and when assailed they beat back and finally completely routed their assailants. [Footnote:  Shelby’s account of this action, written in his old age, is completely at fault; he not only exaggerates the British force and loss, but he likewise greatly overestimates the number of the Americans—­always a favorite trick of his.  Each of the militia colonels of course claimed the chief share of the glory of the day.  Haywood, Ramsey, and even Phelan simply follow Shelby.  Draper gives all the different accounts; it is quite impossible to reconcile them; but all admit that the British were defeated.

I have used the word “British”; but though there were some Englishmen and Scotchmen among the tories and provincials, they were mainly loyalist Americans.] However, the victory was of little effect, for just as it was won word was brought to Shelby that the day before Cornwallis had met Gates at Camden, and had not only defeated but practically destroyed the American army; and on the very day of the fight on the Enoree, Tarleton surprised Sumter, and scattered his forces to the four winds.  The panic among the whigs was tremendous, and the mountaineers shared it.  They knew that Ferguson, angered at the loss of his detachment, would soon be in hot pursuit, and there was no time for delay.  The local militia made off in various directions; while Shelby and his men pushed straight for the mountains, crossed them, and returned each man to his own home.  Ferguson speedily stamped out the few remaining sparks of rebellion in South Carolina, and crossing the boundary into the North State he there repeated the process.  On September 12th he caught McDowell and the only remaining body of militia at Cane Creek, of the Catawba, and beat them thoroughly, [Footnote:  Draper apparently endorses the absurd tradition that makes this a whig victory instead of a defeat.  It seems certain (see Draper), contrary to the statements of the Tennessee historians, that Sevier had no part in these preliminary operations.] the survivors, including their commander, fleeing over the mountains to take refuge with the Holston men.  Except for an occasional small guerilla party there was not a single organized body of American troops left south of Gates’ broken and dispirited army.

All the southern lands lay at the feet of the conquerors.  The British leaders, overbearing and arrogant, held almost unchecked sway throughout the Carolinas and Georgia; and looking northward they made ready for the conquest of Virginia. [Footnote:  The northern portion of North Carolina was still in possession of the remainder of Gates’ army, but they could have been brushed aside without an effort.] Their right flank was covered by the waters of the ocean, their left by the high mountain barrier-chains, beyond which stretched the interminable forest; and they had as little thought of danger from one side as from the other.

    The Mountaineers Gather to the Attack.