 approach came into camp,—in the night,—we were all awakened, 
 ordered under arms, and formed in order of battle by day¬ 
 break. About sunrise on the 17th January, 1781, the enemy 
 came in full view. The sight, to me at least, seemed somewhat 
 imposing; they halted for a short time, and then advanced 
 
 l 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. ^ 
 
 rapidly, as if certain of victory. The militia under Pickins 
 and Moffitt, was posted on the right of the regulars 
 some distance in advance, while Washington’s cavalry was 
 stationed in the rear. We gave the enemy one fire, when they 
 charged us with their bayonets; we gave way and retreated 
 for our horses, Tarleton’s cavalry pursued us ; (“ now,” thought 
 I, “my hide is in the loft;”) just as we got to our horses, 
 they overtook us and began to make a few hacks at some, how¬ 
 ever, without doing much injury. They, in their haste, had 
 pretty much scattered, perhaps, thinking they would have an¬ 
 other Fishing creek frolic, but in a few moments, Col. Washing- 
 ion’s cavalry was among them, like a whirlwind, and the poor 
 fellows began to keel from their horses, without being able to 
 remount. The shock was so sudden and violent, they could not 
 stand it, and immediately betook themselves to flight; there 
 was no time to rally, and they appeared to be as hard to stop as 
 n drove of wild Choctaw steers, going to a Pennsylvania market. 
 In a few moments the clashing of swords was* out of hearing 
 <and quickly out of sight; by this time, both lines of the in¬ 
 fantry were warmly engaged and we being relieved from the 
 pursuit of the enemy began to rally and prepare to redeem our 
 credit, when Morgan rode up in front, and waving his sword, 
 cried out, “ Form, form, my brave fellows! give them one more 
 fire and the day is ours. Old Morgan was never beaten.” We 
 then advanced briskly, and gained the right flank of the ene¬ 
 my, and they being hard pressed in front, by Howard, and fall¬ 
 ing very fast, could not stand it long. They began to throw 
 down their arms, and surrender themselves prisoners of war. 
 The wdiole army, except Tarleton and his horsemen, fell into the 
 hands of Morgan, together with all the baggage. After the 
 fight was over, the sight was truly melancholy. The dead on 
 the side of the British, exceeded the number killed at the bat¬ 
 tle of King’s Mountain, being if I recollect aright, three hun¬ 
 dred, or upwards. The loss, on the side of the Americans, was 
 8 
 
58 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 
 
 only fifteen or sixteen, and a few slightly wounded. This day, 
 I fired my little rifle five times, whether with any effect or not, 
 I do not know. Next day after receiving some small share of 
 the plunder, and taking care to get as much powder as we 
 could, we (the militia) were disbanded and returned to our old 
 haunts, where we obtained a few day’s rest 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 A HAZARDOUS ADVENTURE. 
 
 S UT OUR REST did not last long. About this time, 
 Cornwallis commenced his pursuit of Morgan, and 
 would consequently pass, with his whole army, within 
 twelve miles of where we were. It was thought ad¬ 
 visable, by Moffitt, to send some communication to Col. David¬ 
 son, who was encamped near Charlotte, in North Carolina. It 
 was determined that I should become the bearer of the dis¬ 
 patches ; the task was somewhat hazardous, for all parties were 
 in motion, and times pretty squally. Col. Moffitt communi¬ 
 cated the business to me alone, keeping it a profound secret 
 from all the men, except three or four of his confidential officers; 
 at the same time, secrecy was enjoined, advising great caution, 
 and the avoidance of all public roads, as much as possible. In 
 order to do this I was compelled to take a circuitous route. I 
 was at that time acquainted with the country and all the private 
 ways through which I had to pass. Laying aside all kinds of 
 arms, and every thing that might make any show of hostility, 
 putting on a hunting shirt and hat, and being lightly equipped, 
 I was prepared to start. I was mounted on a mare that I com' 
 monly rode, not of the fleetest kind for a short distance, but of 
 bottom sufficient to bear her out in a long race. The morning 
 was far advanced when I started ; I had perhaps gone four or 
 
 five miles, when I was compelled to fall into a public road, 
 
 59 
 
60 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 which I had to keep for a short distance. When I entered the 
 road, I looked to the right and saw a company of men, at a 
 distance, coming at a smart gait. I thought from their appear¬ 
 ance, they might be friends ; but friends or foes, I had no wish 
 to be examined ; I therefore urged the pace of my nag a little. 
 I looked back, and saw some of them beckoning for me to stop* 
 but I did not obey the signal; I saw four of the company ad¬ 
 vance immediately to the front and put forward, in a brisk gal¬ 
 lop, after me. I moved on, at about half speed, when my way 
 turned off to the right; leaving the main road, I hoped the 
 pursuit would end, but not so—it seemed rather to urge them 
 on. They had by this time gained on me considerably, though 
 not within shooting distance ; they began to halloa to me to 
 stop or they would fire. I then determined to try their speed ; 
 knowing that they were encumbered with their arms, and I 
 thus having the advantage, I put my nag to the top of her speed 
 ♦and soon began to distance them. From where the race com¬ 
 menced, I had two miles to run to where there was a farm, and 
 a long lane to pass through ; I had a short hill to run down, 
 and a small stream of water to cross, just before entering the 
 lane. I gained the top of the hill in time to cross the stream 
 before they came in sight. Just after crossing the stream, near 
 the end of the lane, a small path turned off, that pa£sed around 
 the fence ; I took the path before they came in view, and was 
 soon out of sight, it being a pretty smart thicket where the path 
 passed around the field. When they came in view of the lane 
 I was missing, and they rode through the lane to a house, to 
 make some inquiries ; by this time I had reached the baek part 
 of the field, where I could have a fair view of the yard. Im¬ 
 mediately, the whole company came up ; the old man of the 
 house was standing in the door, it being only a short distance 
 from where I turned off, and told them the circumstance. He 
 said he was confident that he knew me, and told them who I 
 was. They were some of our oath company, who had heard o-f 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 61 
 
 a Tory party, that had started to make their way to Cornwallis, 
 and they had started out to intercept them, if possible. When 
 they heard who I was, the officer knew me, and concluded that 
 I had fled through mistake, thinking it was the other party, and 
 laughing heartily at his own men for being distanced, They 
 turned back and took the road again ; after they were fairly 
 out of sight, I came back to the house, when the old man told 
 me the whole story, and who they were. So I took my road, 
 and went on without any further interruption. 
 
 It was impossible for me to reach the Catawba river before 
 night, and the river being very wide and very rocky, and diffi- 
 cult to cross even in daylight, in the winter season, I thought it 
 best not to attempt it in the night; therefore, I stopped, a short 
 time after sunset, at the house of a man, named Turnbull, with 
 whom I was acquainted, and told him I was going on a visit to 
 a sister, living near Charlotte—the fact was, I had a sister 
 there, and he knew it, so that saved me from any further expla¬ 
 nation. I was on my way by daylight the next morning—I fell 
 into the main road a short distance from the river, and crossed 
 over in safety. I went on to Col. Davidson’s camp, was hailed 
 by the picket guard, and examined. I told the officer that I 
 had communications to make to the commanding officer, to 
 whom I was immediately conducted. I delivered my dispatch¬ 
 es—he opened and read them ; after asking me a few questions, 
 he said : “ Your Colonel confides very much in you, being so 
 young.” He then ordered my nag to be fed, and some refresh¬ 
 ments prepared for myself. He kept his quarters in a house at 
 the time, and invited me into a room where I got a glass of 
 brandy, and some breakfast, for I had eaten nothing that day. 
 After a short sta} r , myself and beast being refreshed, he gave me 
 a paper to return to my own officer, advising me, at the same 
 time, to use great caution, and ordered a guard to see me across 
 the river. Accordingly, a sergeant, with four men, conducted 
 me to the bank of the river, and there waited until I was safe 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 no 
 
 on tlic other bank. I made no delay ; after keeping the main 
 road about half a mile, I turned off, taking a private way. I 
 thought it best to vary my route a little, not returning exactly 
 the same way I went. After leaving the main road about six 
 miles, night came on, and I.called at the house of a Mr. Spiers, 
 a particular friend of my father. After alighting, I was shown 
 into a room, where sat six well dressed men around a good fire, 
 the weather being somewhat cold. After I was seated one of 
 the company began to question me, and seemed to be more in¬ 
 quisitive than I wished him to be, while the others appeared to 
 pay no attention, and sat conversing among themselves. I had 
 no wish to explain anything, therefore I replied to his questions 
 in as short a manner as possible, so as not to be abrupt, and 
 affected to be ignorant, as I really was. I told him I had 
 been over the river, on a visit to my sister’s, and was returning 
 
 home. “ D-d ticklish times,” said he, “ for young men like 
 
 you to be traveling about. Are you not afraid that Cornwal¬ 
 lis or some of the Tories, will catch you and take you up?” 
 “Not much;” said I, “they have no use for me.” “Why,” 
 said he, “ would you not fight ? ” “ I should not like to fight,” 
 
 said I. “ Ah, ha,” said he, “ they would soon learn you, and if 
 you did not fight, by G—d, they would put you in a place to 
 stop a bullet. Did you not see Davidson’s men, when you wbre 
 over the river?” “Yes.” “Well, didn’t they offer to take 
 you up?” “No,” said I, “they only served me like you do— 
 asked me where I was going, and what I was after, and after 
 that let me alone.” I wished to get clear of his inquiries, if 
 possible. I took him to be one of those waggish fellows, who 
 wished to divert themselves and perhaps the company at the 
 expense of others, without doing any great credit to their own 
 wit. Mr. Spiers, who had been engaged out of doors, came in 
 after dark, and asking me some questions, mentioned Moffitt’s 
 name, when my friend John, (for that was the only name by 
 which I knew him,) said, “You live about Moffitt’s, do you?” 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. (53 
 
 u Yes, sir—in the neighborhood. 77 “Well, where does he and 
 his men keep themselves, now? 77 “ I do not know ; 77 was my 
 answer, “ the last I heard of them, they were over about Broad 
 Biver.” “Well, by G—d, 77 said he, “if he don 7 t look sharp his 
 1 hide will be in the loft, 7 for Cornwallis is coming close by, 
 and if he catches him, he’ll show him no favors. 77 “ John, 77 said 
 Mr. Spiers “ you are not perhaps well acquainted with Moffitt; 
 he is not easily caught, and has men that will fight like tigers. 77 
 
 Here, I must mention a little anecdote. When supper 
 came upon the table, there was a parcel of beef bones that ap¬ 
 peared to have been well trimmed at dinner. There were two 
 good-looking young ladies, whom I had frequently noticed pass¬ 
 ing about the house, and I thought from John’s manner that he 
 wished to attract their attention. They came to the table with 
 an old lady that might have been their mother. The bone that 
 fell to my lot, was a round joint with very little on it besides 
 gristle, and my -knife none of the sharpest; having eaten but 
 once during the day, I was somewhat keen-set. After getting 
 a few scanty mouthfuls, I made a rash cut to get a little deeper 
 into the gristle, when my bone flew rapidly oft my plate, and 
 struck the partition wall, at a distance of some two or three 
 feet, with considerable force. No one seemed to pay any atten¬ 
 tion ; but my friend John, to add to my mortification, roared 
 out “ There, by G—d !—that has fled from its enemy. 77 Mr. 
 Spiers arose and placing another, bone on my plate, something 
 better than the first, said, “Don’t mind him, young man, he is 
 always running on with some foolishness. 77 Then turning to 
 John, said, “ I wonder you can’t let strangers alone. 77 “ By 
 G—d,” said John, “ the fellow looks like he might want to go 
 a courting, before long, and two or three such blunders might 
 ruin his fortunes, forever.” This sarcasm was by no means 
 pleasant to my feelings, but I was obliged to stand it, and kept 
 silent; the remainder of the company seemed to be collected 
 in expectation of hearing some important news. After supper, 
 
64 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 
 
 I got a bed as soon as possible, in order to avoid John's com* 
 pan}'. Before it was light, in the morning, all were up and 
 stirring. I had my beast saddled, and ready to start by day¬ 
 light ; Mr. Spiers walked out with me to the gate, and was 
 giving me some directions, when John came out into the yard, 
 and cried out, “ Mr. Spiers, that fellow is going off without 
 paying his bill! " “No," said he, “all things are right;" at 
 
 the same time requesting me not to answer John. As I rode 
 off, John called out to me, “ The Tories will catch you before 
 night." I told him I thought not, and was soon out of sight. 
 I had about thirty miles to ride, which I did without halting, 
 and by noon, was among my companions, and delivered up my 
 charge. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 FERRETING OUT THE TORIES. 
 
 HE VERY NEXT NIGHT, Morgan, with 
 his prisoners, lay at the same ford, where I 
 had crossed the river—and Cornwallis was' 
 only one day r s march behind him. There was 
 much excitement through the whole country— 
 scarce a man staid at home. Those that were 
 not collected in parties, lay out in the woods ; 
 e~ery article of furniture, clothing, or provisions— 
 that was worth anything, was hid out; some in 
 hollow trees, and often, hardware, that would stand 
 it, was buried in the ground. A horse, that was 
 worth any thing, was not to be seen, unless tied in 
 some thicket, or perhaps, on some high open hill— 
 where no one would go to look for property—and if a 
 woman had but one quart of salt, to salt mush for her chil¬ 
 dren, or a spoon to sup it with, she must keep it hid ; or, if 
 she had any decent apparel, she would scarce dare to wear it. 
 Scouting parties, of both sides, were scouring the country in 
 every direction. 
 
 But things did not remain long in this situation, for Corn¬ 
 wallis was marching rapidly on to Guilford, in North Carolina, 
 when Gen. Green, meeting him and the lories, gave him a 
 smart check and they began to cool oil a little inthc paits 
 9 
 
66 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 \ 
 
 ■where we were lying, high up in the country, about the 15tli 
 of March, 1781 ; but they still continued their depredations 
 below. We were for the most part kept in motion, and consid- 
 erably harassed until after the evacuation of Charleston by the 
 British. Shortly after this event we commenced ferreting out 
 the Tories, particularly the worst ones, and such as had been 
 in the habit of plundering, burning and murdering. Those we 
 called the u pet Tories,” or neutrals, we never disturbed, but 
 those that had been very troublesome, had to pay the piper. 
 
 We would meet at a time and place appointed, probably at a 
 church, sclioolhouse, or some vacant building, generally in the 
 afternoon, lay off our circuit and divide into two or more com¬ 
 panies, and set off after dark. Wherever we found any Tories, . 
 we would surround the house, one party would force the doors 
 and enter sword in hand, extinguish all the lights, if there were 
 any, and suffer no light to be made, when we would commence 
 hacking the man or men that were found in the house, threat¬ 
 ening them with instant death, and occasionally making a fu¬ 
 rious stroke as if to dispatch them at once, but taking care to 
 strike the wall or some object that was in the way, they gener¬ 
 ally being found crouched up in some corner, or about the beds. 
 Another party would mount the roof of the house and com¬ 
 mence pulling it down ; thus the dwelling house, smoke house 
 and kitchen, if any, were dismantled and torn down, at least to 
 the joists. The poor fellows, perhaps expecting instant death, 
 would beg hard for life, and make any promise on condition of 
 being spared, while their wives or friends wrnuld join in their 
 entreaties ; on the condition that they would leave the country, 
 within a specified time, and never return, they would suffer him 
 to live, and I never knew an instance of one that failed to com¬ 
 ply, and numbers put off without any such measures being en¬ 
 forced. There was no property molested except the buildings, 
 nor was there anything taken away. They were at liberty to 
 do the best they could with everything but their lands ; those \ 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. (37 
 
 they had to leave. These, I believe, escheated to the State, but 
 I am not certain. There were none of the poor fellows much 
 hurt, only they were hacked about their heads and arms enough 
 to bleed freely. Many of the worst went among the different 
 tribes of Indians, some went down the Mississippi River, about 
 Natchez, and some to the Spanish country, now Louisiana, 
 others went to the frontiers of Georgia, and numbers to Tenn¬ 
 essee and Kentucky ; most of those who staid among civilized 
 people became good citizens, good neighbors and men of re¬ 
 spectability, many becoming very popular. I have seen many 
 of them, years afterwards, that I knew well, but they did not 
 recognize me, and I never mentioned it to any one. In those 
 last mentioned excursions, I usually stood as the horse guard, 
 or was posted in the yard, as sentinel, while the others were 
 engaged in pulling down the house. 
 

 CHAPTER X. 
 
 RETURN HOME, 
 
 3 HE Y/AR being nearly settled, I returned home 
 —but did not stay long. My father was a poor 
 man, and had made nothing by the war; but, 
 on the contrary, had lost a considerable share 
 of what he had before ; besides, his own time, 
 and mine, on the farm, for nearly three years ; he had 
 also, a large family of children to support, and a proba 
 bility of the number increasing. I was growing up— 
 and my father, knowing that I had not the best feelings for 
 my step-mother ; although a fine woman, in many respects, I have 
 thought and still think, that she did not treat me with that 
 motherly affection and kindness, which she ought to have done. 
 But she had a number of children of her own, and I suppose 
 she thought it right to extend her partialities to them. There 
 being no great prospect of making anything for myself, by 
 remaining with my father, he advised me to turn out into the 
 world, and do the best I could, at the same time, giving me 
 good advice, as to the course I should pursue. Georgia was 
 then a new country, and there was a chance of obtaining lands 
 on good terms ; my father advised me to make preparations and 
 go there, and endeavor to secure some lands. My first object 
 was money, which was very scarce and the wages for labor, low. 
 
 Before I could go to a new country, I must have some mon¬ 
 ey, and I had no way to get it without labor. My father gave 
 
 68 
 
 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 69 
 
 me a young horse, or rather a colt: I had a snug little rifle gun. 
 I took my colt and gun, and went to a man, a great favorite of 
 my father’s, who was called a punctual and honest man, and a 
 man of great industry, who wished to hire me. I had very lit¬ 
 tle knowledge of mankind as to dealing and thought every man 
 was what he pretended to be. We agreed that I should work 
 for him a month, which was a's long as he thought he would 
 want me. He and I labored hard, together, late and early ; 
 we would sing a few psalms together, after supper every night, 
 and after breakfast in the morning, which suited me very well 
 for I had been accustomed to both. When my month expired, 
 and we come to a sattlemcnt, I found my colt was an expense 
 for nothing, for I had to pay for his feed, and had no use for a 
 horse—not even time to ride him. My friend Mclnnare, for 
 that was his name, took or pretended to take a great fancy for 
 my colt, and proposed to buy him. After beating me down in 
 my price pretty smartly, he persuaded me that I ought never to 
 allow my conscience to ask or take too much for anything, 
 which doctrine I swallowed down, having often heard it preach¬ 
 ed before, and by that means he got my colt considerably under 
 his real value. I was to wait three months for my pay, it 
 being in the fall, I thought I should not want my money before 
 March, when I expected to start for Georgia. 
 
 I then hired with a man by the name of Kincade; he was 
 a stranger, just come into the neighborhood and had rented a 
 farm that was considerably out of repair, and he wanted a 
 smart chance of work done. He was a man of very fair speech 
 and had a wife that was a dead match for himself. I hired 
 with them to make rails by the hundred, without any definite 
 number being specified, which gave me a chance to quit when I 
 pleased. I went to work and labored hard, in order to make 
 as good wages as possible. The old man, in the meantime, fell 
 in love with my gun, and every night made proposals to pur¬ 
 chase ; 1 did not like to part with her, but at last concluded I 
 
70 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 had no great use for her, nor had I time to spend in shooting. 
 I sold her to the old man, who was to pay me at the time that 
 the other was to pay for my horse. 
 
 I worked on .for about three weeks, in which time I had 
 made twenty-five hundred rails. The old man did not seem to 
 care about working much himself. He had been married to his 
 second wife and had had five children by his first. His present 
 wife did not appear to be very young or beautiful, and seemed 
 as though, in the tempering, she had been cast into the wmter 
 
 while very hot. 
 
 «/ 
 
 There was a still-house within about a mile of us, and the 
 old man attended pretty regularly with his jug. When he 
 brought it home, his wife, in great good humor, would join in 
 with him, and turned up her little finger as often as he, and nei¬ 
 ther appeared disposed to give much away, so that by the time 
 supper was over, (which was always after night,) instead of psalm 
 singing there was considerable swearing to be done, at which I 
 thought the woman was the hardest hand. I had been taught 
 to believe it was wrong for a woman to swear, and I think 
 yet it adds nothing to the charms of beautiful woman, nor do I 
 commend it in a man. I always went to bed soon after supper, 
 and when they got their steam well up, would sit up late, and 
 I would at times hear some unpleasant remarks made about the 
 children * when both got warm the old woman could rather head 
 the man, until she got his mettle up, then she was compelled to 
 knock under. I began to get a little tired of the place and 
 proposed to the old man to be off. When we came to settle he 
 could not pay me for my labor, which I expected down ; he 
 gave fair promises. I then went to a man named Alison, with 
 whom I was acquainted. He agreed to hire me through the 
 winter, if I chose to stay, and if I did not, I was at liberty 
 to leave when I saw proper. He had one son about my age 
 and another older; we had been raised together, in the 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 71 
 
 same neighborhood. Here I was very agreeably situated, for 
 there was neither psalm singing, drinking whiskey nor swear¬ 
 ing, but plenty of hard work to do all day, and the boys and I 
 went a coon-hunting almost every night. 
 
 I was very well situated, and expected to stay all winter; 
 I had a sister married, who was living in Georgia, and about 
 Christmas times, she and her husband came on a visit to my 
 father’s. My father and brother-in-law came to where I was 
 working ; I dropped my tools, and went home with them. After 
 consulting on matters, I concluded to fix up, and go to Georgia 
 with my sister. Having but a short time to make arrangements, 
 I went to my last employer, Alison, and told him my intention; 
 he paid me without hesitation. I then went to my first one, but 
 he did not seem so willing to see me ; the time had not elapsed 
 that he had to pay me for my colt, and did not wish to suffer 
 any inconvenience ; he would not give me my colt again, al¬ 
 though I offered to pay for his keeping ; neither had he the 
 money, he said, to pay me. I was compelled to have some kind 
 
 •r- 
 
 of a horse, give out my journey, or take it on foot; at length, 
 
 s 
 
 he agreed, that if I could get a horse that would suit me, on a 
 credit, that he would be responsible. I knew his responsibility 
 was good. I went to an old neighbors of my fathers, by the 
 name of Walsh, who had a snug pony, that I thought would 
 answer, and made him proposals. The old man did not wish to 
 part with his pony, but let me have him, more from an accom¬ 
 modation, I believed, than from a wish to sell. In this matter 
 I lost considerable, for my colt was worth two such ponies. I 
 then went to my friend Kincade, but found I had but a slim 
 chance of getting any thing for my gun and labor ; money was 
 out of the question, the thing that I most needed. At length, 
 he proposed, that if I would go with him to a little kind of 
 store that was in the neighborhood, and take some articles, he 
 would pay me. Thinking that something was better than noth¬ 
 ing, I went, and got a very few articles at a very high price— 
 
72 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 
 
 but few of them suited me. Anothe'r sister took a notion to go 
 with my married sister, and there were some arrangements 
 to make for that purpose. We got all things ready, and bid 
 farewell to Carolina. My sister had a bed and several articles 
 she needed, and I some clothing to carry ; therefore, it became 
 necessary to pack one horse, and in consequence thereof, I and 
 my brother-in law had to walk, time about, most part of the 
 way. I had no previous knowledge of this brother-in-law, or 
 what kind of a man he was ; but I found him, afterwards, to be 
 one of the best of men—as true and firm a friend as I ever had. 
 This was, if I recollect right, in January, 1785. 
 
 We pursued our journey without much difficulty and arriv¬ 
 ed safe at the residence of my brother-in-law. I had expended 
 the most of what little money I had, and must therefore do 
 something to reimburse my purse. After resting a few days, 
 and endeavoring how to consult my best interests, I luckily 
 found out there was a man who had moved from the neigh¬ 
 borhood of my father’s whom I had known almost all my 
 life, by the name of Fergus. He was a man of business habits 
 and had become popular in the country and the appointment of 
 Surveyor had been given him. He lived some miles higher up 
 the country than where my sister lived. Fergus’s residence was 
 one of the outside houses on the frontier. I went to see him and 
 explained the object of my visit; after some consultation on the 
 subject, he advised me, first to get aland warrant, have the land 
 surveyed, obtain a grant—teach a country school for a few 
 months—and that he would assist me in so doing. 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 VARIOUS OCCUPATIONS. 
 
 COULD then write a pretty fair hand, and 
 also, knew something of reading, and arith¬ 
 metic. I took the advice of Fergus, and got 
 a school of twenty-five scholars for three 
 months, at one dollar per head, for each 
 scholar, and my board, in the bargain. I 
 fulfilled my time, and got most of my pay 
 without any trouble ; I was urged a little to con¬ 
 tinue, but did not like the business ; it was too 
 confining, and I thought I could make more by 
 joining in with some of the surveyors ; I wanted to 
 see the country : I agreed with Mr. Fergus to go as a 
 chain bearer. We would often be out some fifteen or 
 twenty days ; it required four to do the surveying, and 
 we generally had two or more to go along as hunters, to keep 
 us in provisions ; and, sometimes, there would be with us, “land 
 hunters.’ 7 • 
 
 I found a piece of land that was vacant, that I thought 
 would suit me. I went to the land court and obtained what 
 was called a head right warrant, for two hundred acres, and had 
 it located. I discovered there was an abundance of game in the 
 woods ; I became fond of the idea of hunting, and to that end, I 
 got me a good rifle. I knew how to shoot pretty well, but 
 knew little of hunting, and found, that it required some expe¬ 
 rience. Deer and turkics were very plenty; also, bear, pan- 
 
 10 
 
 >7 0 
 
 i O 
 
74 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY 0 F A 
 
 thers, wild cats, foxes, and many other wild animals. I turned 
 my attention rather too much to hunting and became almost as 
 fond of the sport as David Crocket, but never was near 
 a match for him at a bear hunt. I frequently went with the 
 surveying, companies,, and generally chose to become one of the 
 hunters ; thus I became a good woodsman, and also became ac¬ 
 quainted with all the water courses on the frontier of Georgia. 
 
