AND  ITS  HEROES.  287

Campbell's  regiment,  who  was,  at  that  moment,  endeavor-
ing to  check  the  firing  on  the  surrendered  Tories  ;  but  not
regarding  himself  as  the  proper  officer  to  receive  this  ten-
der of  submission,  the  Lieutenant,  without  due  reflection,
courteously  invited  the  British  Captain  to  be  seated ;  who
looking  around,  and  seeing  no  seat,  promptly  squatted
himself  upon  the  ground,  Kincannon  entering  into  conver-
sation with  him.  Adjutant  Franklin,  of  Cleveland's  regi-
ment, now  coming  up,  received  Ryerson's  sword,  the  latter
remarking:  "You  deserve  it,  sir!"*  Colonel  Campbell
was  stalking  around  among  the  enemy  in  his  shirt  sleeves,
and  his  collar  open,  and  when  some  of  the  Americans
pointed  him  out  as  their  commander,  the  British,  at  first,
from  his  unmilitary  plight,  seemed  to  doubt  it,  but  a  number
of  officers  now  surrendered  their  swords  to  him,  until  he
had  several  in  his  hands,  and  under  his  arm.f

It  is  proper  to  advert  briefly  to  Ferguson's  conduct  in
the  battle.  It  was  that  of  a  hero.  He  did  all  that  mortal
man  could  have  done,  under  the  circumstances,  to  avert  the
impending  catastrophe.  He  was  almost  ubiquitous — his
voice,  his  presence,  and  his  whistle  everywhere  animated
his  men,  either  to  renew  their  bayonet  charges,  or  maintain
a  firm  stand  against  the  steadily  encroaching  mountaineers.
