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indeed few instances will appear have occurred where any army have been
Maneuvred ^manoeuvred [sic] out of a ^their chosen position ^disposition, that but they have do ^have not suffered
in the extreme - The feats performed by the Southern Militia
was cheifly [sic] ^done by the frontier part, who had been used accustomed to fighting of the
Indians ^& from the frequent engagements, they had through
necessity, become became acquainted with a deep hand of discipline that ^had taught
them the propriety, of forming ^& supporting strong lines and never ^to suffering them
selves to be out flanked; they were are the best of rifle men, and
[innured?] (inured) used to action hardship and active lives, and by being engagd
frequently ^in action with their neighboring indians, fighting was
in the feild [sic] became much more familiar - where ever those
kind of Militia were engaged, the result was were seldom unfavor
able- for Instance the battles ^fought at Kings mountain, the [enn?]
=ree, the cowpen, & at Guilford, & was ^cheifly [sic] of that kind of Militia
and gen ^altho was inferior on as to numbers, and ^was compleatly [sic] successful in
all except the latter - But ^how differently was the scene at
Cambden under Gates,? altho his Numbers was at least three
to one ^to that of the enemy, but his Militia were of a different kind;
every kind of all military operations was new to them, and the one half
Quoted left the feild [sic] without discharging their Guns.- Witness
Virginia, could all the boasted strength of that State, place a check on
^Lord Cornwallis ^in his progress [?] ravages until joined by regulars. & His Army did not succeed
the Number of eight thousand - If the Gentlemen in opposition
to raising regular armies would advert to ^to these & other past events, it would
in my opinion teach them a very different lesson