First-Person Accounts

of Cane Creek Battle

From the Revolutionary War Pension Application statements

… in a short time we were ordered (our Company of light horse) out under Colonel Hampton and General McDowell, who were then stationed in the neighborhood with two or three hundred men. After joining McDowell, the light horse were ordered to scour the Country, and if possible to intercept a party of Tories, then in the Country. The night after the detachment was ordered out, a party of Tories & British from Ninety-Six made an attack on McDowell’s Camp, and several were killed on each side. In the morning, the horse were recalled and ordered to pursue the enemy, which we promptly obeyed; and we came up with them at a house about nine miles distant, where we surrounded them, and made a charge upon them and killed as many as nine or more, and dispersed the others. After which we returned to Camp. In the attack on McDowell’s camp the preceding night, Andrew Dunn the first Lieutenant of horse was one of the killed (he was the brother of this affiant). That shortly afterwards the Tories and Indians broke out on the head of Broad River, and we marched to that quarter. After remaining there sometime, expecting the arrival of Major Dunlap, a British officer, some of the light horse (having been on active service some time) was permitted to return home for a few days on parole. But the same evening Dunlap made his appearance, and instantly attacked McDowell & Hampton, and gained some advantage. Those permitted to return home, hearing of the affair, he immediately returned but not in time to aid in the conflict, which was on a stream called Caney [sic, Cane Creek]. After this we marched to the head of Holston, to join in the expedition against Col. Furguson who was conducting a British detachment through the Country.

~~ Joseph Dunn (S12811)

… he served in said company under Col. Charles McDowell (afterwards General) and joined him at the head of Cane Creek, in Burke County – where he was in an engagement with a party of British and Tories under Dunlap and was defeated by them. That after the defeat, he marched up Catawba River, to Catha’s [sic. Cathey’s Fort] where he remained a few days, until they heard of the British and Tories under Ferguson being in pursuit, when he crossed the Blue Ridge to Yellow Mountain, and thence to Watauga River – where he remained until joined by the troops of Cols. Campbell, Shelby and Sevier and then marched back across Catawba River to Kings Mountain, where Ferguson was defeated …

~~ Mathew Kuykendall (S30518)

… in Burke County North Carolina he again entered the service aforesaid under Captain Woods as a volunteer and was under Major McDowell & was marched to the head of Cane Creek where we were defeated by the British & Tories & retreated to the head of Catawba River North Carolina, from thence over the Mountain & joined Colonels Campbell, Shelby & Sevier, thence returned to head of Catawba & was joined by Colonel Cleveland & was marched to Kings Mountain and was in that …

~~ Samuel Macke (W7385)

Shortly after this I volunteered under Captain Harry Highland, Colonel Joe McDowell — I think this was in November 1780 [NOTE: it would have been September, not November] to go against the British under Dunlap. We had a battle on Cain Creek in Burke County. Hemphill was killed and John Creswell wounded both in our company – we got whipped. I served in this tour not less than two weeks.

~~ Richard Ballew (S15305)

next entered the service in Burke County North [Carolina] under Captain John Boman who was afterwards killed at the battle of Ram Sours [sic, Ramsour’s Mill, June 20, 1780] and under General Charles McDowell, Joseph McDowell was Colonel – that during that time he was in a battle with the British at Pacolet in South Carolina our forces were commanded by General McDowell the British were commanded by Dunlap he was also in another skirmish at the head of Cane Creek in Rutherford County he was also in the battle at Kings Mountain under Colonel Cleveland that he was regularly discharged by Benjamin Hearn after having served under that term 6 months.

~~ James Blair (S22125)

I was in a skirmish at the head of Cane Creek where Col. McDowell got defeated by Ferguson; was then went over the Blue Ridge where we collected more forces: Colonel Campbell, Colonel Shelby & Colonel Sevier returned with Col. McDowell & followed Ferguson & overtook him at King’s Mountain where we defeated him which battle I was in. Col. Campbell was commander & he held a court martial and hung nine of the Tories & twenty which was condemned was released from being hung.

~~ John Dysart (S3315)

In one of which skirmishes at the head of Muddy Creek in Burke County, Captain White was wounded. In this service Charles McDowell was my Colonel & Joseph White my Captain. During this summer I was engaged in the battle at King’s Mountain where the Tories received a signal defeat. Colonels Campbell, Shelby & Sevier commanded in this engagement & Jonathan Camp was my Captain. We defeated & took the whole of the British & Tories force who were engaged & commanded by Colonel Patrick Ferguson. I went as one of the guards of the prisoners from the field of Battle to the Moravian Towns in North Carolina a distance of something like 200 miles. Here we were dismissed & this tour ended

~~ William Jewell (S1837)

He continued under Capt. McDowell and was with him at the Skirmish with Ferguson’s men on the head of Cane Creek (now Burke County N.C.). We formed after that skirmish and another one at Allen’s place on Muddy Creek both of which were in August 1780 [NOTE: Dobson is mistaken about August, as it was in September.]. That we were not able for Ferguson & we retreated across the mountains to Watauga River now Carter County Tennessee. We then joined Sevier & Shelby and afterwards fell in with Col. Campbell after recrossing the mountains. We then perused on after Ferguson till we overtook him at King’s Mountain where we had a great engagement & gave him a total defeat. This battle was in October 1780. I was wounded by a
ball passing through my right arm near the elbow joint and also by another which struck me on the left side & ranged round my back & lodged in my right shoulder & was cut out by a British Doctor who was taken prisoner at the battle. … was hauled in a wagon by Col. Johnson up into Lincoln County to the house of George Wilfong & there left where I remained for some days till I was well able to ride a horse. Mr. Wilfong then sent his son with me & loaned me a horse to ride home.

