Labels

Harp (107) Vaughan's (70) Erp_Earp_Earpe (69) Vaughan (40) VAUGHAN DOCUMENTATIONS (21) Photo source (20) Source (20) Johnson (19) BOHANNON (17) Vaughn (17) LIST OF PROGENITORS R (15) TODD (14) Civil War (13) LIST OF PROGENITORS S (13) Land Records (13) Photo (13) Graves (12) LIST OF PROGENITOR B (12) Stone (12) MORROW (11) Calicott (10) Census (10) Vaughans (10) LIST OF PROGENITORS H (9) BARNES (8) LIST OF PROGENITOR M (8) FISHER (7) FREE GENEALOGY SITES (7) Genealogy Blogs (7) LIST OF PROGENITORS P (7) List of progenitor C (7) Looney (7) Wills (7) BLOCHER (6) HICKMAN (6) Fraley (5) GREEN (5) Henderson (5) LIST OF PROGENITORS V. (5) Parker (5) Roller (5) Tax List (5) Tucker (5) Turner (5) VAUGHAN Y-DNA TESTS (5) Buchanan (4) Calico (4) Davis (4) FANNING (4) GENEALOGY LIST; W (4) LIST OF PROGENITORS G (4) Lynch (4) REV. WAR (4) Sanders (4) Workman (4) Affidavit (3) BARRETT (3) Benton (3) COAT OF ARMS_SHEILDS_CHREST (3) DNA Research (3) DOSS (3) Fitch (3) HAMMON (3) INDIAN LINE (3) Kappen (3) LIST OF PROGENITOR F (3) LIST OF PROGENITOR Vaughan's (3) LIST OF PROGENITORS D (3) LIST OF PROGENITORS L (3) LIST OF PROGENITORS M (3) LIST OF PROGENITORS N (3) LIST OF PROGENITORS T (3) LISTS OF PROGENITORS T (3) List of progenitor A (3) List of progenitor T (3) Pinkley (3) Ryves (3) Smith (3) Soldiers (3) WELCH (3) Webb (3) Wyatt Earp (3) Arp (2) BIGELOW (2) BRANHAM (2) BUTLER (2) Book (2) Bouldin (2) Brumley (2) CLARK (2) CLIFTON (2) CUPP (2) Deeds (2) Evans (2) Fanny (2) Ford (2) GODARDS (2) HALL (2) Harris (2) Jackson (2) LIST OF PROGENITORS J (2) LIST OF PROGENITORS K (2) LIST OF PROGENITORS O (2) LOWE (2) LOWMAN (2) Lane (2) List of progenitor J (2) List of progenitors W (2) MAP (2) MOORE (2) MORSE (2) Minor (2) Mock/Mauk (2) NEEDS (2) NOWLIN (2) Obituary (2) PUBLISHING GENEALOGY (2) Pensions (2) REEVES (2) Records (2) SHERMAN GENEALOGY (2) SPAULDING (2) SPENCER (2) STINNETT (2) STOUT (2) Shelton (2) Taylor (2) VILLINES (2) WILLIAMS (2) https://shermsgenealogyconnections.blogspot.com/ (2) AAD ARCHIVES (1) ADAMS (1) ADE (1) ARCHER (1) Anderson (1) BAKER (1) BARBER (1) BINGHAM (1) BIRD (1) BOGARDUS (1) BONE (1) BROWN (1) BRUNSWICK (1) Bell (1) Bevers (1) Bilyeu (1) Booth (1) Booton (1) Bouldinge (1) Bowlen (1) Boyd (1) Breeden (1) Bromley (1) Brooks (1) Broyhill (1) Burchfield (1) CALLICOTT (1) CAPPS (1) CEMETERY (1) CLINKENBEARD (1) COOK (1) COX (1) CRAFT (1) CULL (1) CURRENT (1) Canterbury (1) Comments/questions (1) DAVID (1) DAWSON (1) DICKIRSON (1) DIVORCES (1) EDDIS (1) ENGLAND (1) EPPRIGHT (1) FAIRBANKS (1) FARR (1) FEEZELL FERGUSON (1) FLANNERY (1) FORMAN (1) Funeral Notices (1) GAWKROGER (1) GLASSCOCK (1) GUTHRIE (1) Genealogy list Worlow to Wynkold (1) Grindstaff (1) Guthrie (1) HAMMER (1) HARRISON (1) HOLMES (1) HOWEY (1) HUDSON (1) Harper (1) Harrison (1) Hoftman (1) Ivie (1) JANSEN (1) Johndon (1) KENTUCKY (1) LAIRD (1) LAWSON (1) LAY (1) LEGG/LEGE (1) LINCOLN (1) LIST OF PROGENITOR E (1) LIST OF PROGENITOR V (1) LIST OF PROGENITORS I (1) LIST OF PROGENITORS U. (1) LISTS OF PROGENITORS R (1) LORD (1) Lewis (1) Litteral (1) Lost Persons (1) Luten (1) MARRIAGES (1) MASON (1) MAYCOCK (1) MC CLOUD (1) MILLER (1) MOLYNEAUX (1) MUSTAIN (1) Mcaninch (1) NEEDHAM (1) NEWSOM (1) NEWSPAPER (1) NEWTON (1) Name List; Yager to Zuldy (1) ODAM (1) OSBORNE (1) OWENS (1) PACE (1) PENNEBAKER (1) PLOCHER (1) POINDEXTER (1) POOLE (1) PRATT (1) PRESCOTT (1) PROGENITOR LIST OF J (1) PROGENITORS C (1) PULLEN (1) Parry (1) Patent Rec. (1) Pugh (1) R (1) RADCLIFFE (1) REINHARDT (1) RHODES (1) RIPLEY (1) RUSSELL (1) Recipes of Ancesters (1) Rotledge (1) SCOTLAND (1) SEATTLE WASHINGTON LIBRARY (1) SEQURA (1) SHEPHARD (1) SHOEMAKER (1) SHRESBURY (1) SKINNER (1) SNAPP (1) SPIER (1) STEBBUBSM (1) STELLE (1) STONEKING (1) SURRATT (1) Salmon (1) Scott (1) Sharp (1) Sims (1) Sullivan (1) Svein Torbjornsen Austara (1) TEFFETELLER (1) THOMPSON (1) TIM CHILDRESS SITE (1) TRETOWER (1) Thorn (1) Troutt (1) Twist (1) UK ARCHIVES (1) VAN DEURSEN (1) VAN SCHAICK (1) VAWN (1) WADE (1) WAGNER (1) WARREN (1) WEAVER (1) WHALE (1) WHITE (1) WHITEHEAD (1) WILBORN (1) WILCOX (1) WILLARD (1) WILSON (1) WINKLER (1) WISHONG (1) Wagner (1) Weems (1) Wesson (1) Wilkie Whelchel (1) Winn (1) Wright (1) YANKEY (1) Young (1)

VAUGHAN'S: REVOLTION WAR


Veteran s Day Tribute: Here is my favorite battle that my favorite American Revolution veteran fought: John Vaughan, First Artillery Regiment, in The Battle of Hobkirk s Hill. (pp39-43)
The actual Battle of Hobkirk Hill was fought April 25th; it turned out to be a hair-raising experience for Robert Livingston, John Vaughan and . . . any of “the Maryland Company commanded by William Braun in the Artillery” who were with them.
The April morning broke full of bright sunshine, warming the South Carolina air for Continentals who bathed in the fine waters of Martin s Spring running below the hill. Others were laundering their clothes and some had begun cooking breakfast nearby. Only the Regulars were on site. General Greene had left his Cavalry and Artillery in the rear the night before. On the 24th he had pitched camp, in battle order, below Lord Rawdon s British headquarters up on the hill. When Cornwallis inched his way up to Virginia, he left Rawdon as the highest ranking officer in the Deep South. Between the hill and the town of Camden, Rawdon and his troops were stationed inside a stockade, supported by four redoubts; he kept it manned in part by Negroes, Tories and Indians. The Americans down the road were just out of reach of the fort s cannon fire. Greene had purposely camped just close enough to be safe from enemy artillery while at the same time tempting the enemy to sally forth.
The Americans were camped out on the road they marched in on. It was a broad road leading from Charlotte in North Carolina to Charleston in South Carolina. It passed near Camden and trailed through timber country that was covered by heavy wood and underbrush. General Greene sent patrols out into the woods and then ordered that the weapons of the men at leisure be laid out in battle order, ready for action at a moment s warning from his picket guard.
