On October 7, 1780, brother met brother, neighbor met neighbor, Patriot met Loyalist on a battlefield in rural South Carolina. The battle lasted an hour: the brevity belied the import. Thomas Jefferson proclaimed the Battle of King's Mountain turned "the tide of success which terminated the Revolutionary War, with the seal of our independence."
Fewer than one thousand American Heroes, through skill, luck, and the leadership of cunning strategists, defeated Patrick Ferguson, a brilliant star of the British military might. Edward Darten (Dorton) was one of those Heroes.
He documented his participation in the battle when he submitted his Application for Revolutionary War Pension, S30983. Will Graves transcribed thousands of pensions of Patriots who fought in the Southern Campaign and housed them at revwarapps.org.
Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension application of Edward Darten (Dorton) S30983 f40VA
Transcribed by Will Graves rev'd 9/18/12
[Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and/or grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database.Where the meaning is not compromised by adhering to the spelling, punctuation or grammar, no change has been made. Corrections or additional noteshave been inserted within brackets or footnotes. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original. A bracketed question mark indicates that the word or words preceding it represent(s) a guess by me. Only materials pertinent to the military service of the veteran and to contemporary events have been transcribed. Afidavits that provide additional information on these events are included and genealogical information is abstracted, while standard,'boilerplate' afidavits and attestations related solely to the application, and later nineteenth and twentieth century research requests for information have been omitted. I use speech recognition software to make all my transcriptions. Such software misinterprets my southern accent with unfortunate regularity and my poor proofreading fails to catch all misinterpretations. Also, dates or numbers which the software treats as numerals rather than words are not corrected: for example, the software transcribes "the eighth of June one thousand eighty six" as "the 8thof June 1786." Please call errors or omissions to my attention.]
State of Kentucky, Floyd County
On the 12th day of December 1833, personally appears before the undersigned Justice of the
Peace for the county aforesaid now sitting, Edward Dorton a resident of Kentucky in the county of
Floyd, aged eighty two years who being first duly sworn according to the law doth on his oath make
the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7,
1832—
That he entered in the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated: That in the spring of 1776 the Indians became troublesome in the western part of Virginia so much so that it prevented and deterred immigrants from proceeding to Kentucky. This applicant was then residing in Washington County, Va and on the waters of Powell's River in Powell's Valley. Col. William Campbell the Col. of the county ordered that a volunteer company should be raised to suppress the Indians, which company this applicant states he entered in as a volunteer for "six months" in the month of March 1776 (the day of the month not recollected) under Capt. Bickley and Lieutenant Cowan, Ensign Robinson—the company immediately commenced their march down Powell's Valley to " Cumberland Gap" and there we were fired upon by the Indians. The firing was continued warmly by both sides for some time; and the Indians gave way & fled. From their painted appearance we apprehended a more formidable band against us. We accordingly retreated in all possible speed to the Settlements. We ascertained that the Indians we fought were the Cherokees. We remained but a short time and being joined by more volunteers we again marched to the frontiers.
We got back on the last of July 1776, having been back but a short time we were attacked near Cumberland Mountain by about 40 Indians. We outnumbered them a few. The fighting commenced first by the Indians who laid concealed behind old logs and rocks. The skirmish lasted for three hours in which a few Indians were killed. Ourcompany lost several, to wit: Dickinson [? Dickerson], Humphreys, and Solomon Kendrick. We remained here till August (the last of it) and went back to the Settlements all broke up and forted as they had done for six years before. We guarded the fort till late in November. We all received discharges certifying our services—
on the first day of April next year 1777 the Indians again returned to Clinch [River] and Powell's Valley and commenced murdering and plundering the Settlements in that region. A volunteer company was raised by Capt. John Snody and Lieutenant Robinson (my ensign the year before) this pursuant to Col. Campbell's orders, who was our Col. I volunteered for "six months" again. The fort was useless. A force was kept in the field against the Indians, the Settlements had no security. Col. Campbell did not accompany us but gave us our orders.
About this time the Tories in North Carolina continued their operations, and they were aided by a few from the South Fork of the Holston [River] who frequently stole the horses belonging to the Whigs and carried them to the Tories in Carolina. Our company marched down to the mouth of the North Fork of the Holston and took a western direction for Powell's Valley on the frontiers. Here we remained scouting till August 1777, when we were attacked by a band of hostile Indians at day break. After an severe skirmish and running fight we was forced to retreat. The brother of this applicant was killed and scalped by the Indians, also a man by the name Michael Auxar and another by the name of Liton [sic, Litton?] and one William Priest [or Pruitt] were killed and several wounded.
The Cherokee Indians were embodying in large numbers down Holston to commence war. They had painted themselves and had the war dance and for fear of being cut off we retreated to the Settlements. Cooke of Carolina and Christy [sic, William Christian] of Virginia marched to beat down the Cherokees. The Indians formed a plan to kill on the Settlements on the Clinch and Gen. Christian sent one Martin to inform the fort of it. We all broke up and went to Abingdon. Not long after this Christian made peace with the Indians at the "Long Islands" which was according to the applicant's recollection in Novr. 1777. He wishes to be understood that he cannot be positive as to dates but knows it was sometime before Col. Campbell went to Carolina when the applicant and his brother went with him. He then received his discharge from Snody for his "six months".
