The house was empty, except for me. Finished with research for the day, I decided to surprise the kids with one of their favorite dinners (stuffed shells). A quietness had settled over the house in their absence; they were out forging paths into starry futures while I was sweeping the cobwebs from ancient ancestral paths hidden by time. The kids were all bustle and full steam ahead with the excitement and thrill of what lay just beyond the next turn while I gazed into the past and wondered how I came to be. The thought amused me as I rummaged through the pantry, but still there was the quietness resting heavily around me. I walked over to the small television resting on the counter top and turned it on. Flipping through the channels, a panoramic view of lush summer forests covering the tops of the Appalachian mountains caught my eye. It was a PBS documentary on the Appalachians, and the host's familiar accent was warm and inviting. It would make good company while I cooked, I decided-- a piece of home.
A banjo's staccato notes filled the room as the speaker's melodic voice drifted over my foray into the fridge for Romano, Parmesan, ricotta, parsley, basil and egg. "It was the first American frontier. It is a landscape, a culture, a frame of mind..." The voice drifted to the background as I filled a large pot with water and set it to boil on the gas stove. My mind more on cooking dinner than the television, only the occasional word registered with me. "...religious freedom...." "they carved out an existence..." I quickly chopped the parsley and then the basil, scraping it to the side for later. Soon, Romano cheese was gliding over the ragged points of the cheese grater. "For decades Indians and traders lived in relative harmony." "...solemn people..." "...a love of freedom rooted in their heart's core..." Steam rose as the water bubbled in its pot. Shells slid into the salted water, and I set the timer for half the normal cooking time. "...but the group that would become the most prominent in the mountains started their journey off the rugged coast of Northern Ireland." My head nodded. "Knew that," I thought. I listened just a bit more carefully as the speaker discussed King James battling rebellious Scots in the lowlands who he ultimately offered land in Ulster, Ireland. "Yep," I agreed. I had read about this immigration pattern when researching some of my mother's family in Ireland and Scotland. A century later, facing religious persecution, they immigrated to America. An egg cracked over the cheese, and my spoon swirled the contents together. Soon, fiddle music filled the air, as the announcer discussed the influence of the Scotch Irish on the Appalachian community. I drained the steamy pasta in a colander, tapped out the excess water, and poured the noodles into a bowl. The host referenced continuous fighting between the Indians and the settlers in Appalachia. "It was said a man could live from boyhood to old age and never know a time of peace..."
I stopped stuffing a generous portion of the cheese and herb mixture into a shell and thought of the anxiety of living in such a time and place for both the settlers and the Native Americans. During the Revolutionary War, the Cherokee fought with the British, the voice explained, because the British Crown had prohibited westward expansion into their lands. They viewed the British as champions of their rights in the land war. Professor John Williams from Appalachian State further explained that the British searched through the mountains for Loyalists whom they believed would rise up once they invaded the mountains. However, this uprising never happened. I continued to stuff shells as my dog, Bogey, padded over and sat at my feet, hoping for some scraps. "The most famous back country fighters were the Over Mountain Men of Tennessee who defeated the stalwart Colonel Ferguson at the Battle of Kings Mountain." I paused, and stared at the t.v. During a search for the correct birth date of my sixth great grandmother, I came across a cousin named William Campbell who led a group of fighters against the British at Kings Mountain. I had not researched his story even though I thought it was interesting, as I was more concerned with my sixth great grandmother’s birth date. The program now had my complete attention. According to the show, the Over Mountain Men fought Indian style, tree to tree, with over 200 British fatalities.
"George Washington," the host calmly narrated, "said that if he ever had to make a last stand, he would want to stand with the Over Mountain Boys." I have to admit, at that moment, I felt proud of my cousin. I realized that I was no longer stuffing shells, and looked down at Bogey, who gave me a disheartened eyebrow raise and a short “humph.” The subject switched to the Cherokee, whose interests were abandoned by the British at the Treaty of Paris. “So sad,” I thought, and the pride I felt faded slightly. Turning back to the shells, I continued stuffing them and thought of my cousin. It was time to pay a bit more attention to his story and not hold him on the back burner any longer...
