In his first three-month tour, Jonas Hill joined Capt. Samuel Dyer’s Cavalry as a private in the North Carolina Militia. He entered the service in Surry Co., NC, probably in January or February of 1781 at the age of 18. Capt. Dyer’s Cavalry, under the command of Maj. James Shepherd, first rendezvoused on the Yadkin River and marched against the Tories.

They then marched near to Hillsboro, NC to join other troops attached to the American Army at the South, commanded by General Green. The British General, Lord Cornwallis and his troops, had fallen back to Hillsboro on February 17, 1781 and established their headquarters there. After about 10 days of harassment by American light troops closing around Hillsboro, Cornwallis retreated on February 26, 1781 to the Alamance region. Apparently his retreat was during the night after Jonas and others took part in a night attack ordered by an outpost of troops (pickets).

Jonas and the other American troops marched into Hillsboro on February 27, 1781 and was discharged after he had served his three months tour of duty.

Jonas returned home to Surry Co., NC, for a “short time” and again (apparently eager for more action) signed up for another three-month tour as a private in Capt. William Hickman’s Company of North Carolina Militia.

They rendezvoused on the Yadkin River and then marched to Salisbury, where Capt. Hickman became ill and was replaced by Capt. McDowell under the command of Col. Malmedy, a French officer.

Around August, 1781, they marched to Camden, SC to join other troops attached to Gen. Green’s army. Gen. Green was in pursuit of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Stewart of the British Third Regiment, who had recently taken over command from Lord Rawdon (forced to return to England due to poor health).
On August 22, Gen. Green’s troops headed for Eutah Springs where Col. Stewart and his troops were head quartered. On Sep. 8, 1781 the Battle of Eutah Springs took place and ended pretty much in a draw. Jonas (19 by this time) probably took part in the fighting. History books show that Gen. Green placed his militia (900 men) in a line in front of the Continentals (1,250 infantrymen). The center of the first line consisted of his “least reliable militia units, those from North Carolina, under the command of a French volunteer Col. the Marquis de Malmedy.” Visit this web site for a more detailed account of the Battle of Eutah Springs.

After the conflict was over, the militia was ordered by Gen. Green to guard the prisoners, who were immediately moved off the grounds and were marched to Camden under the command of Col. Malmedy (later killed in a duel with Maj. Snead, Commander of the Virginia Battalion).

Capt. Locke took command of the militia troops after the death of Col. Malmedy and removed the prisoners to an area near Salisbury, NC. While in Salisbury, Jonas’ three month term expired and he remained one or two months longer at the request of Capt. Locke and was then regularly discharged, probably after Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown on October 19, 1781.

Although this marked the end of the Revolutionary War, minor battles between the British and the colonists continued for another two years. Finally, in February of 1783 George III issued his Proclamation of Cessation of Hostilities, culminating in the Peace Treaty of 1783. Signed in Paris on September 3, 1783, the agreement – also known as the Paris Peace Treaty – formally ended the United States War for Independence.

“Immediately after the close of the war,” Jonas “removed to what is now called East Tennessee and was on a front against the Indians.” It is not certain if his reference to the “close of the war” was after Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown on October 19, 1781 or after the Paris Peace Treaty of September 3, 1783. Based on other statements made in his pension files, it was probably after September 3, 1783.