In the spring of 1778 the Shawnee Indians from over the Ohio [River] broke out in the Clinch[River] Settlements, in March 1778. This applicant enlisted for one year to scout and spy under Capt. Lewis and Lieutenant Hawkins. This was the manner in which the Company was engaged. Col. Campbell stated he was authorized to raise the Company for the purpose aforesaid and that each man should receive pay. The Company divided in two's and four's and we ranged and spied all that summer and winter and until April 1779. We traversed frequently behind Cumberland Mountain down on the Kentucky and Big Sandy Rivers. We would generally leave the country for Kentucky or the Nation in November to hunt and return early in the spring. This applicant served out his time and applied for his pay and Governor Patrick Henry stated that the state was not bound to pay. This applicant never got his pay.
In July 1780, the day of the month not recollected, this applicant and one of his brothers was
prevailed on by Col. Campbell to accompany himagainst the Tories and British in the Carolinas. They
did so and entered as [?] volunteers for no certain time. Something prevented us from starting
immediately. Col. Campbell got word from Col. Cleveland that the Tories had fled from the Haw River
and many from PeeDee [Pedee River] and had joined Foggerson [sic, Patrick Ferguson] a Major or
Col. We started from Abingdon all on horses and our Capt. was by the name of Leincy [?], he thinks.
Col. Campbell's brother was a captain also. We crossed the Catawba [River] high up in Burke County,
N.C. and came up with the British at a place called King's Mountain. Campbell was joined by Col.
Cleveland [Benjamin Cleveland] and Major Shelby [sic, Col. Isaac Shelby] and Col. Sevier [John
Sevier]. There was a Frenchman there also by the name of Malmaday [sic, Francois Lellorquis Marquis
de Malmady (also Malmedy, Malmèdy)], this applicant thinks he was a Major and Gen. McDowell
[Charles McDowell] 1 were all on horses. When we got within one mile of the mountain we all hitched
our horses and left them in care of some militia companies. Behind the whole of us was divided; part of
Campbell's men fell under Cleveland and one Sevier and Wilson.2 This applicant was one of them.
We marched up. They were on the side of the mountain. The firing commenced on the right wing {commanded by Campbell) and Shelby on the left, Cleveland in the center. The British with bayonets charged upon Cleveland's men and forced us to give back, but we all took turns. The battle lasted for some time and we made them all prisoners. The troops, or part, went over to Charlotte and we took
some of the prisoners along. Gates' army was at Charlotte.4 From there we went to Hillsboro, N.C. and
remained there but a few days and again went back to Charlotte where we all staid til Gen. Greene
[Nathanael Greene 5 took command, this was in December 1780 or 1781.
In January I hired my horse to the Government of N.C. and belonged then to the light infantry. Our whole army went to Cheraw Hills, after the battle ofthe Cowpens we all retreated to Virginia. In February or March we gave the enemy battle at Guilford where we were defeated. A few days after this I left the service and returned home.
I knew many officers during the service, to wit: Cols. Lee [Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee],
Washington [William Washington], Capt. Charles Y. Wilson, Gen. Gates, Gen. Huger [Isaac Huger],
Gen. Davie [William Richardson Davie] and Col. Davidson [William Lee Davidson], Maj. Malmady,
Col. Sevier, Maj. Shelby, Col. Williams [James Williams or Ortho Williams], Capt. Thomas H. Davis,
and Lieutenant Hinner, Col. Hogun [James Hogun], Gen. Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford] and many
others.
I have no documentary evidence in my favor. I received three discharges, the last time I did not
receive a discharge but a recommendation. I do not know what has become of them. The fact was I
cared nothing about them for it has been more than fifty years since. He hereby relinquishes his every
claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present one and he declares his name is not on the
pension roll of the Agency of any state.
Sworn and subscribed the day and date aforesaid.
S/ Edward Darten
1 Pensioner is mistaken in stating that Malmady and McDowell were present at the Battle of King's Mountain. There is no record of either being present at the battle.
2 There is no record of a commander by the name of Wilson being at the Battle of King's Mountain. Perhaps this is a reference to Col.James Williams of the South Carolina militia who is known to have commanded one of the units which participated in the battle. Latter in his declaration, pensioner makes reference to knowing a "Col. Williams."
3 Again, this recollection must be incorrect because Lord Cornwallis and the main body of the British Army occupied Charlotte at the time the Battle of King's Mountain was fought. It is extremely doubtful that the Whigs departing from King's Mountain would have marched toward Charlotte for fear of encountering Cornwallis.
The actual burial site of this Patriot has been lost to history. The contribution that he made to American history deserved to be recognized and recorded for posterity, so we placed a Memorial Stone in his honor in the Cantrell Gilliand Memorial Garden. May this memorial serve as an expression of the gratitude and respect we owe him for risking his life and braving the unknown to help build a new country: our America.
