In a short time afterward, Major Forney attached himself to the company of Capt.  John Weir, under orders to proceed to Wilmington.  His company crossed the Catawba at Tuckaseege Ford on the 1st day of November, 1781, and encamped three or four miles beyond the river on the road leading to Charlotte.  On the next day the company marched through Charlotte and encamped at Col.  Alexander’s, who had been ordered to take command of the detachment.  Whilst there intelligence was received of the return of Gen Rutherford’s forces.  Major Forney was then sent to that officer for orders; receiving these, the company recrossed the Catawba.  Capt.  Loftin then took command in place of Capt.  Weir, who had resigned and returned home.  The company proceeded to form several stations in the county, and arrested some suspected persons.  Capt.  Thomas McGee having assumed command in place of Loftin, resigning, marched with the prisoners to Salisbury, and delivered them up to the proper authorities on the 31st of December, 1781.

Again, when a call was made upon the militia in 1782, to march against the Cherokee Indians, Major Forney was placed in command of a company, and ordered to rendezvous at Ramsour’s Mill.  He remained there from about the 1st of June until the 1st of August, when he marched to the head of the Catawba and joined the troops of Burke and Wilkes.  He then attached his company to Col.  Joseph McDowell’s regiment, marched across the Blue Ridge and met with the Rutherford troops on the Swannanoa river, under the command of Col.  Miller.  After the junction of the Rutherford troops, the expedition, under Gen. Charles McDowell, marched into the Nation, nearly on the trail of Gen. Rutherford in 1776, but proceeded some farther than where his army halted.  The expedition was entirely successful; took a few prisoners, returned home and were dismissed in October, 1782.

This was the last service of a brave soldier, who fought long, and fought well, for the freedom of his country.  Major Abram Forney died on the 22nd day of July, 1849, in the ninety-first year of his age.

His only surviving son, Capt.  Abram Earhardt Forney, at the present time, (1876,) is still living at the old homestead, has already passed his “three score years and ten;” is an industrious farmer, and worthy citizen of Lincoln county.

REMARKS.

Among the curious revolutionary mementoes that Capt.  A.E.  Forney, son of Major Abram Forney, has in his possession is a small leather memorandum pocket-book, filled originally with twenty-four blank leaves; also a powder horn, made by his father preparatory to an expedition to the mountains.  The front, or opening sides, is handsomely ornamented with numerous small stars, arranged diagonally across the surface and around the borders.  The back side has the patriot’s initials, A.F. distinctly impressed, and immediately beneath, the year 1775, the whole displaying considerable artistic skill; numerous entries appear on its pages, made at different times, and without reference to strict chronological order; brief notices of military and agricultural matters and occasionally a birth, death or marriage are harmoniously blended.  On page 5 is this entry:  “The first snow in the year 1775, was on December the 23rd day, and it was very deep.”