General William Campbell "The Bloody Tyrant of Washington County"
Born in Augusta County, Virginia in 1745, he was well-educated and attended Augusta Academy. Standing over six feet tall, muscular and redheaded, he "resembled a Scottish clan leader straight from a Sir Walter Scott novel, even carrying his Scottish grandfather’s broadsword..."1 He had a hot temper, but was generally solemn and dignified.2 Involved in civic life, he served the British Governor of Virginia as a justice in local courts and as a militia captain in Lord Dunmore's War. However, in 1774, displeased with the British government, he was one of thirteen signers of the Fincastle Resolutions, which predated the Declaration of Independence by eighteen months, and pledged his life to ending British tyranny. A year later, he received a commission as a captain in the First Virginia Continental Regiment and fought under Patrick Henry at Williamsburg. The two men became fast friends, and William eventually married Patrick's sister, Elizabeth in 1776.3 (I had to do a double-take when I read this information. Patrick Henry?! Really!)
The PBS documentary "The Appalachians" brought home to me how fiercely independent the families were who lived over the mountains. They had little support for their homesteads because they had settled in Indian Territory, which was beyond the control of the Crown. Much of their time and energy was consumed with protecting their homes against the Cherokee instead of fighting the British. It made sense to me that after marrying Elizabeth Henry, William requested to be released from his Continental service to protect his home in Virginia. He was granted a leave of absence, and returned to his home (Aspenvale). While there, he served in the House of Delegates for Hanover County until Governor Thomas Jefferson gave him orders to lead an expedition against "enemy Indians" and then amended the orders to lend support to Colonel William Preston against a Tory insurrection.4
Campbell alternated in this same manner between civic and military duty until Cornwallis invaded North Carolina, and left Major Patrick Ferguson leading a unit of American born volunteers and Tories to guard his left flank. Ferguson was a bit cocky and soon made an error in judgement that led to his downfall. Remember that William Campbell had a temper? Apparently, so did the commanders of the local militias--- Isaac Shelby, John Sevier, Joseph Cleveland and Charles McDowell. Feeling superior to these "barbarians," Ferguson sent a messenger to the "Backwater," to intimidate the local men into signing agreements declaring their loyalty to the British Crown. He threatened "that if they did not desist from their opposition to the British arms, and take protection under his standard, he would march his army over the mountains, hang their leaders, and lay their country waste with fire and sword." 5This was a tactical error. You see, these men may not have been as concerned about the new developing country as they were protecting their families. Threaten their homes and they would give every ounce of their energy to ending your menace. These men decided, without requisition from the American government, to fight Ferguson. That's right. This rag tag group of mountaineers decided that it was time to go take care of business on their own, and that is exactly what they did. Shelby and Sevier sent word to William Campbell, who gathered his men, borrowed additional fighters from his cousin, Arthur Campbell, and joined up with the leaders of the other militia to comprise the group known as the Over Mountain Men.6 Eventually, the men voted William Campbell as the overall commander of the militias, and they set out to engage with Ferguson's men. Along the way, they learned that Ferguson was camped at Kings Mountain, and it was noted that Shelby in particular was DELIGHTED to hear that Ferguson had declared "that he was King of that mountain and that God Almighty and all the Rebels of Hell could not drive him from it." 7 I imagine that Shelby must have laughed when he heard of Ferguson's boast. He had spent some time there, and knew that the terrain was almost impossible to defend.8 An eyewitness account from the Battle of Kings Mountain states that William rode to the front of the men and, giving the order to charge, shouted: "Here they are, my brave boys; Shout like hell and fight like devils!" 9 The rebels, dressed in frontier clothing and having discarded their hats for bandanas, were not dressed in traditional battle attire. Even Campbell had thrown off his coat and led the charge in his shirtsleeves. They must have looked wild to the British as they commenced fighting Indian style-- popping out from behind trees and shouting as they fired each shot. British Captain de Peyster, feeling dread upon hearing their shouts, commented as the charge commenced that “These things are ominous; these are the d—d yelling boys!” Accounts state that even Ferguson became worried when he heard their clamor, which is telling, considering his dismissive attitude prior to the battle.10
Without addressing the particulars of the famous Battle of Kings Mountain, I will say that the end result of the battle was that the men Ferguson condescendingly labelled as the "dregs of mankind" and "barbarians" thoroughly destroyed him. Sixty five minutes after the battle began, Major Patrick Ferguson was dead, and the British had surrendered. 11 This battle was the beginning of the end for Britain's war with the Colonies. Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to John Campbell recalling the service of William Campbell at the Battle of Kings Mountain, stated that the battle was “the joyful annunciation of that turn of the tide of success which terminated the Revolutionary War.” 12 (As a result of searching for the same sixth great grandmother’s birth date, I stumbled across the Campbell Papers at Duke University. This collection includes letters and documents related to Virginia Governor David Campbell, my first cousin five times removed. As I sifted among the family letters, I came across this very letter and held it in my hands. I was thrilled to hold a letter written by Thomas Jefferson, and pleasantly shocked to boot!)
