|
June 1776 volunteered and entered the service of United States under the following named officers to wit Captain Reuben White, Lieutenant Samuel Simpson. This company consisted of eighty two men and was ordered by Major McKisick & Colonel McDowell to march to Davidson's Fort on the Catawba River and was stationed at said Fort as a guard to keep the Indians off of the frontiers had been stationed & scouting & spying against the Indians until some time in August or July. When for the first engagement they met with the Indians who lay in ambush at the north fork of the Catawba River. They had engagement with the Indians & defeated the Indians in which engagement, Captain White was killed together with several other privates, we killed fourteen Indians dead upon the ground. General Rutherford shortly after this engagement came on with his Brigade. We then joined General Rutherford then marched to levee towns then marched to Big Tellico towns. Met General Williamson's [Andre Williamson's] Army at Big Tellico but had been in hearing of General Williamson's Army when he fought the Indians before he reached the Tellico Towns, took some prisoners at Big Tellico Towns. Was marched back to Davidson's Fort, was then honorably but verbally discharged having served this tour no less than six months.
Richard Crabtree W8642
the next tour of service was at the upper Fort on the Catawba where we were stationed for some time as a ranging company under Captain Reuben White who was killed in the Battle of the Fork the 11th July 1776 Colonel Carson acted as Ensign. The next tour of service was under General Rutherford who marched a considerable force to the Cherokee nation in the fall of the year 1776 when Colonel Carson – volunteered as a light horseman under Captain Bartley of Rowan County. S/ Jonathan McPeters, X his mark
marched as an Indian spie to Samuel Davidson's Fort on the fork of the Cautauber River [sic, Catawba River] he was Stationed at said Fort until July ((1776)) Insueing When abody of Indians drove the Spies from said Fort, they then retreated to Kathys Fort [sic, Cathey's Fort]. Stayed at Kathies Fort one night then retreated from Kathies Fort Met by the Indians at the north Fork of the Cautaber River had a battle with the Indians defeated the Indians Captain White was Killed in the battle, then marched to the quaker Meadows Fort, and was Stationed at the quaker Meadows Fort until reinforced by General Rutherford's army then marched up the Cautauber River to Davidson's Fort from Davidsons Fort marched with the Army as aspie through the Cherokee nation. Joseph McPeters W1303
My memory being impaired from age I cannot distinctly recollect dates, or state the years – but after our return from the Cross Creek Expedition the battle of the Fork as it was called was fought near the mouth of North Fork of Catawba River, where Captain Reuben White and a Mr. Shelton was killed – my being sent off to bury several persons who had been killed by the Indians just before the battle prevented my being there, but I arrived at the battle ground soon after the battle was fought. This is known to have taken place in the summer of the year 1776. S/ Thomas Lytle, X his mark
I volunteered to serve in the forts of upon the Catawba to guard the Country against the Indians where I was stationed in those different forts from 6 to 9 months – Before being stationed in the Forts, the Indians broke out, killed & scalped several persons Captain Reuben White who had the command of some of the forts marched with his party & met the Indians at the mouth of the North fork of the Catawba River and there fought the battle of the Fork (as it is called) and where he bravely fell fighting. I arrived in time to see the close of the action and to see Captain White killed. During my being stationed in the forts (to wit) Catheys Fort, Davidson's or Upper Fort, and Warfford's Fort [Wofford's Fort] I frequently saw Colonel Carson performing the duties of a soldier but as well as I recollect in the Upper Fort he performed the most service –S/ Isaac Thompson
Davidson’s Fort was evacuated July 1776, retook in fall of 1776. Therefore fort was up already before Rutherford came. I think we can honestly say that the fort was built prior to Rutherford’s arrival.
Interesting historical finds!1929 Letter found describing where the fort once stood, click here to read the letter.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