Fewer than one thousand American Heroes, through skill, luck, and the leadership of cunning strategists, defeated Patrick Ferguson, a brilliant star of the British military might. Edward Darten (Dorton) was one of those Heroes.
He documented his participation in the battle when he submitted his Application for Revolutionary War Pension, S30983. Will Graves transcribed thousands of pensions of Patriots who fought in the Southern Campaign and housed them at revwarapps.org.
Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension application of Edward Darten (Dorton) S30983 f40VA
Transcribed by Will Graves rev'd 9/18/12
[Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and/or grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database.Where the meaning is not compromised by adhering to the spelling, punctuation or grammar, no change has been made. Corrections or additional noteshave been inserted within brackets or footnotes. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original. A bracketed question mark indicates that the word or words preceding it represent(s) a guess by me. Only materials pertinent to the military service of the veteran and to contemporary events have been transcribed. Afidavits that provide additional information on these events are included and genealogical information is abstracted, while standard,'boilerplate' afidavits and attestations related solely to the application, and later nineteenth and twentieth century research requests for information have been omitted. I use speech recognition software to make all my transcriptions. Such software misinterprets my southern accent with unfortunate regularity and my poor proofreading fails to catch all misinterpretations. Also, dates or numbers which the software treats as numerals rather than words are not corrected: for example, the software transcribes "the eighth of June one thousand eighty six" as "the 8thof June 1786." Please call errors or omissions to my attention.]
State of Kentucky, Floyd County
On the 12th day of December 1833, personally appears before the undersigned Justice of the
Peace for the county aforesaid now sitting, Edward Dorton a resident of Kentucky in the county of
Floyd, aged eighty two years who being first duly sworn according to the law doth on his oath make
the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7,
1832—
That he entered in the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated: That in the spring of 1776 the Indians became troublesome in the western part of Virginia so much so that it prevented and deterred immigrants from proceeding to Kentucky. This applicant was then residing in Washington County, Va and on the waters of Powell's River in Powell's Valley. Col. William Campbell the Col. of the county ordered that a volunteer company should be raised to suppress the Indians, which company this applicant states he entered in as a volunteer for "six months" in the month of March 1776 (the day of the month not recollected) under Capt. Bickley and Lieutenant Cowan, Ensign Robinson—the company immediately commenced their march down Powell's Valley to " Cumberland Gap" and there we were fired upon by the Indians. The firing was continued warmly by both sides for some time; and the Indians gave way & fled. From their painted appearance we apprehended a more formidable band against us. We accordingly retreated in all possible speed to the Settlements. We ascertained that the Indians we fought were the Cherokees. We remained but a short time and being joined by more volunteers we again marched to the frontiers.
We got back on the last of July 1776, having been back but a short time we were attacked near Cumberland Mountain by about 40 Indians. We outnumbered them a few. The fighting commenced first by the Indians who laid concealed behind old logs and rocks. The skirmish lasted for three hours in which a few Indians were killed. Ourcompany lost several, to wit: Dickinson [? Dickerson], Humphreys, and Solomon Kendrick. We remained here till August (the last of it) and went back to the Settlements all broke up and forted as they had done for six years before. We guarded the fort till late in November. We all received discharges certifying our services—
on the first day of April next year 1777 the Indians again returned to Clinch [River] and Powell's Valley and commenced murdering and plundering the Settlements in that region. A volunteer company was raised by Capt. John Snody and Lieutenant Robinson (my ensign the year before) this pursuant to Col. Campbell's orders, who was our Col. I volunteered for "six months" again. The fort was useless. A force was kept in the field against the Indians, the Settlements had no security. Col. Campbell did not accompany us but gave us our orders.
About this time the Tories in North Carolina continued their operations, and they were aided by a few from the South Fork of the Holston [River] who frequently stole the horses belonging to the Whigs and carried them to the Tories in Carolina. Our company marched down to the mouth of the North Fork of the Holston and took a western direction for Powell's Valley on the frontiers. Here we remained scouting till August 1777, when we were attacked by a band of hostile Indians at day break. After an severe skirmish and running fight we was forced to retreat. The brother of this applicant was killed and scalped by the Indians, also a man by the name Michael Auxar and another by the name of Liton [sic, Litton?] and one William Priest [or Pruitt] were killed and several wounded.
The Cherokee Indians were embodying in large numbers down Holston to commence war. They had painted themselves and had the war dance and for fear of being cut off we retreated to the Settlements. Cooke of Carolina and Christy [sic, William Christian] of Virginia marched to beat down the Cherokees. The Indians formed a plan to kill on the Settlements on the Clinch and Gen. Christian sent one Martin to inform the fort of it. We all broke up and went to Abingdon. Not long after this Christian made peace with the Indians at the "Long Islands" which was according to the applicant's recollection in Novr. 1777. He wishes to be understood that he cannot be positive as to dates but knows it was sometime before Col. Campbell went to Carolina when the applicant and his brother went with him. He then received his discharge from Snody for his "six months".
