Letter of Campbell, Shelby, Cleavland, etc., Oct.

4, 1780.] Disorders had naturally broken out.

The men of the different companies felt some rivalry towards one another; and those of bad character, sure to be found in any such gathering, could not be properly controlled.
Some of Cleavland's and McDowell's people were very unruly; and a few of the Watauga troops also behaved badly, plundering both whigs and tories, and even starting to drive the stolen stock back across the mountains.
[Footnote: Deposition of Col.

Matthew Willoughby (who was in the fight), April 30, 1823, _Richmond Enquirer_, May 9, 1823.] At so important a crisis the good-sense and sincere patriotism of the men in command made them sink all personal and local rivalries.

On the 2d of October they all gathered to see what could be done to stop the disorders and give the army a single head; for it was thought that in a day or two they would close in with Ferguson.