 After the lands were mostly surveyed, and vacant land that 
 was good not easily found, a great many young men that came 
 to the country, and were entitled to head rights, would sell 
 their warrants for very trifling sums. I shifted about until I 
 bought three, and my knowledge of the country enabled me to- 
 find lands on which to locate my warrants, so that I became the 
 owner of four tracts, containing two hundred acres each, in dif 
 ferent parts. When I was not in the woods, I worked hard. 
 
 In the fall of 1788, if my memory serves me, a draft of twe 
 thousand militia was ordered, to guard a treaty to be made with 
 the Creek Indians, for the Saxmulgee lands. I stood my draft,, 
 and drew a blank : there were numbers that did not wish to go 
 and were eaner to hire substitutes ; among others, I hired as a 
 substitute, and went. We were marched to a place called 
 Shoulderbone, on a creek running into the Oconee, and about a 
 mile from the river. The Indians encamped on the side oppo 
 site to us. We commenced building store houses, to secure the 
 provisions, and a house for the council. Around the Council 
 House was enclosed a square, of perhaps an acre, with a strong 
 high fence, and a large gate, to pass in and out. The buildings 
 being finished, the parade ground was cleaned out in front of 
 the lines. When the council commenced, there was a strong" 
 guard of horsemen, to conduct the Indians to and from their 
 encampment, and a guard at the ford to prevent the whites from 
 crossing over to the Indian camp. There was also a strong 
 guard placed every morning in the enclosure around the Coun¬ 
 cil House, to prevent any one from passing in and out to disturb 
 the council. Here I was appointed drum major, and had little 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 t© do, not being liable to work, or stand on duty. Here we 
 lay, until we began to get somewhat gay—having little to do 
 but eat. Our commissaries had bought a good deal of new corn 
 meal, which began to sour and become unpalatable ; they kept 
 dealing it out, although there was plenty of flour and good 
 meal in store ; but I suppose they thought the bad meal would 
 be a dead loss, when they could dispose of the gootHo advan¬ 
 tage, by furnishing the Indians therewith. We complained to 
 our officers, aud they applied to some of the heads of the de¬ 
 partment for better meal, but there was little attention paid to 
 their application. We seemed to be divided into two classes ; 
 the upper, denominated Highlanders ; those of the low country, 
 Lowlanders. Most of the Lowlanders, were sick and weakly 
 looking fellows, while the Highlanders were healthy, stout, and 
 "frolicsome. The Highlanders were encamped at the head of the 
 lines, near head quarters. 
 
 One clear, moonlight night, a number began to parade, 
 each man taking a brush on his shoulder instead of a gun, and 
 commenced marching backwards and forwards along the lines, to 
 have a frolic, and making a great deal of noise they marched up 
 to headquarters, and formed a circle around the quarter mas¬ 
 ter’s tent, and demanded better meal for the future, and also 
 their rations of rum, that had been kept back for several days, 
 threatening to take it by force unless their demands were com¬ 
 plied with. Being sharply reprimanded and threatened with ar¬ 
 rest and punishment, they marched back and told the news.. 
 Almost immediately, the whole line of Highlanders were paraded, 
 and each man shouldering a branch of a tree cut from the 
 parade ground, commenced their march up the lines 5 their mo¬ 
 tion was noticed and the horsemen, who lay at some distance, 
 were called in. The march continued until we had gone round 
 headquarters, without interrupting any one or anything, and 
 were returning to our quarters, when suddenly the horsemen 
 passed across the parade ground before us, ordering us to stand 
 <md throw down our branches. The word was instantly given 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 by our leaders, to charge ; it was obeyed with a general shout; 
 in a few minutes most of the horsemen were thrown from their 
 horses, and run over by the crowd. However, they took five 
 or six prisoners that had become entangled in some brush. All 
 went to their tents, except the horsemen who were kept on guard 
 all night. Early next morning there was a considerable stir in 
 camp, and some of the officers who had conducted the affair of 
 the night previous, were along the lines, advising us not to re¬ 
 cede, and some of the other officers joined in. Very soon, 
 almost the whole line of Highlanders was paraded under arms ; 
 a flag was sent, demanding the prisoners, intimating in case of 
 non-compliance, they would be taken by force, and we would 
 
 forthwith march off the ground. The proposition was at first 
 rejected and the dispute became very warm between some of 
 
 the officers; at last our principal leader came galloping down, 
 and ordered us to shoulder our knapsacks, and be ready to 
 march. The most of the Lowlanders lay neutral in their tents, 
 like good fellows. Their principal officer refusing to interfere, 
 and several horsemen turned over to our side, alleging they 
 had been imposed upon in the same way. At length three or 
 four of the principal officers, Gen. Triggs for one, came rid¬ 
 ing down the lines and mildly told us to return to our tents, 
 like good fellows, and they would release the prisoners, and we 
 should have good provisions for the future. This was enough ; 
 all consented, and harmony was restored. It began without 
 any serious intention of mischief and so was more easily quieted. 
 I merely mention this circumstance to show what unruly cattle 
 a set of militia-men are, when they have nothing to do. After 
 lying here something over two months, the business was conclu¬ 
 ded and we were all discharged, and returned home. 
 
 In the course of the summer preceeding this treaty, the 
 Cherokee Indians had been somewhat troublesome, on the fron¬ 
 tier, and caused the people to gather into forts for safety; men 
 were called on to guard the forts and among others I was 
 
 drafted to serve a twenty days’ tour. I went to a fort on 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 77 
 
 Broad River, at a place called Skull Shoal. The weather was 
 very warm, and I, among others, was a little imprudent about 
 going into the water when warm. I took a fever and had to be 
 carried home ; there were no physicians in the country near ; 
 I was unaccustomed to physic, or fever, it being the first severe 
 attack of the kind I ever had. Neither did I ever have the 
 shaking ague, although raised in a country where it was preva* 
 lent every season ; I had a high fever for four or five days 
 without intermission. At length it was advised by some to 
 bleed me freely in the feet in order to bring on a shaking ague 
 which I have thought since was a rash proceeding. I submitted 
 and the operation was performed—I was bled plentifully from 
 the feet. It had the desired effect by bringing on a severe 
 ;shake, which continued, daily for nine weeks. The shake would 
 come on about noon every day, then a fever ensue, and about 
 midnight sweat off. In the morning I was up and about my 
 business until the shake returned. After having the shakes 
 some days, my appetite for food became good and indeed rather 
 too much so. All this time I took no medicine but simple teas 
 prescribed by some old woman. I got very tired of my ague 
 and began to conclude I was never going to get clear of it. 
 Some would advise me to do one thing and some another, by 
 way of charm or spell, but to tell the truth, I had no faith in 
 ; any such things. At length some one assured me that if I 
 would prepare a string long enough to tie as many knots as I 
 had had shakes, and when 1 felt the shakes coming on, take my 
 .string and go to some fruit bearing tree, turn my back and put 
 mv string around Ike tree, and counting, tie a knot for every 
 shake including the one coming on, and depart without looking 
 back, it would cure me. I own I had no faith in the project, 
 neither would I recommend it to any one, yet I thought there 
 could be no harm in it; I tried it, and my shake coming on, it 
 was as much as I could do to hold out, having sixty-three knots 
 to tie. I had fatigued myself, and my shake was severer than 
 common ; but be that as it may the thing did not return. 
 
CHAPTER XXL 
 
 SCENES AND ADVENTURES. 
 
 ARLY in the summer of 1790, the Cherokee mid Creek 
 Indians both broke out, and became very troublesome all 
 along the line of the frontier, on the tiro sides of Geor¬ 
 gia, so as to cause all the inhabitants there residing, to 
 betake themselves to forts, and the militia were called 
 out to guard the forts. Among others, I was drafted to 
 serve a twenty day’s tour ; the next draft, I took hire as a sub¬ 
 stitute. It became necessary to have spies, in order to discover, 
 if possible, the approach of the Indians. There was a Captain 
 William Black, who had been raised in the country, had been 
 through the revolutionary war, and was well acquainted with 
 the manners and customs of the Indians. He was chosen, at 
 the fort where I was, to ride as a spy. He and I had hunted a 
 good dealtogether, and he chose that I should go with him ; we 
 had a line of near twenty miles to ride, including four forts, 
 which took us nearly three days to make our trip and return, 
 always having to camp out one night. In starting out, we 
 made it a rule to travel out several miles, in order to avoid the 
 cattle range, so that we might discover any trail that might be 
 passing in. I was little acquainted with the customs of the 
 Indians, and was compelled to be guided by my companion.— 
 We were under pay for our services, and so concluded to stay 
 as long as we might be needed. We always carried provisions 
 
 for ourselves and horses. Two trips had been made without 
 
 78 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 79 
 
 our making any discovery ; on tlie third, we started out very 
 earlv in the morning and travelled nearly all dav without ma- 
 kin" anv discovery ; late in the evening we struck a fresh trail 
 making in towards the settlements. It appeared from the sign 
 that there was a pretty smart company of Indians ; we follow¬ 
 ed the trail with caution, until we came to a small creek ; they 
 
 had waded through the creek and the water was still in their 
 tracks. As soon as Black discovered that, he clapped spurs to 
 his horse, saying : “ There’s no time to be lost here.” I follow¬ 
 ed ; we rode briskly on until we got on to high, open ground ; 
 then halted, and took a view all round. My companion then 
 observed, “ Me are in a ticklish place ; for it is quite probable 
 that these Indians have discovered us, for they cannot be far offj 
 and if so, they will try to trail us up and catch us in the night.” 
 The sun was near setting, and it was impossible for us to get 
 into the settlement or fort; we got upon the highest open ridge 
 we could find, and keeping a good lookout, moved on until the 
 dusk of the evening. Me stopped and he pointed out a course 
 which he directed me to take with both horses, and go on some 
 three or four hundred yards, then stop and set down both corn 
 bags and open them, then let the horses eat, but not to unbit the 
 bridles, to keep my gun in my hand and be ready in a moment, 
 in case I should hear him coming, haste to tie the bags, and be 
 ready to mount, that he would way-lay the trail perhaps till 
 some time after dark, if no danger appeared. I obeyed, and 
 went on until I thought I had gone far enough, opened the bags 
 and put the horses to feeding, standing off a short distance and 
 listened attentively. I had not waited long before I heard 
 Black coming in a run ; by the time the bags were tied he had 
 come up : each one threw up his bag and mounted. I he In¬ 
 dians, I suppose, had discovered him. and when he run, pursued. 
 By the time we were fairly in our saddles, the Indians were 
 within a short distance—I thought thirty yards, but perhaps 
 the distance was greater. There was no time tor counting and 
 
80 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 it was too dark to guess at numbers. We dashed off at full 
 speed. The horse that my companion rode was a very spirited, 
 strong one and blind in one eye ; at a short distance from where 
 we started, there was a large fallen pine, with a heavy top. It 
 had probably been down some time, so that the branches had 
 commenced rotting ; the fright perhaps, and he putting spurs to 
 his horse caused him suddenly to dash in among the branches of 
 the tree, with a great crashing for a moment or two, and I was 
 really afraid he would be entangled until the Indians would be 
 upon us, but he came out safe. The woods being very open, 
 we rode fast for some three or four miles, then halted and lis¬ 
 tened awhile but heard nothing. We changed our course, and 
 took two or three short tacks; again we stopped, sat on our 
 horses some time, and no danger appearing, dismounted, stirpped 
 our horses and tied them fast to two saplings. Moving our 
 saddles and provisions some distance from our horses, and tak¬ 
 ing our guns we went off with caution for some distance, and 
 laid-down upon the grass. We were near enongli together to 
 watch each other, and be able to speak in case of any noise ; 
 we laid perfectly still, without any idea of sleeping until fair 
 daylight in the morning. As soon as it was light enough to 
 see plainly, we arose and took a view all around. Seeing our 
 horses standing safe, we took a circle round, keeping at a dis¬ 
 tance from them. Asking his motive for this manoeuvre, he 
 told me that we were in the enemy’s country, and they were in 
 the woods near us, and we had been discovered; that there 
 might be more than one company, and we, riding *in the night 
 might be discovered, by another; that on search being made 
 by them in the night, and our horses found, they would know 
 that we were not far distant, and to make sure of us they would 
 lie in ambush near the horses. Advising me at the same time, 
 if we should be attacked, it would be imprudent to discharge 
 both guns at the same time, but to retreat as well as possible 
 keeping close together, and if we were too closely pursued, to 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 81 
 
 stop and take trees ; on presenting our guns, they would imme¬ 
 diately fall to the ground, which would give us a chance for a 
 new start. Unless they are numerous, they will not charge 
 fiercely on two men with loaded guns. We made our circle, 
 but saw nothing ; we then went to our horses ; all was safe ' 
 we saddled up in a hurry, got our provisions, and started.— 
 After riding some distance, we alighted, fed our horses, and 
 took something to eat ourselves, for we were hungry, having 
 eaten nothing the night before. I would here remark, that it 
 is an invariable rule with an Indian, when once discovered, to* 
 give over all further pursuit of his object for the present. My 
 companion seemed to be aware of this, so that we kept on our 
 route, without returning to the fort to give the alarm. 
 
 As soon as the fall season approached, the Indians always 
 gave up their depredations, and all was peace, until the return 
 of summer, when they would repeat their former acts, and so 
 contiuue to do until its close. During the fall and winter, most 
 of the families would leave the forts, go home and attend to- 
 their affairs, until the Indians broke out the next summer. As 
 soon as it was peaceable, I would return to the settlement, and 
 go to hard labor during winter and spring. I could use the axe, 
 maul and wedges, or mattock, as well as most men, and I pre¬ 
 ferred exercise to sedentary habits. There was a cooper work¬ 
 ed at the place where I generally made my home, and in bad 
 weather, or at any idle time, I was always in the shop at work, 
 by which means I learned to make a pretty good rough vessel. ** 
 Jumping, running and wrestling, were very fashionable in those 
 times ; these I practised very often, and though not one of the 
 first class, I rated pretty well in the second. 
 
 11 
 
CHAPTER XIII- 
 
 THE SPRING OF 1791. THE INDIANS. 
 
 EPREHATIONS by the Indians, were again 
 commenced, in the spring, or rather Summer, 
 of 1791. They committed more murders and 
 stole more horses, than they did the summer 
 preceding. It is not common for Indians, 
 
 i 
 
 unless in considerable force, to attack in broad 
 day-light, a fort, or place, guarded by a num¬ 
 ber of men. On the contrary, they always choose 
 the twilight of the evening, or the morning, before 
 sunrise—but so it was. There was a fort called 
 Bridge’s Fort; it stood on high ground. In front was 
 an open field, in which stood a large mulberry tree ;—* 
 the tree was full of fruit, and the fruit was ripe. The 
 proprietor, one day before noon, concluded he would have some 
 “of the fruit; thinking of no danger, he took his gun, and taking 
 with him his son, a small lad, he went to the tree ; setting down 
 his gun by its side, he climbed up, and shook down the fruit.—* 
 While his little son was gathering it up, the Indians, unperceiv¬ 
 ed, got near enough to shoot the man out of the tree, taking the 
 little boy prisoner, and commencing an attack upon the fort, 
 which lasted for some time. At length, being unsuccessful in 
 their attack, they marched off with their prisoner, the gun, and 
 
 the unfortunate man’s scalp. A runner had got out of the fort 
 
 82 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 33 
 
 at the commencement, and the alarm soon spread. By sunrise, 
 next morning, there were about two hundred men, at the fort, 
 all under arms, exclusive of the guard belonging to the fort. 
 Leaving a small guard, about two hundred men turned out to 
 
 1 . \ 
 
 pursue the enemy ; we took their trail and followed them ; wc 
 crossed one prong of the Oconee River, finding the signs very 
 fresh, and that the number of Indians had increased. We went 
 011 six or seven miles, keeping spies a little ahead, my friend 
 Black being one. On crossing an open ridge, three Indians 
 appeared in front at a distance on the trail. The spies fell 
 back and^ reported. We then prepared for an attack. There 
 was a large creek just ahead called Barber’s Creek, and a thick 
 eanebreak. 
 
 As soon as we were nearly in gun-shot of the cane, we 
 were ordered to wheel to the right, and leave the trail, keeping 
 up the creek a small distance, where our woodsmen assured us 
 there-was an open crossing place. This drew the Indians out 
 of the cane into a kind of brushwood on our left, to prevent us, 
 I suppose, from crossing. They attacked us; we were in much 
 more open ground than they, so that they came up pretty close, 
 making all the hideous yells that they were masters of. The 
 contest lasted warmly for about an hour—I thought much 
 longer at the time. During the action, a man by the name of 
 Ashworth, and myself kept close together • we both took one 
 tree. A very small tree will cover a man’s body in front if he 
 stands right. We had discharged our guns; two balls had 
 struck the tree where we stood and knocked the bark off ; there 
 was a bunch of brush and vines, nearly in front of us, and we 
 had both noticed the smoke rise from a gun in this place, but 
 saw no object. We shifted quickly to another tree at a small 
 distance on our left, and discovered an Indian on his knees load¬ 
 ing his gun. Our guns being loaded, we both leveled and 
 fired, nearly at the same time ; the fellow keeled over and lay 
 still ] he was too near us for his friends to remove him, I think 
 
 I 
 
84 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 not more than forty steps, so that when the fight was decided 
 we got his scalp and gun. One ball had struck him right in 
 the breast, and the other had broken his collar bone. After a 
 hard and obstinate fight, the Indians fled and we had four fine 
 fellows killed, and if I recollect right, fourteen or fifteen 
 wounded, but none mortally. How many Indians we killed it 
 was impossible to tell. We got ten scalps, and found by the 
 blood where a number had been taken off. It is an Indian 
 custom to take off all their dead that they can possibly get at, 
 with any degree of safety. I suppose we got the fellow who 
 scalped the man killed at the fort, for we got the scalp and the 
 gun, but not the little boy, though he was afterwards given up. 
 We buried our poor fellows as well as we could, and got our 
 wounded all safe home, where they recovered in a short time. 
 
 It will be remembered that these were a party of Creek 
 
 Indians. Capt. Black and myself were again induced to ride 
 
 as spies on our old route. This was on the Cherokee line, and 
 — / 
 
 we had made two trips without making any discovery. On the 
 third trip, one morning before we had ridden far we fell on a 
 trail that made in towards the settlements. The people were 
 mostly at home, careless. We took the trail and followed on 
 until the Indians all scattered. Here, I would again remark 
 that the Indians, when they intend doing mischief, and come 
 in any force, as soon as they are near the settlement where thej r 
 intend to strike, they disperse in order to avoid discovery and 
 meet at a place appointed, near where they intend committing 
 their depredation; as soon as we discovered they had scattered, 
 we pushed on with all speed for the settlement, to give the 
 alarm. As soon as we got in, the news spread, and almost every 
 
 family fled to the fort tor satet} 7 ', leaving most of their plunder 
 behind. 
 
 There was one family living within four miles of the fort, 
 a widow by the name ot Crockett, having one son and five 
 daughters, all grown, The young women were of high respect* 
 
85 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 ability, and considered the handsomest in the whole country, so 
 that numbers of the young men interested themselves in giving 
 them all the assistance in their power, and several called in, in 
 the course of the evening for the purpose of urging them to go, 
 and also to assist them. But they refused and alleged it was a 
 false alarm ; that there had been several alarms when there 
 was no danger, and they would not go in until the next day. 
 So they were left to their own will, to risk it until morning. 
 Early next morning three or four started from the fort to see 
 the result and help them in. But doleful to tell!—when they 
 got to the place, every one lay stretched in the yard, a corpse, 
 scalped and mangled in the most shocking manner imaginable, 
 and every article of clothing and bedding taken away and the 
 feathers of the bed strown all over the yard. 
 
 The news soon came to the fort; we collected all the force 
 
 * * 
 
 we could, pursued, but could uot overtake them ; they crossed 
 the Chattahoochee river, and dispersed. It was impossible to 
 trail them any further—besides, we were in their country, and 
 not far distant from some of their towns—not having force suf¬ 
 ficient, nor provisions ;—but we paid them for it afterwards.— 
 They committed several other murders, in the course of the 
 summer, near the same place. In order to chastise them, about 
 the time their corn was in full roasting ears, there was a com¬ 
 pany of men raised and started out to their town. There was 
 a town called Long Swamp, that was blamed for most of the 
 mischief. My friend Black and myself were in the company ; 
 we steered our course for the Long Swamp, and having good 
 pilots, we were in the town, right among the Indians, before we 
 were discovered—and here it was, helter skelter among them, 
 who should get off fastest, without offering to give us battle.— 
 Few escaped; men, women, and children were killed ; a few 
 small Indian boys were taken prisoners by some of our men 
 who thought they could make slaves of them, but in this they 
 found themselves mistaken ; for after a trial of four or five years, 
 
86 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 they could make nothing of them but Indians, and sent them 
 back to the nation. 
 
 Here I must mention a little circumstance about my friend 
 
 Black. After killing the Indians that could be found, the men 
 
 began to fire the town; there was a house shut up, and Black, 
 
 suspecting there was some Indians in it, attempted to force the 
 
 door, but finding it not easily done, with his loaded gun in liis 
 
 * 
 
 hand, sprung up on the roof, thinking to open a hole therein and 
 shoot down, as soon as he mounted. The timbers being rotten, 
 the roof gave way, and down went Black into the middle of the 
 house ; when he landed, there was an old squaw and some chil¬ 
 dren ; the old squaw charged on him immediately with her 
 hatchet; in too close quarters to shoot, he closed in with her 
 and called for help. It was some seconds before the door could 
 be forced, but when done, Black was found in close hug* with 
 the old woman, she still retaining her hatchet, trying to strike 
 him. After firing the town, we next cut down the corn, thus 
 leaving the place a heap of ruins. 
 
 We had many little chases after the Indians but of small 
 consequence—I shall mention but one or two more. The 
 Creek Indians came in and attacked a fort, early in the morn¬ 
 ing. Just before daylight, in the morniug, two men went out 
 some distance to look a shoal in the river for deer, and on their 
 return got among the Indians. At that instant the firing com¬ 
 menced ; the men tried to make their way to the fort, but were 
 discovered and prevented, some of the Indians being between 
 them and the fort. Another party was firing on the cowpens, 
 where some of the women had gone out to milk. The men fled 
 and some of the Indians pursued, while the others kept up a 
 firing on the fort. The Indians in pursuit had fired several 
 guns, while the two men, when too closely pursued would take 
 trees and present their guns. The Indians would fall flat to the 
 ground. After running some considerable distance, a shot from 
 one of the Indians struck one of the men, in the leg, just above 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 87 
 
 the ankle, and passed np the hind part of the leg, just below 
 the knee, but without affecting the bone. He still run on, being 
 protected by the other, who would turn, present his gun and 
 thus stop the Indians until his companion could get another 
 start. After running on in this way for near a mile, they got 
 to a canebreak which they entered and found a small stream 
 of water. The wounded man luy down in the stream where he 
 was covered all over but his head, and the other left for the 
 settlement expecting that the fort had been taken. He had 
 at least six or seven miles to run, to get to the nearest 
 house. The alarm spread fast, so that early in the afternoon 
 there were two hundred men at the fort; but behold the busi¬ 
 ness was all over—the Indians were gone and all was still, and 
 no damage done, only the one man wounded. The first care 
 was to hunt him up, which was done after his companion got 
 back to the fort. In the meantime, all the people in the fort, 
 had given them both up for lost. When we found him, the poor 
 fellow had nearly given himself up for lost, thinking the fort 
 taken, and perhaps the people all murdered, and was afraid to 
 crawl out for fear of being caught. He stated, the Indians in 
 searching for him, had crossed the stream in which he lay, on a 
 log, so near him that he could see the rings in their ears. At 
 the same time he had two dogs lying near him, and though 
 usually fierce, lay perfectly still and never even growled, as if 
 conscious that his fate depended on their keeping quiet. This 
 seemed an interposition of divine providence. 
 
 It was proposed to raise a company and pursue after the 
 Indians ; the inhabitants of the fort presuming that there was 
 not more than twenty-five or thirty that had attacked them. In 
 order to raise a company, there were two captains turned out ; 
 one named McClaskey, and the other, Howell. McClaskic 
 had been a captain in the Revolution, on the frontier of South 
 Carolina, and was acquainted with the nature of the Indian 
 warfare ; the other, Howell, was a young man, just got into 
 
88 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 office, no doubt of sufficient courage, but lacking experience, and 
 a little rash. Each captain soon raised fifteen men, in all thirty; 
 they were deemed sufficient for the pursuit. For my own part, 
 I turned out with McClaskey; we made sufficient search to 
 discover the trail they had taken that evening, and next morn¬ 
 ing commenced an early pursuit; we followed on two days, and 
 on the third, early in the morning, we crossed the Apalache 
 river. Some two or three miles after crossing, the signs became 
 very fresh, and appeared like the number of Indians had increa¬ 
 sed very considerably. It was proposed to call a halt and hold 
 a counsel. This was done ; McClaskey advised a return, al¬ 
 leging that from every appearance, 'the enemy was vastly superi¬ 
 or ; that we were in the enemy’s country and that no doubt 
 they were aware, of our approach and number ; the first thing 
 we would know, we would be drawn into an ambuscade, and 
 perhaps every man killed ; and he thought it not right to urge 
 men into danger where there was not the least probability of 
 success. Howell insisted on proceeding at all hazards, saying 
 he was determined to have a fight before he returned, if only 
 five men would stand by him. At length both the officers got 
 a little warm on the subject, and some unpleasant words passed 
 between them. Each one stepped out, leaving it to the men 
 to follow whom they chose. McClaskey’s men all fol¬ 
 lowed him, and five of Howell’s. Howell then made some 
 remarks rather branding his men with cowardice. .There is 
 something in man that cannot well brook the name of coward 
 although he may really feel something of the effect. They 
 were all young, vigorous, and full of life and action, but entire¬ 
 ly unacquainted with the Indian disposition, and scarce one of 
 them had even seen an Indian in a hostile attitude. At length 
 the men belonging to each company followed their leader and 
 we parted. We, the retreating party steered our course for 
 home as fast as we could. We got home, or into the settlement, 
 and on the evening of the following day, two of Howell’s men 
 
 « 
 
 
 
revolutionary soldier. 
 
