Campbell, William

CAMPBELL, WILLIAM. (1745–1781). Patriot leader at Kings Mountain. Virginia. Born in Augusta County, Virginia in August 1745, Campbell led the local militia during Dunmore's War in 1774. At the start of the Revolution, Campbell raised a militia company. A few months later he was made a captain of the Continental First Virginia Regiment. In April 1776 he married Elizabeth Henry, the sister of Patrick Henry. He resigned his commission in October 1776. Thereafter he served as boundary commissioner in dealings with the Cherokees, rose to the rank of colonel in the militia, and was a delegate to the Virginia legislature. In 1779 and 1780 he led a partisan campaign against Loyalists, becoming known for his brutality as the "bloody tyrant of Washington County."

At the urging of Isaac Shelby, Campbell led 400 Virginia militia in the attack on Major Patrick Ferguson's Loyalists. Unable to agree upon a commander, the assembled volunteers elected Campbell "officer of the day," and he became the nominal leader of the composite force that won the important victory at Kings Mountain, South Carolina, on 7 October 1780. Campbell took part in the killing of Loyalists attempting to surrender.

A few weeks later Campbell marched his militia to join General Nathanael Greene, demonstrating courage and skill as a commander during the battles at Wetzell's Mill on 6 March 1781, and Guilford, North Carolina, on 15 March of that year. Rewarded with the rank of brigadier general by the Virginia assembly on 14 June 1781, Campbell next led his militia to reinforce General Lafayette's forces in Virginia. Campbell fell sick shortly thereafter and died at Rocky Mills, in Hanover County, Virginia, on 22 August 1781.

SEE ALSO Dunmore's (or Cresap's) War; Kings Mountain, South Carolina.

                        revised by Michael Bellesiles