h/o Margaret "Peggy" (Walker) Houston. Aged 81 years. ...who in early life was a soldier of the Revolution and for 55 years a faithful minister of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Birth date courtesy of Rebecca Emmett)

In the American Revolution, Samuel Houston served under General Nathaneal Greene (Memorial #5071789) at the Battle of Guilford County Court House in Guilford County, North Carolina. The Daughters of the American Revolution designated Houston DAR Ancestor Number A057773 and Greene A047219. Reference DAR GRS @ dar.org.

Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters
Journal of Samuel Houston VAx1
Transcribed by Will Graves 12/11/11

[Although not a pension application, it is felt that some of the memoirs, journals and diaries compiled by
veterans should be included in this database in order to make those resources more readily available to
researchers. The following is the memoir compiled by Rev. Samuel Houston, a Virginia militiaman at the
time he compiled his diary. His diary was printed in full by William Henry Foote, D. D., in his Sketches
of Virginia: Historical and Biographical, J. B. Lippincott & Co, Philadelphia, 1855, pp. 141-149.]

February 26th, '81Monday,
Feb.26th.-We marched from Lexington to Grigsby's, and encamped.
Tuesday, 27th.-Marched fifteen miles, and encamped at Purgatory. I saw the cave.
Wednesday, 28th.-Marched from Purgatory to Lunies' Creek, twelve miles.
Thursday March 1 s t-Marched from Lunies' Creek to a mile beyond Howard's; total
seventeen miles. Drew liquor in the morning. I paid fifteen dollars for beer to Mrs.
Brackinridge.
Friday, 2nd.-Marched from near Howard's past Rag Hal governed by President
Slovenly; three or four of our men got drunk in the evening. Our march continued fifteen miles;
en camped at Little Otter, Bedford.
Saturday, 3rd .-Marched from Little Otter to within two miles of New London;
nineteen miles.
Sabbath, 4th. Marched two miles beyond New London to Mr. Ward's; in which
march we pressed a hog, which was served without scraping. On this day I kept guard No. 16.
The day's march was twenty miles.
Monday, 5th. Marched from Major Ward's; crossed Staunton river into Pittsylvania.
I was on the fatigue to drive steers, but happly they had broken out of the pasture. Our march
was eight miles, and encamped.
Tuesday, 6th .- Marched from Ward's about fourteen miles. We were searched, and
Mr. Ward's goods found with James Berry and John Harris, who were whipped. The same
were condemned to ten lashes for disobeying the officer of the day on Monday.
Wednesday 7th.-Marched from near Shelton's to Co1. Williams' mill, about twelve
miles; crossed Bannister, into which James McElroy fell; John Harris deserted, and James
Berry was taken and sent to prison.
Thursday, 8th.- Marched from Col. Williams' to near three miles from Dan river. Some
of the boys set the woods on tire, which the Major put out. Our day's journey nineteen miles.
Friday, 9th.-Marched from beyond Dan to the borders of N.C., six miles; we crossed
Dan, where Gilmore's wagon had nearly sunk by the chain of the flat breaking. At this river
some mean cowards threatened to return. This morning, Lyle, Hays and Lusk went to Gen.
Green and returned. The same day deserted at Dan, Geo. Culwell.
Saturday 10th.- Marched from near three miles of Dan to head quarters, which we
entered at twelve o'clock at night. In the evening we encamped six miles from H.Q. Soon after
we decamped. Thirty miles.
Sabbath, 11th. Lay in camp. In the evening we were ordered to prepare for a march;
after we were ordered to stay; after our orders for the future were read out, we cooked two
days' provisions.
Monday, 12th.- Marched first S. W. to the end of camp, then turned directly back, and
stood some hours; at last we left camp at the High Rock, and marched near six miles. Again
we turn back about a mile, and encamp near Haw river.
Tuesday,13th.-We paraded several times, and at last fired in platoons and battalions;
in doing which one of the North Carolina militia was shot through the head; a bullet
glancing from a tree, struck Geo. Moore [George Moore] on the head--of our battalion. In the
evening we marched from Haw river about three miles, and encamped.
Wednesday,14th -Decamped at Reedy Creek, and marched to Guilford Court House,
ten mile.
Thursday, 15th -Was a rainy in the morning. We often paraded, and about ten
o'clock, lying about our fires, we heard our light infantry and cavalry, who were down near
the English lines, begin firing with the enemy. Then we immediately fell into our ranks, and
our brigades marched out, at which time the firing was ceased. Col. McDowell's battalion of
Gen. Stephens' brigade was ordered on the left wing. When we marched near the ground we
charged our guns. Presently our brigade major came, ordering to take trees as we pleased.
The men run to choose their trees, but with difficulty, many crowding to one, and some far
behind others. But we moved by order of our officers, and stood in suspense. Presently the
Augusta men, and some of Col. Campbell's fell in at right angles to us. Our whole line was
composed of Stephens' [Edward Stevens'] brigade on the left, Lawson's in the centre,
and Butler's, of N. C., on the right. Some distance behind were formed the regulars. Col.
Washington's [William Washington's] light horse were to flank on the right, and Lee
[Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee] on the left. Standing in readiness, we heard the pickets
fire; shortly the English fired a cannon, which was answered; and so on alternately, till the
small armed troops came nigh ; and then close firing be an near the centre, but rather towards
the right, and soon spread along the line. Our brigade major, Mr. Williams, fled. Presently