 8 ( J 
 
 ea'm'Gf into the fort, one of them shot through the fleshy part of 
 the thigh. They stated that they had proceeded about four or 
 five miles, from where we separated, and the thing had taken 
 place just as McClaskey had predicted, and that the probability 
 was that the others were all killed. Poor fellows,—it proved 
 too true ! The same officer and two others then raised a pretty 
 strong company, and pushed on with all speed, to learn the cer- 
 tainty, and bury the dead, if we could find them. We got to 
 the place, and beheld a melancholy and distressing sight. It 
 would seem from every appearance, that twelve of the men had 
 fallen at the first fire for they all lay within a small space of 
 ground, tomahawked and scalped—several balls had passed 
 through some of them. , As for Capt. Howell, three balls had 
 passed through his body, and one had broken his arm. The 
 other four had attempted to escape, and had run perhaps 
 three or four hundred yards from the place where they were 
 overtaken, and two killed, and one of the others received his 
 wound, as he afterwards stated. 
 
 We deposited the remains of our poor unfortunate com¬ 
 rades in the earth, the best we could, which was by no means a 
 pleasant business, for they had now been dead, above four days. 
 I have often wondered why they had not been torn by wild 
 beasts in the time. We could account for it no other way 
 than the strong smell of gunpowder, that was on them, and no 
 rain having fallen on them in the time. 
 
 12 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 RELIGIOUS VIEWS—DANCING AND SINGING SCHOOLS—HUNTING. 
 
 NOW retired pretty much from the forts and fell into other 
 business. There was an old Dutchman, with whom I had 
 some acquaintance, who kept a tailor shop, and to im¬ 
 prove myself in the business, I joined in with him to work 
 as a journeyman. The old man was remarkably fond of 
 horses, and was thought a good judge ; and horse trading began 
 to be quite a business in the country. As there was not 
 work enough to keep us busy, the Dutchman paid a good deal 
 of attention to the horse trading business, and encouraged me 
 to join him in it. I was by no means averse to it, being fond 
 of horses myself. I acquired considerable insight respecting 
 the diseases, ages and forms of horses, from the Dutchman, and 
 some other horse traders from North Carolina, Virginia and 
 other places, with whom we had correspondence; also the treat¬ 
 ment necessary for horses in different stages. Before I dismiss 
 my Dutchman, I must remark that he taught me several little 
 Dutch tricks, that not many persons believe, which in themselves 
 are simple, yet a little curious. There was, also, an old Dutch 
 lady lived in the neighborhood who even surpassed the old man; 
 for some of her feats I cannot to this day account. About this 
 time, preaching began to be popular among the people, which 
 had been for several year neglected, as is usual in almost all 
 new settled countries. For when people have to labor hard, 
 
 live hard—and that on coarse food, and wear ragged clothes— 
 
 90 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 91 
 
 they have little to spare, and it is hardly worth while for 
 preachers, lawyers, doctors or dancing masters to attend to their 
 case, until they get, at least, one suit of clothing and other 
 things in proportion ; and I even think we might besides those, 
 include our legislators, and those connected in the great sanhe¬ 
 drim of our nation. They have some little delicacies about 
 them that will not bear rough handling, and look for some 
 other delicacies—eating, lodging and apparel—and above all 
 they like to be furnished with a pretty good share of money. 
 But to do justice to the doctors, I must confess I have always 
 found them to be the most liberal and humane of any profes¬ 
 sional men with whom I have been compelled to have any inter¬ 
 course. To the lawyers, I have been under few obligations, 
 and feel willing to excuse them measurably, believing they gen¬ 
 erally act up to their profession ; but the priests—with a number 
 of whom I have been acquainted and had some intercourse— 
 with a few exceptions, I have always found to be illiberal, and 
 have been more exposed to their contempt than pity, because 
 I could not assent to every creed that they proposed, nor obey 
 all their mandates ; neither did I find myself able or willing to 
 advance as much money to their support as they adjudged I 
 ought to do for the neglect of which duties as they called them 
 and the doctrines they advance, in support of such duties, is 
 that a man might be inevitably damned. I will hereafter per¬ 
 haps mention some circumstances, which gave rise to the above 
 remarks. I made it a point to attend church regularly on Sun¬ 
 days, and often on other days of the week. Not being a mem¬ 
 ber of any particular church, I attended any that was most con¬ 
 venient. There was a considerable revival in religion, and we 
 had a number of preachers of different denominations—Pres¬ 
 byterians, Baptists, Methodists, and once in a while a Univer- 
 salian, and being under no obligation to any particular sect, I 
 attended all as circumstances suited. Perhaps through the prej¬ 
 udices of education and some early impressions, rather enforced 
 
92 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP A 
 
 on my mind in youth., I inclined a little more to the Presbyte¬ 
 rians than any other sect. I thought them more liberal in mat¬ 
 ters of conscience., notwithstanding I thought their leaders by 
 far too rigid in many things., and not doubting they preferred 
 the fleece to the real health of the flock yet they seemed to 
 avow it more openly, and seemed willing to inculcate the princi¬ 
 ple and even enforce it on their hearers while others denied the 
 principle but strenuously recommended free-will offerings which 
 I thought implied the same thing only under a cloak. 
 
 I am willing to admit a few exceptions, but at the same 
 time taking in the whole, that it is like all mechanical trades, 
 money is the principal object. Here you might think I was 
 about to cry down all religion: far from it! that there is reli¬ 
 gion and that it is essential to the comfort and happiness of 
 mankind in general, and to every community, there can be no 
 doubt, with every thinking man. For without it no community 
 can be happy or prosperous, but this religion does not consist 
 in little ceremonies and formalities belonging to the different 
 churchers, or in this or that particular church, nor in believing 
 everything your preacher says, because he tells you he believes 
 it. As self interest is prevalent among all classes of meu, so I 
 am apt to think the preachers are not exempt; the social 
 friendly, honest, man, that acts from pure motives, that renders 
 justice to all to the extent of his power, that renders to every 
 one that which under the same circumstances, lie would wish 
 others to render unto him—it is he who fulfils the great plan of 
 nature. That there is a God, the great Creator and Controller 
 of universal nature, that the most elevated conceptions of man, 
 can form no adequate idea of, only through his own mysterious 
 works, and that he made all things according to his own wisdom 
 —to fulfil his own purposes ; and I think few will deny, that we 
 receive all the blessings of life from that exalted being and that 
 it is the duty of all, to worship him as the author of our being, 
 and of .all our enjoyment. For my own part, I readily grant 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 93 
 
 the right to preach up religion and morality, for doubtless mor¬ 
 ality is a concomitant of religion, but to bind down the con¬ 
 sciences of men in points of faith and modes of worship, because 
 it is your belief, or in case he refuses, consign him over to eter¬ 
 nal damnation is too intolerant and unfits a man for being a 
 good parent, husband, citizen or patriot. I think there is no¬ 
 thing more opposed to patriotism than intolerance in religious 
 'Creeds. I would take this maxim : here is freedom to him that 
 would read, here is freedom to him that would write, here is 
 freedom to him that would think, and farther, the thinking fac¬ 
 ulty of man is uncontrolable, for it is absolutely not under his 
 control, much less that of another and of course must go free in 
 spite of all efforts to control it. As all the preachers pretend 
 to ape St. Paul, and take him for their standard, if they would 
 pursue the same course and determine to preach Jesus Christ 
 and him crucified, and lay aside their little sectarian principles, 
 and unite all their forces to accomplish the design on which 
 they all say they have set out, viz : the happiness of man, 
 I think it would show a more patriotic and republican spir¬ 
 it. Making so many roads all starting from the same place, and 
 all terminating at the same place, and all for the very same pur¬ 
 pose and the hands working on the different routes, eternally 
 abusing and insulting each other, about their modes of worship¬ 
 ing, the materials they use, the kind of tools they work with, 
 and their clothing and diet also called in question and even 
 their mode of sleeping and taking nourishment on the way is 
 often found fault with. If they would concentrate all their for¬ 
 ces and make one common cause of it, and set all the laborers 
 on the same road, I think the united efforts of all would make 
 a better way with less labor, and keep in repair with more ease, 
 and travelers would find ease and safety, in passing the road ; 
 there would be fewer toll bridges, necessary to be kept up on 
 the way, than on the present plan, if the rulers instead of being 
 harsh drivers and hard taskmasters would take the lead in the 
 
n 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 work, and put themselves as near as might be on a par with the 
 common laborers and by industry and patience set a good exam¬ 
 ple and not claim as is customary enormous salaries and per¬ 
 haps ten or twelve rations a day, and that of the very best the 
 community affords; but, without laying a finger to the work 
 they stand aloof and issue orders in the most peremptory man¬ 
 ner, under the severest penalties : and if a poor fellow that is 
 no great mechanic and has labored but little in the business, 
 happens to bore an auger hole a little crooked or perhaps cuts 
 his leg a little with the foot adze, they will not only turn him 
 off the road but pack him off straight to hell without the least 
 chance of redemption. There is a sense of right and wrong 
 implanted in the breast of every man, and he that does justice, 
 loves mercy and walks humbly before God, according to the best 
 of his powers, I would respect as a religious man whether 
 he belongs to any particular church or not, or whether there is 
 any particular ceremony attached to his creed, or mode of wor¬ 
 ship. To force a man to believe a thing because I believe it, 
 or to enforce any religious creed on another man’s conscience 
 when perhaps I hardly believe it myself, only for the sake of 
 becoming popular, is not consistent with true republican prin- 
 ciple. If honest nature made a man a fool I believe it is out of 
 the power of man to make him wise. 
 
 I think old Solomon discovered that in his time, if God 
 made man a fool, he would require but little at his hands for 
 his lack of knowledge. The most of men have some reasoning 
 faculties, and if another man after reasoning on the subject, can¬ 
 not view religious matters in the same light that you do it is 
 unfair to condemn him. God only knows the purity of the mo¬ 
 tive, and he neither needs or wants the assistance of man to sit 
 in judgment. But, enough of this digression, so I will turn 
 to my subject. 
 
 So at the same time, there were several dancing masters in 
 almost every quarter. Notwithstanding the revival in religion, 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 95 
 
 dancing masters got sufficient encouragement, for dancing was 
 very fashionable among the people. I was immoderately fond of 
 music and dancing, so I made it a point to attend dancing school 
 pretty often. There was another fashion prevalent at this 
 time ; so soon as winter approached, every woman in the coun¬ 
 try that wanted a little cotton for spinning would invite all her 
 neighbors, old and young, to help her pick some cotton of a 
 night; at that time there were no gins in the country. In con¬ 
 sequence of their picking a smart chance of cotton, they were 
 entitled to the privilege of a dance ; after they had finished their 
 task of cotton, and got supper, the dance commenced, and sel¬ 
 dom ceased until daylight next morning. I was too fond of the 
 business to let such opportunities slip, so I frequently attended 
 on such occasions. I was so fond of it that I determined to be¬ 
 come a fiddler ; to that end I bought a fiddle, for which, after 
 having her adjudged by a dancing master, I gave three hundred 
 pounds of leaf tobacco, which was selling for from three to five 
 dollars per hundred weight. I commenced practicing on my 
 fiddle, at all leisure hours, but to my mortification, after making 
 sufficient experiment I discovered I could not perform to my 
 wish—I could tune the instrument well enough, but I never 
 could note to please myself, consequently I concluded that I 
 could not please others that were judges. My fingers were too 
 contracted at the ends, and would always touch in playing ; I 
 thought if I could not perform, equal to the best, that I would 
 not practice at all, so I laid aside the instrument. 
 
 About this time also, singing masters, as they are called, 
 began to come into the country. I was fond of music any way, 
 and having been taught something of vocal music in early life, 
 
 I attended those schools under the tuition of what was called 
 good teachers. There were two of the most noted, one by the 
 name of Neel and the other, Mays, who acted in concert, and 
 whose school I mostly attended ; sometimes, others, that were 
 not so good. I continued this practice, until I commenced tea- 
 
m 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 cliing myself, which I practiced a number of years ; of this, I 
 may say more hereafter. 
 
 As my attendance at church or the schools I have spoken 
 
 of, seldom required more than two days in the week—say Sat-- 
 
 . 
 
 urday and Sunday—sometimes, not so much. I was mostly em¬ 
 ployed in some kind of labor—and few came round that I did 
 not understand. I could use an axe, mattock, or maul ancl 
 wedges, and in this few could head me ; I was good at the* 
 plow—a work I delighted in—or at the hoe ; I could weave,- 
 make shoes, cooper, or work in the tailor shop; I could use- 
 some carpenters 7 tools pretty well, and whatever business suited 
 best I worked at. Whenever the first hard frosts set in, in the 
 fall, I always shouldered my gun and put off to the woods with 
 some hunting party • the best hunting season generally lasted 
 about two months. Game of different kinds was plenty, and 
 peltry was bringing a good price ' deer skins were worth twenty- 
 five cents per pound, and other skins sold according to quality 
 and all were as good as cash in any of the stores. The rule in 
 hunting, was for each man belonging to the company to draw an 
 equal share of the meat, whether successful in hunting or not,, 
 while each one kept all the skins he took. For my own part, I 
 generally pursued the deer, which was the most plentiful game,- 
 and their skins the most profitable. I have frequently killed 
 five in a day, and sometimes more, and when the weather was 
 unfavorable, I have often hunted diligently all day, and killed 
 but one or two, and sometimes, but seldom, killed none during 
 a hard day 7 s hunt. I have often killed old bucks that one sin* 
 gle hide would weigh twelve pounds, but I do not recollect 
 more than twelve or fifteen that I ever killed, of that weighty 
 that I weighed separately. It requires some judgment in skin¬ 
 ning and stretching to make skins pass well in market. The 
 average weight of good skins is from six to eight pounds. I 
 have frequently in my hunting, killed foxes, raccoons, wild cats 
 and sometimes a panther; turkies we seldom killed, when 
 
EVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER'. 
 
 9 ( 
 
 camped out, limiting, except for our own use, as they are hard 
 to keep from- spoiling. Bears were tolerably plenty, but our 
 bear hunts did not come on until about the close of the fall 
 —at which time, the trapping season for furs, also commenced.. 
 Although I was hard to match at a deer hunt, vet I was not so 
 good after' a bear though fond of the sport. Among all my 
 companions in hunting for deer, I never found but one man who 
 ^ I thought was an overmatch for me in the- same woods. I 
 could find as many deer as any man. but in killing he was a full 
 match, if not better than myself. I always thought it was 
 owing to the circumstance of his shooting at more risk, for lie* 
 would shoot let the chances be good or bad,- while I always 1 
 tried to make a pretty sure shot, and by that means lost many 
 chances. Bear hunting w r as attended with more fatigue, than 
 any other, for their haunts were .always in rougher ground and 
 often attended with some danger, but when fat their meat was 
 thought valuable. It always requires more than one to manage- 
 a bear hunt well. The largest one I ever assisted in killing,, 
 after the hide was taken off, the entrails taken out, the head 
 and feet taken off, and divided into quarters, weighed a little- 
 over nine hundred pounds. All that I made by my share of the- 
 meat, of any kind,, was barely the amusement of hunting it. 
 
 I had a brother and sister, both older than myself who lived in 
 the neighborhood and had families. I divided my meat for the 
 most part between them and sometimes with the neighbors who 
 were fond of it and knew nothing about hunting. My brother 
 knew nothing about the woods, or use of a gun, unless it u as 
 on a general parade, or in <x muster field, and there was far my 
 superior. He was naturally fond ot tactics and made it his 
 study, and always bore some military or civil commission, and 
 frequently both. 
 
 la 
 
CHAPTER XT. 
 
 •• THE DAYS WHEN I WENT COURTING.” 
 
 S TO MYSELF, I had but little aim r 
 if things went on well for the present, 
 it was all right; the future, I studied 
 but little. Like the most of men, by 
 mixing so often in company, I fell into 
 many little courting scrapes, of which I 
 could say many things, but it would be 
 useless, amounting only to nonsense. I was by nature an ad¬ 
 mirer of the fair sex ; indeed, I had almost a superstitious ven¬ 
 eration for them, for I thought a handsome, neat looking female, 
 almost incapable of doing wrong ; and to this day I can not 
 avoid feeling a kind veneration for a decent, modest looking 
 female. There is, however, unfortunately, a class, that degrade 
 themselves and fall beneath the dignity of their nature; that 
 class I fortunately avoided, and never in my life associated 
 with. That fact, I doubt not, will be disputed by those who 
 know me ; it is, nevertheless, strictly true. Marriage was fash¬ 
 ionable, as I presume has always been the case, and I frequently 
 offered myself a candidate, having some serious thoughts on the 
 subject. I was not in possession of property sufficient to make 
 it an object with any woman, and had nothing but my own per¬ 
 sonal qualifications to rely on ; I was conscious that even these 
 were far from first rate, and that I must be content to stand in 
 
 my own grade; neither did I make property the object of my 
 
 .OS 
 
*99 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 pursuit, though, some differed widely with me in that opinion ; 
 I thought there ought to be some congeniality in the mode of 
 thinking and acting, and a mutual agreement in sentiment on 
 all subjects that might be connected with our interests through 
 life. Entertaining these views I made several selections—being 
 frequently in pursuit of more than one object at the same time. 
 In order to make myself friends of the unrighteous Mammon, on 
 one side, in case of failure on the other, and often with no other 
 intention than amusement, I was often well received, and the 
 probability of success seemed favorable, there appearing a wil¬ 
 lingness on both sides; but the subject would die away with¬ 
 out any apparent cause on the part of either. Again, I often 
 found myself rejected : as often as otherwise, by the very per¬ 
 sons I cared the least about—so upon the whole, I had little to 
 boast of or regret; to tell the truth, I was by no means overly 
 anxious. At length, one summer, or rather fall, there was a 
 considerable demand for tobacco hogsheads, and a man of my 
 acquaintance took an idea of furnishing a number. He under¬ 
 stood the business, and proposed that I should join in with him. 
 I consented, and went to work, taking in another hand, and 
 hiring a couple more to saw a quantity of timber. There was 
 a large quantity of tobacco made, and we could easily sell all 
 the hogsheads we could furnish. We worked hard, early and 
 late, tasking ourselves, after our timber was gotten out, at two 
 hogsheads each, per day, when the weather was good. 
 
 The man with whom I was at work, was somewhat advanc¬ 
 ed in years, and had several in family, some of whom were 
 grown. He had married a widow, with four or five children ; 
 the old lady’s first husband had been a tailor fey trade, and she, 
 having worked a good deal at the business, had become a very 
 good tailoress, employing herself mostly in that way. "W hen 
 the weather was unfavorable for out door labor, I always 
 employed myself in working for her, without making any ac¬ 
 count of it. By taking a little pains to please, I had become 
 
100 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 something of a favorite with both, and by singing music with 
 the young ones frequently of nights, of which the whole family 
 was very fond, I found myself quite agreeably situated. The 
 man’s mother was still living, an ancient lady that had raised a 
 large and respectable family, mostly sons. The old lady had 
 married a second husband, who also had a family ; she had be¬ 
 come a widow the second time ; all of the children of both fami¬ 
 lies had married, except the two youngest of both families, who 
 were daughters. The old lady still retained her ancient home 
 In South Carolina, about forty miles from the place where I 
 then resided, keeping these two daughters with her. She still 
 possessed a few slaves sufficient to support the three. Not long 
 after I had set in with this man, the young sister came on a 
 visit to her brother, with the design of spending some two or 
 three months ; there being several young people about the 
 house, I found it no difficult task to become in some measure 
 acquainted with the new comer, neither did I feel averse to 
 cultivate her acquaintance. 
 
 I made it a point to accompany her to church every Sun¬ 
 day, and sometimes to the singing school and occasionally to 
 some little dance that might take place in the neighborhood ; 
 the old lady perceiving a little growing intimacy between us, 
 seemed inclined to encourage it. It is generally the case when 
 a woman wishes to accomplish anything, that they carry their 
 zeal too far and by so doing injure the cause. She was, I 
 thought, rather anxious,—however, the thing went on until I 
 began to think myself most confoundedly in love. At the same 
 time there was another little girl in the neighborhood with 
 whom I had formed some previous acquaintance—a sister of 
 ■one of those singing masters, whom I have spoken of, by the 
 name of Neel—and I could not help keeping an eye on her, al¬ 
 though she stood a little more reserved. I could sec her 
 always at church or the singing school, but at the dancing 
 .schools or little country frolics she was seldom to be seen. 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 101 
 
 "When. I willed to see her I had to visit her at her own resi¬ 
 dence. I was not confident that I could succeed with her, 
 although there was a good understanding between her connex¬ 
 ion and mvself. Neither did I feel any very strong doubts. 
 She was a beautiful singer, a little reserved in her manner, in¬ 
 clined to be serious and neither so handsome, so gay, nor full of 
 life as the other, still I felt a little leaning towards her that I 
 could hardly account for. She was an orphan girl, and desti¬ 
 tute of property and living with her sister, but a man’s prefer¬ 
 ences among females are absolutely inexplicable, and so with a 
 woman towards men, but it seems the business was wound up. 
 Here was a fine girl, full of life, with a good appearance, some 
 property, and backed by friends of respectability and no ob¬ 
 jections on either side. Indeed my own friends were urging me 
 on, and there appeared to be a perfect willingness with both my- 
 self and her, and if there was any other feeling between us I am 
 a stranger to it to this day, and except some little liking that I 
 had for the other, which appeared to me to amount to nothing 
 at the time. Miss Jane, for so she was called, had extended the 
 time of her visit something bevond the time her mother had 
 given her, and it became necessary that she should return. 
 Her good old sister-in-law proposed that I should accompany 
 her on her way ; I very willingly agreed to the proposal. She 
 had four brothers that I was well acquainted with, and two 
 others with whom I was not so well acquainted. Her young¬ 
 est brother lived a few miles from her mother, and thither we 
 concluded to go. • She had but one sister, and her mother and 
 sister I had never seen. I knew the news was getting out 
 4 among them and I thought it prudent not to visit the mother 
 and sister until they were prepared for the interview. I spent 
 two days and a night with her brother; after setting a time to 
 return, I started for home. I let the time for returning, pass 
 over designedly, to see if there would be any grumbling. I now 
 started on, hardly knowing that I should return until I was a 
 
102 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 married man. When I arrived at her brother’s, all appeared 
 to be right; I met Miss Jane, accompanied by another young 
 lady, a sister to her brother's wife. On my first interview, I 
 found myself blazed on by an unexpected meteor which almost 
 stupefied me ; the shock was almost as sudden as St. Paul's con¬ 
 version. In the person of Miss Susan I thought I beheld the 
 greatest beautv I had ever seen, and began to wish that I had 
 never seen Miss Jane or any other young lady. In my first 
 paroxism, I had a notion to forswear every other woman upon 
 earth, to throw myself on her mercy, and in case she rejected 
 me, never have a word more to say to the sex. But objects, by 
 being in sight, soon become familiar, so by being in company, 
 three or four days, I concluded she was nothing more than a 
 very handsome and quite agreeable woman. 
 
 Winter was coming on and the cotton picking frolics were 
 commencing in the neighborhood. There was one to take place 
 at a brother-indaw's, some live or six miles distant, on the sec¬ 
 ond night after my arrival, to which they had been invited two 
 or three days previous. They were all going and I was invited 
 to accompany them ; the brother and sister-in-law knew nothing 
 of my being in the neighborhood—to them I was a perfect 
 stranger, and it would be necessary to play a little deception. 
 We started late in the evening, so that it might be dark, 
 and the company should all be gathered before we got there. 
 This brother that I was now with, was remarkably fond of 
 singing and there was one song that I was in the habit of sing¬ 
 ing, a little singular in the mode in which it was to be sung. 
 This song he was taken with and frequently insisted on me to 
 sing. After we started, said he, “ If you will join me we will * 
 have some good fun to-night. There will be no danger, for my 
 brother-in-law is fond of a good joke. He is very fond of pass¬ 
 ing jokes, and if you can put a good one on him he will like you 
 the better. There will be several fellows there to night who 
 will be quite gay, and I -want to lay their feathers a little, just 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 103 
 
 to ha\ c a laugh, and will be responsible to my brother-in-law 
 and sister. I will introduce you as a travelling preacher, and 
 you must keep on the mask until after the cotton is all picked, 
 and after supper, when they arc about going home, then pro¬ 
 pose giving an exhortation and introduce it by singing that 
 song.” I he plan laid, he named it to the women, and they all 
 declared they would keep it a profound secret. Here was an 
 error in me, for I always believed it wrong to jest with serious 
 matters. We arrived at the place just after dark, and accord¬ 
 ing to expectation the company were all gathered, the house 
 was full and all in high glee, and some three or four young fel¬ 
 lows cutting up some pretty high shines to divert the rest. So 
 soon as we stepped in, my guide introduced me to the man of 
 the house, saying, “ Mr. Green, I bring you Mr.-, a travel¬ 
 
 ling preacher ; I hope he will be received, and sister H., I hope 
 it will not interrupt your cotton picking.” In a moment a 
 whisper passed round the company and all was in profound 
 silence. The preacher was introduced to a seat near the fire ; 
 those who were noisy on our first entrance, retired to the back 
 ground and were silent. Mr. Green and his lady took seats 
 near me and entered into conversation, while all my company 
 were seated near. I was reserved in talking, and although I 
 had every muscle of my face under complete command, yet I 
 was sometimes afraid to turn my eyes on my companions. 
 There was an old superanuated maid about the house that seem¬ 
 ed compelled from neccessity, to live wherever she could, but 
 she seemed to think she had religion, and being of the same 
 faith as she thought I was, stuck quite close to me, and asked 
 more questions than all the rest; however, she was frequently 
 'called off to see about the arrangements for supper, as that 
 seemed to be her province. These little calls relieved me very 
 much and my companions being aware of my situation and 
 feelings would ingenuously try to lead the discourse into some 
 other channel, when it appeared to be bearing too close. Time 
 
104 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 passed era and I do' not think I ever saw as much cotton picked’ 
 in so short a time by the same number of hands. 
 