After the battle, the militia men approached Campbell with grave concerns. Some of the captured Loyalists were neighbors who had committed war-related atrocities against them back home. They were concerned that if the prisoners escaped, these crimes against their families would continue. A tribunal was called at Biggerstaff Farm, and thirty-two Loyalist prisoners were found guilty of crimes against patriot families. Nine men were hung before Colonel Shelby called an end to the situation.13
Many tales circulated of Campbell treating Tories with violence throughout wartime, and the proceedings at Biggerstaff Farm only added to the harsh reputation that he had earned among the Loyalists. As a result, he bore the nickname "The Bloody Tyrant of Washington County." 14
Following the battle, the Over Mountain Men disassembled, and Campbell returned home to Virginia. Apparently, trash talk is not a modern invention, and Cornwallis soon threatened to kill Campbell for hanging the Loyalist prisoners. Campbell retorted that “… if the fortune of war would place Cornwallis in his power, he should meet the fate of Ferguson.” 15 However, Campbell's service was not finished. In January of 1781, Nathanael Greene's unit was hotly pursued by Cornwallis as he ran for the safety of Virginia from North Carolina. He could not engage Cornwallis alone, and called out desperately for help from, among others, Colonel William Campbell. However, Campbell could not raise the 1,000 mountain militia men that Greene hoped for. Back home in Virginia, Campbell and his neighbors were defending against the Cherokee and local Loyalists, which led to recruitment problems. As a result, he was only able to gather around sixty men. But, gather men he did, and he joined up with Greene's camp and fought at Weitzel's Mill two days later. Afterward, Campbell was assigned to the Corps of Observation with Light Horse Harry Lee and fought at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina. Greene publicly praised Campbell after the battle, and wrote personally to Campbell to thank him for his services. He wrote:
Sir: Your faithful Services and the Exertions which you made to second the efforts of the Southern Arms, on the 15th inst. claims my warmest thanks. It would be ungenerous not to acknowledge my entire approbation of your conduct, and the spirited and manly behavior of the Officers and soldiers under you. Sensible of your merit, I feel a pleasure in doing justice to it."
Greene then concludes with:
"Most of the riflemen having gone home, and not having it in my power to make up another Command, you have my permission to return home to your friends; and should the Emergency of the Southern Operations require your further Exertions, I will advertise you." 16
I include these praises because thirty years after Campbell's death, Colonel Isaac Shelby publicly accused him of cowardice at the Battle of Kings Mountain. It was an accusation that many found tasteless because Campbell was not alive to defend himself. There were many eyewitnesses called upon to give testimony either for or against Campbell, and it may very well be that nobody will ever know the complete truth. However, I know that then Virginia Governor David Campbell believed wholeheartedly in his cousin's innocence, and even went so far as to solicit Thomas Jefferson’s account of Campbell's character. It appears from what I have read that he was a brave man, and I honestly have a hard time believing that he on this one occasion behaved any differently. However, that is my opinion, and I obviously was not there.
