Battle of McDowell – Conclusion

Colonel Sevier’s Last Stand on Thickety Ridge (click pix to enlarge)

The American battle line, from left to right, consisted of Hopkins‘ Militia, the 1st Virginia, the 3rd South Carolina, and in reserve, Kent’s Militia. The 3rd SC had its left flank anchored against the woods, but its right flank support was a little bit dodgey with elements of Kent’s Militia. Knowing that Captain Ray was with Kent’s Militia gave little solice to the 3rd SC, his reputation having preceeded him.
A closer view of the American left flank.

On Turn 8, two companies of the British Light Battalion on the British left flank spied Hopkins‘ Militia opposite them and pegged them as a worthy target for a charge (bayonets versus no bayonets was a killer for the militia).
Two companies of British Light troops prepare to charge into Hopkins‘ Militia .
On Turn 10, the British Light Companies press home another charge into Hopkins‘ Militia and after two more rounds of melee, the American militia are told off, allowing the Light Companies to maneuver behind the rest of the American battle line.
British Light companies move into the rear of the American battle line after driving off  Hopkins‘ Militia.
The American line bends back into a „U-formation“
On Turn 11, the British Legion cavalry and the 17th Light Dragoons charge up Thickety Ridge into the 3rd South Carolina while the other three companies of the Light Bobs charge into the 1st Virginia. The South Carolina troops go „shaken“ from the melee and were required to retire 6-inches facing the enemy. On the second round of the cavalry versus infantry melee, the „shaken“ penalty makes it difficult for the 3rd South Carolina to strike any hits on the collective British cavalry. The South Carolinians rout!
The 3rd South Carolina feel the fury of the British cavalry charge. The red coats are the 17th Light Dragoons and the green coats are Tarleton’s British Legion cavalry.

The Americans make a last stand in square formation, while Kent’s Militia skeddadles into the trees.
While all of this was going on, Kent’s Militia had skeddadled to the rear, with the cowardly Captain Ray leading the mad rush off the battlefield. A couple of his men had had enough of this behavior and they fired off a couple of shots towards Ray’s back, but they missed.
Captain Ray skulks off the battlefield to live and fight (?) another day! Some of his men attempt an 18th Century version of „fragging“ but miss their mark.
Later in the day, Captain Ray was captured by some of the British Legion cavalry and brought to Colonel Tarleton as a prisoner. The other American prisoners jeered at Captain Ray when they saw him. Tarleton, being no fool, announced, „let that man go! He serves us better commanding his troops than he does sitting in our jail.“


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