 Supper came on; I stepped up to the table with a good 
 
 ♦ 
 
 deal of solemnity, and gave the company a rather lengthy graces 
 As soon as supper was over, they began to collect their bonnets,- 
 hats, and cloaks, in a? very silent manner, preparatory to going. 
 I was standing by the’fire with my friend Samuel, for that was 
 my companion’s name; carefully watching their movements. 
 Mr. Green and his wife were about the middle of the room, 
 paying some attention ; all were in motion, just ready for start¬ 
 ing, when I spoke, and told the people, that if they would be' 
 composed, I would trespass on their time a few minutes. All 
 ■were soon seated, in silence. I them said : “ We will sing a 
 hymn ;” and without hesitation commenced my song ; by the - 
 time I was done, Mr. Green and three 1 or lour others, fell pros¬ 
 trate on the floor ; Mrs. Green was struck speechless, and Mary 
 —my religious old maid, with eyes like two full moons, was 
 perfectly motionless. Mr. Green was soon up and had me by 
 the hand ; “ Well,” said he, “ stranger, I have seen many men, 
 but I never was so completely headed before ; if you will stay 
 with me a month it shall not cost you a cent, and then you may 
 go and preach as much as you please.” Hats, bonnets, and 
 cloaks, were quickly laid aside, and the fiddle out of its case.— 
 Poor Mary, after collecting her senses a little, stretched out 
 both arms, and with a solemn groan, exclaimed ; “ My friends,- 
 we ought all to be careful what we are about to night, for this 
 is no man that has come amongst us—it is the devil!” shaking' 
 her head, she continued, “ It is surely the devil! come to visit 
 us for our sins!” It was not long before I was made acquaint¬ 
 ed with Green and his wife, in my real character ; however, the 
 dancing went on, and did not cease until sunrise the next morn- 
 ing. I would here remark, that there was not a drop of spirit- 
 ous liquors at the place; neither was it common on such occa¬ 
 sions. I am well aware that people, at this day, think a frolic 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 105 
 
 could not be carried on without liquor ; but this is all a mistake. 
 It became necessary that I should pay a visit to my intended 
 mother-in-law, who I had not yet seen. So I set out with that 
 view, accompanied by Miss Jane, and her associate, Miss 
 Susan. When we arrived I was introduced to the old lady by 
 her daughter, and politely received. The old lady seemed to 
 be perfectly acquainted with me, although she had never seen 
 me before. I staid about three days and spent the time, princi¬ 
 pally in visiting among the family relations, in company with 
 the two young ladies. In the meantime, Miss Jane gave me to 
 understand that her mother had a wish that we should postpone 
 our marriage a few weeks in order to make some preparations. 
 I was well aware there would be no difficulty with the 
 old lady, and determined not to bring her to an explanation 
 until the final crisis, so I thought I would let the thing rest as 
 it was. It was my intention at the time, faithfully to fulfil the 
 contract, yet I wished to avoid committing myself too far. I 
 was in a hurry—was my reason for not consulting the old lady. 
 I had in the interval, been in company with a little girl near 
 home, and there was some little leaning that I could not account 
 for clearly, and as the matter was postponed, I for the first time 
 began to think if I could get off on any honorable terms, I 
 would do so, but not otherwise ; there began to be some ap¬ 
 pearance of a chance during my stay. I had paid some little 
 attention to her associate, Miss Susan, and she consequently be¬ 
 came jealous of her, as a competitor and a rival. However, it 
 was without foundation on my part and as much so with the 
 voung lady, for it was a mere whim of the brain. A jealous 
 disposition in a woman I believe to be a great enemy to 
 sociability or happiness in a married state. She had hinted 
 the thing two or three times, but I still thought it no 
 more than a joke, and knew no better until after she had pro¬ 
 posed a postponement of the marriage, which I found was done 
 
 with a view of making some discovery. After some explanation 
 
 14 
 
m 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 she proposed for the affair to fall back, to its former position. 
 After taking a view of the affair, I determined to occupy the 
 ground on which she had inadvertently placed me. I told her 
 as things were I had a notion to make a visit to my father before 
 enthralling myself. I had not seen him in several years, and it 
 would suit me better now than after marriage. It would re¬ 
 quire three or four 'weeks 7 time and by my return, all things 
 would be ready. She beg'an to suspect she had been guilty of 
 some error, and offered some apology, so all passed off. There 
 was preaching on the Georgia side of the river, on the way 
 that I was to pass homeward, and herself, with five or six oth¬ 
 ers, was going over. On parting with the old lady, I told her 
 that I would call on her at no very distant period, and perhaps 
 make some requirements of friendship. She replied that she 
 expected she would always be ready to grant any favor in her 
 power, and so I started once more for home. On our way to 
 preaching, I discovered for the first time that the affair with 
 Miss Susan was not the only one with which she had found 
 fault. There was a young man in the neighborhood who fre¬ 
 quented the house during my stay, who seemed to have for his 
 object, Miss Anne, step-daugliter to the old lady. He and my¬ 
 self became a little familiar ; the news being out, he made free 
 in some of our walks, to enquire about the probability of a 
 marriage taking place between Miss Jane and myself. It was 
 a rule entirely at war with my feelings to give any explanation 
 to a stranger on such subjects. I told him it would be a very 
 desirable thing with me, but thought she was a prize not so 
 easily obtained ; that I had made some proposition of the kind, 
 but she appeared to be distant on the subject; 1 doubted being 
 able to get her to decide in my favor. He told me that he had 
 drawn a better confession from her ; that judging from her own 
 confession, she had already decided. I replied that I suspect¬ 
 ed that she was only sporting with his credulity, in order to 
 amuse herself; that women were fond of amusine’ themselves 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 107 
 
 tit ilie expense of men, wlien they could palm an absurdity on 
 them. The subject was dropped, and his satisfaction w r as not 
 increased further. 
 
 It seems he had communicated the conversation, and she 
 
 * 
 
 had- taken umbrage at my mode of proceeding, alleging, that as 
 die had fairly committed herself, that 1 should have made an 
 open confession. Jones contended for the propriety of the po¬ 
 sition I had taken ; upon the whole I thought she seemed natu¬ 
 rally to be a little jealous minded. As respected Miss Susan, I 
 thought her to be much the handsomest woman ; I thought also., 
 that any handsome woman was apt to be vain; at the same 
 time, I thought her to be as clear of that foible as any very 
 handsome woman I had ever known. Besides I thought Miss 
 Jane herself fully as handsome a woman as I wished to be pla¬ 
 gued with, and I thought if I had to fall into the hands of a 
 jealous woman, I should prefer an ugly one. If she should be¬ 
 come jealous and complain to her neighbors, which would be 
 «ure to be the case, she would receive less of their sympathy.— 
 In the next place, I thought that I had no right to communi¬ 
 cate every thing I knew to every enquiring fool that might wish 
 ;to hear himself talk. 
 
 Before we got to the place of preaching, I told her that I 
 still had an idea of visiting my father, and that the time of my 
 return was indefinite ; that I hoped when I saw her again, all 
 would be right,; that I should not stay for preaching, as I had 
 tsome distance to ride ; so we parted, apparently with good 
 feelings. At the time, I still thought that I would return and 
 consummate the marriage, not dreaming of any thing to the 
 contrary. After I had gotten off by myself, I fell into a fit of 
 musing on the subject, and found that I was likely to halt be¬ 
 tween two opinions. I rode on ; late in the evening I arrived 
 at the house of my good old landlady, her sister-in-law. I had 
 been there but a short time, before the enquiry was made :— 
 ^ Where did you leave Jane ?” u Where she wished to be ; with 
 
10S 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 
 
 her mother ;” was the reply. “ Why, dear me! I thought you 
 would bring her back to see us.” “ I tried to do so, but was 
 disappointed ; I fear Miss Jane has fallen into the hands of 
 some of her old sweethearts and has determined to stay there.” 
 “ Oh!” said she, “ I know Jane better than that. I expect it is 
 you that has met with some one else that has turned your head.” 
 11 No, indeed ! If I lose her I shall charge it altogether to you. 
 If you had been as good a friend of mine as you pretended to 
 be, you might have kept her here, and then, I might have had 
 some chance—but as it is, I am afraid the jig is up ; that you 
 and her laid your heads together, just to make a fool of me.”— 
 “ Oh!” she replied ; “ I do not know how any young woman 
 can tell when you’re in earnest, for I am sure I cannot; there 
 is no getting any thing out of you, for you never will explain.” 
 “ There is no explanation needed > for I am always in earnest,” 
 was my reply.” There appeared to be some mystery in the 
 matter, which the old lady could not comprehend ; it gave her 
 some uneasiness, for the mind of woman is inquisitive, and they 
 dislike to remain in the dark about any thing. I left her, al¬ 
 leging she would get some intelligence, when she should again 
 see Miss Jane. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 VISIT TO MY FATIIER—RETURN TO GEORGIA—MARRIAGE. 
 
 |N THE completion of our work, the making 
 of tobacco hogsheads, I left the old man 7 s 
 house and went to my sister’s, my place of 
 retreat, when out of business. After a short 
 stay I was prepared to visit my father, but 
 before starting, I had several interviews with 
 my little girl, of whom I have before spoken. 
 The result was, that on my return, we would be 
 married. o ne °f m y brother’s-in-law having con¬ 
 cluded to accompany me, we started on our jour¬ 
 ney. On arriving at my father’s we found all well ; 
 several of my brothers and sisters, or rather half- 
 brothers and sisters—for they were children of the 
 second wife—though much younger than myself, had got mar¬ 
 ried and had families. There was some rejoicing on my arrival, 
 for I had been absent several years. They were all living in 
 the same neighborhood and consequently to gratify them and 
 myself too, I was obliged to stay sometime. Here I was guilty 
 of a little error, for which I hardly deserve forgiveness, al¬ 
 though it was productive of no harm, and a thing that proba¬ 
 bly happens frequently, yet it might seem a little ungenerous. 
 I had on the road, communicated to my brother-in-law, my inten¬ 
 tion of marrying, when I returned to the country where my 
 v " 109 
 
110 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 father lived which was thickly inhabited. Of course there was 
 a number ;, of invitations from the neighbors for me to visit 
 them. Among others there was a near neighbor of my father’s 
 who had known me when quite young ; I was urged to visit 
 and spend some time with him, and concluded to do so. I had 
 a step-brother about my own age, who had been raised with me 
 am4 lie was still single, living with my father. He was famil¬ 
 iar about their house and agreed to accompany me there. 
 When I went, there were several young people about the house 
 —some three or four more than belonged to the family. The 
 familiarity of my brother among them soon made me acquaint¬ 
 ed. At that time it was fashionable for young people when 
 assembled together, to sing songs, • and very often, to dance. 
 We had not been long together before the singing was intro 
 duced and I felt no unwillingness to take my turn among the rest. 
 It was common for the old people to encourage the practice, 
 and to often join in the amusement. When we got there it was 
 in the early part of the day, and towards night more than a 
 dozen had gathered in, and most of the company staid all night 
 and quite late the next day-. Among others was a young woman 
 belonging to the house, who attracted my attention ; she was 
 just grown up, and as I thought, handsome; I soon felt 
 anxious to cultivate an acquaintance with her; she seemed on 
 her part to have no great aversion, and soon became quite fa¬ 
 miliar. I was urged by the old people to repeat the visit, 
 which suited my feelings. I did' not stay many days before 
 going back, taking my brother-in-law along to make the inter¬ 
 views more agreeable.’ All things went on well, and I found no 
 difficulty in obtaining a private conference with the young 
 lady. This encouraged me, and I soon went again, and by this 
 time found myself once more confoundedly in love ; but “ pleas¬ 
 ures are like poppies spread ”—the time was at hand when I was 
 to meet with a blast. It was almost impossible to keep any¬ 
 thing a secret, more especially from women ; I had not commit- 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 Ill 
 
 moated anything to my father nor any of the family, neither 
 did I intend doing so until about to take my final leave. But 
 my brother-in-law, in conversation with my father and step¬ 
 mother, “ let the cat out of the wallet.” The old lady, (my 
 step-mother) had kept a strict watch over my proceedings, and 
 on making inquiries of her son, and from some jokes that had 
 passed between some of my sisters and myself, she had learned 
 the game I was playing at, and in her religious zeal she could 
 not stand it; she found means of leaking out the secret to the 
 girl’s mother. This soon put me down to the lowest note in 
 the bass. 
 
 Not aware of what had happened, I again called, but very 
 soon discovered that something was the matter, for I could not 
 account for her conduct. I suppose she would scarcely have 
 spoken to me, if she had not thought she would punish me by 
 letting me know she was in possession of the secret. After 
 making some inquiries, she frankly told me what she had heard 
 and how she had got the news ; it was but too true. I scorned 
 to lie and found it necessary to extricate myself the best way I 
 could—but how, I was at a loss to know. She alleged that my 
 conduct towards her was ungenerous; I confessed the truth of 
 the report—told her, that at the outset, I had only professed an 
 attachment to her person and company ; this was nothing more 
 than the truth :—that on the subject of matrimony there had 
 been but little said—that she had not committed herself by ex¬ 
 pressing any sentiment in my favor—that she w had plowed with 
 my heifer and found out the riddle,”—that now, she had com¬ 
 pletely the advantage of me. I told her, that if I lived to re¬ 
 turn, I was under the promise of marriage—but that nothing 
 was sure until it was accomplished—that it ^ras possible I might 
 be disappointed ; if so, it would not be for the first time—that 
 I had been unfortunate in that respect, for I had more than 
 once thought myself as good as married and had still failed, 
 and it might happen so again—that I thought in that respect 
 
112 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 the minds of women were changeable—that if they were almost 
 ready to marry to-day, and a better chance offered they would 
 be apt to accept it, and perhaps be perfectly right in so doing— 
 that I never intended to fly the path myself, but allowed all 
 liberties—that I was a candidate for matrimony, and had been 
 for several years, and in case of failure this time, I had thought of 
 returning to my native country and take a wife there if I could 
 get one, and settle among my friends, and with these views I 
 chose her as an object worthy of my attention. That I had in¬ 
 tended to explain my motives before I left her—that she might 
 think of the matter until I, in case of disappointment, should 
 return, which would be in a short time. She at length admit¬ 
 ted that I might have the pleasure of her company if I desired 
 it, as long as I staid, on condition that the subject of mar¬ 
 riage should be left aside. So we remained good friends for 
 the remainder of the time that I staid. 
 
 This w^as in the fall of 1792. In the course of a few 
 
 months she married, and I saw her no more until the fall of 
 
 1817. She had raised a large family, and her eldest child, 
 
 which happened to be a daughter, was married to a brother of 
 
 mine, that had lived to be a kind of old bachelor. In the eve- 
 
 ¥ 
 
 ning, after this interview, 1 went to my father’s, a little out of 
 humor with my step-mother ; while sitting at supper, in a se¬ 
 rious manner, I addressed the old lady thus : “ Well, old lady, 
 I am afraid I shall have to become a little troublesome to you/’ 
 “ Ah ! how so ?” said she. “ Why I have a thought of taking 
 a wife home with me and shall have to put you to the trouble of 
 giving a wedding dinner or supper, and boarding my wife a few 
 days.” “ Oh,” said she, “ if I like her, I shall think it no hard¬ 
 ship.” “ Well,” said I, * * it is Miss M-, a great friend of 
 
 yours ; I have been courting her ever since being here and was 
 doubtful of getting her, but you rendered me a good piece 
 ot service which brought her to a conclusion at once ; you raised 
 a report, you and Mr. B., between you, that I was engaged to 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 113 
 
 be married on my return home. I told her it was nothing but 
 a scheme of yours to get me off that you might keep her for 
 your own son, my friend James ; she believed it, and said she 
 would match you for being so cunning ; she suspected for some 
 time, that you did not pretend to think so much of her for noth¬ 
 ing. So the story was of service to me, for I do not think she 
 would have come to a conclusion so soon had it not been for 
 that.” I pretended to be serious on the subject, and kept the 
 old lady in suspense for two or three days. 
 
 The time arrived for my return to Georgia. My father 
 who had given me many moral lessons, gathered up several books 
 on religious subjects, and presented them to me, for my acceptance r 
 enjoining on me to read them with attention. I received them 
 with a promise, that I would read and consider them, at the same 
 time, caring little about it, for I had not imbibed the same 
 notions on the subject of religion that he had, but did not show 
 any signs of aversion to his advice. Moral honesty, indeed I 
 believe to be necessary for every man, and essential to the well 
 being of every community, and determined within myself al¬ 
 ways to associate with persons of good moral character, and 
 respectability or have no associates at all. On parting, I ac¬ 
 quainted m)' father with niv intentions and took leave of all 
 my friends, once more for Georgia. In a short time after my 
 return, I made up my mind and set in with a man, of my ac¬ 
 quaintance, by the name of Petigrew, to make a crop. Soon 
 after setting in with him, I informed him of my intention of 
 marrying. He encouraged me to proceed, telling me he would 
 assist me to set up housekeeping ; he told me he would stop all 
 hands a few days, and put up a cabin that would answer for the 
 season, and further, as he was bound to furnish my board, he 
 w^ould supply whatever provisions might be necessary for me 
 and my wife, until the crop was finished, without making any 
 account of it. I concluded, however, not to make the cage 
 
 until the bird was caught. I had little to expend by way of 
 
 15 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 114 
 
 / 
 
 making preparation for a marriage feast; three very good 
 horses, a few articles of clothing and a piece of land was the 
 sum total of my effects, and I did not think it advisable to sell 
 a horse to make what was called a wedding. Her brother- 
 in-law, with whom she lived, was a poor man and had a family, 
 and I had no wish to cast any burden upon him. The news 
 had got out, and I knew several that expected to be invited, so 
 after consulting the man with whom I lived, I determined to 
 cut the matter short, without making any fuss about it. I took 
 my horse, on Saturday evening, and rode over to the place 
 where she lived ; staid all night, and on Sunday morning pro¬ 
 posed my plan. At first, it was objected to by the man and 
 his wife, but after my urging the matter a little, and giving my 
 reasons, it was assented to. On Sunday, I went off and taking 
 a man with me, obtained my license, called at my brother’s, 
 and engaged him to meet me at the place, next evening. I then 
 engaged a young man and young woman, and her brother-in- 
 law engaged a couple in the neighborhood, all to attend on the 
 occasion, and the next evening, we met the whole party includ¬ 
 ing the household, and myself being ten, and on the evening of 
 Monday, the 22d of March, 1793, I was married to Miss Neil. 
 
 On Wednesday morning, the 24th, I went to work to build 
 me a shelter ; with the assistance of what hands there were on 
 the place where I lived, with five or six of the neighbors that 
 aided me, by Saturday night I had a kind of cabin to go to, and 
 on Sunday, I moved my wife, with what few articles of furni¬ 
 ture she had, and they were not many. I soon found that 
 when a man gets a wife, he stands in need of some other arti¬ 
 cles ; in a short time I sold a horse to procure some cattle and 
 additional furniture. Stock was then valuable ; the range on 
 the frontier being good, by keeping them therein, they were 
 very little expense, except salt. Shortly after, I sold one of my 
 tracts of land, taking a good share of the price in cattle. I now 
 turned my attention to the keeping and raising of stock, so that 
 
EEVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 21 5 
 
 % 
 
 I frequently had beef cattle and milch cows for sale. Cows 
 and calves generally brought a good price, for new settlers 
 were constantly coming in, but beef seldom brought more than 
 three or three and a half cents per pound ; the business also 
 suited my propensities. As soon as I had gathered my crop, I 
 rented a small farm, lying immediately on the river, for two 
 years; my own land lay outside of the settlement, and there 
 was danger in living on it, the Indians still being hostile.— 
 The land I rented, was good, and a young man, brother to my 
 wife assisted me in cultivating it. There was an excellent fish¬ 
 ery belonging to the place, where by keeping some traps in 
 order, there was an abundance of fish caught, especially in the 
 ■shad season. There were iron works, or rather a furnace, that 
 had been erected about twelve miles from my place, which made 
 my fishery a source of some profit. I remained here two years, 
 my brother-in-law still staying with me ; at the close thereof, I 
 concluded to cultivate my own land, though the Indians were 
 still somewhat troublesome. There was a fort situated about a 
 mile distant from the place where I intended to settle, and into 
 that I concluded to go, while I was making my improvements. 
 Accordingly, on the 22d of March, I moved to the fort; most 
 of the inhabitants had left and moved out to their farms, but no 
 one family would venture to stay alone at night; they generally 
 worked in companies in the day, and three or four of them 
 would collect together in one place at night. There were four 
 or five families still remaining in the fort, and three or four 
 more that lived near, would go to their homes of a morning and 
 return in the evening; there were spies kept out. though this 
 precaution was sometimes neglected, when all things appeared 
 to be still. The proprietor of the fort had a small farm of 
 twelve or fifteen acres, which I rented ; he having put up a 
 mill near the fort without having any hands to labor for him 
 and had to attend the mill himself. The Indians had stolen all 
 the horses that were of value from the inhabitants—they could 
 not keep a horse of any value, unless well secured in a stable. 
 
116 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP A 
 
 I had taken two good horses with me and in order to keep them 
 safe, made use of a house inside of the fort, for a stable; we 
 kept up no sentinels at night, not being apprehensive of dan¬ 
 ger. I had a very severe dog that I had trained to the woods, 
 and could put my horse or any other property in his charge 
 and he would defend it to the last ; he made no friendship 
 in such cases with any man though he knew him ever so well. 
 I have frequently killed deer that I was unable to lift on my 
 horse ; in such oases I had nothing to do only take out the en¬ 
 trails, give them to my dog, drag the deer to the root of a tree 
 and give him charge of it, and leave him twenty-four hours, 
 without returning and never, in one instance, have I failed to 
 find all safe, without the least breach being made, and I have 
 sometimes, to try him, sent my brother-in-law, who often hunted 
 with me, ahead, the dog never failed to defend the deer, until I 
 .carne up. At night, when I shut up my horses, I always fed 
 my dog at the stable door, where he would stay during the 
 night. It was thought by many that some unprincipled white 
 men who were well acquainted with the country had some in¬ 
 tercourse with the Indians and urged them on to steal horses. 
 Indeed the suspicion was so strong that some few of them fell 
 under the displeasure of Judge Lynch,and left the country, and 
 some three or four came up missing and were no more heard of. 
 I myself saw two whom the evidence was so strong against— 
 for they were caught with plenty of property in their posses¬ 
 sion—that they were subjected to no further trial than a coun¬ 
 cil of fifty or sixty men and suspended between heaven and 
 earth, at a cross-roads, and a snug hole made in the ground for 
 them to repose in, where I expect, they rest in quiet to this day, 
 unless they may at times, wish to arrest the attention of some 
 nightly traveller, when the moon shines. These things passed 
 off without being noticed by the authorities. One moonlight 
 night, all in the fort were in bed asleep, and no apprehension of 
 danger, my dog gave the alarm and some one in the fort called 
 
1 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 out, “There was some one at the stable door.” A brother-in- 
 law of mine who slept in the same house, and myself both 
 sprang out of bed and caught our guns, when we got out into 
 the square, we saw some one ascending the steps at the corner, 
 by the sentinel 7 s box, but before we would shoot they passed 
 over they pickets and descended outside. We had no appre¬ 
 hension of Indians, thinking an Indian would not attempt to 
 climb over, but supposed it to be some white man, and we would 
 catch him with dogs,—there were several in the fort,—we im¬ 
 mediately opened one of the gates, let out the dogs, and in our 
 shirts, with our guns in our hands commenced pursuit • the dogs 
 quickly took the trail and at a short distance, under some large 
 poplar trees, by the side of a cow-pen, where a number of cat¬ 
 tle were penned, they began to bay very fiercely ; we advanced 
 encouraging the dogs ; when we had got within less than fifty 
 yards of the place, thinking we had the fellow safe, our prog¬ 
 ress was quickly arrested by the report of four guns fired at us 
 in quick succession from the shade of the poplars ; we retreat¬ 
 ed with all speed into the fort and shut the gate, and then run 
 ning up into the block house, discharged our guns towards the 
 place, as near as we could guess. By this time all the men in 
 the fort were under arms and at their places, expecting an at¬ 
 tack. We called off the dogs and let them into the fort, and 
 kept a good look-out until morning, but were not disturbed. 
 Early in the morning, the alarm was spread through the neigh¬ 
 borhood, and before night, the people were all in the fort. In 
 the early part of the day, we received an express from another 
 fort, about eight miles distant informing us that a party of In¬ 
 dians—whom we supposed to be the same who made their ap¬ 
 pearance during the night—had stolen fourteen horses, and that 
 they had not finished collecting the horses until after day-break 
 in the morning, and were discovered by a man that had been up 
 and out in the fort early. They were pursued, overtaken, and 
 all the horses recovered, but only one Indian caught or hurt. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 BOY ATTACKED BY THE INDIANS—FIRST SIN OF DRUNKENNESS— 
 
 SPELL OF FEVER. 
 
 llHERE WAS another fort not more than two 
 miles distant from the one in which I lived* 
 A river was between, and the people had to 
 cross to the fort to get meal. A young lad had 
 come over to the mill; he was well mounted 
 and had a large bag of corn on his horse; after having 
 his corn ground he started home and when about half a 
 mile from the mill, in the river swamp, was met by a 
 party of Indians ; they were close on him before he saw them, 
 and advancing on him, in plain English, ordered him to stop. 
 It seemed, from their movements that they did not wish to kill 
 the lad, but intended to make him a prisoner, and to take the 
 horse. The lad was active and a good rider ; he made a shift 
 and on the first motion overbalanced the bag and letting it drop, 
 put his horse to full speed. The Indians immediately fired 
 upon and pursued him, and just as he ascended the other side 
 of the river fired again, but without effect. We heard the 
 report of the guns but could not account for the cause> suppos* 
 ing it to be at the other fort; however, we were soon relieved 
 by the appearance of some men from the other fort. The In¬ 
 dians had emptied the bag and disappeared with it; the circum¬ 
 stance of their being discovered, in all probability, had pre¬ 
 vented them from attacking our fort. This caused an alarm 
 
 118 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 119 
 
 and the people were all cooped up again in the fort; the panic 
 did not last long, however, for in a few days they all returned 
 to their homes. This often reminded me of the speech of an 
 old friendly Indian. He said—“ White people were like hogs, 
 when the wolf got among them they would rally and fight but 
 as soon as the wolf was gone, they would all scatter and go 
 to rooting.” After this, the Indians did us little more harm, 
 except stealing a few horses once in a while, which practice 
 they continued for a year or two. 
 
