Ethan Pratt and other members of the Georgia militia accompanied Colonels Sevier and Campbell back to the Watauga Valley, where Colonel Clarke met them as they approached. The Georgia men were surprised and concerned when they saw that he was very weak and pale, and that his right shoulder and upper arm were still bandaged. Elijah claimed that he was doing well and recovering nicely, but Aaron Hart, slightly behind him, shook his head with concern. When dismissed, Ethan went to find Epsey, who was living with two other women and three children in one of the tents that had been erected to supplement the overcrowded cabins of the Watauga Valley families.

Epsey was relieved to see Ethan and happy when she found that he was well and uninjured, but she showed little interest in the combat experiences of the militiamen.

She asked, “What will you be doing now, Ethan?”

“I reckon I’ll have to carry out my orders, but we’ll probably be staying on in the Carolinas. My understanding is that the British are in control of everything in Georgia.”

As a statement of fact, she said, “This means that the families will have to stay here, I guess.”

They bid each other good-bye, and Ethan started back to his unit. Epsey called to him and he turned around.

“Ethan, I’m always worried about you and pray that you’ll be safe and we’ll soon be going back home.”

He came back, took her hands in his, and said, “Epsey, I miss you, and have the same hopes for our future.”

CHAPTER 49

General Nathanael Greene

The Georgia militiamen moved around in western Carolina, seemingly without purpose, never spending more than one or two nights in any camping place. They were always eager to learn about military activities in the southern states, and their commanding officers shared what news was available. General Horatio Gates, ridiculed by many for his rapid flight after being routed at Camden, moved south to Charlotte, where, early in December, he awaited relief from his command. Colonel Sevier visited the Continental headquarters and came back to western South Carolina with what appeared to be a mixture of fact and conjecture about the overall strategic situation.

He commented to his listeners that General Washington had two serious problems: defections in the north and battle losses in the south. He had to stop the massive and almost unpunished desertions, which had become a way of military life among his discouraged and relatively inactive troops. After some New Jersey militia actually mutinied, Washington decided to set an example of stern discipline: he forced the top leaders to draw lots, and the winners shot the losers.