The Life of George Washington, Vol. 4 | Page 4

a number of the
followers of the army and idle spectators, who took no part in the
action. Too humane to cut his way through this crowd, he employed so
much time in taking their verbal parole, that he could not reach the rear
of the British line until the battle was ended. These casualties
disappointed this very interesting part of Greene's intended
operations.[2]
[Footnote 2: This account of the battle of Hobkirk's Hill varies in
several particulars from that contained in the first edition. In making
the alteration the author has followed the letter of General Davie,
published in Mr. Johnson's biography of General Greene. General
Davie was known to the author to be a gentleman in whose
representations great confidence is to be placed on every account, and
his situation in the army enabled him to obtain the best information.]

The artillery, however, played on the enemy with considerable effect;
and the regiments of Gunby and Hawes advanced on the British front
with resolution. Some companies on the right of the Maryland regiment
returned the fire of the enemy, and their example was followed by the
others. Notwithstanding this departure from orders, they continued to
advance with intrepidity, and Greene entertained sanguine hopes of
victory. His prospects were blasted by one of those incidents against
which military prudence can make no provision.
Captain Beaty, who commanded on the right of Gunby's regiment, was
killed, upon which his company with that adjoining it got into
confusion and dropped out of the line. Gunby ordered the other
companies, which were still advancing, to fall back, and form, with the
two companies, behind the hill which the British were ascending. This
retrograde movement was mistaken for a retreat, and the regiment gave
way. Encouraged by this circumstance, the British pressed forward with
increased ardour, and all the efforts of Colonel Williams, and of Gunby
and Howard, to rally the regiment were, for a time, ineffectual. This
veteran regiment, distinguished alike for its discipline and courage,
which with the cavalry of Washington, had won the battle of the
Cowpens, and nearly won that at Guilford court house, was seized with
an unaccountable panic which, for a time, resisted all the efforts of their
officers.
The flight of the first Maryland regiment increased the confusion which
the change of ground had produced in the second; and, in attempting to
restore order, Colonel Ford was mortally wounded. Lord Rawdon
improved these advantages to the utmost. His right gained the summit
of the hill, forced the artillery to retire, and turned the flank of the
second Virginia regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Hawes,
which had advanced some distance down the hill. By this time the first
Virginia regiment, which Greene had endeavoured to lead in person
against the left flank of the British, being also in some disorder, began
to give ground. Perceiving this reverse in his affairs, and knowing that
he could not rely on his second line, Greene thought it most adviseable
to secure himself from the hazard of a total defeat by withdrawing the
second Virginia regiment from the action.

The Maryland brigade was in part rallied; but Lord Rawdon had gained
the hill, and it was thought too late to retrieve the fortune of the day.
Greene determined to reserve his troops for a more auspicious moment,
and ordered a retreat.
Finding that the infantry had retreated, Colonel Washington also retired
with the loss of only three men, bringing with him about fifty prisoners,
among whom were all the surgeons belonging to the British army.
The Americans retreated in good order about four miles from the field
of battle, and proceeded, next day, to Rugeley's mills. The pursuit was
continued about three miles. In the course of it, some sharp skirmishing
took place, which was terminated by a vigorous charge made by
Colonel Washington on a corps of British horse who led their van. This
corps being broken and closely pursued, the infantry in its rear retreated
precipitately into Camden.
{April 26.}
The number of continental troops engaged in this action amounted to
about twelve hundred[3] men, and the loss in killed, wounded, and
missing, to two hundred and sixty-six. Among the killed was Captain
Beaty, of Maryland, who was mentioned by General Greene as an
ornament to his profession; and among the wounded was Colonel Ford,
of Maryland, a gallant officer, whose wounds proved mortal. The
militia attached to the army amounted to two hundred and sixty-six, of
whom two were missing. The total loss sustained by the British army
has been stated at two hundred and fifty-eight, of whom thirty-eight
were killed in the field.
[Footnote 3: There is some variance between this statement and that
which has been made by Mr. Ramsay and Mr. Gordon, although their
estimates are supposed