he was commissioned as brigadier general of the Wilmington District Brigade of the North Carolina militia. Under his leadership, he constructed defenses for an anticipated British assault on the Cape Fear region. However, the British bypassed Cape Fear and went to Charleston, instead. On November 8, 1778, he was commissioned as North Carolina's first major general and placed in command of all North Carolina's militia by Governor Richard Casswell. Brier Creek He was dispatched to support Continental Army Major General Benjamin Lincoln following the British capture of Savannah, Georgia in late 1778. Ashe's troops first marched to Purrysburg, South Carolina, where Lincoln had established his camp, but was then sent north to join forces threatening Augusta, Georgia, which was being held by British Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell. Ashe's advance in early February 1779 prompted Campbell to abandon Augusta, and Ashe followed him southward in Georgia. Ashe halted just above Briar Creek, where the British had burned out a bridge during their retreat, and established a camp while he traveled back to South Carolina for a war council with Lincoln. Ashe returned to the Brier Creek camp on March 2. Lieutenant Colonel Campbell had, however, been active. In a plan that was well executed by Colonel Mark Prevost, most of the British force embarked on a lengthy detour to flank Ashe's camp while a diversionary force demonstrated on the far side of the burned-out bridge. The British approached his camp from the rear on March 3, with Ashe's force having just 15 minutes notice to prepare for the onslaught. Ashe's poorly trained and supplied militia were routed, with an estimated 150 casualties compared to around 16 British casualties. Ashe was subjected to a court martial, which found that although he was not entirely to blame for the debacle, he was guilty of setting inadequate guards around his camp. Service Record: Colonel over the New Hannover County Regiment, North Carolina militia (early 1775) Colonel over the Volunteer Independent Rangers (1776) Brigadier General of the Wilmington District Brigade of North Carolina militia (1776-1778) Major General over all North Carolina militia and state troops (1778-1779) After he resigned his commission, William Smallwood of Maryland was selected to command the North Carolina militia in 1780 and 1781. Capture and death Returning to Wilmington, he remained active there in suppressing Loyalist activity in the district. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war following