During the night a drummer in the American camp turned traitor. He went to Lord Rawdon and informed him that Greene was without his horse company and his artillery. Rawdon leaped into action, immediately manning the redoubts with Negroes, Indians and Tories. Silently, without fife and drum, his army prepared for a morning attack. His cavalry led the way out of the fort.
Within minutes Greene s advanced pickets were attacked by a bayonet charge and driven in after a furious fight. Alarmed by the sounds of the fracas, all the soldiers enjoying Martin s Spring, and about to enjoy a meal, abandoned their bath and laundry, and ran to their readied arms ...stacked in the very line they needed to form. 1st Artillery Regiment, with John Vaughan, under Colonel Charles Harrison, had just come up the main road. At about the same time Lt. Colonel William Washington arrived with his cavalry and about two hundred and fifty North Carolina Militia.
Greene, as usual, had picked the perfect spot to cause the most damage to the enemy. His position on a running stream was a threat to their mills and their daily bread—as well as to their water supply; it divided the enemy forces, preventing correspondence between them; and it penned down the aristocratic Lord Rawdon himself.
The 1st Artillery Regiment and Washington s Cavalry waited on their orders. With the Regulars in position, General Greene was openly pleased with the prospect of his army taking the field. The only elements he didn t have under control were the woods ...and human error. It was said that the woods were so thick that a man could not be seen at one hundred yards distance at noon day, and that the very trees could take the sound of a man s voice and turn it.
Lord Rawdon was on the way. Greene directed the gunners of the artillery to the middle of the big road and detached Lt. Colonel Washington s cavalry to flank the rear.
The British, with bayonets, neared the spring; they pressed directly forward under cover of thick woods and had scarcely been seen except by the pickets. When their cavalry reached the great road they advanced in close order by slow step until they were surprised to find themselves directly in front of the cannon of the First. The gunners opened up on them with canister and grapeshot and blew man and horse off the road. American gunners didn t miss what they aimed for. From the rear, Washington s Cavalry came up and routed the infantry. So many prisoners were taken they became a hindrance to soldiers trying to fight a battle. Greene s perfectly laid plans were being carried out.
With Rawdon s cavalry dispersed, and many of his infantry killed and many more taken prisoner, the sound of 1st Regiment s cannon sent Lord Rawdon into a rage. The sight of his routed cavalry was maddening. After ordering a hanging for the drummer deserter who told him Greene had no cavalry and no artillery, he galloped up to the disaster where he was quickly surrounded by Washington s Horse Company and his sword demanded.
Then, the best laid plans went awry.
A bow had formed in one line of Continental Regulars. Their commanding officer, Colonel John Dunby, ordered them to halt. Trying to maneuver through the woods for an advantage, other advancing lines heard the order and thought it was for them. They stopped their attack. In this hesitant moment, the Americans lost the offensive. Before the Colonel could be understood and restart the charge, the enemy got amongst the confused soldiers and made them give way. Many who had been taken prisoner were able to turn on their captors, and they escaped to rejoin the battle.
Lord Rawdon, himself a prisoner, was surrounded near the head of 1st Artillery and saw what was taking place. Some of his cavalry had rallied and with his infantry was coming to his relief. Rawdon was a sneaky villain. He feigned politeness, bowing to his captors, and in an elaborate pretense struggled to remove his sword from its scabbard. With awed Rebel eyes fixed on his show, his men came upon them and were able to rescue him. The British were then able to take the fight to the befuddled Americans.
General Greene watched his plans go awry with his usual coolness and ordered a general retreat. In doing so he was able to keep some of his prisoners and gave them to Washington s Cavalry to move them to Sanders Creek, four miles in the rear. He succeeded in carrying off all the British surgeons and several officers. Most important of all, he kept his army alive to fight another day.
A retreat was not so easy for an artillery regiment. Since the artillery just came up as the battle began, the guns, attached to limbers—the fore-wheels that form a carriage for road travel ...were merely unhooked and let down for the gunners to put some immediate fire on the enemy. The gunners had fired several volleys of grapeshot before the horses could even be unharnessed. The boys that drove them had not yet dismounted and had barely moved out of the way of the big guns when they spotted their army in retreat. Lord Rawdon s men were not far behind.
