Note 1117 — Chapter VI · (continued 2)

They can also be found in full in the Ninth Report of the Royal Commission on Historical MSS., Appendix, iii. p. 103; Cornwallis Correspondence, i. 488 and 492; Tarleton, 128; Annual Register (1780), under Principal Occurrences, p. 72; and Political Magazine, i. 675, 678. The second one is in the Remembrancer, x. 267; Tarleton, 128; Gentleman's Magazine for Oct., 1780; and in many other places. Not long before the battle, Gates supposed himself to be at the head of 7,000 men,—Williams in Johnson's Greene, i. 493,—while an estimate found in De Kalb's pocket (Remembrancer, x. 279) gives the size of the American army at some day before the battle at 6,000, less 500 deserters. In this estimate the Virginians were reckoned at 1,400,—twice their real number. Jefferson in "Memoranda" (Giradin, iv. 400) gives the total at 2,800,—the North Carolina militia being rated at 1,000, far below their real strength. Williams (Narrative, in Johnson's Greene) gives the "rank and file present and fit for duty" as 3,052. Gordon gives the total, including officers, as 3,663. If we add to this number the light infantry and cavalry we get a total of 4,033 men of all arms. This is probably as correct an estimate as can be made. Cf. J. A. Stevens in Mag. Am. Hist. (v. 267), where the subject is fully discussed.