Named Entity Results, John Ashe

Ashe, John, 1720- Military officer: born in Grovely, Brunswick co., N. C., in 1720; was in the North Carolina legislature for several years, and was speaker in 1762-65. He warmly opposed the Stamp Act: assisted Governor Tryon in suppressing the Regulator movement in 1771, but soon afterwards became a zealous Whig. He was an active patriot, and because he led 500 men to destroy Fort Johnson he was denounced as a rebel. Raising and equipping a regiment at his own expense, he was appointed stroy Fort Johnson he was denounced as a rebel. Raising and equipping a regiment at his own expense, he was appointed brigadier-general of the Wilmington District in April. 1776. He joined Lincoln in South Carolina in 1778; and after he was defeated at Brier Creek, in March, 1779, he returned home. General Ashe suffered much at the hands of the British at Wilmington after the battle at Guilford, and died of small-pox, which he had contracted in prison, in Sampson county, N. C., Oct. 24, 1781.

Brier Creek, battle of. Colonel Ashe, of North Carolina, was sent by General Lincoln, with 2,000 men, to drive the British from Augusta, Ga., in 1779. The latter fled when Ashe appeared on the opposite side of the river, and pushed towards the Ashe appeared on the opposite side of the river, and pushed towards the sea, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell. Ashe crossed and pursued as far as Brier Creek, 40 miles below Augusta, on the Georgia side of the Savannah River, where he encamped. He was surprised (March 3) and utterly defeated by General Prevost, who wAshe crossed and pursued as far as Brier Creek, 40 miles below Augusta, on the Georgia side of the Savannah River, where he encamped. He was surprised (March 3) and utterly defeated by General Prevost, who was marching up from Savannah to support Campbell. Ashe lost almost his entire army by death, captivity, and dispersion. Some were killed, others perished in the morasses, and many were drowned in attempting to pass the Savannah River. This blow deAshe lost almost his entire army by death, captivity, and dispersion. Some were killed, others perished in the morasses, and many were drowned in attempting to pass the Savannah River. This blow deprived Lincoln of about one-fourth of his army and led to the temporary re-establishment of royal authority in Georgia.

arrived from North Carolina and the fragments of Howe's force, he had about 1,400 men, whom he stationed to guard the fords of the Savannah. The force under Prevost was much larger, but he hesitated to cross the river, the marshy borders of which were often overflowed to the width of 3 or 4 miles, threaded only at one or two points by a narrow causeway. A detachment sent by Prevost to take possession of Port Royal Island was repulsed by Colonel Moultrie. Lincoln, being reinforced, sent Colonel Ashe, of North Carolina, with 1,400 troops, to drive the British from Augusta. The British fled down the Georgia side of the river at his approach. He crossed and pursued, and at Brier Creek, about half-way to Savannah, he lay encamped, when he was surprised, and, after a sharp skirmish, was defeated, and his troops dispersed. The British reoccupied Augusta and opened a communication with the South Carolina Tories and the friendly Creek Indians. Now secured in the quiet possession of Geor

Johnson, Fort A former protective work on the Cape Fear River, near Wilmington, N. C. On June 14, 1775, the royal governor, Joseph Martin, took refuge in the fort, as the indignant people had begun to rise in rebellion against royal rule. From that stronghold he sent forth a menacing proclamation, and soon afterwards preparations for a servile insurrection were discovered. The rumor went abroad that Martin had incited the slaves. The exasperated people determined to drive him from the fort and demolish it. A body of 500 men, led by John Ashe and Cornelius Harnett, marched to the fort. Martin had fled on board a British vessel of war in the river. The munitions of war had all been removed on board of a transport, and the garrison also had fled. The people burned the barracks and demolished the walls.

ews of hostile preparations reached the governor's ears from every quarter. Becoming alarmed for his personal safety, he fled to Fort Johnson, June 14, on the Cape Fear River, near Wilmington, whence he sent forth, June 16, a menacing proclamation. A plot for a servile insurrection was discovered in July. It was supposed the governor had planned it, and the indignant people determined to demolish Fort Johnson, and not allow Martin to make it a stronghold. Five hundred of them, led by John Ashe, marched on the fort. The governor fled to the sloop-of-war Cruiser, lying in the river, and the people demolished the fort. The patriots disarmed the Tories, and confined as prisoners on their plantations those who were most obnoxious, and the Continental Congress voted to sustain the Whigs in North Carolina with a force of 1,000 men. They prepared to hold a new convention, when Martin, from on shipboard, issued a proclamation forbidding the meeting, and making accusations against the p