James and Susanna McMasters had migrated to North
Carolina with their Quaker friends to begin a new life, but they could not
escape the conflagration which had now engulfed all of the colonies. At this
point in the conflict, there was no middle ground. You were either a Patriot or
a Tory. As a consequence, three of James’ and Susanna’s sons (David, Daniel and
Andrew) had joined the North Carolina Militia to protect their family and
friends from Tory depredations.
2 In July, David’s and Daniel’s company was out
scouting the countryside for any signs of the Tory bands which had caused so
much trouble of late. It was a hot, sunny day, and they were marching toward
the ford where Sandy Creek meets the Deep River.
3 “Stay alert, men!” Captain David Brower shouted.
“Wish we was already back home,” Lieutenant Daniel McMasters grumbled. “I ain’t
leavin there for a month when we get home,” Captain David McMasters agreed.
4 However, as they approached the ford, no one had
noticed that a company of Tory militia had occupied the bluff overlooking Sandy
Creek. Suddenly, musket fire erupted from above. David saw Daniel drop, and
then he felt a sharp pain pierce his abdomen. Men were scattering for cover.
Captain Brower was also hit.
5 David was now lying on the creek bank and staring at
the sunlight streaming through the leaves of a sycamore tree. His midsection
felt wet, and he could feel his life draining away; but there was nothing he or
anyone else could do.
6 In the meantime, those Patriots who had secured
cover started returning fire; and the Tories began to slowly retreat. When the
muskets finally fell silent, everyone was still in shock.
7 "Captain Brower and Captain McMasters are
dead,” Daniel heard someone say. “Benjy’s dead too!” another shouted. “I’m
wounded,” several groaned. Daniel would die from his wounds a few days later.
8 “I’m sorry to have to tell you that both of your
sons were killed in an engagement with the Tories at Sandy Creek,” Colonel John
Lutrell told James. James’ eyes could not see the man in front of him, but they
could still shed tears. “I’m very sorry,” the Colonel repeated and quickly
mounted his horse and rode away.
9 “David and Daniel both gone!” he whispered.
“Jonathan, run next door and ask Brother Hobson to come over here as soon as he
is able to do so,” he instructed one of his younger sons.
10 A few hours later, James heard a knock at the door.
George Hobson, and his son Charles, swiftly strode across the room and embraced
their old friend. “We are very sorry to hear of thy sorrow,” George told him.
“Please pray for us,” James responded.
11 “I was wondering if you might be willing to write a
line or two for me to my Andrew,” he quickly came to the point. “We would be
honored to do so,” Charles responded for both of them.
12 “We may not have an opportunity to meet again in
this life,” James explained to his friends. The two men looked at each other
and shook their heads.
13 Charles spread some paper on the table, retrieved
his bottle of ink and quill from his pocket and began to write: “And now, my
son, we are separated in body and may never have the opportunity of further
conversation in this world.” He could feel a lump rising in his throat as he
penned the lines.
14 “I want to tell him how important it is for both of
us to spend whatever time we have left here seeking God and attending to our
salvation so that we may at least meet again someday in His blessed kingdom,”
James continued. Charles finished the letter with tears streaming down his
face.
15 “I thank you for this kindness,” James said as his
lifeless eyes stared at the wall before him. George pushed his stiffened limbs
up out of the chair he had quietly occupied while his son was writing and
crossed over to where his old friend was seated. He bent down and gently kissed
James on the forehead.
16 “I pray that Andrew will come home to you,” he
whispered. Then he and Charles left the McMasters’ household and went home and
prayed. The prayers worked. Andrew came home.
17 That fall, they received the news that Lord
Cornwallis had finally surrendered to General Washington at Yorktown. There
would be a few more skirmishes and diplomatic flourishes, but the war was
effectively over.
18 The British would soon acknowledge that their former colonies had indeed assumed that “separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God” entitled them. The United States of America was a reality that could no longer be denied.
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