 I forgot to mention in its proper place that when I had 
 been married almost three years, in the winter before I moved 
 to the fort, I committed my first sin of drunkenness. I will 
 mention the circumstances which led to it, in order to show how 
 far a man may be led astray without any intention, by falling 
 into bad company. Some few days previous I had exchanged 
 horses with a man, and he was to give me a cow and calf to 
 *boot. We lived five or six miles apart; one evening, I conclu¬ 
 ded to go over and stay all night with him and drive home my 
 cow in the morning. I did so; the man told me the cow he 
 designed for me was at a neighbor’s house, where he had pur¬ 
 chased her and had not removed her ; the same night, another 
 man with whom I was acquainted, came in to stay all night. 
 The man, where the cow was, kept liquor to sell; in the morn¬ 
 ing, the other man that stayed all night, proposed to me, that if 
 I would treat, he would go and help me drive my cow home, as 
 he was going close by anyhow ; I had no objection. I knew 
 him to be a real toper, and that he drank hard ; I was fond of 
 liquor myself, and had been always accustomed to using it, but 
 had never felt its intoxicating influence. I had been taught to 
 believe that drunkenness was degrading, especially to a young 
 man ; I had seen many men drunk, and seen the evil conse¬ 
 quence, and thought I never would be guilty ; would to God I 
 had always kept the resolution ! But I am too late making the 
 petition. I agreed to his proposition, and off we went; I came to 
 
120 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 the place, the cow was there ready, I called for a half pint of 
 whiskey, I knew nothing about drinking grog. The whiskey 
 was set out in a small decanter, containing the quantity * 
 called for, we soon drank it off; I prposed starting. “ No/ 7 said 
 he, “we must have another half-pint he called for it and it was 
 not long till that was drank also, we then got our horses and I 
 turned out my cow ready for a start. “Well/ 7 said he “ let’s have 
 a stirrup dram and we will be off. 77 I called for it, while on our 
 horses at the door, “ Now/ 7 said he with an oath! “ if you don 7 t 
 drink your share we will thumb it this time/ 7 that is place your 
 thumb against the bottle and drink the depth of your thumb, 
 
 I complied and we soon drank that also. The day was cold 
 and some light snow falling, however, we started. The cow was 
 troublesome and the woods rough. When we had got about 
 
 ✓ 
 
 a mile she took advantage of the rough woods and running 
 around the farm got back. I concluded then I would put a 
 clog on her, we let her in the lot, caught her, and put on the 
 clog. “Well/ 7 said he “ we must take another drink and try 
 the drive again. 77 I knew that I had enough and objected, but 
 he insisted and I hated to back out, so we went in and I called 
 for another half pint. “ Well/ 7 said he, “you must thumb it 
 again, otherwise ; you won’t drink your share, so let us be in a 
 hurry. 77 I did not altogether relish the proposition, but had 
 plenty in me to urge me on, and willing to be in a hurry thought 
 I would risk it; it was not long before we despatched the 
 other half pint. Says I, “Let’s go. 77 “Oh, no/ 7 said he, “we 
 can take one more, and then go on to your house without suffer¬ 
 ing from the cold. 77 He called for it, and commenced on it; I 
 liacl reduced it one thumb, and sat down in a chair, when all of 
 a sudden everything began to turn round, and the first thing I 
 knew, myself, chair and all were down in the floor. I was per¬ 
 fectly sensible of all around me, and strove, in vain, to rise ; I 
 could not stand. The man of the house happened to step in 
 just then, said, “ Hey, hey! what’s the matter here ? Collins 
 
 •r 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 121 
 
 down kicking? Well, i t ? s a pity; fori expect it is the first time 
 he was ever drunk in his life, and I will take care of him ; he 
 shall not suffer.” Although drunk, I felt ridiculous, and must 
 have had that appearance. However, the man got me up, put 
 me to bed, and covered me up; I soon fell asleep. This' all 
 happened in the early part of the day, and when dinner came 
 on, I was waked up; my companion had moved, decamped, was 
 off. The family insisted on my eating dinner, but I was too 
 sick—took a drink of buttermilk, and went to bed again and 
 would have been gladly out of sight of every one ; I was al¬ 
 most ashamed of my existence. When evening came on, several 
 men of my acquaintance came in to take a drink ; wishing to 
 be concealed, I covered myself over, but after they commenced 
 drinking, was soon discovered. “Hey,” said one, “ who is this 
 you have covered up here?” “ Oh,” said the man, “it is Col¬ 
 lins, poor fellow ; he is a little sick.” “ What ? Collins is not 
 drunk?” “I believe he drank a little too much this cold day, 
 and it has made him sick.” All expressed their wonder, say¬ 
 ing, “ it was a new thing ; ” but to my mortification, I was com¬ 
 pelled to get out of bed and set awhile with them ; they insisted 
 upon my drinking again to cure myself but I had no faith in 
 the doctrine, and refused to comply. I staid all night, feeling 
 sick and ashamed. The man of the house insisted that I should 
 drink some, and recommended it as a cure, but the very idea 
 was disgusting. I drove home my cow under feelings of sore 
 repentance. I then renounced the use of whiskey and its 
 charms forever ; I determined it should never have any more 
 influence over me ; I would devote myself to the use of cold 
 water, during life ; a resolution that I would earnestly recom¬ 
 mend to every young man, to make and keep, if possible. Ex¬ 
 perience induces me to recommend it, and I think, Solomon 
 says, “ Experience teaches wisdom.” I kept my resolution for 
 two years and six months, when I was tempted to taste a little 
 
 peach brandy ; it seemed palatable, and I drank it on some oc- 
 16 
 
122 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 casions, but very moderately, for something better than one? 
 year longer, still rejecting whiskey. At length, we met on 
 friendly terms ; I found her to be an intriguing hussy and 
 ventured once more to taste her, and there has, at times, been a 
 great intimacy between us, especially of late years ; the better 
 the acquaintance the stronger the attachment, and I have often 
 sorely repented that the acquaintance was ever revived after 
 our first separation, and if I could have any influence over 
 mankind, I would advise them to avoid any thing of the kind, 
 not but that I believe the moderate use of liquor may be of 
 benefit at times, but it is a growing evil, and hard to conquer, 
 and if I had obeyed the dictates of my own reason, I should 
 have quit it long ago. 
 
 But to return to the fort. My crop of corn was nearly 
 ready to lay by, and I had made nothing else but a little flax. 
 In the latter part of June, I took the first hard spell of fever, I 
 ever had in my life • true, the measles, small-pox and fever and 
 
 ague had all fallen to my lot, but a hard attack of billious fever 
 
 ♦ 
 
 I had never experienced ; more than likely it was my own rash 
 conduct that'brought it on ; while engaged one very warm day 
 in saving my flax, near three o’clock in the afternoon, there 
 appeared a dark, threatening thunder cloud ; I worked hard and 
 got my flax all safe ; while suffering with thirst and foaming 
 with sweat I went to an excellent spring near the fort, L and 
 without hesitation, drew up my pantaloons and waded into the 
 stream just below the spring, and washed my legs and feet, not 
 even taking the precaution of wetting my head ; I then washed 
 my face and arms—still standing in the cold water—until I felt 
 quite cool and pleasant; I then went in and eat dinner and felt 
 no harm ; in the course of about an hour, I began to feel a dull 
 pain in the head, and flushes of heat ran over me ; I still did 
 not apprehend any serious harm, but got my horse and gun and 
 concluded to drive up some cattle belonging to the fort. I went 
 but a short distance till I came across some deer. I killed one 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. \2? t 
 
 and it being in hearing of the cow bell, I went and drove them 
 up. By the time I got to the fort, I was not able to go after 
 the deer, but told one of the men where to find it, and he went 
 and brought it. Before night I was completely out of my senses 
 •and contiuued so for several days ; there was no doctor to be 
 had except a Dutch quack, who used simples altogether ; they 
 brought him to see me, and I suppose he and the people in the 
 ^fort did their best for me ; I had never taken any strong medi¬ 
 cine'—there was no such thing in the country, nor any one who 
 •knew how to administer it, had it been at hand ; I was perfect¬ 
 ly insensible to every thing that passed ; in this situation I had 
 lain, for fourteen days, when at length they procured some flies 
 as a last remedy, and applied seven blisters to me ; I was re¬ 
 markably hairy, and they made the plasters with paste in order 
 to make them stick, and without the precaution of shaving had 
 put them on; in removing the plasters, they had to cut the hair 
 with the scissors ; I still remained insensible of anything that 
 was done, and they were nearly done removing the plasters 
 when, suddenly as if awakening out of a dream, I felt they were 
 hurting me and complained. When I awoke, as it were, I dis¬ 
 covered that I had not strength to raise my head off the pillow 
 and was at a loss to know what the matter was. I saw the 
 house crowded with people, all gazing upon me with great at¬ 
 tention. I was reduced to a mere skeleton and no power to 
 turn or raise my head, and knew not that I had been sick, and 
 was entirely at a loss to account for my situation; some of 
 them began to talk to me, and enquire about my feelings, but 
 no one hinted their apprehensions, as [ afterwards learned they 
 had for several days, hourly expected me to die ; indeed after 
 viewing the situation I was in, I concluded that it was impos¬ 
 sible for me to live, and it is doubtful whether, when the time 
 does come, I shall be any better reconciled to my fate. But 
 God had reserved me for further scenes for I am strongly in¬ 
 clined to believe that the way of man is marked out by 
 
124 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 
 
 infinite wisdom, and that he cannot turn to the right, or to the 
 left without God ; hut is obliged to travel to the end of his 
 journey, as it is marked out. I am well aware that it is a doc¬ 
 trine that many people do not believe, and that they would pro¬ 
 nounce me a fool or a bigot. My old Dutch quack still staid 
 with me ; I asked for water, and he would not let me have any, 
 for it appeared that all this time I had been prohibited from 
 drinking cold water, and had nothing* but warm teas or gruel 
 to drink; and had eaten nothing, I continued in this way three 
 or four days longer ; the fever had left me, but still I longed 
 for water, and could not obtain it, for I was altogether unable 
 to help myself; I continued to swallow what medicines were 
 offered me which was nothing but some kind of drops ; at 
 length I refused to take any more medicines, and told them 
 I must have some water. The truth is, I did not expect to live, 
 and thought I might as well be gratified in my last hours. The 
 doctor flew into a rage and said he would leave, and that I 
 would certainly die. Accordingly he went off in a bad humor, 
 pronouncing me a dead man. A brother-in-law of mine, who 
 was living in the fort, always insisted on letting me have some 
 water ; he contrived to get a bottle of spirits and kept it con¬ 
 cealed, and every day, three or four times he would contrive to 
 get all out of the house, even my wife among the rest, and 
 would give me about two spoonfuls of very weak grog. It 
 seemed to revive me, and I absolutely thought it the best thing 
 that I ever tasted ; this he kept a secret for several days, and 
 to the astonishment of all I began to mend ; though much re¬ 
 duced, my voice never failed ; it was often remarked that when 
 at the lowest they could hear me speak all over the fort. I was 
 confined, in all, about ten weeks before I was able to walk 
 across the fort. Although apparently well and hearty, yet my 
 constitution was so impaired that I never got fairly over it to 
 this day, for I have never had the same strength and action. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 RETURN TO BUSINESS-DEATH OF MY WIFE—SECOND MARRIAGE. 
 
 AYING recovered, I set about building, 
 and improving my land ; however, I also 
 commenced work at the tailoring bRsi- 
 
 ness, and by that means could make 
 
 hands to work on my place. I got a 
 
 cabin put up, and some land cleared, during the winter, and on 
 
 the 22d of March, moved to the place and then thought I was 
 settled for life. I busied myself in selecting and planting some 
 of the best fruit trees I could get. In the preceding winter 
 people had moved out and were settling the country rapidly; 
 it so happened that the country around where I lived was set¬ 
 tled by that class of people who are called Presbyterians; they 
 came to a conclusion to build a church and get a preacher 
 among them ; they accordingly set about building the church 
 and made application to the Synod, and soon had a preacher 
 sent on, and I have always had reason to believe him a good 
 man. In arranging the different departments of church gov¬ 
 ernment, I was solicited to conduct the psalmody or music of 
 the church, and besides was nominated as one of the elders. 
 It was true I had thrown in my share for building the church, 
 and was also subscribing for the support of the preacher, and 
 had no objection to taking part in the music, but when it came 
 
 125 
 
126 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 to the eldership, I could not stand the pull—I could not sub¬ 
 scribe to all the articles of their creed, and some of their cere¬ 
 monials I thought altogether useless, and to act apart I did not 
 believe to be right, would be gross hypocrisy, and so the office 
 was declined. There was a considerable number of young 
 people belonging to the congregation, and I taught a singing 
 school in the church. I taught every Saturday, and as we only 
 had half the time of the preacher, we met every other Sunday 
 at an early hour, and sung until the hour of preaching; on 
 these occasions, a number of married men and women attended 
 and by this means, almost the whole of the society became good 
 singers, and were able to carry all the parts of music in the 
 church. I have often thought there was nothing more beautiful 
 in church than good singing. In the mean time I had joined 
 in with two of the most celebrated singers in the country, one 
 by the name of Patterson, and the other by the name of Neb- 
 lack ; they were both young, or rather single men and employ¬ 
 ed themselves almost altogether in teaching music through the 
 country. We selected a number of tunes from different authors, 
 and called them Patterson's Selection. We made up funds to 
 defray the expenses of printing, and Patterson went on to Phil¬ 
 adelphia to superintend the printing and bring on a sufficient 
 number of books to enable us to supply all our schools with 
 the same kind at fifty cents per book. I continued the business 
 nearly four years, by which means I realized about one hun¬ 
 dred and fifty dollars a year. I kept a small farm and still at¬ 
 tended to my stock, for the range was still good in the imme¬ 
 diate neighborhood. At this period I was placed in a happy 
 situation—was perfectly at peace with all men, for I lived 
 among friendly, peaceable people, and if I had an enemy on the 
 earth I did not know it. As to property, I had none to 
 boast of, but I had as much as I craved ; I owed no man 
 anything, and if I had a use for a little money, I had it without 
 applying to any man, and had a few dollars to spare my friends 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 in case of need. There was one fortunate circumstance that 
 attended ine ; my wife had no children, and I was not encum¬ 
 bered with a growing family; however, not many men would 
 agree with me on the subject of its being fortunate ; it is nev¬ 
 ertheless true. I had no particular desire to be plagued with 
 children, until they could run about and talk, and then they be¬ 
 came favorites, and as things turned out, I have often since con¬ 
 sidered it a fortunate circumstance. 
 
 When I reflect, alas, where have all these happy scenes 
 fled ? They have vanished like the morning dew, and have 
 become exactly the reverse—are only known by their dim shad¬ 
 ows as I stroll about the haunts of old memories. I have often 
 heard people commenting upon their misfortunes, losses, and 
 disappointments, and thought it mere human weakness,—whioh 
 perhaps was correct,—but, that I would never thus act; I have 
 long since, by experience, found myself subject to the same 
 error, still I ought rather to be thankful to that divine and 
 mysterious power that led me safe through all the shifting 
 scenes of life to the present time. 
 
 I had lived on my place near three yearsthere was then 
 a great stir among the people about moving to what was then 
 called the Western country : viz., Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio 
 and Indiana. A number of my friends and relations, assembled 
 together with myself, after holding a consultation,, concluded to 
 form a company and all settle near one place, and to that end 
 I sold all my land and stock and purchased a small negro, and 
 got all'things ready for a move. As above stated, we agreed 
 to go in a company, as it was not safe for any one family to go 
 across such a large scope of Indian country. -Before the ar¬ 
 rangements could be made, spring came on, and we concluded 
 to put off the movement until fall. This caused me to labor 
 under some disadvantages. I had more horses than I had pres* 
 ent use for, and was obliged to be at some expense to keep them 
 up ; I rented part of a farm, in order to make corn to fatten 
 
123 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 my horses in the fall. I gave up my place, and on the 22d day 
 of March, moved off and left it, having staid three years to a 
 day. All this time I had continued to keep up my singing school. 
 When fall came and the preparations were completed for the 
 company to move, my wife was taken sick and was unable to 
 travel, and after waiting a few weeks and seeing no sign of her 
 recovery, they went on and left me. I employed three or four 
 of the most eminent physicians in the country to attend on her : 
 viz., Gilmore & Holt, of Ebcrton, and Philipps of Lexington, 
 but all in vain ; her illness increased and after lingering about 
 five months, tbe scene closed in death, on the 27th day of Jan* 
 nary, 1801. 
 
 After the death of my wife, I disposed of what little fur* 
 ifiture I had in my house in rather a careless manner, without 
 deriving that benefit which 1 ought to have had ; at that time I 
 had not the most distant idea of ever attempting to keep house, 
 or again wanting any furniture. I thought of leaving the 
 country and pushing my fortune somewhere else ; I had no in¬ 
 cumbrance and thought it would then be easy to go to any 
 place I might wish, having no particular place in view. 
 
 I had an idea then, in which I afterwards found I was en¬ 
 tirely mistaken. I had heard in my youth, a great many re¬ 
 marks made among females about widowers, from which I con¬ 
 cluded that men of that class had to stand in the back-ground, 
 and this made me determine never to become a candidate for any 
 
 no use for more than one, and horses were not then ready sale 
 for money ; in order to get clear of some of my horses, I bought : 
 a four hundred dollar horse, and paid for it mostly in horse- j 
 flesh ; by this means, I got clear of three of my horses for one. 
 
 I kept that horse lour years and sold him for the same price I 
 paid for him. I next got clear of the balance of my horses on 
 the best terms possible. In the course of a few months'I re¬ 
 sumed the business of teaching music again ; teaching singing 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER.. 129 
 
 then was very popular, and those two men of whom I haver 
 spoken, Neblack and Patterson, both being single men, were 
 engaged in the business pretty extensively. I joined in with 
 them and we formed a kind of circuit ; we attended the differ- 
 ent schools, one after another, in our turns ; I had, for the 
 most part, to attend to the schools three days in each week, and 
 so with the others • this business I attended to for something 
 more than a year. In order to keep myself employed and also 
 to make something, I engaged in another business. There was 
 a Dutch potter living in the neighborhood who followed the 
 business of making what was called crockery-ware. The 
 neighbors around had gotmostlv furnished, so that it was not of 
 very ready sale, close around him ; lie agreed, by my taking a 
 4 quantity, to supply me at a reduced price, and I took it to a 
 convenient distance where I could make sale ; by this means, I 
 was making a small profit. I was extremely cautious in trying 
 to initiate myself into female society ; indeed I never had the* 
 same slight, or the same assurance which I thought some men 
 possessed in that respect, although, 1 believe I respect the sex 
 as much as most men ; I never was very intrusive. At length, 
 when I began to venture, I soon found some of my ideas were 
 incorrect, and that there was more owing to circumstances than 
 to any real antipathy they had to the name of widower,—per¬ 
 haps the circumstances of a young lady becoming a step-mother, 
 might sometimes place her in an awkward situation, and be a 
 good objection to her venturing. On my part there was no 
 difficulty of the kind in the way ; I met with no trouble or diffi¬ 
 culty about any house that I frequented or among any people 
 with whom I associated, yet I did not feel as though I was oc¬ 
 cupying my right place; I had been accustomed to having the 
 control of a house, but now I did not feel myself at liberty, but 
 was compelled to submit to the control of others, feelings that 
 never had affected me previous to my first marriage. I was 
 
 for sometime halting between two opinions, and not able to de- 
 
 17 
 
130 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 cide, sometimes inclined to leave that part of the country anel 
 settle myself down in some way and become stationary ; at 
 times I was employed in reading the Bible a good deal—a book 
 by the way, that I had often read, in my life. I also consulted 
 the opinion of several writers on the subject of religion. I 
 sometimes thought of dropping every thing else, and turning 
 my attention to the study of divinity ; on this subject I had 
 several*conferences with our clergyman, Mr. Newton, a man 
 who I have always thought to be a pious Christian. This preach¬ 
 er encouraged me to pursue the design, promising to render me 
 every assistance in his power. I spent some time in consulting 
 and comparing the creeds of different denominations and found 
 upon the whole, that I could not in every particular agree with 
 either party, but must differ in some respects from the whole., 
 
 % 
 
 and under these views, to join in with any particular sect would 
 subject me to act the hypocrite, and I thought hypocrisy the 
 last thing a man ought to resort to, at least in religious mat¬ 
 ters, and to become a schismatic in the church, or stand alone 
 as a reformer, required a man of greater powers of persuasion 
 and criticism than fell to my share, and to avoid exposing my¬ 
 self to the public in attempting a thing for which I was not fit. 
 
 I gave up the idea, and concluded to fall upon some other plan ; 
 
 I had in this time almost decided that I would marry again, if 
 I could, on fair principles, and had been rather trying to make 
 some selections. One day in the summer of 1802, when I was 
 at one of my out-posts, or repositories of crockery-ware, I was 
 sitting in the gallery with a book in my hand ; I saw two wo¬ 
 men come riding up; I rose, went to the gate, and conducted 
 the two ladies in ; one was a married lady whom I had known 
 
 for several years, the other appeared to be a young lady w T hom 
 
 •» 
 
 I never saw; I knew the married lady to be fond of a joke 
 and after a short conversation,—“ Well,” said I, “Mrs. R.. you 
 have not been polite enough to make me acquainted with your 
 companion ; being a widower, you know and rather on the look- 
 
131 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 out for a wife, I don’t like to be neglected by my friends.” “I 
 really beg pardon, sir, but it is not too late; this, sir, is Miss 
 Anderson. Miss Anderson, Mr. Collins.” I saw the young 
 lady would gladly have avoided the introduction, especially the 
 manner in which it was conducted. The old lady of the house 
 who had known me for several years, and with whom I happen¬ 
 ed to be a great favorite, joined in with Mrs. R-, and they 
 
 were not sparing on their young friend, Miss Anderson, with 
 their jokes. I saw her cringe several times, as if she would 
 willingly shrink from the subject, but it - would seem like 
 women have no mercy on each other, when they take a notion. 
 
 After some interval, Mrs. R-, as if determined to torture 
 
 the feelings of her young companion, again commenced. “ Well,” 
 said she, “Mr. Collins, 1 want to get some of your crockery-ware, 
 and have thought of a plan by which l ean pay you very easily, 
 unless it be indeed the trouble of telling a few lies. The prop¬ 
 osition is this—I will get Mrs. P--, here to join me; we 
 
 will throw our influence together in your favor with this young 
 lady ; between us, we can do something capital : you shall be 
 bound to do your part, and if you succeed you shall not charge 
 me for the crockery-ware—if you fail I am bound to pay you.” 
 I told her I would certainly do my duty, as far as permission 
 went ; that all 1 wished of them was to extend their friendship 
 as far as they could, without committing their own consciences; 
 if I was fortunate, all the ware 1 had was at their service, and 
 more if required, but in case of failure, they should be charge¬ 
 able with all the trouble that I was at in making the fruitless 
 • attempt. The terms were assented to by all but the third party, 
 who was altogether silent, and no doubt glad when it stopped ; 
 
 however, Mrs. # R-, picked out her ware and paid me for it 
 
 without waiting for the result. The thing passed off and the two 
 women departed. After they were gone, “ Well,” said I to Mrs. 
 
 P-- “how do you like my wife?” “ Your wife?” says she. 
 
 4 ‘ Yes, madam, are you not aware that was my wife with Mrs. 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP A 
 
 132 
 
 E,-? ” “No indeed/ 7 said she, “but wife or not, 1 think 
 
 very highly of her, and do not think you could get a better 
 
 one.” After awhile Mr. P-- came in who had been absent. 
 
 “ Well,” said I to him, “ Mr, P-, my wife has been here to 
 
 see me to-day. I wish you had been here to see us meet.” 
 •“ Your wife indeed ! I should liked to have seen her very much, 
 for I would like to know what kind of a looking person she is.” 
 “ Well, I will describe her ; perhaps you may see her some of 
 these days and then you can tell me how you like her ; if you 
 should see a young.woman a little inclined to be dark skinned, 
 with very black hair and a speck on one of her front teeth, mark 
 well—that is her.” “ Oh, well, if that is the description,” said 
 he, “ I think I saw her not long since, but are you sure that she 
 is your wife ? ” “ Undoubtedly sir, I always knew my wife had 
 
 to come to me, without me being at the trouble of hunting her 
 up.” “Ah !” said he, “that is a girl who lias a little age and 
 experience on her side; she is none of your young flirts and not 
 easily trapped.” I told him I had no notion to intermarry 
 among children ; I thought it a bad plan and all the chance was 
 
 to marry an old girl or a widow. “ Well,” said Mr. P--, “if 
 
 you make an attempt you will meet with some difficulties ; in 
 the first place her father is a very crabbed old fellow ; he will 
 not suffer every one to keep company with his daughter and if 
 he is opposed to you, you will stand a bad chance ; next, I 
 know more than one, who wants that girl, and you will meet 
 with opposition, and she is hard to please, herself; there is one 
 
 of my workmen who is now trying ; that is Eh-, and Mr. 
 
 Tanottrer, and there is a namesake of vours ; that would be 
 three against you; however, I don’t think you need dread but 
 
 one, that is H-, and he is not deeply in the old man’s good 
 
 graces.” “Oh,” said the old lady, “you need not try to scare 
 Mr. Collins, for I would almost warrant him success if he will 
 fry in earnest.” “ Ah,” said I, “ I shall be in no great hurry 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 133 
 
 bat will wait to see bow the weather breaks- • but she is certainly 
 to be my wife ; that is a settled point.” So the conversation 
 broke off for the present, with a laugh, no one, I presume, think¬ 
 ing anything more of it than a joke, for I am sure I thought 
 nothing else. 
 
 I saw the same young woman at church, once or twice, not 
 
 long after, and from previous observations, took some notice of 
 
 her. A few weeks after, she came back to the same place, in 
 
 company with a married lady, the wife of a Baptist preacher. 
 
 This time, as it happened, I had the chance of forming a slight 
 
 acquaintance with her • at the time, there were three or 
 
 four mechanics at work at the place, and among them was Mr. 
 
