WILLIAM RICHARDSON DAVIE.

General William R. Davie was born in Egremont, near White Haven, in England, on the 20th of June, 1756.  When he was only five years of age, he emigrated, with his father, Archibald Davie, to America, and was adopted by his maternal uncle, Rev. William Richardson, who resided on the Catawba river, in South Carolina.  After due preparation at “Queen’s Museum” in Charlotte, he entered Princeton College, where, by his close application, he soon acquired the reputation of an excellent student.  But the din of arms disturbed his collegiate studies, so auspiciously commenced, and he forthwith exchanged the gown for the sword.  The studies of the College were closed, and Davie volunteered his services in the army of the north in 1776.  The campaign being ended, he returned to College, and graduated in the Fall of that year with the first honors of the Institution.

He returned to North Carolina, and commenced the study of the law in Salisbury, but the struggle for life and liberty then going on, did not allow his chivalric spirit to repose in quietude while his country was in danger.  Actuated by urgent patriotic motives, he induced William Barnett, of Mecklenburg county, to raise, with as little delay as possible, a troop of horsemen.  Over this company, William Barnett was elected Captain, and Davie, Lieutenant.  The commission of the latter is signed by Governor Caswell, and is dated the 5th of April, 1779.  This company joined the southern army, and became attached to Pulaski’s Legion.  Davie’s gallantry and activity were so conspicuous, that he soon rose to the rank of Major.

At the battle of Stono, near Charleston, he experienced his first serious conflict in arms, and was severely wounded in the thigh, which laid him up for some time in the hospital in that city.  In this engagement, Major Davie also received a wound from a heavy cavalry charge of the enemy, which caused him to fall from his horse.  He still held the bridle, but was so severely wounded that, after repeated efforts, he could not remount.  The enemy was now close upon him and in a moment more he would have been made a prisoner.  Just at this time, a private, whose horse had been killed, and who was retreating, saw the imminent danger of his gallant officer, and returned at the risk of his life to save him.  With great composure he raised Major Davie on his horse, and safely led him from the bloody field.  “An action of courage worthy of Rome in her palmiest days.”  In the haste and confusion of the retreat, this brave soldier disappeared.  Major Davie made frequent inquiries for his preserver, to evince his gratitude to him and his family, for his timely and heroic aid; but in vain.

At the siege of Ninety-Six, when Davie was acting as Commissary-General of the Southern army, on the morning of the attack, a soldier came to his tent, and made himself known as the man who had assisted him in mounting his horse at Stono.  The soldier promised to call again, but, alas! he fell soon after in battle, which deprived Major Davie of the pleasure of bestowing upon him substantial tokens of his lasting gratitude.