riotic spirit, and caused him to return home, determined to enter
the service of his bleeding country and never to leave it until her
liberty and independence were secured. On his arrival at home, he
found a requisition from General Charles McDowell to furnish all the
aid in his power to check the enemy, who flushed with their late
success in overrunning South Carolina and Georgia, had entered North
Carolina with a similar object in view. He immediately sought
enlistments from the militia of Sullivan county and in a few days
crossed the mountains at the head of two hundred and forty riflemen.

He reported to Gen. McDowell near the Cherokee Ford, on Broad river,
and was by that officer detached, with Colonels Sevier and Clarke, to
surprise and take a fort held by Captain Patrick Moore, a noted Tory
leader, on the Palcolet river. This service was promptly executed
without losing any of his men. The fort was surrounded, and, after a
short parley as to terms the enemy surrendered as prisoners of war.

Captain Moore, one British Major, ninety-three Tories and two hundred
and fifty stands of arms and their ammunition greatly needed at that
time, were the fruits of this victory.

It was at this period that Major Ferguson of the British army, in his
progress to the mountains of North Carolina, made several attempts to
surprise Col. Shelby, but in every instance, he was baffled through
his vigilance and activity.

On the first of August, 1780, the advance of the British force came up
and attacked Shelby at Cedar Springs. The situation had been chosen by
Shelby and his martial, adventurous spirit did not avoid the issue of
battle. A sharp and animated conflict ensued, which lasted half an
hour, when the whole force of Ferguson advanced to the scene of
action. Shelby deemed it prudent to retreat before superior numbers,
carrying off as the fruits of his victory thus far obtained, fifty
prisoners, including two British officers. The enemy made a rapid
pursuit, but Shelby, availing himself of every advantageous ground,
completely eluded their efforts to overtake him and soon afterward
joined Gen. McDowell with only a loss of ten or twelve killed and
wounded.

On the 19th of August, 1780, Colonels Shelby, Williams and Clarke,
under orders from Gen. McDowell, again attacked, with seven hundred
mounted men, a large body of Tories near Musgrove's Mill, on the south
side of the Ennoree river. On the night of the 18th of August, thes