After delivering the prisoners to the proper authorities, Campbell once again returned home and regained his seat in the House of Delegates. Shortly thereafter, General Lafayette called upon the House for help to protect Virginia. Upon this request, Campbell was promoted to Brigadier General and sent to Lafayette's aid. Campbell commanded the rifle corps under Lafayette at Yorktown, but died at his brother-in-law's home at the age of thirty-six of chest pains and fevers before witnessing Cornwallis' surrender. General Lafayette himself said that Campbell's name would have “everlasting honor and ensure him a high rank among the defenders of liberty in the American Cause.”17
Genealogical Lesson Learned: Do Not
Neglect Your Cousins
I learned a lot about my family tree (and history!) from researching William Campbell's life. If I had not gone back and added Anne Campbell Roane's aunts and uncles and their children to my family tree, I would never have discovered his story and his ties to incredibly fascinating people. When researching your family history, you are on a mission to search as far into the past as you can. As such, the temptation is strong to ignore all but your direct ancestors; however, you will miss valuable family information if you do. For instance, while researching the family papers of my first cousin five times removed (Virginia Governor David Campbell), I came across letters that discussed attending parties with and otherwise visiting my sixth great grandparents and my fifth great grandfather and his brother. I also discovered letters from Thomas Jefferson that were sent as character references for William Campbell---letters that at the time, I did not know existed. These letters written in my family members' own handwriting paint portraits of them as people rather than just names and dates on my family tree. They are a treasure trove of family history that I cherish and consider myself fortunate to have copies of. William and David may not be direct ancestors, but they are an important part of my family tree. They have added depth and color to the overall information that I have collected and allow me to feel like I in some way know family members who existed over 200 years ago. So...lesson learned. Don't ignore the cousins.
Happy Hunting!
Catherine
My daughter, when we visited Kings Mountain many years ago, was not content to merely throw a rock on Ferguson's grave, as is the tradition. She stood on it to keep him away. I am sure William Campbell would have approved...
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1 Beakes, John. "The Service of Colonel William Campbell." Journal of the American Revolution (2014): n. page 18 June 2014. Web. 1 Aug. 2016.
2Kierner, Cynthia A., and Sandra Gioia. Treadway. Virginia Women: Their Lives and Times. Volume 1. Vol. 1. Athens: U of Georgia, 2015. Print. ↩
3 Beakes, John. "The Service of Colonel William Campbell." Journal of the American Revolution (2014): n. pag. 18 June 2014. Web. 1 Aug. 2016.↩
4 Beakes, John. "The Service of Colonel William Campbell." Journal of the American Revolution (2014): n. pag. 18 June 2014. Web. 1 Aug. 2016.↩
5 Hankla, Mel S. "Revolutionary War - Battle of Kings Mountain." Revolutionary War - Battle of Kings Mountain. Sons of Liberty Chapter: Sons of the American Revolution, 2005. Web. 10 Aug. 2016.
10 Davis, Captain James. "October 7, 1780 Battle of King’s Mountain." Foundation Truths. Captain James Davis, n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2016.↩
11 Hammett, C. "The Battle of King's Mountain." The Battle of King's Mountain. TenGenNet, 2000. Web. 14 Aug. 2016.
12 Letter from Thomas Jefferson to John Campbell, Campbell Family Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.↩
14 Tillson, Albert H. Gentry and Common Folk: Political Culture on a Virginia Frontier, 1740-1789. Lexington, KY page 114: U of Kentucky, 1991. Print.↩
15 Beakes, John. "The Service of Colonel William Campbell." Journal of the American Revolution (2014): n. page 18 June 2014. Web. 1 Aug. 2016.↩
16 Beakes, John. "The Service of Colonel William Campbell." Journal of the American Revolution (2014): n. page 18 June 2014. Web. 1 Aug. 2016.↩
17 Beakes, John. "The Service of Colonel William Campbell." Journal of the American Revolution (2014): n. pag. 18 June 2014. Web. 1 Aug. 2016.↩
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