Guilford-Randolph County NcArchives Military Records.....Beeson, Edward November 8, 1832 Revwar - Pension ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com June 13, 2006, 4:04 am Pension Application Of Edward Beeson, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 203, Application # S12984 EDWARD BEESON, a resident of St. Clair County, AL, aged between 70 and 80 years: “He entered the service as a volunteer from the state of North Carolina, Guilford County, now Randolph. It was the spring of the year 1778, as he believes. DAVID BROWER was his captain, JAMES WOODS-Lieutenant, this deponent ensign, and ___ sergeant. ROBERT MCLEAN was their major, THOMAS DOUGAN, colonel, BUTLER- general. Their object was the destruction of the Tories. Next day, after they left Johnsonville, their place of rendezvous, their captain and three men were killed by the Tories who waylaid them (the Tories were commanded by Major RAINS) and fired on them from a steep hill on the side of Brush Creek.” “After BROWER was killed, WOODS became captain and this deponent Lieutenant. They pursued the Tories about forty miles to Fork? Creek, and there besieged them in a house belonging to one JOHN NEEDHAM [per The Old North State, Eli W. Caruthers, this was in the fall of 1781]. In the morning before they got to NEEDHAM’s, their colonel (DOUGAN) joined them. This deponent was then ordered with half of his company to the back of the house under concealment of an orchard, while the rest were to attack in front. This deponent’s company were the first who took possession of the same, those in front having feigned a retreat to draw out the Tories, which accordingly succeeded. Twenty-one were killed, seven at the house and fourteen at the place where they kept the horses, the Tories having fled there, to where they were concealed on the bank of Deep River, and where Colonel DOUGAN himself had gone with a detachment to surprise them if they should be driven from the house.” “They then marched down to Cape Fear (or Fair)Town and from there to the Brown Marsh near Wilmington, where they again had to battle with the Tories on open ground [per the Old North State, Eli W. Caruthers, after the Battle at Cane Creek, which was on Sept. 13, 1781]. They there (again) defeated the Tories who, being reinforced by the British from their shipping at Fort Johnson, they returned and defeated us in turn. From thence they (the Americans) returned by Cape Fear to Guilford (now Randolph). At this time they were out three months and were discharged.” “Soon after this, the Tories gathered and took Hillsborough when this deponent and his company were again ordered out. This deponent having been elected on the very next day after his return from his first service as captain, one WOODS being his competition for the same. JOHN JOHNES or [JONES] was his lieutenant and WILLIAM BROWN his sergeant. They then marched down to Hillsborough and joined with the Orange and Wake men and some from Chatham for the purpose of attacking the Tories and rescuing Governor BURKE [per David Fanning Narrative, Burke was taken by the Tories September12, 1781]. This, he believes, was the fall of the year, but is not certain. They marched to Cane Creek [the Battle of Lindley’s Mill, per Heitman, September 13, 1781, also see pgs.55-56 in David Fanning’s Narrative], and there attacked the Tories, at which time John LUTTERAL who acted as colonel was killed, and a number of our men. We were defeated ____ ____. After a short time? __ this deponent was then ordered with half of his company to Guilford. The Tory general HECTOR MCNEIL was killed in a skirmish [per The Old North State, Eli W. Caruthers, this is confirmed, he died in the Battle at Cane Creek, Sept. 13, 1781] and their Colonel FANNING had his arm broken. This deponent’s company had permission to return home for a short time. This term of service was something less than four, though over three months.” “His next term of service was again as a volunteer. This he believes was the next year. At this time they were roused by the Tories who came and burned Colonel DOUGAN’s house, and Colonel BALFOUR’s house, at the same time killing Colonel BALFOUR [per Eli W. Caruthers in The Old North State, this occurred on Sunday, March 10th, 1782]. They also killed JOHN BROWN and burned his house. Also MILLIGAN’s and COLLIER’s houses were burned. They pursued them under the command of Colonel BLETCHER (or BLEECHER) [Brashear?], this deponent being still captain and remaining so until the close of the war, the same lieutenant and ensign were with him at this time as at the last.” “This deponent, previous to the last service mentioned, had been on another tour, which through mistake was not put down previous to the others as it ought to have been. He went out from the same district and state. REED was their colonel, BLETCHER their major, and LILLINGTON their general, after they arrived at Charleston. They arrived there at the time the British were lying at St. John’s Island. This deponent was with his company at the time Charleston [per Heitman, May 12, 1780] was taken, at the place and in the town. The regulars being intrenched down on the wharf were taken, but his company escaped. At this time he was out in the service four months, and was discharged by General LILLINGTON. He received a written discharge which is lost or destroyed.” “This deponent served several other times for a short space, not here mentioned, and the particulars of which he cannot either recollect or describe as this deponent’s memory is so impaired by age that almost common occurrences are forgotten by him. This deponent has no documentary evidence and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service, except his commission as captain. His first commission was given him by Colonel DOUGAN, which he lost during the War. ___ the colonel to supply its place afterwards ____ ___ evidence had it supplied by the governor of __ __. This was done that he might receive his pension for his services. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/guilford/military/revwar/pensions/beeson114gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 6.5 Kb