 H— —, with whom I had been threatened as an opponent. I 
 
 concluded to notice the movements of the parties to ascertain 
 
 how they stood towards each other. I fancied there was a lit- 
 %! 
 
 tie anxiety on the part of the man, but if there was any in the 
 woman, she had a better art of hiding it. After dinner, I de¬ 
 termined to put his feelings a little to the test and take my 
 observation. Being well acquainted with the head workman 4 
 
 but not so with Mr. II-, I went out to the work bench and 
 
 commenced conversation. After some time thus spent, I said : 
 
 “ Mr. B-, what do you think of my wife on an average ?”—• 
 
 “ Your wife? I am unable to decide, until made acquainted with 
 her.” “ Are you not aware that is my wife in company with 
 your sister-in-law?” “No, indeed! neither do I know it now, 
 only from your information ; however, if you say so, it is not for 
 me to dispute it. But,” he continued, “ if you go to setting up 
 
 such claims, you will get yourself into business, for Mr. H- 
 
 has already put in a claim.” “ Had I known this earlier,” was 
 my reply, “ I would not have interfered ; but, having notified 
 her of mv intentions, it will not do for me to reeecle, or she will 
 brand me with cowardice ; as my hand is to the plow, I cannot 
 
 look back ; so Mr. H-will have the hardest scuffle he ever 
 
 had.” I began to think of giving her a call and trying to form 
 
134 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP A 
 
 nn acquaintance, but thought it not prudent to be in haste, and 
 had a wish that chance, rather than design, should bring about 
 a meeting ■; it was not long till it happened. There was a wed¬ 
 ding to take place in the neighborhood, to which, a large num¬ 
 ber of people had beep invited. The custom then was, for the 
 guests to meet in the early part of the day, at the residence of 
 the bride, the ceremony to take place about twelve o’clock, and 
 the evening to be spent in amusement. My permanent residence 
 at the time, was twelve or fourteen miles from the place, but I 
 determined to be at the wedding. There was a man named 
 Crow that lived close neighbor to my boarding place, with 
 • whom I was very familiar ; he was a man that traded a good 
 deal ; he had business all through the country and knew every 
 one. I had some business also, with several, that were invited; 
 it was agreed between us, that we would go to the wedding, as 
 if it were by accident, in order to save some riding. The day 
 came and we went, allowing time for the company to gather 
 before we got there. When we got in sight of the place, we 
 saw some half dozen ladies walking along the road, meeting us; 
 it happened to be the bride and her suite. After we had passed, 
 I said to my companion : “ Crow, what do you think of my 
 wife?” “Was your wife in that company?” he replied. “ Cer¬ 
 tainly ; did you notice the one that walked with the bride?”— 
 “ Yes! do you call her your wife ?” “ I certainly do !’ “ How 
 
 came you by that knowledge—did you ever ask her?” “ I never 
 did, but am aware of it by the cut of her eye, and it is my in¬ 
 tention to put the question this day.” He replied : “ I will bet 
 you a bottle of wine you don’t speak to her on the subject; nay 
 more, will stake the bottle that you don’t say a word to her to¬ 
 day on any subject.” “ Enough said 1 pay good attention, for I 
 shall claim the wine.” 
 
 We were well received by the old gentleman of the house, 
 and spent the evening with the company. After the ceremony 
 was over and during the amusements of the evening, 1 happened 
 
REVOLUTIONARY "SOLDIER’. 335 
 
 to obtain the desired interview. Crow and myself went home* 
 
 in the evening with Mr. P-, and stayed all night. The next 
 
 morning I demanded of Crow my bottle of wine ; in order to- 
 
 establish it, it was necessary to call on" Mrs. P-, whose tes*- 
 
 timonv in my favor was stronger than I believed it to be. For 
 want of the wine being convenient, a dollar bowl of toddy for 
 the company had to satisfy the demand. At this time, my mind- 
 on the subject of marrying was altogether undecided, although 
 report had me married to some one or other every week or two. 
 So fond are people of talking, that if a man and woman are 
 seen talking together, whether they ever said a word on the 
 subject or not, they certainly are going to marry. Some time 
 after, I happened in passing, to call at the house where the wed¬ 
 ding had been, and altogether unexpected to me, when I enter¬ 
 ed, behold! there sat Mrs. Anderson in company with the late 
 bride. Before I left 1 had what might be called merelv an off- 
 hand conversation ; I gave her to understand that I wished to 
 
 1 
 
 visit her father’s house ; there seemed to be no objection ; with¬ 
 out any definite time, I told her that I should make free to do 
 so. On such occasions I was always opposed to setting any 
 particular time, and if I did was always sure to fail—designedly 
 —and always sure to visit a day or two sooner or later ; this 
 I did to see whether they would fret or get angry at being dis¬ 
 appointed, or accuse a fellow of telling lies designedly, and if 
 they seemed to be too particular, I determined to quit at once. 
 The father of Miss Anderson, I had seen a few times, but never 
 at his own house ; I had understood him to be a singular char¬ 
 acter, which I afterwards found to be a fact ; her mother I had 
 seen also, but was unacquainted with her ; I had a slight ac¬ 
 quaintance with one or two of her sisters, younger than herself, 
 and she had a brother who had a family and lived close by her 
 father, with whom I had formed some acquaintance. Ten or 
 or twelve days had passed after I had seen her last, when I 
 concluded to give her a call; to that end I mounted my horse 
 
 H ; 
 
 ■f 
 
 If » 
 
136 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 and put off; I made it late in the evening when 1 rode up to 
 the old gentleman’s. He met me very politely, and invited me 
 in ; after conversing a short time, the old man spoke to his son, 
 a lad, and told him to have my horse stripped and put away. 
 I had looked around and could see nothing of the old lady, nor 
 any of her daughters, only some of the younger ones, and ob¬ 
 jected to my horse being put away, saying I would ride over to 
 Mr. P—■— ; s. “ Oh, no,” said he “ it is late ; you must stay all 
 
 night ’ my wife and daughters are gone to church and will be 
 home directly. I am looking for them every minute ; strip the 
 horse Tommy, and have him put away.” 
 
 I suspected from the old man’s manner, that he was aware 
 of my business ; in a short time, the old lady and her daughters 
 came home in company with two young men : one proved to be 
 
 the man with whom Mrs. P-had threatened me the first time 
 
 that we were joking on the subject; the other man was paying 
 his attention to one of the sisters, whom he afterwards married. 
 Whether through feelings of politeness, or my being an entire 
 stranger, no reason was there for me to complain of the recep¬ 
 tion that was given me. The sister and her partner seemed to 
 interest themselves in my favor and take a pleasure in mortify¬ 
 ing my rival’s feelings. Never wishing to be tedious on such 
 occasions, nor staying till people became tired, I started off 
 pretty soon the next morning. I continued to visit the house 
 occasionally for some time,, until it seemed both our minds were 
 made up to get married. At length, to wind up the affair, I 
 called one evening to set a time, and consult with Miss Ander¬ 
 son. She expressed a wish to postpone the business. For 
 some length of time I opposed the motion, and insisted on de¬ 
 ciding at once ; I told her to think of it until morning, and 
 then decide ; she professed to be of the same mind ; I deter¬ 
 mined to use no persuasion, and took up an idea, which I after¬ 
 wards found to be incorrect, but knew no better at the time. 
 I thought she had a notion of playing the coquette, which in 
 
EVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 137, 
 
 fact was measurably so but she did not think of carrying it so> 
 far, neither did she suspect that I would cut the matter so short. 
 I told her I would drop the subject altogether, and the conver¬ 
 sation stopped for breakfast. It would seem she thought I 
 would take up the subject after breakfast and she would explain, 
 but in that she was mistaken. Immediately after breakfast I 
 took leave and departed ; I had been in the habit of calling at 
 her brother’s, which was but a few hundred yards off, and stay¬ 
 ing an hour or two. She concluded I would stop as usual, and 
 walk over, and as it were, by accident, we would fall in com¬ 
 pany. However, this is her own statement, afterwards, and I 
 have no reason to doubt it ; but when she got there, I was gone; 
 she thought the match broken off. Mr. Crow, of whom I have 
 before spoken, was making arrangements to remove to the State 
 of Indiana and he seemed to be anxious that I should go with 
 him. Several of my friends and relatives were gone there 
 already, and I was somewhat inclined to go. I had but few 
 arrangements to make, and could be ready at any time; while 
 Crow was arranging his business, I was dallying about, doing 
 little or nothing. So things went on about three months with 
 Miss Anderson, when one day, I happening in the neighborhood 
 of her father, met with a young man, whom I have mentioned 
 was courting her sister. He began to insist on me to call and 
 see Miss Anderson • I objected, and told him I never intended 
 to name the subject again. He told me that I had taken a 
 wrong idea; that I was altogether mistaken; that he knew 
 how matters stood, and that if I called, no doubt but all mat¬ 
 ters would be set right; I declined going with him at the time, 
 but promised to meet him at the same place, on a certain day 
 in the next week ; that I would think on the subject. I met him 
 at the time and place, and went; the subject was resumed and 
 all things soon settled and we agreed to marry in order to avoid 
 any further remarks, and on the 31st, or last day of March, 
 1803, we were married, I having lived a widower two years, 
 
 two months and two days. 
 
 «* 
 
 18 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 HORSE PURCHASE.—A STRANGE DISEASE. 
 
 BOUGHT a small farm in the neighborhood 
 of where I lived before, and where I had once 
 more settled, as I thought, for life, had once 
 more married a poor girl, and was obliged to 
 work. I saw the error of parting with what 
 little furniture I formerly possessed, without 
 remuneration. I now needed it and more 
 too, and was obliged to pay a high price for every 
 article required. Here I must relate a little an¬ 
 ecdote, which, however trifling, has often amused 
 me. I had but one horse and he was a very fine one; 
 he was too fine to put in the plow; I had hired one 
 for that work, until I could make a purchase. One 
 morning I had been busy plowing, and came in to breakfast; 
 my wife and I had just finished, when a man rode up to the 
 gate leading a horse ; he called—I went out to him and asked 
 him to alight. “ No,” said he, “ Pm in a hurry ; is this where 
 Mr. Collins lives?” “My name is Collins, sir.” “ Well sir, I 
 was told at the place where I stopped last night, that you want¬ 
 ed to purchase a horse, and have called to see if I could sell you 
 one.” I told him I wanted one, if the horse and price suited 
 me. He then began praising his horse and his good qualities. 
 I looked at the horse and thought he might do a summer’s work; 
 
 he was old, but stout and strong looking. “Well, how much 
 
 138 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 139 
 
 do you ask for your horse?” He replied, “ I have always asked 
 one hundred and twenty dollars, but am now willing to take a 
 little less.” “ Your horse don’t suit me sir ; alight, perhaps 
 you have not been to breakfast.” “Well,” said he, “ I want 
 some water very bad and will get down for a few minutes.”— 
 We went in, and I told my wife the gentleman wanted some 
 breakfast. There was a negro girl about the house ; my wife 
 gave some orders about breakfast, and he immediately broached 
 the subject of religion ; my wife was a member of the Baptist 
 church and he seemed to be inclined to the Methodist order. 
 I did not incline to either ; my wife was also partial to any 
 one who would talk on religious subjects. I was not so fond 
 of it, thinking there was a great deal of deception used ; the 
 two soon got warmly engaged with their subject, but she found 
 herself rather headed ; he was by far her superior. When the 
 breakfast came on the table, he said a grace as long as a Scotch¬ 
 man w r ould over a haggis. After he had eaten, he commenced 
 his conversation again, and was very lengthy, so much so, that 
 I thought he had entirely forgotten that he had been in a hurry, 
 wanting to be at my work. He continued for more than an 
 hour ; when he finished, he bid her a kindly farewell, telling 
 her to hold fast to religion, and saying, “ I have a fine horse I 
 want to sell your husband, but believe I cannot persuade him.” 
 She said that I would take my own way as to that; he asked 
 me to walk out and give him a few directions. I did so, and 
 went more than a hundred yards, he walking and leading his 
 two horses. I stopped to turn back; “ Well,” said he, “you 
 had better take this horse; you shall have a bargain in him as 
 I need a little money, and will wait with you for a part of the 
 price if not convenient to pay all, or take it in goods at the 
 store.” To cut the matter short, I told him it was in vain to 
 talk, for I would not give him more than one fourth of what 
 he asked. After beating about a while, he agreed to take in 
 cash, twenty-five dollars and eight in the store; I agreed to 
 
140 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 give it ; we went back to the house, I paid him and took up 
 my saddle to put it on my new horse to go to the store with 
 him. “ Oh!” said he, •“ take your fine horse out of the stable 
 and ride him, and put that poor fellow up and feed him, for he 
 is almost famished ; the man with whom I staid last night had 
 not one grain of corn to give my horses ; they had to stand in 
 a cow-pen all night without a mouthful to eat, and have not 
 been fed since yesterday morning; feed him'and he will be 
 ready to go to the plow when you come back.” I asked him 
 where he stayed ; he told me ; I knew the man had no corn to 
 feed horses and thought no more about it at the moment. I took 
 his advice, saddled my other horse, put the new one up, fed him, 
 and off we went. We had about two miles to ride to the store; 
 on the way I began to compare his religion with the price of 
 the horse, and his other conversation, and I began to conclude 
 that I must be cheated some way in the horse, and that if relig¬ 
 ious, he would be proof against liquor ; if a hypocrite, I could 
 contrive to make him drunk. 
 
 When we got to the store, I told the store-keeper to let the 
 gentlemen have what articles he wanted, to the amount of eight 
 dollars ; he began to call down some articles at cash prices. 
 “ Don’t you make a difference between cash and credit?” “Not 
 a cent,” said the store-keeper, “ with tins man it is all the 
 same.” There 'was company about the store, and I called for 
 a bowl of toddy, •■Come,” said I, “stranger, I dislike a dry 
 bargain—suppose we take a drink together,” “ Why,” said he, 
 “ I seldom drink anything, but I suppose I must drink with you, 
 as we have been trading.” He got his goods and wanted no 
 coaxing to take the next drink, and after taking three or four 
 more drinks, he laid ont five of his dollars. I was not much 
 then in the habit of drinking ; after I had got him fairly in a 
 good way, I left him. He never left the store till night and 
 then he was so far gone that he went but a few hundred yards, 
 and laid down by the road-side, and probably fell asleep, for 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 141 
 
 lie had gone off in the night and left all his goods lying at the 
 place where they were picked up, next morning ; he came back 
 next day, inquring for his goods, but no one could give any 
 account of how or where he had lost them, but they were all at 
 
 • V 
 
 the store safe, and he got them. I had never seen the man be¬ 
 fore, nor since, but, on inquiry found he was a class-leader in the 
 church, and a great hand to exhort. He certainly was entitled 
 to credit; they called him brother Hopkins. When I went 
 home, I asked my wife, what she thought of the man ? She re¬ 
 plied, that if all men were as good as she thought he was, 
 there would be a better religious condition in the world, and all 
 men ought to follow his example. I told her, I thought I was 
 cheated in the horse. No. said she, he w r as too good a man to 
 cheat any man ; I have been looking at the horse, and he is 
 worth double the money, and you have cheated the poor man 
 because he is religious ; I am surprised at you ; it seems like 
 you are an enemy to religious people ; you are always persecut¬ 
 ing them. Well, said I, we will see. I put my horse into the 
 plow and he was the laziest I have ever yet seen ; no whip nor 
 anything else, would urge him on. I next tried the saddle; it 
 was all the same, whip nor spur, answered no purpose ; I got 
 tired of him, turned him out, and put in my hired horse again. 
 I fed him for eight or ten days, and rode him to a muster 
 and swapped him away, and by paying thirty more dollars I got 
 a pretty respectable horse. He had got the horse the morning 
 he came to my house, from the man where he staid all night. 
 
 I lived on, made my crop and just commenced building me 
 a house in which, if life lasted, I had no doubt I would spend 
 many days, and here commenced one of the most singular inci¬ 
 dents of my life. In detailing this, I have no doubt but that 
 the most of mankind would think me as insane as Noah per¬ 
 haps was thought, while engaged in builing the ark. It may 
 be supposed that this was not intended for the public, but it is a 
 strange, yet a mysterious fact, as the sequel will show. I ex- 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 142 
 
 pect and I know I would be branded with superstition, insanity, 
 enthusiasm, and no doubt be honored with the appellation of a 
 hypochondriac and maniac, especially among the medical frater¬ 
 nity, although I believe them to be as liberal in most <£ises, as 
 most men, yet when they come across anything they can’t de¬ 
 fine to their own satifaction, they dislike it, and dislike to ad¬ 
 mit any solution they can’t make themselves. I shall venture 
 the outlines, at the same time, allowing every doctor to think 
 as he pleases on the subject, admitting my position to have 
 every appearance of a grand absurdity. I was once opposed to 
 the belief, as much as any man living, of witchcraft. 
 
 Some time during the month of October, of that year, I was 
 taken with some strange feelings, for which I could not account. 
 I could ride, walk, eat my meals, had no fever, nor any particu¬ 
 lar symptoms of disease. Still I was in punishment, could get 
 no refreshing sleep, or satisfactory rest in any position • to at¬ 
 tempt to describe my feelings would be in vain. I sent for a 
 celebrated Dr. Morton ; he came, drew some blood, gave me 
 some medicine with directions, pronounced my case not danger¬ 
 ous, saying he would call again ; he did so, gave me more medi¬ 
 cine and left me, stating that it was not worth while to call any 
 more—there was no danger. I found no alteration ; waited two 
 months before I attempted to try another ; then went to a 
 Dutch doctor by the name of Clemens, and Dr. Wright. I was 
 under their directions until the next May ; having received no 
 benefit from their treatment, I was advised to try an eminent 
 physician, Dr. Shelton, of Pendleton District, South Carolina 
 who, it was said, cured almost everything ; numbers having gone 
 to him for more than a hundred miles distant, and never failed 
 to get relief. At this time my first child was born. 
 
 I got a carriage, took my wife and child, and started for 
 Dr. Shelton’s, intending to stay until I could get some relief, if 
 possible. When within six miles of his residence, I was inform¬ 
 ed that he had died a few days previous. Upon enqniring, I 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 143 
 
 was told that there was a Dr. Edward, about seven miles dis¬ 
 tant, who had studied and practised under Dr. Shelton, and it 
 was thought he was as good. Concluding to go to him, I went 
 and called on the Doctor; after some conversation, I told him 
 my business ; he examined me minutely respecting my feelings 
 and what practice I had been under ; he said that if I would 
 remain with him three weeks he would cure me ; that he would 
 not undertake to board me, but would furnish a good room with 
 a fire place; neighbors were plenty and I could procure any 
 thing that was wanted, and as my wife was along, she could 
 cook for me and herself. “ If I fail to cure you / 7 he continued, 
 “you shall not pay me a cent, neither for the room nor my ser¬ 
 vices ; if I perform a cure, I shall charge you what will be 
 moderate, and you shall have the liberty of my shop, and my 
 books, if you wish to read ; in a while I cau learn you to mix 
 up medicines, and have no doubt we shall be good company, so 
 there will be a pair of us besides your child, for my wife has no 
 children .* 7 
 
 I took with the offer, and settled down for three weeks. I 
 was under the immediate superintendence of the doctor during 
 the time, and he paid every attention, yet there was no change 
 effected. When the time had expired he told me he wished a 
 confidential conversation with me, and we went into a private 
 room, alone ; he wanted to ask a few questions, and wished me 
 to give a candid answer. He then asked me if I had ever 
 heard of what was called African poison, or was called by some, 
 tricking. I told him I had often heard of it, but was alto¬ 
 gether an unbeliever. The idea was too absurd, to suppose, 
 even if it could be done, that such a snare should be laid for me, 
 or for any other individual alone, so as to affect others who 
 were equally liable, and I doubted the possibility in any way. 
 “Well , 77 said he, “we medical men reject the doctrine as an ab¬ 
 surdity, and indeed it is against our interest to admit it, and 
 that there are few who believe it, but a man mav be convinced 
 against his own judgment. Dr. Shelton and myself have had 
 
144 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 three cases exactly the same as yours, and failed in all, and two 
 of the men got perfectly cured very simply, by applying to an 
 old African and are now both well and hearty men, and he per¬ 
 formed the cure altogether by some art, I know not what, but 
 without any kind of medicine, and that in a short time ; the 
 other poor fellow never applied and finally died. I should dis¬ 
 like very much for it to be known, that I admitted the belief, 
 but as sure as there is a God in Heaven it is what ails you, and 
 unless you can get some remedy in that way, you will never get 
 well. All the doctors and all the medicine in the United States 
 will not do you any good and you will spend your money and 
 time in vain 5 I have had as fair a trial as I could wish ; your 
 constitution is good, there are few such, and you are absolutely 
 free from any kind of disease ; I am candid with you and feel 
 myself interested in your recovery, and be assured, if you ever 
 get well, you will find the truth of what I tell you.” 
 
 I thought at the time it was a strange lesson for a man of 
 
 * 
 
 science, and wondered how he could admit such absurdity. He 
 stated that the negro who had performed the cure on these two 
 men lived about ten miles distant, and in order to give me some 
 proof of the correctness of the doctrine, proposed the following 
 plan: viz., “ I will write to the owner of the negro ; I know 
 him to be much of a gentleman ; I will request him to let the 
 negro come to me, not mentioning any business. The secret 
 must rest between you and me ; will speak to my wife to go 
 over and tell Willie Gibson, a young man who lives in sight, to 
 come over--1 wish to see him—your wife can go with her. I 
 will hire him to go after the negro, not letting him know any¬ 
 thing, nor any one else, not even our wives. You and I will 
 stay together, and speak to no one separately, until he comes. 
 You are an entire stranger ; he nor no one else knows any¬ 
 thing about you, in this vicinity, and if he tells you it is the 
 case, or any particular circumstances or reason for it, then you 
 -can judge for yourself or draw your own conclusions. 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 145 
 
 ITe sent for the young man and wrote for the negro as pro¬ 
 posed ; he came in the dusk of the evening. I was lying on a 
 bed, the doctor and the two women sitting in the same room; 
 it was announced by the young man that the negro had come ; 
 the doctor asked him into the room ; after some compliments 
 had passed, he told him he had a sick man he wanted him to 
 look at. “ Well/ 7 said the black, “ let 7 s see him.” He could 
 not speak very plain English, but sufficiently so to be under¬ 
 stood. Being requested to get up, I did so, and presented my¬ 
 self before the magician, the first that had ever undertaken to 
 tell me of past and future events, relative to myself. After 
 viewing me a short time, he began to consult his oracle, ephod y 
 or whatever name you might choose to give it, for I have none. 
 I asked no questions, neither did he ; I felt a little sullen, think¬ 
 ing it would turn out to he mere balderdash. He began by tel¬ 
 ling of past events ; in this he somewhat surprised me, for he 
 told me a number of facts that it w T as impossible for any person 
 but myself to know any thing about; not even my wife knew 
 anything about them ; at length he told what the doctor had 
 predicted and what was the cause, and how it had been con¬ 
 ducted. After he had done it, it was as plain as Daniel told 
 Nebuchadnezzar 7 s dream ; he then performed some kind of spell 
 or charm to prevent, as he said, any further progress of the 
 complaint, and told me that if I would stay some ten or twelve 
 days, he would cure me ; that he could not do it in a shorter 
 time unless he could go home with me, and in that case it would 
 not take him over three hours. The negro' had told me the 
 truth as respected circumstances, which I could not acconnt for, 
 because I knew there was no possibility of his gettingany com¬ 
 munication on the subject, yet I was still an unbeliever,—I 
 could not swallow the doctrine. If I had, I should have cer¬ 
 tainly staid the time. Next morning, after some more conver¬ 
 sation with the doctor, I paid his bill and dismissed him ; on the 
 
 day following, I took my leave of the doctor and his amiable 
 • 19 
 
146 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 lady with feelings of the highest esteem and gratitude and 
 steered my course for home. On my return, the natural inquiry 
 was, “Has Collins got well?” “No, I believe not.” “Oh, 
 there’s nothing ails him but the hypo ; he will soon have it as 
 bad as Edmund Beezly had it.” Well, I could not contradict it; 
 It might be the hypo, for I know not what the hypo is. I 
 perhaps have had it more than a hundred times, and perhaps 
 have it at the present moment, yet I know not what it is, nor 
 have I ever met a man of science who could fairly solve the 
 question to their own satisfaction, much less to mine, who 
 makes no pretension to science. It is a certain something for 
 which they can prescribe no specific, and for aught I know it 
 may be what our Savior supposed to enter the swine, or perhaps 
 Pharaoh and his hosts were possessed of when they pursued the 
 Israelites into the Bed sea, and I presume it would hardly be 
 doubted that it was the evil spirit from the Lord that troubled 
 Saul when David had to play before him on the harp. At all 
 events, I may have been subject to it at times, all my life, for I 
 am not like some people I have seen ; it would never offend me 
 to be accused because I could not tell ♦whether it was true or 
 false. I would always admit the possibility, because I knew 
 of men of more sense than myself to preach the doctrine, and I 
 think it a bad rule for a man to condemn the opinion of his 
 superiors. But admitting I had the hypo all my life, I never 
 had it in the same way before. There was a man by the name 
 of Gilbert, who lived a close neighbor to me, and who had been 
 in the same situation for about three years ; he was wealthy and 
 had money to spend, and he had applied to the best physicians; 
 he had gone to Augusta and Charleston, and tried the most em¬ 
 inent of the faculty, at both places, without success, and had 
 tried the Warm .Springs, on French board , and obtained no re¬ 
 lief and finally by the suggestion of some friend, applied to an 
 old African and was perfectly cured, in a short time, without 
 medicine and nothing more than what people called conjuration. 
 
 a: 
 
 
 
■REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 147 
 
 I knew all this, but like most of people who are inclined to join 
 the strong party, forgetting a lesson that I had learned in my 
 youth, that the weak party had gained their independence and 
 freedom ; but joined in the general hue and cry, hypo, hypo.. 
 
