Maury County TN Archives Military Records.....Gurley, Jeremiah October 30, 1832
Revwar - Pension
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Pension Application Of Jeremiah Gurley, Natl Archives Series M804, Roll 1174, Application
#S13231
Madison County, AL, October 30, 1832, Jeremiah Gurley, aged 73 years: That the
original manuscript entry made by John Gurley, affiants father, of the births
of his children, is shown to the court and herewith sent. Affiant was born on
the 29th December, 1759; and by family tradition, his birth occurred in
Johnston County, NC. About February 1781 there was a draft in that county to
reinforce the American army in North Carolina, which it was expected would
shortly engage the British in a battle. Affiants brother being drafted for 3
months, he determined to go with him, and enlisted as a substitute for one
whose name is forgotten, and with his brother, William, was put under Captain
Hardy Bryan and marched to join Major General Greene, then stated to be in
Guilford County.
They united with General Butler on Haw River, who conducted them to Greens
army. General Greene put most of the militia under regular officers; and
affiant and his company were placed under Colonel Eaton. General Greene moved
with his forces toward the waste fields near Guilford Courthouse and entered
them from the east on the morning of 15th March. Earl Cornwallis army at the
same time appeared on the western part of the space and opened a cannonade.
Affiant and his company were near the center of Greenes line, which opened at
the center, and the artillery passed through. Formed in front and returned the
cannonade. The action then became general and lasted several hours. Affiants
brother was killed at his side, but he, himself was not wounded.
General Green, at the close of the battle, retired to Troublesome Ironworks
where his army reached about nightfall, and the next day or shortly after,
advanced to Ramseys Mills where it was expected to engage a detachment of the
enemy; but on getting there, they had retired precipitately, leaving their
fires burning and some of their baggage and provisions; having thrown a hasty
bridge over a shallow of Deep River by rails and logs. General Greene selected
his best troops and moved toward Camden to attack Lord Rawdon.
Captain Bryan had left the army to act as a member of the colonial
legislature, leaving his brother, Asa, the lieutenant to succeed him, with whom
this affiant went in this expedition after Rawdon. Greene encamped about 3
miles from Camden; the next day ordered most of the militia with him to
countermarch as if retreating but to return the next day. He, on their return,
proceeded rapidly with the van toward the town, but was met by the enemy and
thrown into apparent and en__real disorder. But the militia and artillery
coming up to his assistance, the enemy were checked and engaged for some ?time,
when he left the field in order, leaving the enemy too much injured to pursue.
In this affair, affiant was under Col. Read.
Affiant becoming too ill to proceed in said service was ordered to a hospital
but upon reaching the hospital, he declined entering it, but found a hospitable
reception with a family on Lynchs Creek. The rest of his company were shortly
after discharged, and coming where the affiant was, the Captain gave him the
discharge of the 13th day of May, 1781, which is herewith sent. Affiant
returned with them to Johnston County and immediately volunteered in his
brother Lewis Gurleys company of light Horse, raised to defend the county from
the Tories. It was raised for 3 months but found little else to do but move
from point to point and arrest the stragglers of that worst of all enemies; and
were dismissed before that term expired. Samuel S????h the colonel of the
county, gave affiant a discharge from this service which is also annexed.
Presently after, affiant served under Col. Benjamin ?Exum in an expedition of
the militia raised to attack the British in their passage at Spring Bank, but
they passed farther below. Affiant, being best satisfied by being on the field,
offered himself and horse as a substitute for anyone who should wish to leave
it, and took the place of one whose name he cared not to remember, in a troop
of horse and finished his term, about 15 or 20 days.
18-months men were then called for by Congress to be raised by volunteering or
by draft. Classes were formed and numbered. Affiant took a number and got the
men required to fill it, and when that number was called they stepped forth.
Col. Robert Rayford , a regular officer, was present, and having heard of
affiants services, urged him to be of his mess, stating that he would put him
on extra duties and in general exempt him from the ordinary drafts and
fatigues. He consented; was allowed to ride his own horse, and appear in a garb
suitable for the colonels mess and staff. He proceeded with him to Charleston,
and until the close of the Revolution, acted immediately or mediately under his
orders. Affiants whole service exceeded 6 months and was near 12 of active
continued duty.
Affiant, in order to avail of the corroborating memory of James Cotton of this
county, will mention two incidents which are also remembered by him. On their
march from Troublesome Ironworks to Ramseys Mills, affiant remembered to have
seen a man hanging to a tree with a paper on his breast. Affiant went to him,
turned his head and read the inscription which mentioned his desertion to the
Tories as the cause of the example made of him. The other circumstance occurred
at Ramseys Mills. The troops were marched out upon an alarm and formed around
a tree where two men were hung; the two thus hung, affiant understood, were
Tories and had come to the Whig camp, pretending themselves to be Whigs and
giving a false alarm about the enemys approach.
Shortly after the Revolution, the affiant removed into Georgetown District of
South Carolina, remained there about 10 years, removed back into Johnson
County, NC where he remained with his family about 10 years, then removed into
Maury County, TN, where he resided until 1817, when he came with his family
into Madison County, AL, where he since and still does reside.
Additional Comments:
His familys birth records torn from the Bible pages, are included among the
photocopies on the microfilm.
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