In 1780, he served under Captain Thomas Alexander to assist in guarding the public magazine in Charlotte.

In this same year he served in the expedition to Ramsour’s Mill, under General Rutherford, and afterward, against Tories assembled in the forks of the Yadkin river, captured several and conveyed them to Salisbury jail.  Soon afterward, he joined the command of Colonel Davie, and marched in the direction of Camden, S.C.  Near the South Carolina line, they met Gates’ retreating army.  He represented Gates as “wearing a pale blue coat, with epaulettes, velvet breeches, and riding a bay horse.”

Colonel Davie’s command returned, and encamped ten miles north of the Court House.

His last important service was in forming one of the party dispatched by Colonel McCall to surprise a guard of eighteen British grenadiers, stationed at Hart’s Mill, near Hillsboro.  The movement was successful; several were killed, six made prisoners, and one escaped in the creek.

William Alexander, of Rowan county, entered the service in 1776, and marched under General Rutherford’s command against the Cherokee Indians, and in that expedition (Sept. 8th,) was wounded in the foot at the “Seven Mile Mountain.”

In 1781, he was elected the Captain of a company of spies, and was in the ten month’s service under Colonel Wade Hampton and General Sumter, in South Carolina, acting efficiently in this capacity, until the close of the Revolution.

JOSEPH KERR—­“THE CRIPPLE SPY.”

Joseph Kerr was born in Chester county, Pa., Nov. 3rd, 1750.  At an early age moved with his parents to North Carolina, and settled in Mecklenburg county.  He was a cripple from infancy, but becoming indignant at the ravages of the British and Tories, and actuated with a true, patriotic spirit, he repaired to the camp of Gen. McDowell and offered his services as a spy.  In this capacity Gen. McDowell accepted him, and immediately sent him to Blackstock’s Ford, on Tiger River, S.C., where the British and Tories were encamped, about fifteen hundred strong.  After secreting his horse he proceeded as a poor cripple, and beggar-like, made a full examination of the enemy’s camp.  Furnished with this information, he quietly withdrew, returned quickly as possible to General McDowell, and apprised him and Captain Steen of his discoveries.  He was well mounted, and traveled day and night—­a distance of ninety miles.  General McDowell’s forces, upon this intelligence, marched in great haste, attacked the enemy near Blackstock’s Ford, and routed them.  In this engagement four of Captain Steen’s men were killed and seven wounded.  He took no prisoners and gave no quarters.  Kerr then returned to Mecklenburg county, and soon after joined Colonel Williams’ command as a spy.  Captain Steen informed Colonel Williams that he might safely rely upon Kerr in this kind of service.  They then marched to join the over-mountain boys,