Major James Dunlap: Was He Murdered Twice? - Journal of the American Revolution Skip to content Search for: Conflict & War People Politics Culture Economics Critical Thinking Plus Home Submissions Submissions Submission Guidelines JAR Style Guide JAR Books Annual Volumes JAR Books Book of the Year Award Advertising Archives About Mission and Staff Teacher's Guide Privacy Contact H…

Among the most respected of all the Whig military men, Pickens had only renounced his parole the month before. Lord Cornwallis's response was to send Dunlap (often spelled Dunlop) who he described as "an active, gallant officer."[1] In truth, Major Dunlap was far more than just an active and gallant officer. From the rebel point of view, he was a vicious and brutal man with a reputation for indisc…

Once in South Carolina with Cornwallis, Captain Dunlap continued to distinguish himself. At Earle's Ford he led 14 dragoons and 60 militia into an assault against "a party from Georgia who had been plundering that day within a few miles of my post." He charged into their camp "killing and wounding about 30 of the rebels and making them retreat some distance." At that point Dunlap discovered that h…

"Expecting every moment to be attacked," the captain decided to make a speedy retreat, which he accomplished "without molestation." During the action, Dunlap only lost one of the regulars and two of the militia.[4] Even though forced to retreat with his militia scattered, Dunlap's personal reputation for coolness and bravery remained intact. In August Dunlap had a similar experience. Ferguson disp…

Nisbet Balfour concurred with the assessment describing Dunlap as "active, knowing in the country and the manners of the country people, and very spirited. Whilst with me, he behaved rather well, rather too far forward in his patrols, by which he got into scrapes, but it is a fault which soon mends."[7] Balfour's words about riding "too far forward in his patrols" proved instantly prophetic since,…

I shall therefore probably incline eastward if I do not succeed in my present object in two days."[11] As every fan of the American Revolution knows, Ferguson remained at his camp atop King's Mountain at least one day too long and the Overmountain Men provided him with crushing defeat yet glorious death. But what is not so well known is that, at the same time Ferguson met his end, Captain Dunlap f…

The tradition held that "Major Dunlap" was buried just 300 yards away "south of the Gilbert House, the grave being still pointed out, marked by a granite rock at the head and foot."[12] But Captain Dunlap's story didn't end there. In reviewing the Papers of Lord Cornwallis, it quickly becomes apparent that Dunlap did not die at Gilbert's house. He recovered from his wound and returned to his dutie…

Col. Andrew Pickens renounced his parole and led the Long Cane regiment back into the field after six months of inactivity. Even though located in the back country, the Ninety Six District was actually the most heavily populated district of South Carolina and Pickens was its most dynamic officer. They were an experienced and well directed militia brigade of several regiments and having them break …

His first thoughts on returning were of Major Dunlap who was "detached from Ninety-Six into the country, on a foraging party; Pickens detached Clarke [Colonel Elijah Clarke who commanded the Georgia Refugees] and M'Call, with a suitable force, to attack him."[17] Their orders were to leave the Loyalists alone except that "if they found any that needed killing not to spare them."[18] Clarke and McC…

C. called Gilbert, where Dunlap was confined for some time, in an upper room, where one of our men (as was said) privately shot him dead with a pistol."[20] In his report on the incident to General Greene, Pickens described the murderers as "a set of men chiefly known"[21] before naming one as an "Overmountain Man named Cobb." Pickens said he put up a substantial reward for Cobb's capture, an acti…

In the confusion, the rebels began to threaten the other British officers with death if they failed to get the fire out, "which they did with the assistance of some water that lay in the room; they then demanded Captain Dunlap's helmet, boots, & spurs and desired the officers with Captain Dunlap to lie down on which they left the room for about five minutes & then returned as before and one of the…

Some time after the officers with Captain Dunlap finding the Rebels had entirely left the house went to Captain Dunlap & found him still alive and able to Speak, desiring Captain Cozens to dress his wounds adding he thought he might live if good care was taken of him, the Officers dressed his wounds in the best manner they could, and sat up with him 'till morning & then dressed him again by his ow…

Sam & Elijah Moore, Captain Burnet of the Rebel Georgia Militia & one Damewood & Fox were perpetrators of this murder -[23] At this point, it appears that Captain Dunlap's story finally ended. There is little doubt that he was a courageous officer but opinions differ widely after that. From Cornwallis's point of view, Dunlap was spirited, gallant, and just what was needed for cavalry operations in…

[1] Charles Cornwallis to Nesbit Balfour, November 4, 1780, in Ian Saberton, The Cornwallis Papers (East Sussex, Naval & Military Press, 2010), III:60. [2] John Graves Simcoe, Simcoe's Military Journal (New York, Bartlett & Welford, 1844), 52. [3] James Dunlap to Balfour, July 15, 1780, in Saberton, Cornwallis Papers, I:254. [4] Dunlap to Balfour, July 15, 1780, in Saberton, Cornwallis Papers, I:2…

Thompson, 1881), 160-161. [13] Cornwallis to Balfour, November 4, 1780, in Saberton, Cornwallis Papers, III:60. [14] Balfour to Cornwallis, January 7, 1781, in Saberton, Cornwallis Papers, III:131. [15] Cornwallis to John Harris Cruger, January 13, 1781, in Saberton, Cornwallis Papers, III:292. [16] Hugh McCall, The History of Georgia, (Savannah: Seymour & Williams, 1816), II:352. [17] McCall, His…

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