In the spring of 1778 the Shawnee Indians from over the Ohio [River] broke out in the Clinch[River] Settlements, in March 1778. This applicant enlisted for one year to scout and spy under Capt. Lewis and Lieutenant Hawkins. This was the manner in which the Company was engaged. Col. Campbell stated he was authorized to raise the Company for the purpose aforesaid and that each man should receive pay. The Company divided in two's and four's and we ranged and spied all that summer and winter and until April 1779. We traversed frequently behind Cumberland Mountain down on the Kentucky and Big Sandy Rivers. We would generally leave the country for Kentucky or the Nation in November to hunt and return early in the spring. This applicant served out his time and applied for his pay and Governor Patrick Henry stated that the state was not bound to pay. This applicant never got his pay.
In July 1780, the day of the month not recollected, this applicant and one of his brothers was
prevailed on by Col. Campbell to accompany himagainst the Tories and British in the Carolinas. They
did so and entered as [?] volunteers for no certain time. Something prevented us from starting
immediately. Col. Campbell got word from Col. Cleveland that the Tories had fled from the Haw River
and many from PeeDee [Pedee River] and had joined Foggerson [sic, Patrick Ferguson] a Major or
Col. We started from Abingdon all on horses and our Capt. was by the name of Leincy [?], he thinks.
Col. Campbell's brother was a captain also. We crossed the Catawba [River] high up in Burke County,
N.C. and came up with the British at a place called King's Mountain. Campbell was joined by Col.
Cleveland [Benjamin Cleveland] and Major Shelby [sic, Col. Isaac Shelby] and Col. Sevier [John
Sevier]. There was a Frenchman there also by the name of Malmaday [sic, Francois Lellorquis Marquis
de Malmady (also Malmedy, Malmèdy)], this applicant thinks he was a Major and Gen. McDowell
[Charles McDowell] 1 were all on horses. When we got within one mile of the mountain we all hitched
our horses and left them in care of some militia companies. Behind the whole of us was divided; part of
Campbell's men fell under Cleveland and one Sevier and Wilson.2 This applicant was one of them.
We marched up. They were on the side of the mountain. The firing commenced on the right wing {commanded by Campbell) and Shelby on the left, Cleveland in the center. The British with bayonets charged upon Cleveland's men and forced us to give back, but we all took turns. The battle lasted for some time and we made them all prisoners. The troops, or part, went over to Charlotte and we took
some of the prisoners along. Gates' army was at Charlotte.4 From there we went to Hillsboro, N.C. and
remained there but a few days and again went back to Charlotte where we all staid til Gen. Greene
[Nathanael Greene 5 took command, this was in December 1780 or 1781.
In January I hired my horse to the Government of N.C. and belonged then to the light infantry. Our whole army went to Cheraw Hills, after the battle ofthe Cowpens we all retreated to Virginia. In February or March we gave the enemy battle at Guilford where we were defeated. A few days after this I left the service and returned home.
I knew many officers during the service, to wit: Cols. Lee [Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee],
Washington [William Washington], Capt. Charles Y. Wilson, Gen. Gates, Gen. Huger [Isaac Huger],
Gen. Davie [William Richardson Davie] and Col. Davidson [William Lee Davidson], Maj. Malmady,
Col. Sevier, Maj. Shelby, Col. Williams [James Williams or Ortho Williams], Capt. Thomas H. Davis,
and Lieutenant Hinner, Col. Hogun [James Hogun], Gen. Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford] and many
others.
I have no documentary evidence in my favor. I received three discharges, the last time I did not
receive a discharge but a recommendation. I do not know what has become of them. The fact was I
cared nothing about them for it has been more than fifty years since. He hereby relinquishes his every
claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present one and he declares his name is not on the
pension roll of the Agency of any state.
Sworn and subscribed the day and date aforesaid.
S/ Edward Darten
1 Pensioner is mistaken in stating that Malmady and McDowell were present at the Battle of King's Mountain. There is no record of either being present at the battle.
2 There is no record of a commander by the name of Wilson being at the Battle of King's Mountain. Perhaps this is a reference to Col.James Williams of the South Carolina militia who is known to have commanded one of the units which participated in the battle. Latter in his declaration, pensioner makes reference to knowing a "Col. Williams."
3 Again, this recollection must be incorrect because Lord Cornwallis and the main body of the British Army occupied Charlotte at the time the Battle of King's Mountain was fought. It is extremely doubtful that the Whigs departing from King's Mountain would have marched toward Charlotte for fear of encountering Cornwallis.
The actual burial site of this Patriot has been lost to history. The contribution that he made to American history deserved to be recognized and recorded for posterity, so we placed a Memorial Stone in his honor in the Cantrell Gilliand Memorial Garden. May this memorial serve as an expression of the gratitude and respect we owe him for risking his life and braving the unknown to help build a new country: our America.