 I had lived neighbor to Mr. Gilbert for more than four or 
 five years, and spent a good part of my time, while a widower, 
 .about his house. J could then write as fair a hand as most 
 men, though at this time, for want of eyesight and steady nerves, 
 I find myself vastly deficient. I was a better calculator than 
 Mr. Gilbert, although he was a man of business ; he used to 
 employ me to regulate his books, examine his invoices, and lay 
 on his per centage ; he professed a great partiality for me, and 
 I soever had any reason to doubt his sincerity. I used also to 
 keep him in fresh beef in the season of shooting ^matches ; he 
 always furnished the money, but never failed to get beef by my 
 shooting. This Mr. Gilbert frequently told me that I had bet¬ 
 ter apply to this old African for relief, as he had done, for he 
 thought my case exactly the same as his had been. I was still 
 in doubt, being opposed to his doctrine, and suspecting, that if 
 any thing of the kind had been done to me, he was concerned 
 in it, if not the sole cause; besides, I did not like him. At 
 length, I concluded to try him. He came and stayed some two 
 or three days ; I got'some better, but did not like the negro or 
 his master, thinking them both to be knaves. I thought if any 
 such miracle could be wrought, that the master could do it, and 
 that there was an understanding between them in order to make 
 money, for the negro was always employed in such business, or 
 engaged in cock-fighting. His master was an old bachelor and 
 had no family, bnt a few blacks ; he kept close to the gambling 
 table, and followed horse racing and cock-fighting, always keep¬ 
 ing old Harry, as he was called, with him, invariably betting 
 on his judgement. My dislike to old Harry and his master, in¬ 
 duced me to dismiss the old fellow and pay him up. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 VISIT TO A CELEBRATED DOCTOR.—A NEW AND STRANGE RE¬ 
 LIGIOUS SECT. 
 
 : S 
 
 WAS THEN LIVING in Franklin County, 
 Georgia. I sold my small farm, and moved 
 into Jackson County, in the neighborhood of 
 my wife’s father ; and there rented a small 
 place and took an English school. For two 
 years I continued in that business. I had an 
 attack of fever in the fall season, and came 
 very near dying. Still being subject to this hypo, 
 in addition to the fever, on my recovery from the 
 latter, but all was not right. I had a brother 
 who came to see me from North Carolina. I conclu* 
 ded to make one more trial with a doctor. There was 
 a celebrated Dr. Freeling that lived near Salisbury, 
 North Carolina; he was noted for skill in his profession, and 
 his fame had gone abroad in every direction ; he had emigrated 
 from Germany at the time of the revolutionary war, and settled 
 in Carolina ; he professed to judge complaints or diseases by 
 their external appearance, and it was said that he could cure 
 every thing in that way. I determined to make a trial, and 
 went on in company with my brother, stopping at my father’s a 
 few days. The distance from home was some three hundred 
 miles ; on the night before we arrived at the Doctor’s, we staid 
 
 * 
 
 148 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 U9 
 
 at the house of a widow lady named Duffy. The old lady, as 
 old women generally are, was quite inquisitive, and finding that 
 I was from Georgia, asked among other things, about Mr. Neb- 
 lack, whom I have mentioned before; it seemed that she was 
 his aunt and had heard nothing about him for two or three 
 years ; she seemed to be very glad to hear from him, and the 
 account that I ga.ve was somewhat flattering to the old lady ; 
 in consequence of my acquaintance with her nephew, she would 
 have no pay. Next morning we started very early for the 
 Doctor’s, having about six miles to ride. I determined not to 
 tell him the lamentable tale that I had the hypo, and had come 
 near three hundred miles to get relief through him. I thought 
 the better way would be to state that 1 was travelling on busi¬ 
 ness through the country ; that I was in bad health from some 
 cause, and it not being much out of my way, I had called on 
 him for some relief. When I arrived at his house, there was a 
 considerable appearance of wealth ; there was no alternative ; 
 I had to introduce myself, and my natural rusticity rather un¬ 
 qualified me for the approaching scene. I entered and asked 
 to see the doctor. I was very agreeably relieved from any ap¬ 
 prehensions, and was immediately met by the doctor, himself,— 
 a plain, familiar, corpulent old Dutchman. He immediately or¬ 
 dered our horses to be taken care of, and well fed ; we were 
 then conducted into what I supposed to be the common hall; 
 I determined not to be tedious—I told the doctor my motive for 
 calling and at his request, furnished him with the outlines of my 
 situation. I had thought from the character of the man that he 
 could cross his fingers, turn his back to the moon, and pro¬ 
 nounce a few Dutch sentences, and cure anything, and even 
 drive the devil out if he had possession of the man. There 
 were three or four young looking men, and all seemed busy 
 reading. After the doctor had waited the time he thought 
 proper, he asked me to walk into the shop again, and began to 
 
150 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 examine my situation, and made some remarks; lie then 
 observed to me that I had perhaps suffered considerable in¬ 
 convenience from riding so much, he then filled a small bottle 
 of some kind of tincture, took a piece of paper and wrote 
 down directions how to use it and told me I would find it con¬ 
 venient in traveling ; he then asked us up to the board to take a 
 glass of peach brandy ; by this time dinner appeared on the 
 table ; we set down and ate an excellent dinner. Some time 
 after dinner I proposed taking leave, and asked the doctor his 
 charge, and he dismissed me by my paying one dollar and fifty 
 cents for all. I found the doctor to be a very plain old Dutch¬ 
 man, full of humor and anecdote ; he told me he came to the 
 United States as a surgeon with his Majesty’s troops—that 
 he was frieudly to the -American cause and that he found means 
 of making his escape, and got among some of his own country¬ 
 men about the Moravian Town, and kept concealed until peace 
 was made. He then married, settled, and betook himself to his 
 profession, and his practice became extensive which made him 
 wealthy. I left him and started back to my father's. “ Well/ 7 
 said I, “ I have made a grand speculation ; I have rode more 
 than three hundred miles, to see the celebrated Dr. Freeling 
 and the interview cost me one dollar and fifty cents, and I am 
 returning just as I came. This is grand indeed—this is certain¬ 
 ly the hypo—and he even did not tell me that.” We rode on 
 that evening about twelve miles to a Col. Caldwell’s, if I mis¬ 
 take not, on the south fork of the Yadkin, and for the sake of 
 convenience, we had to stop a little before night, or run the risk 
 of riding some time after dark. The gentleman of the house 
 it seemed was not at home. In passing about I saw an uncom¬ 
 mon number of black cats, and out of curiosity, asked the old 
 lady, how many black cats she had? “Why,” said she, “we 
 have only nineteen at present. Mr. Caldwell took a great 
 fancy to black cats, and concluded he would have twenty, and 
 has often had the number, but somthing always happens to the 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 151 
 
 twentieth, and he can never keep more than nineteen black 
 ones at a time.” This put me in mind of a similar circum¬ 
 stance that I had known in Georgia. There was an old Dutch¬ 
 man who lived close by my wife’s father, who took the same 
 notion and often got twenty, but could never keep more 
 than nineteen ; my wife will laugh to this day when she thinks 
 of the old Dutchman’s black cats. 
 
 I came to my father’s, where I spent ten or twelve days.— 
 There was then a great excitement about religion ; there had 
 sprung up a new sect, especially in the upper and northern part 
 of North and South Carolina. 1 knew not what they were cal¬ 
 led, but they certainly were a curious sect ; any man, no matter 
 what he was, or where he came from, if he had impudence or 
 self importance enough, was admitted to preach or exhort, among 
 them. They had praying, singing, laughing, and dancing exer¬ 
 cises ; the jerks, the falling down, barking and laughing, and 
 sometimes, the fighting exercise ; the exercise of love, which 
 was the best of all. During my stay at my father’s, 1 attended 
 two of their meetings. One Saturday evening, my brother told 
 me, there was to be one of these meetings the next day, some 
 distance off ; he proposed to me to go and he would accompany 
 me; I agreed, and early the next morning we set off for the 
 place. When we arrived, the people were assembled ; the 
 house was crowded, all sitting in silence. I stepped in; I was 
 a stranger ; I stood on the floor for two or three minutes, see¬ 
 ing no vacant seat ; at length, one man rose, and without speak¬ 
 ing, handed me a chair. As I seated myself near the door, all 
 eyes turned upon me, as if in expectation. I sat still; after 
 some time had passed in silence, one got up and addressed the 
 assembly in a few words ; then prayed. A second and third 
 followed, when all joined -in singing ; after singing some time, 
 all dropped to their knees and commenced praying aloud, so 
 that no man could tell what was uttered. After a considerable 
 length of time spent in this way, one stout looking fellow sprung 
 
152 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 to his feet, clasping his hands, giving a tremendous stamp on 
 the floor, and making a loud shout. All followed, the example, 
 and every man and woman began to exhort, or whatever it 
 might be called, for it very much resembled the confusion of 
 Babel, when the languages were confounded. When this had 
 lasted some time, some began to fall prostrate on the floor, 
 some began to dance, others to laugh, and«some of the men and 
 women to be very loving ; others were stamping on the floor— 
 striking their feet together and shouting. There was a large 
 table in the house ; a surly looking fellow got on his all fours 
 and began to bark under it like a dog, once in a while jumping 
 back. It seemed by some means the devil had slipped himself 
 into the house unawares, but the fellow had struck his track, 
 trailed him up and brought him to bay under the table, where 
 lie had attempted to conceal himself. In order to witness the 
 scene, they crowded around the table, where they began to 
 kick, and stamp, and hiss on their dog, and seemed to be deter¬ 
 mined to punish the old fellow for his intrusion, if they could 
 ever get their dog to seize him. My situation began to be un¬ 
 pleasant ; I thought I was in danger of being run over, and 
 thought my neutrality would subject me to the suspicion of be¬ 
 ing rather friendly to old Nick, and that I might have to pay 
 the forfeit in the same way, that he was likely to do. I thought 
 it advisable to be off, and slipped myself out of the door and 
 stood near a short time, and mv brother and two or three of his 
 associates, who were neutrals like myself, came out; we walk¬ 
 ed off a short distance, to where our horses were tied, and sat 
 down ; the uproar continued sometime, but how they disposed 
 of the devil, I never learned. At length they began to pour 
 out of the house like bees swarming, shouting and clapping 
 their hands. This is a faint description of the fact. I attend¬ 
 ed another meeting of the same kind, only not quite so bad. 
 After I had got to the place, one fellow got up, took a text and 
 began to preach. After he had gone on some time the people 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 153 
 
 began to be struck down, and considerable confusion ensued— 
 shouting, singing, dancing, praying, etc. At length one fellow 
 discovered the devil to be in the house and gave the alarm, and 
 immediately attacked the old fellow for a fight, fist and scull— 
 at it they went, and presently they both came on the floor. I 
 could not see the devil indeed, but the other fellow appeared 
 to be in a hard scuffle, down and up, over and over. The peo¬ 
 ple crowded around, shouting and encouraging the fellow ; at 
 last an old lady who I supposed to be the wife of the fellow 
 who was engaged in the combat, rushed forward, slapping her 
 hands, and crying out—“Well done, Johnny! Gouge him, 
 Johnny ! Bite him, Johnny ! 77 At last a stout and brave look¬ 
 ing fellow, perhaps more friendly to old Horney than the rest, 
 but not willing to see a friend abused, he jumped up and smack¬ 
 ing his hands together and stamping on the floor, roared out, 
 “ What, has the devil no friends here to-day ? Hurrah devil! 
 Gouge him, devil! Bite him, devil! Fair play, there shall no 
 man touch! Hurrah, devil! 1 7 11 stand to your back. 77 At 
 
 length old Clooty, perhaps getting a little out of wind, got out 
 of the house; the fellow with whom he had been engaged, 
 pursued determined on revenge. All followed and the 
 man who had been speaking left his stand, and clapping his 
 hands and shouting, urged on the chase. All pursued, their hero 
 in front; there was a large tree at no great distance from the 
 house and it would seem that old Sam, to save his bacon, had 
 to climb the tree. The fellow kept the track and presently 
 began to bark up the tree. He made several attempts to climb, 
 in pursuit, but it was so large he could not ascend, was obliged 
 to content himself by barking at the root They all gathered 
 around, some throwing sticks to make him jump off, but in vain. 
 Old Harry like a bear that had been sorely worried by the dogs, 
 was feign to bear all their insults, and secure himself by sitting 
 among the linbs and looking down, perhaps with contempt on 
 
 their efforts. Fortunately for old Cloots, there was no axe con- 
 20 
 
154 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 venient, else I think, they in a rage, would have felled the tree*, 
 and if so, his case must have been desperate. After wearying 
 themselves in fruitless attempts to get the old fellow down* 
 they retreated from the' house and left the place. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 m 
 
 PREACHES A SERMON—MYSTERIOUS CURE. 
 
 IJRING THE TIME I was getting ready to* 
 leave my father’s, he had been busy selecting' 
 some books which he wished to present to me 
 for my perusal. Among the number were 
 Davis’s Sermons, Harvey’s Works, some of 
 Calvin’s writings, and some of Tillitson’s. to¬ 
 gether with a small Bible. I could not re¬ 
 fuse the books because they were from mv father, 
 and perhaps for the last time, which proved to be 
 a fact, for I never saw him afterward. Mv father 
 and brother both made some inquiry about my funds y 
 I told them I had plenty, which in truth was not the* 
 case ; but I was too proud to own my poverty. I 
 took my leave and started for home. It was late in the morn¬ 
 ing when I started, and I travelled no great distance that day ; 
 I made it a rule in travelling to start early and ride ten or 
 twelve miles before I stopped for breakfast, and then have my 
 horse fed and stop no more until night. After I had gone some 
 distance I began to consult my purse, and found it rather light¬ 
 er than I expected; I began to repent almost of my pride im 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER, 
 
 'Hv 
 
 00 
 
 not accepting some relief from my father and brother, but it 
 was too late. I had now to get along the best way I could ; I 
 stopped for the night and started on, early next morning. 
 Soon after I set out it began to rain. I began to apprehend I 
 should be detained by high water, as there were a number of 
 bold streams ahead, and in case I was much detained my money 
 would be sure to fail, and I began to study what plan I should 
 fall on ; from external appearance I knew it would be thought 
 I had money plenty, and for a man to wear good clothes and 
 be otherwise well fixed for travelling, to attempt to beg, he 
 would be suspected of being an impostor or be liable to be in¬ 
 sulted. At length I concluded to take advantage of the reli¬ 
 gious excitement at that time prevailing. I had once before 
 traveled in company with a man and we both got into a similar 
 situation ; our money was nearly expended, and he proposed 
 that we should step at the first convenient place and he would 
 undertake to preach a sermon to raise a little money ; if I 
 would act as clerk, that is, give out the hymns, and sing 
 on my part, and he would perform the balance. I agreed, 
 and we stopped near a church ; he proposed to the man where 
 we stopped that.if he would send out word to the people, that 
 he would preach to them the next day. It was readily agreed 
 on ; we were well entertained to the next day, when he preach¬ 
 ed sure enough. I performed my part without difficulty and we 
 got money enough to go on our journey. I thought in the 
 present case it would be no great harm to play the same game; 
 the greatest difficulty with me was—I was opposed to praying 
 in public. Though my father used to enjoin it on me when I 
 was under him—he was in the habit of keeping up worship in 
 his house regularly, and he enjoined on his sons as they grew 
 up, to perform that duty at times in Ids presence, being of Solo¬ 
 mon’s opinion. “ Train up a child in the way he should go and 
 when he gets old he will not depart from it; ” but in my case, 
 Solomon and he, both missed the figure ; there was another 
 
156 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 rule that was practiced by the people in mv raising—it was 
 thought to be the duty of all mothers of families, in case of the 
 absence of husbands to perform the duty of prayer in the fam¬ 
 ily ; it was enjoined by the clergy and a matter of censure if 
 they were known to fail, and I in passing about, had frequently 
 . been called on to do that duty in place of the absent husband; 
 although I did not like the business, I disliked to back out es¬ 
 pecially if there were any good looking girls about the house, 
 which frequently happened, but to my story. I rode about 
 twelve miles on the morning of the second day, when I stopped 
 at the house of Mr. Cunningham, to get some breakfast and 
 have my horse fed, and being after the usual hour, I had of 
 course to wait awhile. I intended to let my horse rest an hour 
 or two, and while I was waiting the rain increased so that 1 
 determined to stay until it would cease to rain so hard. I was 
 very reserved in conversation ; indeed I was so to a fault, es¬ 
 pecially among strangers. I seldom attempted to take the lead 
 in conversation, preferring to listen to wiser men than myself, in 
 place of much talking. Mr. Cunningham seemed to be fond of 
 talking and in a short time, brought on the subject of religion; 
 it seems he was a member of the church, and very zealous in 
 the cause .; he seemed to advocate the cause of the present re¬ 
 vival, that had taken place ; this seemed to me to favor my 
 plan. I alleged that in some things I thought they had car¬ 
 ried the matter a little too far, but perhaps it would be a bad 
 plan to try to suppress it, for it would naturally cool after a 
 while, and then the superfluous part would drop off. He pre¬ 
 dicted a great reformation to be in progress, and I did not hes¬ 
 itate to admit it; I soon learned enough to venture imposing 
 on his credulity. I told him that I belonged to the clergy and 
 preached when at home ; that I had been called from home on 
 important business and had been detained longer than I had 
 expected, and that my funds were almost exhausted, and I dis¬ 
 liked to beg ; that if I could meet with a convenient chance, I 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 157 
 
 would stop and preach a sermon in order to get a little help 
 that I dislike to ask anything from people that perhaps cared 
 nothing for religion. He seemed to rejoice that I had called on 
 him, and told me he was confident he could be of service to me 
 and it would give him a great deal of pleasure. He told me 
 there was a place some miles ahead, perhaps eight or nine call¬ 
 ed Van Zandt’s meeting-house, and people would be glad of 
 preaching ; that they had no preacher then living among them. 
 “ If you will consent to it you can stay with me and have a pri¬ 
 vate room with a good fire place where you will not be inter¬ 
 rupted. I will immediately send on a boy to one of the elders 
 —have now forgotten his name ; he lives about six miles from 
 here and will write to Mr. Van Zandt, and will get the other 
 to forward it to Mr. Van Zandt who lives close to the meeting¬ 
 house and they will notify the people, and I will give you a let¬ 
 ter of introduction to Mi\ Van Zandt; I would like to ac¬ 
 company you myself, but I have some business that I am oblig¬ 
 ed to attend to, that I cannot put off.” I told him to Jet the 
 appointment be to-morrow precisely at twelve o’clock, for time 
 was pressing with me, and would not admit of any delay that 
 could be avoided. As soon as the boy was dispatched in the 
 rain, I betook myself to the room as quick as convenient, and 
 determined to keep myself as private as possible. I now had a 
 hard task before me, upon which a good deal depended, and in 
 which there was some risk. I therefore required some pretty 
 serious study for the event. I had some doubt respecting my 
 capability to perform the task before me, and set about prepar¬ 
 ing for it with all the energy I could command. I got out all 
 my books and began to examine them, in order to find a subject 
 on which to found my next day’s work. I chose for my subject 
 the twelfth verse of the seventh chapter of Matthew—“ There¬ 
 fore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, 
 do you even so to them ; for this is the Law and the Prophets.” 
 After preparing some introductory remarks, I arranged the 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 153 
 
 subject in the following order, to wit: In the illustration of 
 the subject, I proposed.: First—To offer a few things for the 
 right understanding of the rule of social duty. Second—To 
 consider the reason *of it. Third—To open its excellency. 
 Fourth—Mention .important instances of particular cases to 
 which it should be applied, and lastly show the necessity and 
 advantages of observing it. I will remark here, that it might 
 tie doubted whether I could remember all these things correctly ; 
 if I had to rely on memory alone, it might be fairly doubted, 
 but in all my travels, I was in the habit of keeping a daybook 
 or kind of journal, and carefully noted down every particulars 
 and 1 find myself yet in possession of a number of those papers 
 to enable me to be correct. In the evening of the day, the rain 
 -ceased. Mr. Cunningham seemed to be a man of considerable 
 wealth, and there was .a store in sight, in which he seemed to 
 be connected, and people seemed to be passing to and from the 
 .store during the day. In the evening I heard him from the win¬ 
 dow, of my room, tell those who were passing, that there was a 
 strange preacher to preach at Man Zandt’s Meeting-house, on 
 to-morrow, and to give out the word—it seemed he lived out 
 in that direction. On the day appointed he furnished me with 
 a letter-of introduction, as he had promised, and it would seem 
 from circumstances, that he was a man of influence among the 
 people. I left him and started on my journey, determined not 
 to arrive at the place until the hour for the appointment had 
 arrived. On riding along, I began to think on the probable 
 issue of the scene before me, and my mind, at times would mis¬ 
 give me. I had fairly committed myself. “ My hand was to 
 the plow and it was too late to look back.” I must, therefore, 
 “ make a spoon or spoil a horn.” As I have said before, the 
 praying part was with me, the greatest stumbling block. As to 
 the discourse itself, if I could pursue the plan I had laid down, 
 I had not much doubt, but I could perform it; as to the psalm* 
 •ody or singing part, I felt full confidence in myself. I therefore 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER'. 
 
 159 
 
 determined to introduce the business by singing a pretty lengthy 
 hymn in order to put my blood in complete circulation 3 
 before I entered on the other parts of the duty, whatever 
 might be the ludicrous appearance of my person. I knew my 
 dress perfectly corresponded with the occasion. I was dressed 
 in a genteel, plain suit of black cloth, of a good quality. 
 I was always opposed to extravagance in dress, when able to 
 wear good clothes. I never was inclined to wear a ruffled shirt, 
 and I seldom wore any kind of gloves, unless in very cold 
 weather and then I chose woolen mittens—boots, 1 was oppos¬ 
 ed to wearing, not that I disliked the boot itself, but for two 
 reasons—first, my leg was entirely too small to fill up the boot, 
 and secondly, my leg was placed so exactly in the centre of my 
 foot, that it threw so much of my heel behind, as to make it dif 
 ficult to draw on a boot that would fit. Necessity has often 
 since compelled me to wear a garment that I disliked, but not 
 so at the time I speak of. I contrived to delay time so as to ar- 
 rive at the place a little later than the appointment. I found 
 a goodly number of people waiting. I was soon met by Mr. 
 Van Zandt and several others ; I delivered Mr. Cunningham’s 
 no.te which was quite satisfactory, and after making a hasty 
 arrangement of my notes, was conducted into the church, I 
 proceeded on the plan that I had purposed and succeded in get¬ 
 ting through without much difficulty. When I had concluded 
 speaking I requested one of the brethren to pray, which was 
 readily complied with and after the usual benediction, I sat 
 down in the pulpit to breathe. In the time, the hat went 
 round for contribution, and after I descended, I was presented 
 with sixteen dollars and two bits. I pretended to decline tak¬ 
 ing so ffiucli but after a little urging accepted it with thankful¬ 
 ness. I was then urged to go to dinner and spend the evening 
 but declined on the ground that I was not in the habit of eating 
 dinner ; that my health did not admit of it; that I was com¬ 
 pelled, if possible, to be at Pendleton Court-house in a given 
 
 
160 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP A 
 
 time, and liad not a moment to lose. T put put off in all haste 
 and went on my way, rejoicing that I had been so fortunate. 
 Whether this could really be considered any crime, I have never 
 been able to decide with myself, but, as no harm grew out of it 
 to any one, and as it served to relieve my present embarrass¬ 
 ment, perhaps I am too willing it should be excused ; at all 
 events it rested a profound secret with myself, and until within 
 one year past, I never divulged it to my wife, nor to any friend, 
 knowing if I told it once, I might as well publish it at once. 
 I had almost forgotten it, when one day, not twelve months 
 ago, in looking over some old papers, I came across the old 
 journal which brought it to mind, when I began to laugh and 
 amused my family by relating the circumstance. 
 
 I returned again to teaching singing school, as usual. I 
 was still afflicted in an extraordinary way, and had tried the 
 best physicians that I could hear of, but all was in vain, and 
 I began to think of giving over all further efforts, as I had but 
 little faith in magic, as it is called. At length I one day hap¬ 
 pened in company where there was to be a man who had lived 
 in the neighborhood where I then was. tie had gone some 
 fifty or sixty miles lower down the country, where he had mar¬ 
 ried and settled himself. He had come up with his wife on a 
 visit among his friends. In conversation he began to make 
 some strange statements about a negro that lived in his neigh¬ 
 borhood. I knew the man was thought to be a man of truth, 
 but still I did not know how to give full credit to his story. 
 He stated among a number of things, that people had come a 
 considerable distance to hear from him about stray horses, 
 stolen property, and a great many other things, and that he 
 had performed many cures, in fact, he made him out a fair prod¬ 
 igy that could tell every thing, and do almost anything. I lis¬ 
 tened with attention, but asked no questions as the discourse 
 was not directed to me, neither do I suppose that I was thought 
 of as being interested in the subject in any way. I went 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 161 
 
 On and tried the cure. The method of performing it was some¬ 
 what similar to the one attempted upon me by Gilbert and his 
 negro, as described in a preceding chapter ; with this exception, 
 that I complied literally with the instructions of the magician, 
 or whatever he might be termed, and however strange it may 
 appear to others, I was entirely cured. For thirty years after, 
 which is at my present writing, I have never been afflicted with 
 a similar disease. 
 
 Note. —It is certainly a question, too bard to be solved, by short sighted 
 man, to separate the mysterious union that exists between the mind and body, 
 or to render the proper antidote possessing the two fold qualities of relieving 
 both mind and body. The healing art has been a study fraught with more in¬ 
 terest than any other in the world, and the investigating mind is still in busy 
 quest, for some catholicon to answer the afflictions of man. Nations differ in 
 their mode, and manner of treating these things—some nations resort to spirit¬ 
 ual treatment, some to cunjuration, some to specifics under the character of 
 drugs and medicines. With due respect Moses hung up the image of a Serpent 
 in the tents of the Israelites to cure their maladies 5 the Arabians, the Africans, 
 and Indians resort to mysterious and hidden tricks. Other nations as ourselves, 
 confide more in minerals, vegetables, and other appliances, to cure, believing 
 they possess more charms, and greater virtues, but after all, we still grope in 
 the dark, and are bound to confess that the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh 
 away, and blessed be the name of the Lord.” J. M. R. 
 
 21 
 
CHAPTER XXIX, 
 
 . VISIT TO TENNESSEE.—ENCOUNTER WITH INDIANS. 
 
