This was a dark and doleful period of American history.  The British flag floated in triumph over Charleston and Savannah.  The troops of Lord Cornwallis, with all the pomp and circumstance of glory, advanced from the battle-field of Camden to Charlotte, with the fond expectation of soon placing North Carolina under his subjection.  Many of the brave had despaired of final success, and the timid, and some of the wealthy, to save their property, had taken “protection” under the enemy.  Colonel Ferguson, with chosen troops, was ravaging the whole western portion of upper South Carolina, subduing in his progress to western North Carolina, all opponents of English power, and encouraging, by bribes and artifice, others to join the royal standard.

Under all these discouraging circumstances the brave “Mountain Boys,” and other kindred spirits of the west never despaired.  On the mountain heights of North Carolina, and in her secure retreats, like Warsaw’s “last champion,” stood the stalwart soldiers of that day: 

     “Oh Heaven! they said, our bleeding country save! 
     Is there no hand on high to shield the brave? 
     What though destruction sweep these lovely plains!—­
     Rise, fellow-men! our country yet remains;
     By that dread name, we wave the sword on high,
     And swear for her to live! for her to die!”

If the sky was then gloomy, a storm was gathering in these mountain retreats which was soon to descend in all its fury on the heads of the enemies of our country.  In a short time afterward the battle of King’s Mountain was fought and won by the patriots, which spread a thrill of joy throughout the land.

Colonel Charles McDowell was elected the first Senator to the State Legislature from Burke county in 1778, and successively from 1782 to 1790.  From 1791 to 1795, he was succeeded in the same position by his brother, Major Joseph McDowell.  About this period, at three or four different times, all three of the members of the Assembly to which the county was entitled were of this family, which proved their great popularity and worth.  Major Joseph McDowell also served as a member of Congress from 1793 to 1795, and from 1797 to 1799.  He lived on John’s river, and died there.  His family returned to Virginia, where some of his descendants may still be found.  One of his sons, Hugh Harvey, settled in Missouri, and Joseph J. McDowell, in Ohio, who was a member of Congress from that State from 1843 to 1847.

General Charles McDowell married Grace Greenlee, the widow of Captain John Bowman, who fell at the battle of Ramsour’s Mill.  By this union he had several children, one of whom was the late Captain Charles McDowell, who resided on the Catawba river, near Morganton.

General Charles McDowell died on the 31st of March, 1815, aged about seventy-two years.

CHAPTER IX.

WILKES COUNTY.