Military officer: born in
Virginia: became colonel of the 11th Virginia Regiment, May 16, 1778.
In May. 1780, when his command, hastening to the relief of
Lincoln at
Charleston, heard of his surrender, they returned towards
North Carolina.
Buford's command consisted of nearly 400 Continental infantry, a small detachment of
Colonel
[
440]
Washington's cavalry, and two field-pieces.
He had reached
Camden in safety, and was retreating leisurely towards
Charlotte, when
Colonel Tarleton, with 700 men, all mounted, sent in pursuit by Cornwallis, overtook
Buford upon the
Waxhaw Creek.
Tarleton had marched 100 miles in fifty-four hours. With only his cavalry — the remainder were mounted infantry — he almost surrounded
Buford before that officer was aware of danger, and demanded an instant surrender upon the terms given to the
Americans at
Charleston.
These were too humiliating, and
Buford refused compliance.
While flags for the conference were passing and repassing,
Tarleton, contrary to the rules of warfare, was making preparations for an attack in case of refusal.
The instant he received
Buford's reply, his cavalry made a furious charge upon the
American ranks (May 29). The assailed troops were dismayed by an attack under such circumstances, and all was confusion.
Some fired upon their assailants, others threw down their arms and begged for quarter.
None was given, and men without arms were hewn to pieces by the sabres of
Tarleton's cavalry.
There were 113 slain; and 150 were so maimed as to be unable to travel, and fifty-three were made prisoners to grace the triumphal entry of the conqueror into
Camden.
Only five of the
British were killed and fifteen wounded. All of
Buford's artillery, ammunition, and baggage became spoil for the enemy.
For this savage feat Cornwallis eulogized
Tarleton, and commended him to the ministers as worthy of special favor.
Afterwards, “
Tarleton's quarter” became a proverbial synonym for cruelty.
Stedman, one of Cornwallis's officers, and a historian of the war, wrote, “On this occasion the virtue of humanity was totally forgotten.”
Colonel Buford died in
Scott county, Ky., June 29, 1833.