 IpSpj SELESS would it be to say anything about matters for 
 II 1 severa ^ y ears > as nothing of note transpired until the 
 year 1810. In the fall of that year I concluded to 
 remove to the State of Tennessee. There was a con¬ 
 siderable pressure in consequence of the late embargo, and 
 money had become scarce, and my affairs as well as that of 
 many others had become somewhat embarrassed. In order to 
 prepare for moving, I had to sell off my property at a very 
 low rate. I made up my mind, however, and determined to 
 move, and to that end concluded to an and see the country. I 
 took my negro along to work for provisions while I should re¬ 
 turn for mv family. For fear of having my negro stolen, I did 
 not pass through the Indian country, but took a circuitous route 
 through the upper part of South Carolina and crossed the 
 mountains at Eastatowe Gap, opposite the head of French- 
 broad ; thence down the -river, passing Ashville, Newport, 
 Seirsville, Knoxville and Kingston, where I crossed Clinch 
 River, and went down the Tennessee River into the Tennessee 
 valley, twenty-five miles above the Highwassee garrison. t 
 was then a newly settled place. Here I made my choice as 
 being a place to which I felt inclined to move. The lands 
 were all covered by military warrants from North Carolina, 
 
 and in the hands of speculators, making it very difficult to get 
 
 162 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 163 
 
 £oocl titles. T therefore rented a small farm, of twenty acres, 
 with a small cabin on it. 1 hired out my negro to work for 
 some corn and wheat, by the time I should return with my fam¬ 
 ily, and prepared to start for home. 
 
 1 concluded in returning to pass through the Cherokee na¬ 
 tion, it being much the nearer way. There were but few places 
 of accommodation, and they were all kept by half breeds, or 
 white men who had intermarried with the Indians. It was ne¬ 
 cessary that I should use one of my horses to carry provisions 
 •and corn ; one was an Indian pony that had been accustomed 
 to it ; I tied his pack on in the morning, fixed his halter, turned 
 him loose, and he followed close up all day. What few stands 
 there were on the road, were a hard day’s ride apart; conse¬ 
 quently, if you missed the first, you missed them the whole way, 
 unless you rode late in the night. I provided as much provis¬ 
 ions for myself and horses as would keep us for twenty-four 
 hours at least. It was late in the morning when I started, and 
 was detained some time at the ferry on the Tennessee river ; 
 this threw me back, so that I missed the first stand by several 
 miles. I made a fire, tied my animals, and encamped by the 
 road side ; 1 was a stranger to the route and did not even know 
 where the Indians lived who were scattered along it, for the 
 purpose of selling corn, fodder, potatoes, &c., to travellers. I 
 would have preferred camping close to one every night, for if 
 you camp close to an Indian, you are never in danger of getting 
 your property stolen. 
 
 On the second day I was detained again at the ferry on the 
 Highwassee River, which compelled me to again camp alone by 
 the rapids. I was rather disagreeably situated. The agency 
 was then sitting and I was not more than six miles from the 
 place, and the Indians were passing me at all hours of the night 
 and many of them were drunk, so that of course I got but 
 little sleep. Fortunately, I understood a good deal of their 
 lingo and could speak some of it; could ask the names of 
 
164 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 places, distances, and the prices and names of articles that I 
 wanted, and could answer in the negative or affirmative to any 
 question they would ask me. They are a singular people. If 
 you ask a few words in Indian, they immediately conclude you 
 understand them perfectly, and know a great deal more than 
 perhaps you really do, and are disposed to be much more 
 friendly to you than if they think you do not understand them, 
 and will immediately talk English with you, w T hen otherwise 
 they would not. The Cherokees mostly all understand Eng¬ 
 lish ; but if there is a hundred by, you can never get but one 
 to talk English to you at the same time. I got corn and 
 fodder* plenty for my horses among them. On the fourth day 
 I had to pass through a turnpike, and through a place called 
 Teloney Towns, said to be the worst place in the whole Indian 
 Nation for stealing or robbing. These towns extend along a 
 narrow valley of rich land, on what the Indians called the 
 Talking Rock Creek, between the Coosa River and Long- 
 Swamp. They extend four or five miles along the valley, in 
 villages but a short distance apart. 
 
 It was late in the morning when I had to pass through 
 these towns, and there was no place to stay at where entertain¬ 
 ment could be found among the whites, until I got through the 
 Long Swamp, which was at least twelve miles off. The man 
 that kept the turnpike was an Indian, who w T as very inquisitive 
 to know how far I intended going that night. Having told him 
 Long Swamp, he told me I could not get there that night with 
 a pack horse, but would have to camp out. I told him that I 
 would have to go ,even if forced to ride all night. He shook 
 his head and laughingly replied, I would have to sleep when I 
 had passed through the last town. It was near sunset, and -look¬ 
 ing forward the straight road, before me, I observed an Indian 
 with his gun on his shoulder, approaching. When he came up, 
 he saluted me with “canaulee,” that is, brother, or good friend. 
 ,My reply was, “ oszeruki,” mighty good ; we shook hands very 
 
165 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 cordially. I asked him how far it was to Stile’s; he signed ten 
 miles. I told him 1 was in a hurry, and must go there that 
 night. “ Enclah!” was his reply ; “ you must lie down and 
 sleep before you get there.” I told him of my hurry, and bid 
 him good bye. After getting ahead, perhaps two or three hun¬ 
 dred yards, I turned around on my horse, and saw the fellow 
 standing in the same place, gazing after me. I did not like the 
 sign, being in an Indian country, alone, a stranger to the road, 
 which was thinly inhabited by whites, without any means of de¬ 
 fence if attacked ; my only weapon was a small double bladed 
 knife, one blade long and perfectly keen, like a dirk. I thought 
 it would be advisable to leave the road that night and camp out 
 of sight, but it being a broken and mountainous country, deemed 
 it best to get into some deep bottom, where J would be conceal¬ 
 ed from the view of the road. In the dusk of the evening the 
 ground where I was passing seemed to favor my intentions. 
 Upon my left was a high ridge, the road passing along the side 
 of it. I turned short off the road and ascended the hill and 
 descending the other side, entered a doep bottom. I thought 
 I would be perfectly secure and out of sight. It was in the 
 month of November, and the nights were cold and frosty, mak¬ 
 ing it necessary to have some fire. I gathered up some wood 
 and made a fire by the side of an old log ; stripped my horses 
 and made them fast, with a couple of good halters, to a sapling 
 near the fire, and fed them with corn ; arranged my baggage 
 
 0 
 
 and seated myself by the fire, being cautious to have but a 
 small one so as to have as little light as possible. I drew out 
 my bread and meat and eat my supper, made my bed and laid 
 down by the fire. I was too uneasy to sleep, and passed my 
 time alternately lying down and settingup until after midnight. 
 The night was a clear, starlight one, and not a sound disturbed 
 the deathlike stillness. I examined my horses, gave them some 
 more corn, and once more tried to sleep. I had plenty of cloth¬ 
 ing and was not afraid of the cold. Before laying down I 
 
166 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 # 
 
 stripped off my under coat, vest, shoes and leggings. ] soon 
 fell asleep, and must have lain about three hours, when 1 awoke. 
 My tire was nearly out, and 1 could hear nothing of my horses. 
 I got up and kindled the fire and looked for my horses, but 
 they w r ere gone ; it hardly seemed possible that they had been 
 stolen for I had taken so much trouble to find a secluded sjot. 
 They were both w r ell shod and if near could have been heard, 
 owing to the gravelly state of the ground. 1 listened atten¬ 
 tively for some time and heard something about fifty or sixty 
 yards up the hollow r . It would walk three or four steps, stop a 
 few moments and then go on again ; it walked like a human 
 being but stepped exceedingly light. I roused up the fire so 
 the light would shine some distance, put on my shoes, buttoned 
 up my coat and started to make a circuit around in sight of the 
 fire to listen for my horses. I went along the hill side, dow r n the 
 hollow, and, the first thing I knew, stumbled right into the road. 
 I turned round and saw that my camp was not more than a 
 hundred yards distant, in plain view. The road had turned 
 round the point of the hill and crossed the hollow just below 
 -me. The discovery of this fact forced upon my mind the un¬ 
 pleasant conclusion that my horses had been stolen, and it was 
 vain to seek further for them in the night; my only chance 
 ■would be to go back to camp and remain till claylif ht. I had 
 gone about half-way back, and heard a signal given by a fellow' 
 hollowing like an owl. 
 
 Knowing the Indian note too well to be deceived, I stop¬ 
 ped short and stood a minute or two, convinced that my horses 
 were at the place where the signal was given. I heard some 
 one walking, and was confident it was some one left to watch 
 my movements; thinking it might not be safe to go to camp, 
 for in case of an attack, there might be more than one, and if I 
 had to die it should be in the road, so that there should be some 
 sign left. Taking my course hastily up the hill, by the way 
 I- had left the road at night, I gained the edge, and stopped 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 167 
 
 suddenly under two or three large trees that stood close toge¬ 
 ther ; my coat was long, of a dark brown color, and hard to be 
 seen in the night. There I remained perfectly still ; the fellow 
 continued the owl signal, and striking with a club on an old 
 log ; he would strike three times, stop awhile, and then repeat. 
 Suddenly there were sounds of footsteps at no great distance,, 
 approaching. Standing still without moving, I drew my knife ; 
 in opening the long blade, the spring being stiff, it cracked like 
 the cocking of a gun ; the footsteps ceased. I determined not 
 to move until he came in feeling distance and then strike with 
 all my power, thinking it would be a serious battle any way ; if 
 killed, to take one of them along. He soon made briskly off ; 
 after he got some distance, lie began to whistle like a deer that 
 was “scared” but was too far off for the other to hear him. By 
 this time, the morning star was up and day breaking ; the other 
 fellow still kept up the'signal ; it seemed to be near the course 
 of the road, into which 1 stepped, walking in the direction, stop¬ 
 ping occasionally to notice behind me. After walking as far 
 as the noise seemed to be it ceased ; while standing to listen, 
 the sound of the horses’ shoes striking the gravel at a short 
 distance from the road was quite distinct. Day was breaking ; 
 at length they came to a hollow, they keeping along on the hill 
 side near it, myself on the opposite side ; in this manner they 
 travelled about two miles, when they crossed the hollow to mv 
 
 %/ y 
 
 side, and stopped in a little flat bushy place about sixty or sev¬ 
 enty yards from me. Not being light enough to distinguish ob¬ 
 jects fairly 1 patiently waited ; when it became so, my horses 
 were in sight but no one perceivable near them. They stood 
 near a large poplar tree ; in going to them, it was necessary to 
 pass near it; on my approach, when within twenty feet, there 
 stood a large Indian leaning against the tree ; he had not dis¬ 
 covered me, but as soon as he did, he broke like a quarter horse,, 
 to my rejoicing. With all possible speed was the return to my 
 camp; every thing was safe ; I resumed my journey. 
 
168 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 After riding seven or eight miles, I came to a camp of sever? 
 or eight families, all up and very busy in cooking tlieir break¬ 
 fast ; three or four of the families were of my neighborhood, so 
 I halted arid took breakfast with them. The late event was to • 
 my mind an interposition of Providence in my favor. Perhaps 
 this idea extends farther than most people are willing to admit 5 
 they may think as they please 011 the subject. My bow was 
 
 drawn at a venture but the shaft was levelled with an unerring 
 
 ♦ 
 
 eye and guided by an Omnipotent hand. There is a certain 
 destiny appointed to man—that his way is marked out, and he 
 has to travel to the end—that adversity and prosperity spring 
 from the same source, and will come to those for whom they 
 are appointed. As to the future destiny of man, it is not for 
 me to speak, for that point is so much disputed among wise 
 men, that it would be simplicity in me to meddle with it, but 
 it is probable, with my thinking, that the material part of man 
 will remain in this world as long as it is a world. The spirit 
 or immaterial part may be free and permitted to soar beyoud 
 the giddiest heights of thought and traverse the illimitable 
 bounds of space, but the animal life of man will remain as long 
 in the world as time lasts. I do not now recollect meeting with 
 any writer that has taken notice of the subject but am inclined 
 to think that the same quality of life and animal vitality belongs 
 to the world from its creation without increasing or diminish¬ 
 ing its substance ; it is surely one of the essential elements ne¬ 
 cessary to constitute a world and probably will remain like all 
 
 others. There is a necessary quantity of heat and cold, light 
 
 , 
 
 and darkness, fire, air, solids, life, and motion, which constitute 
 a world. These existing facts will remain the same as long as 
 Time shall last. * 
 
 But to resume. I took leave of my company, proceeded on 
 my way, and on the evening of the sixth day after leaving Ten¬ 
 nessee, reached home. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 REMOVAL TO TENNESSEE—LAST REMARKS. 
 
 VLY A FEW DAYS elapsed, after my re- 
 
 turn, before I commenced the preparations 
 
 necessary for my removal. Some difficulty 
 
 was experienced ; being unable to procure a 
 
 fair price and but little money, for scarcely 
 
 any thing. This is commonly the case in 
 
 such situations. Having to move on pack 
 
 horses, nothing could be taken but my beds ancl 
 
 clothing. I hired a man to go with me and assist 
 
 me. He had previously been a trader among 
 
 the Indians, and was acquainted with all their 
 
 manners and customs, and could speak and understand 
 
 their language. This was of great use to me for I 
 
 had all my horse-feed to buy from them ; besides, I took some 
 
 light articles along, which in passing through their country, 
 
 could be sold at great advantage. We had three children, all 
 
 small, the oldest being only a few months over four years of 
 
 age. I carried the two oldest on the same horse, and my wife 
 
 carried the youngest, while my hired man took it deliberately 
 
 on foot, and drove the pack-horses. We traveled slow and 
 
 were detained by bad weather and high waters, but on the 24th 
 
 of December, arrived on the bank of the .Tennessee river, at 
 
 the Indian Old Fields. We camped for the night, near the 
 22 169 
 
170 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 river, and in the morning T paid and dismissed my man. I 
 then crossed the river with my baggage and with some trouble 
 got it to a house on the hill, about a mile distant, where we 
 were treated with great hospitality. It was Christmas day and 
 we got a good dinner, the first meal we had taken in a house 
 for fifteen days. After dinner I went out and got some help to 
 get my goods to the place I had rented, which was seven or 
 eight miles off, and next day moved on to it. Here, like begin¬ 
 ning the world anew, we found ourselves without an article of 
 furniture, either kitchen or household, #nd but little money. 
 We were among a new race of people, as it were, who had 
 been mostly raised in the mountains, with different manners 
 and customs, and without much regard for either religion or the 
 Sabbath, making it a day for sporting, hunting, fishing, Ac. 
 We were not accustomed to this, and although fond of camping 
 out and hunting, yet I had never done so on Sunday, and 
 always made it rule to observe that day. There were a few 
 families who were exceptions and who would not eat fish which 
 they knew to be caught on Sunday, and would permit a deer or 
 • turkey to pass though their yards, on that day, without inter¬ 
 ruption, even by the dogs. There were a few preachers among 
 them, but they were the most avaricious set there, and would 
 take advantage of a man’s necessities sooner than any others; 
 but take the community generally, they were excellent neigh¬ 
 bors, and as friendly, hospitable a people as the world affords. 
 I have never been so unfortunate as to have a bad neighbor in 
 my life, and among all the men with whom I have met who 
 would take all advantage in dealing, and cheat me out of my 
 last cent, yet they would act the part of a friendly neighbor. 
 
 There was but one tailor in the country, and he was partly 
 above working. I proclaimed myself and was soon crowded 
 ■with work, and fortunately pleased the people, got good prices 
 and as provisions w T cre low, and brought to me without any 
 trouble, I got along very well. By working day and night I 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 171 
 
 soon got supplied with necessaries for housekeeping, and besides, 
 had my negro in the field preparing for a crop. I soon found 
 that industry was the best recommendation a man could have. 
 My wife was industrious, and being a good weaver and 
 seamstress, went to work also, and we were soon comfortably 
 situated. I soon got a cow or two to give us milk. The sea¬ 
 son was unfavorable for crops, the drouth being one of the 
 severest I have ever seen, but I made enough to do me. Land 
 titles still being uncertain, I leased a place for two years, and 
 my luck continuing gpod, I began to acquire property. Before 
 leaving Georgia, I sold my gun, because it was impossible to 
 carry it to Tennessee, but when arrived there I found deer and 
 other game plenty. Almost every man kept a fine rifle and were 
 good marksmen, but few were good hunters. They were care¬ 
 ful of, and averse to loaning their guns, but at length I succed- 
 ed in borrowing one with a small bore which was thought insuf¬ 
 ficient to kill deer, but people soon changed their opinions of 
 her. With three of my neighbors who lived in sight and had 
 been very kind to us,—furnishing my family with milk and but¬ 
 ter without making any charge,—I always divided my game; 
 neither of them knew hove to hunt. I was so fortunate in hunt¬ 
 ing that people laughingly said I exercised some art to make 
 the deer come to me to be shot down. 
 
 It w r as customary when the first heavy frost fell for the 
 hunters to form small companies, go the mountains and camp 
 until they killed as much meat as they wanted. By this means 
 they had plenty of venison all summer, and often some to sell. 
 The first fall hunt that came on, I went to the head man and 
 petitioned to be one of the party. He laughed and said I could 
 go, but lie expected I would get lost, and doubted the sufficiency 
 of my little gun. Agreeing to risk these matters, I accordingly 
 packed up and went. There were four of us, and we went to our 
 place of camping that evening. The next morning each man 
 took his course, agreeing that no one should hunt in the way 
 
172 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 of the other. When night came I returned having hilled one 
 deer, the head hunter one, and the others, nothing. The even¬ 
 ing of the second day the head hunter had one, one of the oth¬ 
 ers one, and myself three, and on the third evening the head 
 hunter had one, myself two and the others nothing though they 
 had had as many or more shots than either of us ; but notwith¬ 
 standing this, the rule of hunting was that each should have an 
 equal share of the meat, while every man kept his own skins. 
 We had now killed ten deer of the largest kind, which we 
 took home, and next day I sold my skins f<m three dollars apiece. 
 
 The next week another party was formed ; one of the men 
 came to me and offered to furnish me with a good rifle, powder 
 and ball, if I would go. We went, and in three days killed 
 thirteen deer and a grissly bear ; six of the deer were of my 
 shooting. This was as much as our horses would pack. In the 
 two hunts my share was twelve good hams, and in the course 
 of the winter I saved about forty-eight good hams. The rest of 
 my venison I divided with my neighbors, who furnished powder 
 and shot in return : this thev done for eight winters. I took 
 one or two hunts in the mountains every winter and one in the 
 summer ; my best hunter would never go there without me. I 
 soon was able to buy me a gun of the best quality. 
 
 I was not much inclined to stay in the country, though 
 I believed it to be as good in many respects as any paid of the 
 Union. 1 now live in Louisiana, My wife was opposed to 
 moving, unless her father and mother, who had come to the 
 country, would move also, which was not likely to be the case. 
 Although I pay little attention to dreams, for I am always 
 dreaming, particularly when asleep, I must here mention one, 
 had about this time, which was literally fulfilled. I thought 
 a stranger came to me, that I had never seen ; in conversation, 
 among other things, he urged the propriety of my moving ; I 
 mentioned several obstacles. lie said : “ You will perhaps have 
 to move at a more unfavorable time ; you are now in a situa- 
 
173 
 
 • REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 tion to go without much inconvenience, and you had better do so. 
 I still objected. lie referred me to the passage in the Bible, 
 where the Angel came to Lot: “ Arise and get you out of this 
 place, for the Lord will destroy this city.” “ So say I unto 
 you,” he continued : “ Arise, and get you out of this place, or 
 you will have to leave it in a worse condition ; pay no atten¬ 
 tion to your wife’s objections ; go, while you are able to settle 
 yourself somewhere else.” I awoke and while thinking of the 
 singularity of this dream again fell asleep. It was repeated. 
 Next morning I told it to my wife. She said she could easily 
 interpret it: “ It is a warning for you to try and get religion, 
 and you had better set about it.” In a few days, my wife told 
 her mother the dream. She also interpreted it as a warning 
 to get religion. I thought different, but what I know not, so 
 it passed over and was soon forgotten. 
 
 I worked along on the lease I had taken, and was quite 
 fortunate. When it expired, the titles to land having become 
 more safe, I ventured to purchase an excellent farm with about 
 sixty acres open. I put up a comfortable house oh it and hired 
 a hand to clear fifteen more acres. I rented out all but twenty 
 acres for three hundred bushels of corn, and sowed ten acres in 
 wheat, keeping the other two to cultivate in corn, off of which 
 I could easily make five hundred bushels or more, for good land 
 generally produced from sixty to ninety bushels to the acre. I 
 have seen a field of two hundred acres on the river measured, 
 average ninety bushels to the acre. I was now so situated as 
 to live without much work, hiring any kind of white labor at 
 from six to eight dollars per month. I began to dabble in pub¬ 
 lic office, such as bailiff, sheriff, etc. I was generally applied to 
 in cases of sales, to act as auctioneer ; this of course drew me 
 a great deal from home. I have often thought that I never was 
 unfeeling enough to make a right mean sheriff; never liking to 
 see a poor man distressed and his little property sold for almost 
 nothing ; the claimant sometimes unwilling to show lenity and 
 
.174 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A 
 
 desirous that the officer should collect his debt at any sacrifice. 
 Thus, if he is a man of fine feeling, he has to strain his con¬ 
 science at times in order to be called a good officer. There 
 were many cases in point in my practice ; I will mention but 
 one. There was a poor man in the neighborhood that had a 
 large family ; one daughter was grown, the others were mostly 
 small; he had no property only what was in his house, and lit¬ 
 tle enough of that for the use of his family. In order to get 
 some little necessaries he had gone in debt at a small store, for 
 perhaps something over thirty dollars. The old man taught 
 school; his employers were negligent and to urge them would 
 endanger his place. The storekeeper brought suit, obtained 
 judgment, and had an execution issued. He told me he wanted 
 the money collected with all speed. I went with the execution; 
 when the old lady saw me. coming, she closed the door against 
 me. I must confess I was not anxious to get in. I went to the 
 claimant and told him lie must show property ; so he went with 
 me. When we got within sight of the house, he proposed for 
 me to stay back, until he went forward and got in the house ; 
 he would sit right in the front door, so that the old lady could 
 not shut it until I got in, for he was determined to have his 
 money if he had to sell yie last bed there was in the house. 
 After waiting until I thought he had sufficient time ter get in, 
 I rode up. He was sitting in the door talking very religiously 
 to the old lady. She soon saw me coming and ran out to meet 
 me, calling to her daughter to shut the door. She seized me 
 and laughingly said I was such a handsome little man she had 
 long been wanting to hug me and would never have a better 
 opportunity than now. The daughter, to obey the mother’s 
 command, gave the door a sudden shove and out came the man 
 and chair into the yard, and at the same time the door was 
 made fast. I begged the old ffidv to let me go, telling her 
 Mr. B., would tell my wife and perhaps her husband, and it 
 would be apt to make a fuss. But she said she would not let 
 
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. 
 
 1 h» 
 
 LO 
 
 me go so soon, and that Mr. B. need not trouble himself to tell 
 my wife or her husband, for she would tell them both herself, 
 and was sure they would both approve of her conduct. 
 
 The storekeeper was a little vexed to think the old lady 
 and her daughter had outwitted him, and that we had to go back 
 as we came, and he took out a ca. sa. for the old man’s body, 
 but by ■some means he heard of it and quit his school to keep 
 out of the way. Hearing he was at home I went there after 
 him but found the doors once more closed against me. In a few 
 days, however, some of his employers, in order that they might 
 not be deprived of his services, made arrangements to settle the 
 debt, and so the matter ended. 
 
 The position I occupied, rendered me liable to fall into all 
 kinds of company, and it almost became necessary for me to 
 comply with the general rules of society. In those days the 
 people were more on an equality than now ; there was less dis¬ 
 tinction between the rich and the poor, and vastly more famili¬ 
 arity and neighborship among men, as is generally the case in 
 all new countries. There was a class rather below mediocrity, 
 but take the body of the people, they all stood on equal ground 
 when assembled together. The judge, the lawyer, the sheriff, 
 the magistrate and the farmer were all alike. John, Tom, .Dick 
 and Toby were familiar styles of salutation amongst them, and 
 in time of court, as soon as the judge descended from the bench 
 there was a room called for, and company invited in, and every 
 one who chose, called in his bottle of whatever kind of liquor 
 he wanted to drink. There was no such thing known as call¬ 
 ing for liquor by the glass. Whoever could sing the best song, 
 or tell the best story, was the best fellow. As for myself I 
 could sing almost any kind of a song that might be called for, 
 and tell a great' many stories of different kinds, besides was a 
 great mimic, which by the way I think is a great fault, although 
 guilty myself. All was fun and frolic until the hour that we 
 chose to adjourn for bed. There was never any dispute or con-' 
 
176 
 
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 
 
 tention admitted, nor an) T party question discussed among us in 
 these evening or night frolics. 
 
 Those that were disposed to be quarrelsome, formed a sep¬ 
 arate club by themselves ; they generally left town about dusk 
 for some place within two or three miles, that suited them, and 
 where undisturbed, they could riot all night. These Tennessee¬ 
 ans were mostly fond of strong liquor, and could drink a good 
 quantity ; neither was it considered disreputable. 
 
 I was now in good circumstances, making money easy, if 
 not fast, yet sure, I was clear of debt, and had always corn, 
 wheat, and meat, to sell; I had a wagon and a first rate team ; 
 eleven good horses and other property. I then stood at par 
 with the best men in the country. Under these circumstanstances 
 I considered myself settled for life, and was to commence putting 
 up a set of mills, for I was situated on an elegant stream. 
 
 Our venerable father wrote the foregoing narrative at the 
 age of seventy-four, in the year 1836, in the State of Louisiana, 
 and was compelled to close, on account of his eyes and nerves 
 failing. 
 
 “How sleep the brave who sink to rest 
 By all their country’s wishes blest! 
 
 When Spring with dewy fingers cold. 
 
 Returns to deck their hallowed mould, 
 
 She then shall dress a sweeter sod % 
 
 Than Fancy’s feet have ever trod. 
 
 u By fairy hands their knell is rung 
 Bv forms unseen their dirge is sung : 
 
 There Honor comes, a pilgrim gray, 
 
 To bless the turf that wraps their clay 
 And Freedom shall awhile repair 
 To dwell a weeping hermit there.” 
 
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