~~ Joseph Dobson (W19187)

… marched to Morganton North Carolina; from thence to Cain Creek in Burke County North Carolina where they had a slight skirmish; from thence to Watauga; they then returned [on] the same route; joined by Colonels Sevier, Shelby and Campbell; to Cane Creek, Burke County North Carolina; from thence to Gilbert town in Rutherford County North Carolina; from thence to the Cowpens where they were joined by Colonels Cleveland and Williams and some Lincoln troops; from thence they marched across Broad River and fought the battle of King’s Mountain the same day. Ferguson was killed and the whole Army taken prisoner; in which battle he was wounded in the left arm by a ball in consequence of which he returned home on the 8th of October 1780.

~~ John Wilfong (S7951)

About the month of August or September Ferguson came through the Country; we were ordered out to meet and oppose him; the forces met near the head of Cane Creek and had a skirmish: I was on the ground but had been taken prisoner by the British the same day, in the morning, I was returning from Burke whither I had been to obtain assistance. I was detained some days and then paroled. The Battle of King’s Mountain came on, and I afterwards considered my parole discharged, went home, & was ordered to take command of the stations in Mumford’s Cove where I served a tour of 3 months.

~~ Aaron Deveny (S8321)

was marched from Burke County to the head of Cane Creek, where he had an engagement with the British & Tories; … he was then marched to Jonesborough in the State of Tennessee where he remained until Cols. Campbell, Shelby and Severe raised a considerable force with whom he was marched back to the Battle of King’s Mountain in South Carolina After the battle was over he went with as part of the Guard with the prisoners to Moravian town in the State of North Carolina, where after remaining for some time he was discharged.

~~ Charles Baker (S31536)

Applicant says in 1780 he was drafted into the service of the United States for three months in Burke County North Carolina in Captain John Sickman’s company Colonel Charles McDowell commanded the Regiment Captain Sickman organized his company in Burke County and marched to Broad River the object of the expedition was against Ferguson. Colonel Ferguson did not come to where Colonel McDowell was stationed but attempted to get round him. McDowell then retreated to Burke from thence he marched towards Gilbert town to meet Ferguson they met at the head of Cane Creek between these two points, and we were defeated had one man killed Peter Branks and Captain Joseph White wounded. We retreated from thence across the mountains to the western waters where we remained until reinforcements could be collected when we returned in company with Colonels Shelby, Campbell, Sevier to east of the mountains and went in pursuit of Colonel Ferguson. Applicant in crossing the mountains lost his horse and was left by the balance of his company who rapidly pursued Ferguson to Kings Mountain, he followed on with the footman as fast as they could but did not get up in time to participate in the Battle on the next day we met our troops returning near the Broad River with the prisoners. We marched to Green Lees [Greenlee’s Ford] on Catawba River Burke where affiant was discharged and went home.

~~ James Withrow (S6403)

He then volunteered to keep down the Tories and entered the service under Captain Rankin for ten months, he, this affiant, was elected and served as Lieutenant under Captain Rankin, Colonel Singleton was then commander. The first engagement he was in after he entered on this tour was at the head of Cain Creek, where Captain Dunlap a British officer overtook us as we were retreating toward the Watauga. The enemy proved too hard for us, and we were compelled to continue our retreat after we crossed the Yellow Mountain, we recruited & Col. Sevier & Colonel Shelby joined us, and we went back to fight Ferguson & the Tories before we met Ferguson, we were joined by Colonels Campbell and Cleveland. From the top of Yellow Mountain until we got to King’s Mountain, he placed out the picket guard every night he was in the battle of King’s Mountain and in the advanced guard that brought on the battle.

~~ William Walker (S32573)

In the year 1780, my Mother and family moved from Albemarle County State of Virginia to Rutherford County North Carolina I was then in my 17th year of age my Brothers all engaged in the War of the Revolution I soon after our landing joined a volunteer company under the command of Captain Adam Hampton early in the spring of 1780. I served a Tower of three months under Captain Adam Hampton & Colonel Andrew Hampton. I was kept out as one of the spies on the lines to guard the frontiers against the Indians. I was discharged and returned home but when I came there Ferguson and his Army was stationed within two miles of my mother’s the company was kept together to annoy his Army we followed his rear and cut off his stragglers on to the head of Cane Creek where they had a scrimmage with the Burke Troops they then from that place retreated back we was in the Rear but now changed to the front we parlayed before them we annoyed them and scattered their out posts and forage in parties and took from them our Support. This Service lasted at least three months before I got home when I came in the neighborhood of my Mother’s all was confusion Captain McClain was beating for volunteers to guard the Frontiers.

~~ Thomas Dalton (W6983)

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