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Battle of Shallow Ford

19 Jan 09

Cousins,

Many of you will remember the discussions we had some years ago concerning whether or not some of the "Rogers boys" (sons of Benjamin the Immigrant) were at the Battle of King's Mountain. Many of us reported hearing old family stories about John "the Powder Maker" Rogers b. 1757 and some of his brothers having taken part in that very important Revolutionary War battle.

After a great deal of input and research we concluded that there was no evidence that the old stories were true. Although we found lots of evidence that several of "our Rogers boys" were members of the Montgomery Co VA militia and fought at other battles such as the one at Guilford Court House. The Revolutionary War pension applications of William Rogers b. 1748 and his brother Benjamin Rogers b. 1756 indicate that they were very active in the Montgomery Co militia, but nothing could be found that would indicate that any of the Montgomery County Rogers were at the battle of King's Mountain.

So, why do we hear so many old stories that they were at the battle of King's Mountain? First read William's Revolutionary War pension application where he wrote:

".......entered the service of the United States..........under Capt. Henry Francis and was marched to the lead mines in Montgomery County VA and was left with 19 others under the command of Lieutenant Samuel Ewing to guard said mines, but in a short time received orders and marched to the Moravian Towns in North Carolina and joined the Company to which they formerly belonged and which Company made part of the Regiment Commanded by Col. (William) Preston, Leut. James Ward and Maj. (Joseph) Cloyd. Capt. Henry Francis of Montgomery Co, VA was killed by the Tories before we reached our old Company."

Now read the following account of the battle at:

http://www.bellsouthpwp.com/w/h/whigkid/shallowford/battle.html

Note that if you click on the maps you will get more detail. By clicking on the first map you will see the location of Cripple Creek, Ft Chiswell, and the Lead Mines.

As you see, the 160 members of Montgomery Co militia were sent to meet the British Col. Ferguson at King's Mountain, but were too late. Instead they ended up at the battle of Shallow Ford where Captain Henry Francis was killed as mentioned in William Rogers' pension application.

So, although the Montgomery Co, VA militia troops were sent to the Battle of King's Mountain, they did not participate in that battle. They did however (as stated in the link above) participate in "a significant victory for the Patriot forces. Occurring exactly a week after Kings Mountain, these two battles turned the tide of the War for Independence in North Carolina to the Patriots' advantage."

As always, I welcome your comments and / or questions.

Jerry

1 Jan 02

Cousins,

Many of you have read or heard about the old family stories indicating that John (the Powder Maker) was at the Battle of Kings Mountain. This has bothered many of us for years because we have never been able to find any solid evidence that any of the sons of Benjamin (the Immigrant was at this famous and important battle. In fact, Ray told us: This OFFICIAL REPORT does not indicate that any Montgomery County, Virginia Militia took part in this Battle.

We must accept that, but logic and faith (based on experience) that these old family stories nearly always have somebasis tells us other wise. In addition, here are some facts that support some of Montgomery Cos militia having taken part in that major campaign:

So, why did none of Montgomery Cos militia volunteer for this operation? I believe they did.

In William Preston and the Allegheny Patriotsby Patricia Givens Johnson, p.261, it states: By September 13 <<1780>>, Montgomery companies under Joseph Cloyd had gotten to General Stevens in Guilford County, North Carolina and were probably the horsemen Preston reported moving against the Tories.

Back in Virginia Walter Crockett was still trying to raise Washington and Montgomery militia and found them backward but said he would leave from the Lead Mines on October 9. I will march them my self as fast as possible and join Colonel Cleveland about twelve miles this side Wilks Courthouse. Major Cloyd has gone the same route."

NOTE: Col Cleveland that Crockett refers to is Benjamin Cleveland of Wilkes Co, NC who was at the Battle of Kings Mountain that took place on 7 October.

Continuing on p.265, Meantime another Virginia force had been moving toward the Shallow Ford of the Yadkin. These were Montgomery and Washington troops not at Kings Mountain. The companies of John Lucas, Abraham Trigg and Walter Crockett were at the Shallow Ford but not at Kings Mountain. Reuben Ratliff in Triggs company said they were marched to within twenty miles of Kings Mountain and then turned and marched toward the Shallow Ford.

