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Cowan’s Ford Revolutionary Battle, NC
General William Lee Davidson
On October 22, 1775, William Lee Davidson was appointed as an Adjutant, with the rank of Captain, under Col. Griffith Rutherford in the newly-created 1st Rowan County Regiment of Militia. Capt. William Lee Davidson was with Col. Rutherford at the battle of Ninety-Six, SC (11/19-11/21/1775); at the battle of Great Cane Brake, SC (12/22/1775); and, in the infamous Snow Campaign, SC (12/23-12/30/1775).
In early 1776, William Lee Davidson was appointed as a Major under Col. Francis Locke in the 1st Rowan County Regiment of Militia. This regiment is known to have not marched towards the coast for the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge - they were ordered to remain at home to guard against potential Loyalist uprisings.
On April 15, 1776, the NC Provincial Congress appointed William Lee Davidson as a Major under Col. Thomas Polk in the newly-created 4th NC Regiment, which was soon placed on the NC Continental Line. Maj. William Lee Davidson was with this regiment at the battles of Brandywine Creek, PA (9/11/1777) and Germantown, PA (10/4/1777).
On October 4, 1777, William Lee Davidson was promoted to Lt. Colonel under Col. Edward Buncombe (POW at this point in time) in the 5th NC Regiment (NC Continental Line), replacing Lt. Col. Henry Irwin, who was mortally wounded/killed at the battle of Germantown, PA on October 4, 1777. Soon thereafter, he was re-assigned to the 7th NC Regiment (NC Continental Line) under Col. James Hogun, exact date unknown.
On June 1, 1778, Lt. Col. William Lee Davidson was transferred to the 3rd NC Regiment (NC Continental Line) under Col. Jethro Sumner. On that date, all other officers of the 7th NC Regiment were sent home to rebuild. Lt. Col. William Lee Davidson was with the 3rd NC Regiment at the battle of Monmouth, NJ on June 28, 1778.
On January 9, 1779, Lt. Col. William Lee Davidson was given command of the 1st NC Regiment (NC Continental Line), when Col. Thomas Clark was transferred to the 5th NC Regiment. Why he was given command of the regiment and not promoted to full Colonel is lost to history. This Author has never uncovered a reasonable answer to this question, but it also applied later that same year to Lt. Col. Robert Mebane, who was given command of the recreated 3rd NC Regiment and also not promoted to full Colonel.
By the end of 1779, the eintire NC Continental Line was in terrible shape, both in the Northern and Southern theaters. All northern regiments were ordered to march southward and they were in North Carolina by January of 1780 preparing for the anticipated British invasion of Charlestown. Col. Thomas Clark was given command of the 1st NC Regiment once again, and Lt. Col. William Lee Davidson was left without a Continental command. What happened officially is currently not known to this Author.
However, in early 1780, William Lee Davidson showed up as a Colonel leading part of the Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia. It is possible that he was appointed as the second Colonel in the recently-created 2nd Mecklenburg County Regiment, alongside Col. Caleb Phifer, but available records are silent on all of this. It just becomes a fact - there were now four full Colonels leading the large number of Militia units in Mecklenburg County - George Alexander, Robert Irwin, Caleb Phifer, and William Lee Davidson. However, William Lee Davidson refused to give up his commission as a Lt. Colonel in the NC Continental Line - perhaps he merely led part of the Mecklenburg County Regiment as an "Acting Colonel of Militia." However, since he was a Continental officer, most Militia leaders quietly deferred to his judgement and decisions.
Col. William Lee Davidson led part of the Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia at the battle of Colson's Mill on July 21, 1780, where he was severely wounded. A month earlier, he and his men were "hours late" for the famous battle at Ramseur's Mill on June 20, 1780.
cont...