On October 7, 1780, brother met brother, neighbor met neighbor, Patriot met Loyalist on a battlefield in rural South Carolina. The battle lasted an hour: the brevity belied the import. Thomas Jefferson proclaimed the Battle of King's Mountain turned "the tide of success which terminated the Revolutionary War, with the seal of our independence."
Fewer than one thousand American Heroes, through skill, luck, and the leadership of cunning strategists, defeated Patrick Ferguson, a brilliant star of the British military might. Edward Darten (Dorton) was one of those Heroes.
He documented his participation in the battle when he submitted his Application for Revolutionary War Pension, S30983. Will Graves transcribed thousands of pensions of Patriots who fought in the Southern Campaign and housed them at revwarapps.org.
Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension application of Edward Darten (Dorton) S30983 f40VA
Transcribed by Will Graves rev'd 9/18/12
[Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and/or grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database.Where the meaning is not compromised by adhering to the spelling, punctuation or grammar, no change has been made. Corrections or additional noteshave been inserted within brackets or footnotes. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original. A bracketed question mark indicates that the word or words preceding it represent(s) a guess by me. Only materials pertinent to the military service of the veteran and to contemporary events have been transcribed. Afidavits that provide additional information on these events are included and genealogical information is abstracted, while standard,'boilerplate' afidavits and attestations related solely to the application, and later nineteenth and twentieth century research requests for information have been omitted. I use speech recognition software to make all my transcriptions. Such software misinterprets my southern accent with unfortunate regularity and my poor proofreading fails to catch all misinterpretations. Also, dates or numbers which the software treats as numerals rather than words are not corrected: for example, the software transcribes "the eighth of June one thousand eighty six" as "the 8thof June 1786." Please call errors or omissions to my attention.]
State of Kentucky, Floyd County
On the 12th day of December 1833, personally appears before the undersigned Justice of the
Peace for the county aforesaid now sitting, Edward Dorton a resident of Kentucky in the county of
Floyd, aged eighty two years who being first duly sworn according to the law doth on his oath make
the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7,
1832—
That he entered in the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated: That in the spring of 1776 the Indians became troublesome in the western part of Virginia so much so that it prevented and deterred immigrants from proceeding to Kentucky. This applicant was then residing in Washington County, Va and on the waters of Powell's River in Powell's Valley. Col. William Campbell the Col. of the county ordered that a volunteer company should be raised to suppress the Indians, which company this applicant states he entered in as a volunteer for "six months" in the month of March 1776 (the day of the month not recollected) under Capt. Bickley and Lieutenant Cowan, Ensign Robinson—the company immediately commenced their march down Powell's Valley to " Cumberland Gap" and there we were fired upon by the Indians. The firing was continued warmly by both sides for some time; and the Indians gave way & fled. From their painted appearance we apprehended a more formidable band against us. We accordingly retreated in all possible speed to the Settlements. We ascertained that the Indians we fought were the Cherokees. We remained but a short time and being joined by more volunteers we again marched to the frontiers.
We got back on the last of July 1776, having been back but a short time we were attacked near Cumberland Mountain by about 40 Indians. We outnumbered them a few. The fighting commenced first by the Indians who laid concealed behind old logs and rocks. The skirmish lasted for three hours in which a few Indians were killed. Ourcompany lost several, to wit: Dickinson [? Dickerson], Humphreys, and Solomon Kendrick. We remained here till August (the last of it) and went back to the Settlements all broke up and forted as they had done for six years before. We guarded the fort till late in November. We all received discharges certifying our services—
on the first day of April next year 1777 the Indians again returned to Clinch [River] and Powell's Valley and commenced murdering and plundering the Settlements in that region. A volunteer company was raised by Capt. John Snody and Lieutenant Robinson (my ensign the year before) this pursuant to Col. Campbell's orders, who was our Col. I volunteered for "six months" again. The fort was useless. A force was kept in the field against the Indians, the Settlements had no security. Col. Campbell did not accompany us but gave us our orders.
About this time the Tories in North Carolina continued their operations, and they were aided by a few from the South Fork of the Holston [River] who frequently stole the horses belonging to the Whigs and carried them to the Tories in Carolina. Our company marched down to the mouth of the North Fork of the Holston and took a western direction for Powell's Valley on the frontiers. Here we remained scouting till August 1777, when we were attacked by a band of hostile Indians at day break. After an severe skirmish and running fight we was forced to retreat. The brother of this applicant was killed and scalped by the Indians, also a man by the name Michael Auxar and another by the name of Liton [sic, Litton?] and one William Priest [or Pruitt] were killed and several wounded.
The Cherokee Indians were embodying in large numbers down Holston to commence war. They had painted themselves and had the war dance and for fear of being cut off we retreated to the Settlements. Cooke of Carolina and Christy [sic, William Christian] of Virginia marched to beat down the Cherokees. The Indians formed a plan to kill on the Settlements on the Clinch and Gen. Christian sent one Martin to inform the fort of it. We all broke up and went to Abingdon. Not long after this Christian made peace with the Indians at the "Long Islands" which was according to the applicant's recollection in Novr. 1777. He wishes to be understood that he cannot be positive as to dates but knows it was sometime before Col. Campbell went to Carolina when the applicant and his brother went with him. He then received his discharge from Snody for his "six months".
