After remaining a few days at his mother’s residence, he again entered the service, and joined a cavalry company, acting as lieutenant under Colonel Henry Lee.  In a short time, the battle of the Eutaw Springs, the last important one in the extreme South, took place.  In this engagement, where so much personal bravery was displayed, he performed a gallant part, and was slightly wounded.  With this campaign, his military services ended.  Among the variety of incidents which occurred during this year he was gratified in revisiting his old prison-bounds, and in witnessing the reduction of the station at Orangeburg.  But greater still was the gratification he experienced in again beholding the identical sword he had taken from his Tory antagonist, as previously stated.

Soon after the close of the war he resumed his classical studies under the instruction of the Rev. Robert Archibald, near Poplar Tent Church.  During the summer of 1785, he entered the Junior Class at Mount Zion College, in Winnsboro, S.C., and graduated in July, 1787.  In a short time afterward he commenced the study of Theology under the care of the Presbytery of South Carolina, and was licensed to preach in October, 1789.  In 1796 he removed from South Carolina to the south-eastern part of Lincoln county (now Gaston) where he purchased a home for his rising family.  His ministerial labors extended through a period of nearly thirty-eight years, principally at Goshen and Unity churches in Lincoln county (under its old boundaries) and Steele Creek church, in Mecklenburg county.  In 1789 he married Jane, daughter of Dr. George Ross, of Laurens District, S.C.—­an estimable lady, noted for her amiable disposition, numerous acts of charity, and fervent piety.

In his preaching Mr. Hunter was earnest, persuasive and often eloquent.  He possessed, in a remarkable degree, a talent for refined sarcasm, and knew how to use most effectively its piercing shafts against the idle objections, or disingenuous cavils of all triflers with the great truths of religion.  In his advanced years the infirmities of old age greatly contracted the extent of his useful labors without impairing the vigor of his mental powers or the fervency and faithfulness of his preaching.  He died, with Christian resignation, on the 21st of August, 1827, in the 73rd year of his age.  The Rev. Humphrey Hunter had ten children, of whom, at the present time (1876) only one, the author and compiler of these sketches, survives.

DR. WILLIAM M’LEAN.

Dr. William McLean was born in Rowan county, N.C., on the 2nd day of April, 1757.  His father, Alexander McLean, was a native of Ireland, who emigrated to America, landing at Philadelphia, between the years 1725 and 1730.  Some time after his arrival in Pennsylvania he married Elizabeth Ratchford, whose father emigrated from England shortly after McLean left Ireland.  Three of his daughters, Jane, Margaret