Mecklenburg County, NC - General William Davidson Record

Colonial Records
Petition from William Lee Davidson concerning his father's military 
service in the Revolutionary War 
Davidson, William Lee 
Volume 22, Pages 115-117

WILLIAM LEE DAVIDSON.

(Petition filed in 3d Auditor's Office.)

To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States in Congress assembled

The petition of William Lee Davidson showeth to your Honorable bodies 
that he is the son and heir of General William Davidson who was a 
soldier of the Revolutionary War and served his country faithfully from 
the beginning of said war until he was killed at the battle. of Cowan's 
Ford on the Catawba River, in the County of Mecklenburg in the State of 
North Carolina.

When the Revolution broke out on the 22d of April, 1777, the State 
Congress at Halifax raised four additional regiments, to the two 
already in service. Of the 4th Regiment Thomas Polk was Colonel, James 
Thackston Lieutenant Colonel, and petitioner's father, William 
Davidson, Major.

With this regiment, under General Francis Nash he marched to join the 
Army of the North, under General Washington, where he served until Nov, 
1779, when the North Carolina line was ordered South to reinforce 
General Lincoln, at Charleston, S. Carolina. Previous to this your 
petitioners Father, Wm. Davidson had been promoted to the rank of 
Lieutenant Colonel in the line. As the troops passed through North 
Carolina Colonel Davidson obtained a furlough for a few days visit to 
his family which he had not seen for three years. This saved him from 
the fate that befell Lincoln at Charleston; for when he approached 
Charleston, he found it so closely beleaguered by the British Army, 
that he was prevented from joining his regiment. When Lincoln 
surrendered, your petitioner's Father returned to Mecklenburg and 
rendered important services in subduing the Tories, who, encouraged by 
the success of the British became numerous, daring and dangerous. 
He raised a troop of volunteers and marched against them. At Colson's 
Mill he encountered a strong force of Tories, and a severe engagement 
took place in which petitioner's Father was severely wounded. A ball 
entered the umbilical region and passed through his body near the 
kidneys. This had nearly been fatal. He was confined for two months 
with this wound. On his recovery he took the field having been promoted 
for his bravery to a brigadier general in the place of General 
Rutherford, taken prisoner at Camden, S. C. He was active with General 
Sumner and Colonel Davie in checking the advance of the British, and 
throughout this dark period of our fortunes gave unceasing evidence of 
his untiring zeal in the cause of his Country.

After the brilliant affair of the Cowpens (17th Jan., 1781), in which 
General Morgan, with an inferior force, chastised the temerity and 
insolence of Colonel Tarleton, Genl. Davidson was most active in 
assembling the militia of his district to aid Genl. Green (who had on 
the east bank of the Catawba joined the light corps of Morgan) in 
impeding the advance of the enemy, and it was his fortune to guard the 
very ford at which Cornwallis attempted to pass. At the head of three 
hundred men, he took post at Cowan's Ford.

At day break on the 1st of February, 1781, the British Army under 
Cornwallis entered the waters of Catawba (then swollen by heavy rains) 
at Cowan's Ford. The morning was dark and rainy. The light infantry 
under Col. Hall entered first, followed by the grenadiers and the 
battalions. The picket of General Davidson challenged the enemy, 
receiving no reply, the guard fired. This turned out the whole force of 
General Davidson, who kept up a galling fire from the bank. The guide 
of the British alarmed at the firing, turned about and left them. This 
caused an unexpected diversion of the enemy from the expected landing 
of the force, and Col. Hall led them directly across. Col. Hall was 
killed as he ascended the bank. Lord Cornwallis's horse was shot in the 
river and fell as he reached the bank; three privates killed, and 
thirty-six British wounded. 

Petitioner's father, General Davidson, in riding from the point where 
he expected the enemy to the point where they landed, was shot; the 
ball passed through his heart and he fell dead from his horse. Your 
petitioner further showeth to your Honorable bodies that in 
consideration of the gallant services of his Father in the defence of 
his countrythe Congress of the United States, in 1781, passed the 
following resolutionResolved, That the Governor and Council of the 
State of North Carolina be desired to erect a monument at the expense 
of the United States not exceeding in value of five hundred dollars, to 
the memory of the late Brigadier General Davidson who commanded the 
militia of the District of Salisbury in the State of North Carolina and 
was killed on the first of February fighting gallantly for the defense 
of the liberty and independence of these States.

That petitioner's Father entered the service of his Country at the 
commencement of the Revolutionary War and continued in active service 
until his death at Cowan's Ford1 a period of more than five years, 
serving part of the time as Lieutenant-Colonel and part as Brigadier 
General.

Your Petitioner has been informed that his said Father, Genl. Davidson 
was entitled to seven years half pay, by a resolution of Congress 
passed the 24th of August, 1780, and 21st of October, 1780, and having 
died or been killed in service his children are entitled to whatever 
may be due.

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