In the spring of 1778 the Shawnee Indians from over the Ohio [River] broke out in the Clinch[River] Settlements, in March 1778. This applicant enlisted for one year to scout and spy under Capt. Lewis and Lieutenant Hawkins. This was the manner in which the Company was engaged. Col. Campbell stated he was authorized to raise the Company for the purpose aforesaid and that each man should receive pay. The Company divided in two's and four's and we ranged and spied all that summer and winter and until April 1779. We traversed frequently behind Cumberland Mountain down on the Kentucky and Big Sandy Rivers. We would generally leave the country for Kentucky or the Nation in November to hunt and return early in the spring. This applicant served out his time and applied for his pay and Governor Patrick Henry stated that the state was not bound to pay. This applicant never got his pay.
In July 1780, the day of the month not recollected, this applicant and one of his brothers was
prevailed on by Col. Campbell to accompany himagainst the Tories and British in the Carolinas. They
did so and entered as [?] volunteers for no certain time. Something prevented us from starting
immediately. Col. Campbell got word from Col. Cleveland that the Tories had fled from the Haw River
and many from PeeDee [Pedee River] and had joined Foggerson [sic, Patrick Ferguson] a Major or
Col. We started from Abingdon all on horses and our Capt. was by the name of Leincy [?], he thinks.
Col. Campbell's brother was a captain also. We crossed the Catawba [River] high up in Burke County,
N.C. and came up with the British at a place called King's Mountain. Campbell was joined by Col.
Cleveland [Benjamin Cleveland] and Major Shelby [sic, Col. Isaac Shelby] and Col. Sevier [John
Sevier]. There was a Frenchman there also by the name of Malmaday [sic, Francois Lellorquis Marquis
de Malmady (also Malmedy, Malmèdy)], this applicant thinks he was a Major and Gen. McDowell
[Charles McDowell] 1 were all on horses. When we got within one mile of the mountain we all hitched
our horses and left them in care of some militia companies. Behind the whole of us was divided; part of
Campbell's men fell under Cleveland and one Sevier and Wilson.2 This applicant was one of them.
We marched up. They were on the side of the mountain. The firing commenced on the right wing {commanded by Campbell) and Shelby on the left, Cleveland in the center. The British with bayonets charged upon Cleveland's men and forced us to give back, but we all took turns. The battle lasted for some time and we made them all prisoners. The troops, or part, went over to Charlotte and we took
some of the prisoners along. Gates' army was at Charlotte.4 From there we went to Hillsboro, N.C. and
remained there but a few days and again went back to Charlotte where we all staid til Gen. Greene
[Nathanael Greene 5 took command, this was in December 1780 or 1781.
In January I hired my horse to the Government of N.C. and belonged then to the light infantry. Our whole army went to Cheraw Hills, after the battle ofthe Cowpens we all retreated to Virginia. In February or March we gave the enemy battle at Guilford where we were defeated. A few days after this I left the service and returned home.
I knew many officers during the service, to wit: Cols. Lee [Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee],
Washington [William Washington], Capt. Charles Y. Wilson, Gen. Gates, Gen. Huger [Isaac Huger],
Gen. Davie [William Richardson Davie] and Col. Davidson [William Lee Davidson], Maj. Malmady,
Col. Sevier, Maj. Shelby, Col. Williams [James Williams or Ortho Williams], Capt. Thomas H. Davis,
and Lieutenant Hinner, Col. Hogun [James Hogun], Gen. Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford] and many
others.
I have no documentary evidence in my favor. I received three discharges, the last time I did not
receive a discharge but a recommendation. I do not know what has become of them. The fact was I
cared nothing about them for it has been more than fifty years since. He hereby relinquishes his every
claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present one and he declares his name is not on the
pension roll of the Agency of any state.
Sworn and subscribed the day and date aforesaid.
S/ Edward Darten
1 Pensioner is mistaken in stating that Malmady and McDowell were present at the Battle of King's Mountain. There is no record of either being present at the battle.
2 There is no record of a commander by the name of Wilson being at the Battle of King's Mountain. Perhaps this is a reference to Col.James Williams of the South Carolina militia who is known to have commanded one of the units which participated in the battle. Latter in his declaration, pensioner makes reference to knowing a "Col. Williams."
3 Again, this recollection must be incorrect because Lord Cornwallis and the main body of the British Army occupied Charlotte at the time the Battle of King's Mountain was fought. It is extremely doubtful that the Whigs departing from King's Mountain would have marched toward Charlotte for fear of encountering Cornwallis.
The actual burial site of this Patriot has been lost to history. The contribution that he made to American history deserved to be recognized and recorded for posterity, so we placed a Memorial Stone in his honor in the Cantrell Gilliand Memorial Garden. May this memorial serve as an expression of the gratitude and respect we owe him for risking his life and braving the unknown to help build a new country: our America.
