FIRST TOUR OF DUTY (approximate): November 27, 1780 - February 27, 1781
Statements in Jonas' Application for a Pension: That he entered the service of the United States & served as herein stated. He first entered the service as a private, soldier (substitute for Joshua Freeman) in Captain Samuel Dyers Company of Calvary in the County of Surry & State of North Carolina, sometime in the year 1781 as within his recollection, to serve for a tour of 3 months in the Militia services. We rendezvoused at the mouth of the Tararat (Ararat) on the Yadkin River. We marched first to the hollows of the Yadkin against the Tories. We then marched near to Hillsboro where we had a skirmish with a detachment of the enemy. At this time Lord Cornwallis' headquarters was at Hillsboro. He does not recollect whether he was at anytime attached to any particular regiment or brigade, but believes he was not. That he and the troops of mounted men to which he belonged was generally under the immediate command of Maj. James Shepherd. They were frequently with the main Army commanded by General Green, while in the neighborhood of Hillsboro. During the time that Lord Cornwallis occupied Hillsboro, a night attack was ordered upon by pickets This applicant was in the attack. That night Cornwallis lifted his camp and marched out of town. The next day we marched in. Having served the full time of three months, he was regularly discharged.
Historical Accounts: 20 February 1781, his army enduring acute privation along the march, Cornwallis finally arrived at Hillsborough, North Carolina’s state capital. The next day, Cornwallis hoisted the King’s standard at Hillsborough (21 February 1781). On February 26th, Cornwallis left Hillsborough and camped at Wiley’s Plantation, (on the north side of Alamance Creek, and some three or four miles west of the Haw River) with a view to obtaining more provisions and encouraging the loyalists in that region. In response, Greene passed over the Haw near its source and took up a position between Troublesome Creek and Reedy Fork. The two armies stood facing each other from these locations for five days with occasional intermittent skirmishes between light parties. Tarleton says Cornwallis left Hillsborough on the 26th and camped on Alamance Creek on the 27th.
SECOND TOUR OF DUTY (approximate): July 6, 1781 - October 6, 1781
Statements in Jonas' Application for a Pension: In a short time after he returned home he again entered the service of the United States as a private soldier (substitute for Randall Brown) in Capt. William Hickman's Company, North Carolina, Militia. We rendezvoused at the shallow ford of the Yadkin & marched from thence to Salisbury, at which place Capt. Hickman was taken sick. He was succeeded in the command of the Company by Capt. McDowell. Here we were placed under the command of a French officer whose name is not recollected, but believe he was Col. Malmedy (Col. François Lellorquis, the Marquis de Malmedy) & marched to Camden in South Carolina, & there joined the army commanded by Capt. Green; the Army marched from thence to Thompson's old Fields & continued on until we met the enemy at the Eutah Springs, where a general engagement took place between the American Army under the command of Gen. Green & the British Army under the command of Lord Rawdon. The militia was ordered by Gen. Green to guard the prisoners, who were immediately moved off the grounds & were marched to Camden under the Command of the French officer, named aforesaid, who was killed in a duel at this place by an American officer of the name of Sneed. After the death of the French officer, the detachment guarding the prisoners was commanded by Capt. (Francis) Locke. From thence we removed with the prisoners near to Salisbury in North Carolina.
While lying here his three months tour expired, but through the solicitation of Capt. Locke, who had not sufficient forces to guard the prisoners, he remained from one to two months longer and was regularly discharged by Capt. Locke which has been unfortunately lost as before stated with other papers.
Historical Accounts: On July 10th, Col. Malmedy, at Salisbury, wrote to Greene that when the North Carolina legislature voted to reinforce Greene with 500 North Carolina militia from the Hillsborough district there was an objection raised as to lack of muskets to arm them with. Malmedy answered the objection by promising 400 stand of arms and cartridge boxes. He thought he could take the arms at Salisbury and Charlotte, as well as those of Virginia militiamen (at Charlotte) who were soon to be discharged. In realizing this though, he was very much disappointed. There were only 285 muskets at Salisbury, of which only 120 were fit for use. He was therefore making efforts to correct the situation. He also made mention of Col. Lock’s failure to join Greene on July 4, as Lock had promised he would. Malmedy himself intended to march 300 men to Greene; but, pending Greene's permission, he wished to collect them first and set up a temporary post and store for that purpose in Waxhaws; which he believed was better situated for the purpose. On the 9th, that is the day before, Malmedy had been with Brig. Gen. Jethro Sumner who had 500 with him at Guilford Court House.