came two men to us and informed us the British fled. Soon the enemy appeared to us; we
fired on their flank, and that brought down many of them; at which time Capt. Tedford was
killed. We pursued them about forty poles, to the top of a hill where they stood, and we
retreated from them back to where we formed. Here we repulsed them again; and they a
second time made us retreat back to our first ground, where we were deceived by a
reinforcement of Hessians, whom we took for our own, and cried to them to see if they were
our friends, and shouted Liberty! Liberty and advanced up till they let off some guns; then we
fired sharply on them, and made them retreat a little. But presently the light horse came on
us, and not being defended by our own light horse, nor reinforced, --though firing was long
ceased in all other parts, we were obliged to run, and many were sore chased, and some cut
down. We lost our major and one captain then, the battle lasting two hours and twenty-five
minutes. We all scattered, and some of our party and Campbell's and Moffitt's collected
together, and with Capt. Moffitt and Major Pope, we marched for headquarters, and
marched across tillwe, about dark, came to the road we marched up from Reedy Creek to
Guilford the day before, and crossing the creek we marched near four miles, and our
wounded, Lusk, Allison, and in particular Jas. Mather [James Mather], who was bad cut,
were so sick we stopped, and all being almost wearied out, we marched half a mile, and
encamped, where, through darkness and rain, and want of provisions we were in distress.
Some parched a little corn. We stretched blankets to shelter some of us from the rain. Our
retreat was fourteen miles.
Friday, 16th –As soon as day appeared, (being wet) we decamped, and marched
through the rain till we arrived at Speedwell furnace, where Green had retreated from
Guilfordtown, where the battle was fought, sixteen miles distant; there we met many of our
company with great joy, in particular Colonel M'Dowell [McDowell]; where we heard that we
lost four pieces of cannon after having retaken them, also the 7lst regiment we had
captured. After visiting the tents, we eat and hung about in the tents and rain, when
frequently we were rejoiced by men coming in we had given out for lost. In the evening
we struck tents and encamped on the left, when the orders were read to draw provisions and
ammunition, to be in readiness, which order struck a panic on the minds of many. Our
march five miles.
Saturday, 17th On account of the want of some of our blankets, and some other
clothing, many proposed returning home, which was talked of in general in M'Dowell's
battalion, till at last they agreed, and many went off; a few were remaining when General
Lawson came and raged very much; and about ten o'clock all but M'Dowell came off. We
marched twelve miles to the old Surry towns on Dan where we encamped.
Sabbath, 18th.-Crossed Dan, in our march touched on Smith's River on our left, at
which place we received a little bacon and & bushel of meal. A little afterward, many went to
a tavern where some got drunk and quarreled. We marched through the lower end of
Henry County, and encamped on the borders of Pittsylvania &, which evening I opened the
clothes in possession of Jo Weir. That same night Robert Wardlaw burned the butt of his
gun. Our march was fifteen miles.
Monday, 19th.-Marched into Pittsylvania, and encamped with a Dutchman, where
we got some meat. Our mess bought ten quarts of' flour and some hoe-cake. The day's
journey twenty-two miles. Our sick were lodged in the house, and Dr. Brown took care of
them.
Tuesday, 20th—In the morning Dr.Brown and Captain Alexander disputed about the
wagons. Near the middle of the day we left the wagons, and took off the great road under the
direction of a pilot, whom some fearing he was leading usinto a snare, they charged their guns.
We crossed Stanton River, and dined, fifteen of us, at Captain Chiles, from which we
marched two miles and encamped. In all fifteen miles.
Wednesday, 21st
.-We paid Murphy one dollar a man, for horses to carry us over Goose
Creek. Had breakfast with Mr. Butler, and three pints of brandy. In the evening was sick;
came to Mr. Rountrees, where we lodged. I got a little milk and peach-dumpling, the
rest a dinner of meat and so on. I lay in a bed with Jas. Blair, and the rest on the floor. Our
day's march was twenty-one miles.
Thursday, 22nd.-My brother and I hired Mr. Rountrees' horses, and his son came with
us to Mr. Lambert's, where, after be received forty-three dollars, he returned. We eat with
Mr.Lambert, and paid him ten dollars each. I bought five booksfrom him, and paid him four
hundred and twelve dollars and a half. We crossed the mountain, and in the valley saw the
wonderful mill without wheels, doors, or floors. In that same valley Jos. Boagle met us with
brother's horses, and he with one of them went back for Robert McCormic. We proceeded to
Greenlee's, got dinner, and when they came up crossed the river and came to Boagle's,
where we lodged. Our day's march was thirty-two miles.
Friday 23rd
.--Left Boagle's and came to brother William's. Here I conclude my journal
of the expedition under Colonel M'Dowell against Cornwallis, the British General in North
Carolina. Rockbridge County, Virginia, in the year 1781, March 23rd
.
SAMUEL HOUSTON.
Note: the tombstone of Samuel Houston reads:

SACRED
to the memory of the
REV. SAMUEL HOUSTON,
who in early life was a soldier of the
Revolution,
and for 55 years a faithful minister of the
LORD JESUS CHRIST.
He died on the 20th day of January 1839,
aged 81 years,
in the mature and blessed hope of a
glorious resurrection
and of immortal life, in the kingdom of his Farther and his God.