Fewer than one thousand American Heroes, through skill, luck, and the leadership of cunning strategists, defeated Patrick Ferguson, a brilliant star of the British military might. Edward Darten (Dorton) was one of those Heroes.
He documented his participation in the battle when he submitted his Application for Revolutionary War Pension, S30983. Will Graves transcribed thousands of pensions of Patriots who fought in the Southern Campaign and housed them at revwarapps.org.
Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension application of Edward Darten (Dorton) S30983 f40VA
Transcribed by Will Graves rev'd 9/18/12
[Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and/or grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database.Where the meaning is not compromised by adhering to the spelling, punctuation or grammar, no change has been made. Corrections or additional noteshave been inserted within brackets or footnotes. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original. A bracketed question mark indicates that the word or words preceding it represent(s) a guess by me. Only materials pertinent to the military service of the veteran and to contemporary events have been transcribed. Afidavits that provide additional information on these events are included and genealogical information is abstracted, while standard,'boilerplate' afidavits and attestations related solely to the application, and later nineteenth and twentieth century research requests for information have been omitted. I use speech recognition software to make all my transcriptions. Such software misinterprets my southern accent with unfortunate regularity and my poor proofreading fails to catch all misinterpretations. Also, dates or numbers which the software treats as numerals rather than words are not corrected: for example, the software transcribes "the eighth of June one thousand eighty six" as "the 8thof June 1786." Please call errors or omissions to my attention.]
State of Kentucky, Floyd County
On the 12th day of December 1833, personally appears before the undersigned Justice of the
Peace for the county aforesaid now sitting, Edward Dorton a resident of Kentucky in the county of
Floyd, aged eighty two years who being first duly sworn according to the law doth on his oath make
the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7,
1832—
That he entered in the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated: That in the spring of 1776 the Indians became troublesome in the western part of Virginia so much so that it prevented and deterred immigrants from proceeding to Kentucky. This applicant was then residing in Washington County, Va and on the waters of Powell's River in Powell's Valley. Col. William Campbell the Col. of the county ordered that a volunteer company should be raised to suppress the Indians, which company this applicant states he entered in as a volunteer for "six months" in the month of March 1776 (the day of the month not recollected) under Capt. Bickley and Lieutenant Cowan, Ensign Robinson—the company immediately commenced their march down Powell's Valley to " Cumberland Gap" and there we were fired upon by the Indians. The firing was continued warmly by both sides for some time; and the Indians gave way & fled. From their painted appearance we apprehended a more formidable band against us. We accordingly retreated in all possible speed to the Settlements. We ascertained that the Indians we fought were the Cherokees. We remained but a short time and being joined by more volunteers we again marched to the frontiers.
We got back on the last of July 1776, having been back but a short time we were attacked near Cumberland Mountain by about 40 Indians. We outnumbered them a few. The fighting commenced first by the Indians who laid concealed behind old logs and rocks. The skirmish lasted for three hours in which a few Indians were killed. Ourcompany lost several, to wit: Dickinson [? Dickerson], Humphreys, and Solomon Kendrick. We remained here till August (the last of it) and went back to the Settlements all broke up and forted as they had done for six years before. We guarded the fort till late in November. We all received discharges certifying our services—
on the first day of April next year 1777 the Indians again returned to Clinch [River] and Powell's Valley and commenced murdering and plundering the Settlements in that region. A volunteer company was raised by Capt. John Snody and Lieutenant Robinson (my ensign the year before) this pursuant to Col. Campbell's orders, who was our Col. I volunteered for "six months" again. The fort was useless. A force was kept in the field against the Indians, the Settlements had no security. Col. Campbell did not accompany us but gave us our orders.
About this time the Tories in North Carolina continued their operations, and they were aided by a few from the South Fork of the Holston [River] who frequently stole the horses belonging to the Whigs and carried them to the Tories in Carolina. Our company marched down to the mouth of the North Fork of the Holston and took a western direction for Powell's Valley on the frontiers. Here we remained scouting till August 1777, when we were attacked by a band of hostile Indians at day break. After an severe skirmish and running fight we was forced to retreat. The brother of this applicant was killed and scalped by the Indians, also a man by the name Michael Auxar and another by the name of Liton [sic, Litton?] and one William Priest [or Pruitt] were killed and several wounded.
The Cherokee Indians were embodying in large numbers down Holston to commence war. They had painted themselves and had the war dance and for fear of being cut off we retreated to the Settlements. Cooke of Carolina and Christy [sic, William Christian] of Virginia marched to beat down the Cherokees. The Indians formed a plan to kill on the Settlements on the Clinch and Gen. Christian sent one Martin to inform the fort of it. We all broke up and went to Abingdon. Not long after this Christian made peace with the Indians at the "Long Islands" which was according to the applicant's recollection in Novr. 1777. He wishes to be understood that he cannot be positive as to dates but knows it was sometime before Col. Campbell went to Carolina when the applicant and his brother went with him. He then received his discharge from Snody for his "six months".