On July 19th, Col. Malmedy at Waxhaws wrote to Greene, apologizing for the misunderstanding about arms at Charlotte and Salisbury. He said there were 281 muskets in Salisbury and 227 at Oliphant’s Mill. Sumner had taken about 100 of these for his troops, and ordered that the others be saved and repaired for the North Carolina Brigade. Malmedy daily expected a detachment of militia from Salisbury to help collect provisions and prevent any disruptions. The Waxhaws settlement had been proposed earlier by Malmedy as a rendezvous point for the Salisbury militia, and as a supply point for the N.C. Continentals.
On August 11th, Col. Malmedy, at either Waxhaws or Salisbury (it is not clear), reported to Greene he had 200 N.C. militia ready to join Greene’s army. By 25 August, he was at Camden. The force of Salisbury militia he had with him was to be divided in command between Malmedy and Col. Francis Lock. But by the time of Eutaw Springs, Lock had not arrived so that Malmedy commanded the entire corps.
By August 24th, Greene was camped at Camden. In orders for the day stated that the sick and those unable to march were to remain at Camden; a Sufficient number of women, particularly those that have Children must be left as Nurses. On the 25th, Greene left Camden, crossing the Wateree at Wright’s (or the Camden) Ferry in his advance toward Howell’s Ferry on the Congaree River.
September 8, 1781 - BATTLE OF EUTAW SPRINGS (Orangeburg County, S.C.): Greene’s army set forth before daybreak to purposely bring Lieut. Col. Alexander Stewart’s army, camped at Eutaw Springs, to battle this day. Our army was in motion before daybreak, resolved to fight the British Army. We marched in the following order of battle, viz: the South and North Carolina Militia (150) in front and commanded by Generals Marion and Pickens, having Colonel Lee’s horse and infantry on their left. The second line was composed of and infantry on their left. The second line was composed of North Carolina Regulars, Virginians and Marylanders, with two three-pounders and two six-pounders. Colonel Washington’s horse and infantry were the corps-de-reserve. In this order we marched down to action. Coming within three miles of the enemy’s encampment, we fell in with a foraging party of sixty men, loaded with [sweet] potatoes, most of whom we either killed, wounded or took prisoners. We met with no farther opposition till we came within one mile of their encampment before discovered, and with their front line began the action, which soon brought the action general. We drove their first and second lines, and took upwards of five hundred prisoners. They took shelter in a large brick house and a hollow way in the rear of the house. At this time our men were so far spent for want of water, and our Continental officers suffering much in the action, rendered it advisable for General Greene to draw off his troops, with the loss of two six-pounders. Major [Thomas] Edmunds with a small party of men joined our infantry in the British encampment, keeping up fire for a small space of time; found our army had withdrawn from field made it necessary for us likewise to withdraw. We brought off one of their three-pounders, which was with much difficulty performed through a thick wood for four miles, without the assistance of but one horse. We got to the encamping ground, where we left in the morning, about two in the evening. Visit this web site for a more detailed account of the Battle of Eutah Springs:
On September 10th, Col. Malmedy, at Howell's Ferry on the Congaree, wrote to Greene stating he got the prisoners taken at Eutaw across the Congaree River by yesterday evening. He asked for further orders because he could not obtain supplies where he was and had to move towards Camden. The tour of duty of eighty militiamen from the Salisbury district was to end on October 6, and another fifty from the Hillsborough district pretend that 16 Sept. was their last day of service. These two detachments would be able to escort the 246 prisoners. The rest of the North Carolina militia force, numbering some 204 men, could be combined and be of some service. Many of the N.C. militia had been guarding the baggage during the battle of Eutaw Springs. [Source of above Historical Accounts: Calendar and Record of the Revolutionary War in the South: 1780-1781, by William Thomas Sherman, 2009.] Note: Capt. Locke took command of the militia troops after the death of Col. Malmedy and removed the prisoners to an area near Salisbury, NC.
THIRD TOUR OF DUTY (approximate): October 6, 1781 - October/December 1781 (Probably October 19, 1781 after Cornwallis' surrender)
Statements in Jonas' Application for a Pension: While lying here (Salisbury), his three months tour expired, but through the solicitation of Capt. Locke, who had not sufficient forces to guard the prisoners, he remained from one to two months longer and was regularly discharged by Capt. Locke.
Historical Accounts: Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown on October 19, 1781. Although this marked the end of the Revolutionary War, minor battles between the British and the colonists continued for another two years. Finally, in February of 1783 George III issued his Proclamation of Cessation of Hostilities, culminating in the Peace Treaty of 1783. Signed in Paris on September 3, 1783, the agreement - also known as the Paris Peace Treaty - formally ended the United States War for Independence.