The Defense of Wilmington, NC, in 1813-- Part 3

The residents of Wilmington were expecting an attack by the British at any time.  They had landed at Ocracoke, just up the coast.  The state militia was called out.

Fayetteville sent a company of light infantry, Sampson County furnished a company of light horse.  Richmond did too.

The "sickly season commenced" and there was much illness among the militia.  One company looked particularly hard hit.  But, the British did not come.

The Troop of Horse consisted of 80 men: "Col. Hill was the best horseman I ever knew & the most graceful figure on horseback.... and often did we dash at full speed thro' the town, the horses' hoofs thundering along the streets, the clattering of steel sabre-sheaths, & the yelling of the boys, as if to say 'the devil take the hindmost."

--Brock-Perry