John Ashe

1720 (age 61)

Grovely, North Carolina, United States

He was an officer of militia in the French War, and became a popular leader against the Crown. He was speaker of the Colonial Assembly 1762-1765, and a leader in the Stamp Act agitation. Either he or his nephew, John Baptista Ashe, siding against the anti-government Regulators in 1771, was taken prisoner by them, tied to a tree, and whipped. John Ashe was, however, a strong Whig, was a member of the Committee of Correspondence, and of the Provincial Congress, and of the Committee of Safety, and led the successful attack on Fort Johnston near Wilmington in the opening year of the Revolution. He was made a colonel in 1775, and brigadier-general of North Carolina troops in 1776. He was a good public speaker, graceful in appearance, with "popular manners. " Highly regarded for character and patriotism, Ashe was nevertheless an unskilled and inexperienced commander, as was shown too clearly in the unfortunate affair with which his name is chiefly connected. He had been sent by Gov. Caswell of North Carolina in 1778 to reinforce Gen. Lincoln who commanded in Charleston, and he led a regiment recruited from the eastern counties of his state. Detached by Lincoln to pursue the English leader, Col. Campbell, he crossed the Savannah River with about 1, 200 militia and some Georgia Continentals, inadequately armed. Lincoln's plan involved an attack by his whole army, and Ashe's co"peration was essential. Descending the river, Ashe occupied a strong position at Briar Creek, but neglected to defend an exposed flank, and was lacking in vigilance. Col. Prevost, brother of the English general, by a circuitous march gained the rear of the American army and took it by surprise; Elbert, a subordinate officer, and some of the troops fought well, but the bulk of the army gave way, and Prevost won a complete victory. Ashe was unable to rally the fugitives, many of whom perished in their flight to the swamps and the Savannah River. The loss was estimated at about 150 or 200, that of the enemy being trifling; many officers were among the prisoners, and a large part of the arms, ammunition, colors, and baggage fell to the English. The defeat was decisive, securing Georgia to the enemy, opening communications between that state, the Carolinas, and the Indians, and protracting the war. Ashe was apparently inactive during the battle. It has been asserted that he neglected to supply the troops with cartridges, and he was even charged with cowardice. He was brought before a court of inquiry over which Gen. Moultrie presided. Acquitted of cowardice, he was censured "for want of sufficient vigilance"; "having, " in the words of one historian, "neither judgment, skill, foresight, nor self-reliance. " The language of the court of inquiry was that he "did not take all the necessary precautions which he ought to have done. " He was greatly depressed by these events, and was soon after in hiding during the occupation of the eastern part of the state by the English. Betrayed to the enemy in 1781, he was freed on parole, but died of smallpox in Sampson County, North Carolina.

John Ashe

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Background

John Ashe was born in 1720 in Grovely, North Carolina, United States. He was the eldest son of John Baptista Ashe and Elizabeth Lillington Swann.

Education

It is known that Ashe attended Harvard, but did not graduate.

Career

He was an officer of militia in the French War, and became a popular leader against the Crown. He was speaker of the Colonial Assembly 1762-1765, and a leader in the Stamp Act agitation. Either he or his nephew, John Baptista Ashe, siding against the anti-government Regulators in 1771, was taken prisoner by them, tied to a tree, and whipped.

John Ashe was, however, a strong Whig, was a member of the Committee of Correspondence, and of the Provincial Congress, and of the Committee of Safety, and led the successful attack on Fort Johnston near Wilmington in the opening year of the Revolution.

He was made a colonel in 1775, and brigadier-general of North Carolina troops in 1776. He was a good public speaker, graceful in appearance, with "popular manners. " Highly regarded for character and patriotism, Ashe was nevertheless an unskilled and inexperienced commander, as was shown too clearly in the unfortunate affair with which his name is chiefly connected.

He had been sent by Gov. Caswell of North Carolina in 1778 to reinforce Gen. Lincoln who commanded in Charleston, and he led a regiment recruited from the eastern counties of his state. Detached by Lincoln to pursue the English leader, Col. Campbell, he crossed the Savannah River with about 1, 200 militia and some Georgia Continentals, inadequately armed. Lincoln's plan involved an attack by his whole army, and Ashe's co"peration was essential. Descending the river, Ashe occupied a strong position at Briar Creek, but neglected to defend an exposed flank, and was lacking in vigilance.

Col. Prevost, brother of the English general, by a circuitous march gained the rear of the American army and took it by surprise; Elbert, a subordinate officer, and some of the troops fought well, but the bulk of the army gave way, and Prevost won a complete victory. Ashe was unable to rally the fugitives, many of whom perished in their flight to the swamps and the Savannah River. The loss was estimated at about 150 or 200, that of the enemy being trifling; many officers were among the prisoners, and a large part of the arms, ammunition, colors, and baggage fell to the English.

The defeat was decisive, securing Georgia to the enemy, opening communications between that state, the Carolinas, and the Indians, and protracting the war. Ashe was apparently inactive during the battle.

It has been asserted that he neglected to supply the troops with cartridges, and he was even charged with cowardice. He was brought before a court of inquiry over which Gen. Moultrie presided. Acquitted of cowardice, he was censured "for want of sufficient vigilance"; "having, " in the words of one historian, "neither judgment, skill, foresight, nor self-reliance. " The language of the court of inquiry was that he "did not take all the necessary precautions which he ought to have done. "

He was greatly depressed by these events, and was soon after in hiding during the occupation of the eastern part of the state by the English. Betrayed to the enemy in 1781, he was freed on parole, but died of smallpox in Sampson County, North Carolina.

Achievements

Ashe was an exceptionally fine orator and influentional statesman in peacetime, and effective soldier in wartime.

Personality

Highly regarded for character and patriotism, Ashe was nevertheless an unskilled and inexperienced commander.

Connections

Early in life he married his cousin, Rebecca Moore, sister of Judge Maurice Moore and Gen. James Moore. They had seven children.

Father:: John Baptista Ashe
Mother:: Elizabeth Lillington (Swann) Ashe
Spouse:: Mary Rebecca (Moore) Ashe
Brother:: Samuel Swann Ashe
Sister:: Mary Moore Ashe
Daughter:: Harriet (Ashe) Laspeyre
Daughter:: Anna Rebecca (Ashe) Hall
Daughter:: Mary (Ashe) Allston
Daughter:: Elizabeth Maria (Ashe) Hill
Son:: Maj Samuel Ashe
Son:: William Algernon Ashe
Son:: A'Court Ashe

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John Ashe

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