According to Henry Trolinger who had gone earlier with Cloyd, Two Companies on foot under the command of Captains Pearis and Trigg consisting of nearly 200 men, performed a most fatiguing march up the New River nearly to its source, through a most rugged and mountainous country, with the purpose of joining the residue of our Regiment commanded by Col. Campbell but could not effect a juncture before the battle of Kings Mountain.

NOTE: Henry Trolinger was a Montgomery Co, VA militiaman. He and his father were also powder makers in Montgomery Co.

After the battle Cloyds men were ordered to intercept a force supposed to be nearly 400 strong of British and Tories, whom we met not far from the Yadkin River on what was called the Shallow Ford road. We met unexpectedly, hastily formed, the odds in numbers much against us. But having some as perfect marksmen as any perhaps in the world. The Commander of the enemy was immediately killed, five rifle balls having passed trough him. The enemy fell back and formed again. After several rounds, the enemy fled and dispersed, leaving sixteen dead and 10 or 12 badly wounded. On our side, we had but one killed and five wounded,so said Trolinger.

This passage is concluded on p.266, stating: Congress declared its thanks to William Campbell and the mountain men for their bravery at Kings Mountain and he in turn sent a letter of thanks to William Preston and the Montgomery militia.

Even more specific is the account by Robert Rhea of Cripple Creek in his Revolutionary War pension application as captured by Mary Kegley in her book Early Adventures on the Western Waters, Vol. III, p.486. He again went as a volunteer in July 1780, under Captain Campbell and Lieutenant Billy Dean. They marched from the lead mines, crossed the mountain at the Flower Gap, and they marched to Moravian Towns in North Carolina. They spent time dispersing, capturing, and killing Tories, until Captain Campbell was solicited to bring all of his aid to the Kings Mountain campaign, which was then in contemplation. He marched his company back from North Carolina to the lead mines, and after a short time spent recruiting, he crossed the mountains in the nearest direction to King Mountain. They were joined at the mines by Captain Newells Company. NOTE: Actually, at that time it was Henry Franciscompany. Newell replaced him after Francis was killed at Shallow Ford. Before they reached Kings Mountain, they took prisoners who informed them of their disasters, and so they diverted their way to meet Tories at Shallow Ford of the Yadkin and defeated them, killing several and taking some prisoners. He also reported the death of Captain Henry Francis.

Here are my conclusions:

Members of the Montgomery militia were recruited for the force that went to meet Ferguson and the Tories at Kings Mountain. These men were redirected to Shallow Ford since the battle had already been fought and won.

We know from other accounts that the American killed at the battle of Shallow Ford was Captain Henry Francis. Thus we then can conclude that William Rogers b. 1748 was part of this force. A descendant of Joseph Cloyd has obtained a list of 40 militiamen who were with Cloyd at Shallow Ford and Williams name is on the list.

Many of these at the Battle of Shallow Ford have been cited as being at the Battle of Kings Mountain. I interpret this to mean these men were part of the overall Kings Mountain campaign that must have included the Battle at Shallow Ford.

Here are Montgomery County militiamen that I have found at Shallow Ford and also credited with being at the Battle of Kings Mountain:

There are, no doubt, more Montgomery militiamen who were on their way to the Battle of Kings Mountain before they were diverted and therefore considered as taking part in the Kings Mountain campaign. That might explain the following references that indicated these men were at Kings Mountain:

References:
  1. The Patriots at Kings Mountainby Bobby Gilmer Moss
  2. Kings Mountain Menby Katherine Keogh White
  3. One Heroic Hour at Kings Mountainby Pat Alderman
  4. Early Adventures on the Western Waters, Vol IIIby Mary Kegley
  5. Annals of Southwest Virginia 1769-1800 by Lewis Preston Summers
  6. William Preston and the Allegheny Patriotsby Patricia Givens Johnson

I believe we now know why family tradition indicates that John (the Powder Maker) b. 1757 was at the Battle of Kings Mountain when most of the facts do not support that. He was not at that battle, but very likely in the Kings Mountain campaignwith his brother William and probably Benjamin and James too.

This page was last updated on: January 21 2009