The frightened drover boys took off for cover. They spurred their horses off the road and headed the animals into the woods, dragging the limbers behind them. They didn t get very far. The woods were lovely, dark and deep, and too thick for a two-wheeled axis to pass through. Soon the boys were stuck in the trees and underbrush. Unable to move, and still likely to get shot at, they cut their horses loose and fled, leaving behind 1st Artillery s fore-wheels, without which the heavy field pieces could hardly be moved.
The limbers were quickly found by the British.
This was more than even General Greene could stand. He went at full gallop back to the best officer he could find—Captain John Smith, of Maryland ...and ordered him to fall to the rear and save the cannon. The big Captain was already famous among his troops for his heroism. Called Captain Jack ...even by the General ...he had the strength of several men and in hand-to-hand combat could take out two or more opponents at a time. This was called double combat. It was a well-known fact that a musket ball had once struck him in the back of the head, and it barely stunned him.
The courageous Captain Jack hurried back to find John Vaughan and the men of 1st Artillery afoot, hauling their field pieces with the drag-ropes. He and his men gave a hand, and pulling altogether they actually broke into a trot. Still, the pursuing British cavalry, on horseback and unencumbered by heavy cannon, were catching up.
Smith formed his men across the road and gave them a full volley at close range. That checked their horses and threw many of the riders. Smith s soldiers then joined the artillerists in their traces, and they all trotted on down the road as before. After some time the Brits remounted and galloped after them. Smith formed his men a second time and blew them out of their saddles again, and steadfast in his mission, the gritty Captain continued on down the road with his General s artillery. But, the Brits wanted those guns. They got up after every volley, again and again and again, each time, their number growing smaller. This went on for miles, the Americans rescuing their artillery—the British on horseback, chasing after them.
Then, another plan went awry. An unexplained firing of a gun of one of Smith s men broke up their maneuver and allowed the pursuing cavalry to rush in. The men on horseback cut Smith s men to pieces. Though it was said the Americans fought like pit bulls, they were all killed or taken. But, these men were true warriors, and they held off the enemy long enough for 1st Artillery to escape. By that time the guns were near their Sanders Creek retreat.
Captain Smith was a man of Herculean strength, but finally, overcome in this combat by drastically superior numbers, he was forced to surrender. He was taken prisoner and stripped of everything he had on except his shirt and his commission which hung around his neck. Thus he was marched to Rawdon s jail near Hobkirk s Hill.
He was an officer, but he was put in close confinement and locked up without justification. After wasting in jail twenty-four hours he heard from the jailer that he would be hanged the next morning at eight o clock. Smith found that a Lieutenant Truman, who had been wounded in the foot and taken prisoner, was also jailed. Lord Rawdon sent word to them, wanting to know when it was that their artillery and cavalry had come up, and their true answer saved the life of the misinformed drummer deserter who was also scheduled to be hanged. Andrew Jackson, age fourteen, a future President of the United States, was in jail with them. He had been captured in an earlier battle and was being held for assaulting a British officer. From his cell window Jackson had watched the Battle of Hobkirk Hill.
That night a deserter from Rawdon s side sneaked out and informed General Greene that his heroic Captain Jack was to be hanged the next morning. Once again, General Greene jumped into action. He immediately sent in an officer bearing a flag, demanding Smith s release ...or else. Lord Rawdon would soon be high-tailing it back to England—just another aristocratic officer who found fighting American Patriots too painful a service. He didn t need to be reminded that Greene was in possession of some fine pieces of artillery and that some deadly accurate gunners were ready to man them. Their limbers recovered, those same gunners only needed an order to blow Rawdon away to rescue their hero. Captain Smith was set free.
A few days later, Lord Rawdon emptied the fort at Hobkirk s Hill and abandoned it. Not long after, nineteen year old Gunner John Vaughan was promoted to Sergeant. History does not say what happened to the boy drover who lost the limber to the Sergeant s gun carriage. RE: Quoted: On 11/11/2011 1:33 AM, Helen Michael:

Thanks for any corrections and/or additions to these posts. It helps us all doing this genealogy work. All comments are most welcomed! Site Meter

No comments: