in volunteered under Major Dickson, and marched against Col. Floyd,
a Tory leader of upper South Carolina. After this service he returned
home, and soon afterward marched under the same officer, General
Rutherford commanding, to Ramsour's Mill, where a large body of Tories
had assembled under Colonel John Moore. The forces under General
Rutherford were encamped on Colonel Dickson's plantation, three miles
north-west of Tuckaseege Ford, and about sixteen miles from Ramsour's.
Early on the morning of the 20th of June, 1780, they broke up camp and
moved forward, but did not reach the battle-field until two hours
after the action had taken place, and the Tories defeated by Colonel
Locke and his brave associates, with a force greatly inferior to that
of the enemy. Immediately after this battle, he substituted for Henry
E. Locke, in Captain William Armstrong's company, marched to Park's
Mill, near Charlotte, and thence to General Rutherford's army,
encamped at Phifer's plantation.

The Tories having assembled a considerable force at Coulson's Mill,
General Davidson with a detachment of troops vigorously attacked them,
in which skirmish he (Davidson) was severely wounded, detaining him
from the service about two months. Soon afterward he marched with
General Rutherford's command to Camden and participated in the
unfortunate battle at that place on the 16th of August, 1780. While
the British army were in Charlotte he served under Captain Forney and
Major Dickson, watching the movements of the enemy. Shortly afterward
he volunteered under Captain James Little, marched to Rocky Mount, and
thence to the Eutaw Springs. In this battle, one of the most severely
contested during the Revolution, his company was placed under the
command of Colonel Malmedy, a Frenchman. Soon after his return home he
was placed in charge of a considerable number of prisoners, and in
obedience to orders, conveyed them to Salisbury. Here he remained
until his time of service expired, and then received his discharge
from Colonel Locke.

William Rankin attained the good old age of nearly ninety-three, and
was at the time of his death the last surviving soldier of the
Revolution in Gaston county. He married Mary Moore, a sister of
General John Moore, also a soldier of the Revolution. His wife
preceded him several years to the tomb.

His son, Colonel Richard Rankin, is now (1876) living at the old
homestead, having passed "his three score years and ten." He