William Lee Davidson
Encyclopedia
William Lee Davidson was a North Carolina
militia general during the American Revolutionary War
.
, in 1750, and William, the youngest son, was educated at Queen's Museum (later Liberty Hall) in Charlotte
.
during the Snow Campaign
in December 1775, he was promoted to major of the Fourth Regiment of the North Carolina line
in 1776. He marched with the North Carolina line to the north and was at the Battle of Germantown
, after which he was promoted to Lt. Colonel of the Fifth Regiment of the North Carolina line
. At Valley Forge
with Washington, “Light Horse Harry” Lee, Daniel Morgan
and others, he became friends with most of the influential military commanders in the Continental Line. Left without a command he had been ordered out for the purpose of preventing the British from crossing the Catawba
. Griffith Rutherford appointed Davidson his second in command. Severely wounded at the Battle of Colson's Mill
on July 21, 1780, he did not participate in the Battle of Camden
at which Rutherford was captured. Davidson was promoted to brigadier general and given command of Rutherford's Salisbury District militia. He participated in resisting the entry of Lord Cornwallis into Charlotte in late September 1780. He was killed at the Battle of Cowan's Ford
in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
on February 1, 1781 while opposing the re-entry of Cornwallis into North Carolina. Davidson's body was recovered after the battle and was buried at Hopewell Presbyterian Church located on Beatties Ford Road North of Charlotte.
Congress voted $500 for a monument to him, but it has never been erected.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
militia general during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Origins and education
His father moved with his family to Rowan County, North CarolinaRowan County, North Carolina
-Demographics and economics:As of the census of 2010, there were 138,428 people, 53,140 households, and 37,058 families residing in the county. The population density was 270.7 people per square mile . There were 60,211 housing units at an average density of 117.7 per square mile...
, in 1750, and William, the youngest son, was educated at Queen's Museum (later Liberty Hall) in Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
.
Military Campaigns
Active in the war from its inception as adjutant to General Griffith RutherfordGriffith Rutherford
Griffith Rutherford was an officer in the American Revolutionary War, a political leader in North Carolina, and an important figure in the early history of the Southwest Territory and the state of Tennessee....
during the Snow Campaign
Snow Campaign
The Snow Campaign was the first major battle of the American Revolutionary War in the southern campaign. An American army of 3,000 troops under Colonel Richard Richardson invaded British territory in South Carolina, taking over their camp at the Reedy River....
in December 1775, he was promoted to major of the Fourth Regiment of the North Carolina line
4th North Carolina Regiment
The 4th North Carolina Regiment was raised on January 16, 1776 at Wilmington, North Carolina for service with the Continental Army. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. The regiment was captured by the British...
in 1776. He marched with the North Carolina line to the north and was at the Battle of Germantown
Battle of Germantown
The Battle of Germantown, a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War, was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania between the British army led by Sir William Howe and the American army under George Washington...
, after which he was promoted to Lt. Colonel of the Fifth Regiment of the North Carolina line
5th North Carolina Regiment
The 5th North Carolina Regiment was assigned on March 26, 1776 to the Continental Army in the Southern Department. It was organized in the spring of 1776 at Wilmington, North Carolina as eight companies of volunteers from the districts of Newbern, Edenton and Hillsborough of the colony of North...
. At Valley Forge
Valley Forge
Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War.-History:...
with Washington, “Light Horse Harry” Lee, Daniel Morgan
Daniel Morgan
Daniel Morgan was an American pioneer, soldier, and United States Representative from Virginia. One of the most gifted battlefield tacticians of the American Revolutionary War, he later commanded troops during the suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion.-Early years:Most authorities believe that...
and others, he became friends with most of the influential military commanders in the Continental Line. Left without a command he had been ordered out for the purpose of preventing the British from crossing the Catawba
Catawba River
The Catawba River is a tributary of the Wateree River in the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. The river is approximately 220 miles long...
. Griffith Rutherford appointed Davidson his second in command. Severely wounded at the Battle of Colson's Mill
Battle of Colson's Mill
The Battle of Colson's Mill was a battle of the American Revolutionary War that took place in North Carolina on July 21, 1780. A Patriot militia under William Lee Davidson scattered a gathering of Loyalists at Colson's Mill, near the junction of the Rocky and Pee Dee Rivers in present-day Stanly...
on July 21, 1780, he did not participate in the Battle of Camden
Battle of Camden
The Battle of Camden was a major victory for the British in the Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War...
at which Rutherford was captured. Davidson was promoted to brigadier general and given command of Rutherford's Salisbury District militia. He participated in resisting the entry of Lord Cornwallis into Charlotte in late September 1780. He was killed at the Battle of Cowan's Ford
Battle of Cowan's Ford
The Battle of Cowan's Ford was a battle in the Southern Theater of Cornwallis's 1780–1782 Campaign that eventually led to the British Army's surrender at Yorktown during the American Revolutionary War...
in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
-Air:The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.- Intercity rail :With twenty-five freight trains a day, Mecklenburg is a freight railroad transportation center, largely due to its place on the NS main line between Washington and Atlanta...
on February 1, 1781 while opposing the re-entry of Cornwallis into North Carolina. Davidson's body was recovered after the battle and was buried at Hopewell Presbyterian Church located on Beatties Ford Road North of Charlotte.
Namesakes
- Davidson County, North CarolinaDavidson County, North Carolina-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 149,331 people, 58,156 households, and 42,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 267 people per square mile . There were 62,432 housing units at an average density of 113 per square mile...
and Davidson County, TennesseeDavidson County, TennesseeDavidson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 626,681. Its county seat is Nashville.In 1963, the City of Nashville and the Davidson County government merged, so the county government is now known as the "Metropolitan Government of Nashville and...
. - The town of Davidson, North CarolinaDavidson, North CarolinaDavidson is a town in Mecklenburg County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 7,139 at the 2000 census. It is home to Davidson College...
. - Davidson CollegeDavidson CollegeDavidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine, although it has recently dropped to 11th in U.S. News...
in North Carolina. His sword once hung in one of its halls.
Congress voted $500 for a monument to him, but it has never been erected.