General Michael McLeary
General Michael McLeary was born in 1762. He first entered the service as a private in the Company of Captain William Alexander, Colonel Robert Irwin, Lt. Colonel William Hagins, and Major James Harris. The regiment was encamped on Coddle Creek, near which time Colonel William Davidson, a Continental officer, was appointed to the command of a battalion. In a short time afterward, his command marched to Ramsour's Mill, to disperse a large body of Tories, under Colonel John Moore, but failed to reach that place before they had been subdued and routed by Colonel Locke and his brave associates.General McLeary was in the fight against a considerable body of Tories assembled at Coulsons Mill, at which place General Davidson was severely wounded.
After this service he again volunteered in the regiment of Captain William Alexander and Colonel Irwin to observe the movements of the enemy.
About two miles south of Charlotte, Lieutenant James Taggart captured two wagons loaded with valuable supplies from Camden for the British army, then encamped near the former place. In this dashing exploit, two of the British guard were killed, and the remainder made prisoners, who were afterward turned over to Colonel Davidson.
Simultaneously, an express was captured from Lord Cornwallis to Colonel Turnbull, in command of the forces at Camden. Here, as elsewhere in the surrounding country, the vigilant Hornets of Mecklenburg were engaged in their accustomed work.
Captain Alexander's command continued to hang to the rear of the enemy for the purpose of making quick captures and picking up stragglers. They followed the British to the Old Nation Ford, on the Catawba River.
Meanwhile, Colonel Davidson had been promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, and marched down and encamped near Six Mile Creek, where he was joined in November of 1780 by General Morgan and General Smallwood. General Morgan was ordered to move with a detachment to the relief of the upper districts of South Carolina. He set off immediately, and remained there until after the battle of the Cowpens, on the 17th of January, 1781.
General McLeary again volunteered in the company of Captain John Brownfield, the brigade of General Davison, to observe the movements of Lord Cornwallis in his pursuit of General Morgan who was encumbered with five hundred prisoners on his way to a place of safety in Virginia.
General Davidson, anticipating the movements of Cornwallis, had placed guards at four or five crossing-places on the Catawba river, making his headquarters near the Tuckasege Ford, on the eastern bank of the river. On the 31st of January, he left his headquarters to inspect the position of his guard at Cowans Ford. Here the British army crossed at dawn of day, on the 1st of February, 1781. At the close of the skirmish which ensued, General Davidson was killed. General McLeary continued in service until after the battle of Guilford, when he returned home, and was soon afterward discharged. He was highly respected, represented his county several times in the State Legislature, and died at a good old age.