Ramsour’s Mill Battle Letter

Neuten Jan. the 20th 1849 

Rev Rockwell: 

Dear sir, in compliance with your request, I went to see Abraham Forney esq and set down his recollections of the particulars that occurred at the Battle of Ramsour’s. He was there. And is now in his 90th year and [torn paper] recol[lections?] the [torn paper] of the revolution.  

He stated to me that after the surrender of Charleston sometime previous to the 20th of June 1780, a number of Tories headed by Col. John More, Maj. Welsh, Capts Warlick Keener and Williams, passed through the Eastern portion of [Catawba?] county and camped near Abernathy's forge, thence marched directly to an eminence near Ramsour's mill within three quarter of a mile of where the town of Lincolnton now stands, and ther raised their standard around which hundreds gathered. The Whigs, having heard of their gathering about fifty of them, collected about two miles below Beaty's ford and resolved to increase their number and give them battle.  

On the nineteenth of June, they moved up the country to Maj. Francis McCorkle and were informed by him that it was reported that about three hundred and fifty men was coming from over the river. They then marched to Lyttle's glade about two miles from Abernathy's forge when they were joined by Maj Rutherford chief

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in command, Capt Gilly Falls commanding the Horse, from Iredell, Copls Samuel Dobson and Bowman of Burk, Capts Hugh Torrens and Sloan from Rowan and Capt Smith from Mecklenburg having about four hundred officers and privates. They held immediately a council of war. Some thought [paper torn] to attack the [paper torn] they charged with [Cowardice?] by Maj James Rutherford—who was very anxious to have the fight over before his father Gen Rutherford would come up—and Capt Falls; they all resolved to move onward and give them fight. 

On the same night they marched with three quarters of a mile of Ramsour’s mills—along a path, over a space of about fifteen miles before day light. They prepared themselves for battle and came within a short distance of the enemy before they were discovered. The engagement commenced about the rising of the sun, Capt Falls making a charge on the right wing followed by the infantry, and fell the first fire. The horses, not being trained, ran in every direction. The Whigs, finding that their lines were too short to cover the lines of Tories, retreated to where they had their horses hitched rallied and attacked the left wing. The engagement became general about fifteen minutes and resulted in a total rout of the Tories—leaving many killed and wounded on the field; Many endeavoring to escape over a narrow bridge across Ramsour's mill dam were pushed off by each other and drowned; some endeavoring to cross through The pond were mired in the mud and water never [word crossed out] got out. The Whigs in the [?] lost in the action Six brave and sterling Capts viz Capts Falls, Torrens, Bowman, Dobson, Smith and Sloan besides several other officers & privates [torn] number of killed [torn] both sides. The engagement was about two hours. The number of Tories are estimated at seventeen or eighteen hundred, the Whigs at about four hundred The battle took place on the 20th of June 1780. On the same day Gen Rutherford came up with about seventeen hundred men.—But the Battle was over.  

“The Battle ground is situated between Clarks creek and a small stream that runs into it —on a ridge.” The Whigs marching up on the south side were rather under the hill; and were shot over by the Tories. Traces of the battle may yet be seen. The graves of some of the dead are visible; and the pine trees that were ripped by the musket balls still bear their traces. There seems be a difference of opinion as to [word crossed out] the man who commanded at Ramsour's. Alexander McCorkle [torn] said he was always told that Col Francis Lock commanded the Whigs. As this matter you may probably be able to find out there are many other circumstances connected with this battle that has been related to me that would probably be of no interest to you.  

The facts set down here as related by Forney esq you see marked with quotation marks.

Yours truly,

M.L. McCorkle

Sketch of Ramsours

Battle-ground