As Major Forney was surveying the prisoners, through the guard surrounding them, he spied one of his neighbors, who only a short time before the battle had been acting with the Whigs, but had been persuaded by some of his Tory acquaintances to join the king’s troops.  Upon seeing him Major Forney exclaimed, “is that you, Simon?” The reply quickly came back, “Yes, it is, Abram, and I beg you to get me out of this bull pen; if you do, I will promise never to be caught in such a scrape again.”  Accordingly, when it was made to appear on the day of trial that he had been unfortunately wrought upon by some Tory neighbors, such a mitigation of his disloyalty was presented as to induce the officers holding the court-martial to overlook his offence and set him at liberty.  Soon afterward, true to his promise, he joined his former Whig comrades, marched to the battle of Guilford and made a good soldier to the end of the war.

Near the close of the year 1780, hearing that Col.  Morgan was preparing to go upon an expedition into South Carolina, Major Forney attached himself to the command of Capt.  James Little, with the intention of joining his forces, but did not come up with them until after the battle of the Cowpens.  He then returned home, and remained there until the 27th of January, 1781, when all the Whigs in his section of the country had to fly before Cornwallis in pursuit of Morgan with his large number of prisoners on their way to Virginia.  Major Forney then crossed the Catawba, and joined a detachment of troops on its eastern bank under Capt.  Henderson, placed as a guard by Gen. Davidson at Cowan’s Ford, where it was expected the British might attempt to cross.  Having stood guard for some time at this point, and being relieved, he went a short distance to a house to procure refreshments of which he was much in need, and was not present when the guard was repulsed, and Gen. Davidson killed.  He then fled with the other troops to Adam Torrence’s, about ten miles distant, where a considerable body of militia had assembled, but were greatly disheartened on account of the death of Gen. Davidson.  The day was damp and unfavorable to the use of firearms.  The militia, without much order, fired once at the British, killing seven, and then dispersed in all directions.  He then retreated until he reached Gen. Greene’s army, in Guilford county.  From this place he was advised to return home, and in doing so was furnished with a ticket to procure provisions on the way.

On the 25th of March, 1781, the militia being again called out, Major Forney attached himself to the command of Capt.  Samuel Espey, acting as a Sergeant.  The company then joined a detachment of militia under Gen. Thomas Polk, marched into South Carolina, and came up with Gen. Greene’s army at Rugeley’s Mill.  The army was then placed under the command of Col.  Dudley, and remained under him until Gen. Greene commenced his march to the post of Ninety Six.  At this time, Capt.  Espey being compelled to leave the service in consequence of a wound received at the battle of King’s Mountain, went home with a part of his company, and then Major Forney joined the command of Capt.  Jack, still acting as Sergeant.  Soon afterward the expedition returned to Charlotte, when he was dismissed by Capt.  Jack, about the 1st of July, 1781.