In the spring of 1778 the Shawnee Indians from over the Ohio [River] broke out in the Clinch[River] Settlements, in March 1778. This applicant enlisted for one year to scout and spy under Capt. Lewis and Lieutenant Hawkins. This was the manner in which the Company was engaged. Col. Campbell stated he was authorized to raise the Company for the purpose aforesaid and that each man should receive pay. The Company divided in two's and four's and we ranged and spied all that summer and winter and until April 1779. We traversed frequently behind Cumberland Mountain down on the Kentucky and Big Sandy Rivers. We would generally leave the country for Kentucky or the Nation in November to hunt and return early in the spring. This applicant served out his time and applied for his pay and Governor Patrick Henry stated that the state was not bound to pay. This applicant never got his pay.
In July 1780, the day of the month not recollected, this applicant and one of his brothers was
prevailed on by Col. Campbell to accompany himagainst the Tories and British in the Carolinas. They
did so and entered as [?] volunteers for no certain time. Something prevented us from starting
immediately. Col. Campbell got word from Col. Cleveland that the Tories had fled from the Haw River
and many from PeeDee [Pedee River] and had joined Foggerson [sic, Patrick Ferguson] a Major or
Col. We started from Abingdon all on horses and our Capt. was by the name of Leincy [?], he thinks.
Col. Campbell's brother was a captain also. We crossed the Catawba [River] high up in Burke County,
N.C. and came up with the British at a place called King's Mountain. Campbell was joined by Col.
Cleveland [Benjamin Cleveland] and Major Shelby [sic, Col. Isaac Shelby] and Col. Sevier [John
Sevier]. There was a Frenchman there also by the name of Malmaday [sic, Francois Lellorquis Marquis
de Malmady (also Malmedy, Malmèdy)], this applicant thinks he was a Major and Gen. McDowell
[Charles McDowell] 1 were all on horses. When we got within one mile of the mountain we all hitched
our horses and left them in care of some militia companies. Behind the whole of us was divided; part of
Campbell's men fell under Cleveland and one Sevier and Wilson.2 This applicant was one of them.
We marched up. They were on the side of the mountain. The firing commenced on the right wing {commanded by Campbell) and Shelby on the left, Cleveland in the center. The British with bayonets charged upon Cleveland's men and forced us to give back, but we all took turns. The battle lasted for some time and we made them all prisoners. The troops, or part, went over to Charlotte and we took
some of the prisoners along. Gates' army was at Charlotte.4 From there we went to Hillsboro, N.C. and
remained there but a few days and again went back to Charlotte where we all staid til Gen. Greene
[Nathanael Greene 5 took command, this was in December 1780 or 1781.
In January I hired my horse to the Government of N.C. and belonged then to the light infantry. Our whole army went to Cheraw Hills, after the battle ofthe Cowpens we all retreated to Virginia. In February or March we gave the enemy battle at Guilford where we were defeated. A few days after this I left the service and returned home.
I knew many officers during the service, to wit: Cols. Lee [Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee],
Washington [William Washington], Capt. Charles Y. Wilson, Gen. Gates, Gen. Huger [Isaac Huger],
Gen. Davie [William Richardson Davie] and Col. Davidson [William Lee Davidson], Maj. Malmady,
Col. Sevier, Maj. Shelby, Col. Williams [James Williams or Ortho Williams], Capt. Thomas H. Davis,
and Lieutenant Hinner, Col. Hogun [James Hogun], Gen. Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford] and many
others.
I have no documentary evidence in my favor. I received three discharges, the last time I did not
receive a discharge but a recommendation. I do not know what has become of them. The fact was I
cared nothing about them for it has been more than fifty years since. He hereby relinquishes his every
claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present one and he declares his name is not on the
pension roll of the Agency of any state.
Sworn and subscribed the day and date aforesaid.
S/ Edward Darten
1 Pensioner is mistaken in stating that Malmady and McDowell were present at the Battle of King's Mountain. There is no record of either being present at the battle.
2 There is no record of a commander by the name of Wilson being at the Battle of King's Mountain. Perhaps this is a reference to Col.James Williams of the South Carolina militia who is known to have commanded one of the units which participated in the battle. Latter in his declaration, pensioner makes reference to knowing a "Col. Williams."
3 Again, this recollection must be incorrect because Lord Cornwallis and the main body of the British Army occupied Charlotte at the time the Battle of King's Mountain was fought. It is extremely doubtful that the Whigs departing from King's Mountain would have marched toward Charlotte for fear of encountering Cornwallis.
The actual burial site of this Patriot has been lost to history. The contribution that he made to American history deserved to be recognized and recorded for posterity, so we placed a Memorial Stone in his honor in the Cantrell Gilliand Memorial Garden. May this memorial serve as an expression of the gratitude and respect we owe him for risking his life and braving the unknown to help build a new country: our America.
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