They supplied themselves with their own horses and necessary equipments, and entered the field without commissary or quartermaster, and with every prospect of hard fighting, and little compensation.  After Tarleton’s signal defeat at the Cowpens, Cornwallis resolved to pursue Gen. Morgan, encumbered with upwards of five hundred prisoners.  At that time Gen. Greene had assumed command of the southern army, and stationed himself with a portion of it at Hicks’ Creek, near to Cheraw.  After Gen. Morgan’s successful retreat, Gen. Greene left his main army with Gen. Huger, and rode one hundred and fifty miles to join Gen. Morgan’s detachment near the Catawba river.  The plan of opposing Lord Cornwallis in crossing the Catawba was arranged by Gen. Greene, and its execution assigned to Gen. Davidson.  Lieutenant Col.  Webster moved forward and crossed the Catawba in advance with a detachment of cavalry co create the impression that the whole British army would cross there, but the real intention of Cornwallis was to make the attempt at Cowan’s Ford.  Soon after the action commenced, Gen. Davidson was killed, greatly lamented by all who knew him as a brave and generous officer.  The company commanded by Gen. Graham commenced the attack upon the British as they advanced through the river, and resolutely kept it up until they ascended the bank.  The British then poured in a heavy fire upon Graham’s men, two of whom were killed.  Col.  William Polk and Rev. T.H.  McCaule were near Gen. Davidson when he fell.  Col.  Hall and three or four of the British were killed and upwards of thirty wounded.  The British were detained here about three hours in burying their dead and then resumed their march in pursuit of Gen. Morgan.

The body of General Davidson was secured by David Wilson and Richard Barry, conveyed to the house of Samuel Wilson, Sen., there dressed for burial, and interred that night in the graveyard of Hopewell Church.

The North Carolina militia were then placed under the command of General Pickens, of South Carolina, and continued to harass the British as they advanced toward Virginia.  General Graham with his company, and some troops from Rowan county, surprised and captured a guard at Hart’s Mill, one mile and a-half from Hillsboro, where the British army then lay, and the same day joined Colonel Lee’s forces.  On the next day, under General Pickens, he was in the action against Colonel Pyles, who commanded about three hundred and fifty Tories on their way to join Tarleton.  These Tories supposed the Whigs to be a company of British troops sent for their protection, and commenced crying, “God save the King.”  Tarleton was about a mile from this place, and retreated to Hillsboro.  Shortly afterward General Graham was in an engagement under Colonel Lee, at Clapp’s Mill, on the Alamance, and had two of his company killed, three wounded and two made prisoners.  Again, a few days afterward, he was in the action at Whitsell’s Mill, under Colonel Washington.  As the term of service of his men had expired, and the country was annoyed with Tories, General Greene directed him to return with his company and keep them in a compact body until they crossed the Yadkin, which they did on the 14th of March, 1781.