The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-09-05

ed with Ezekiel Polk, the grandfather OF James N.
Polk, during the revolutionary war and mat neiher
he nor any Of his relations ever had drop OF tory
blood in their veins; bot on the contrary, Ezekiel
Polk was appointed TO and held the office OF colonel
# the militia vacated by the promotion Of Thomas
Polk TO the office Of brigadier general Any one
who says publishes that Ezekiel Polk Was tory,
says or publ shes that which is utterly false.
SOLOMON REESE"
9. Mr.. George Alexander's evidence upon this
point as he gave II several years ago, (yz. IN lo4O)
follows
Statement ef Mr.. George .1ierdnder.
al was acquainted with Colonel Ezekiel PolA from
the time he came the MeckeDburg county from
South Carolina. always understood that he was
officer OF the South Carolina hangers, together with
Colorel William Polk, who was an officer under his
uncle, Colouel Ezekiel Polk. ! has regiment oil Ran
gers performed campaign, and dispersed the tories
at Rayburn's creek, where Colonel William Polk was
wounded. This was called the snow campaign. Al
ter this Ezekiel Polk (and also Col William Polk,
as soon he could be brought with safety not hay-
ing recovered from his wounds) removed TO Meek
enburg county, North Carolina, think about the
year 1918. There my personal acquaintance com
menced with him, il being also an intimate one
From my knowledge he stood high among the citi
zens Of Mecklenburg county. lie then EARNED IN
Mecklenburg county, and accumulated property
there. When CORVALLIS overran the country, IN
$780, aud came to Charlotte, after Gates's defeat
there no regular organized troops in tie field,
and the country was overrun 1t was my understand
ing that then, IN order to save his property from de-
siruction, he together with others, took protection
from CORVALLIS. When CORVALLIS left for the
South, he Ezekiel Polk removed his property from
CornwaIlss protection, part OF which was taken
by Corvallis troops, when he Ezekiel Pc k was
crossing the Y adkin. lie went from there 10 Penn
sylvanIa and returned in the summer Of l7ol. That
he was tory, or acted in anywse with the British,
consider SANDER against him, and TO be false. lie
stood high among the citizens OF Mecklenburg
county.
GEO ALEXANDER"
10. Mr. Daniel Alexander bears witness to the pa
triotism and services of Ezekiel Polk and his state
ment, clear and Ineligible it is must carry con.
vcion TO the understanding and the heart of all who
read it.
Statement Of Mr.. Daniel Alexander.
FAYErrE COUNTY, July, lS43
81, Daniel Alexander have heard from the public
spapers of the present day, that the uf
James X. Polk have been cha ged with certain ac's
in our revolutionary struggle which were calculated
to reflect dIscredn on the name Of the family and
being 81 years old, ard a native Of Msckenburg
county, North Carolina, and intimately acquainted
with the ancestors OF James X. Polk, deem u duty
owe 10 the dead, well to the living, to give -
the public as full history Of those ancestors can
now bring to my recollection, far their political
conduct Is concerned. was intimately acquainted
W X
my boyhood to the time Of his deaih, having lived
contiguous TO him nearly the whole time both in
Mecklenburg county, North Carolina, and Tennessee
to which State we removed from Mecklenburg Norh
Carolina. was present on the 10Th Of May, l115
when the Mecklen urg declar ration passed, and
was acquainted with most of the persons present on
that occasion Several of the Poiks were present,
but d, recollect if Eek el Polk was one of tho
number ], however, Well recollect that the said
Ezekiel Polk, well as all the family consde
On wuIGs NJ .It.c nc.
having been with him IN General Rutherord's amy,
lying betw cen Charlotte and Cata~bl river. | with
some Others was sent from the army to Ieconnoitre,
when we had battle at Ramsow,rs mill. Charles
and William Polk, nephews Of Ezekiel with Us
Ezekiel, on that occas on was not with recoiieci
ueH Of earing hin, uih the army Subsequently he ice,
IN the army Nth Colonel Errcin, on .Nc.7pin's creek
chstr as soldier officer kno,o not but heard
him. wih Pd,son 4rchibaid, haranguing and spfoking
TO the soldiers Of Col Ercin ofuhom uas one erhort
ing them TO be true TO their country
When CORVALLIS marched through the country,
and encamped in Chariot e, Ezekiel Polk took pro-
lection, with several others who considered good
whias-among them a certain McAferty, who rem
deTed afterwards important services the uh.r cause
particularly in leading as ray a detachment sent by
he enemy TO aid Ferguson in the hattie Of Kin
mountain, whilst acting pilot. II ,cas consdt ed
by majority Of the rhgs ssay, not improper
IN those itring the tnoanipnent, and o,rning aree
property 10 take the bene Of protection and thereby
their property.
Ezekiel Polk Lad a large family and many slaves
with a good deal of other property and II was no
c.ssary, to preserve II from destruction TO take the
course he did But there some wings so exceed
ingy jealous consider the act of taking protec-.
ton traitorous; among them vas one Jack Barnett;
and well remember TO have seen Ezekiel Polk vi h
Jack Barnett come into our camp on Rocky river,
under General Davidson and it is said that Barnett
had taken him prisoner but they came in seemingly
IN friendly manner, and tie officers, with other.
held kind of council TO consider the propriety Of
Ezekiel Folks having taken protection but after
some laughing, &c. they broke up, and Ezekiel Polk
went home unmolested. recolect after the war was
over, some botheaded person objected to him as be-
ing sheriff. on account Of his having taken protection;
but the majority Of the wings of that day did not con
sder 1t an act Of ioryism. j. myself, who knew
Ezekiel Polk well, considered him patriot aud
iheDd TO bis country and its liberties
After CORVALLIS left Charlotte, there vas not
much done In that region except scouting for tories;
and remember distinctly that Ezekiel Polk called
at my fathers, on his wsy TO see his sister when
heard him speak in the highest terms Of the country;
and that such and such things, then occurring would
be The salvation Of the country This soon after
CORVALLIS LETT the country. | never heard, until
lately, tina, he ever aided the British or tories at
Ransowers Mill. At the time Of the battle have
before menton,d, he was certainly with the army
under General Rutherford nor did ever hear Of
any act of his which gave Dissatisfaction or a DOUBT
OF his principles whig of 1876, but that Of taking
pr lection.
u was also not only Immediately acquainted with
James Knox the father Of the mother OF james h.
Polk, but with his whole family. He wa. the com
madner Of company of liVhthorse, and was one
OF hrs company for some time but do not recollect
now how long however kpew him TO be a genu-
ine wing OF l71s, and patriot and a soldier So
likewise was considered the whole of the Knox fam.
lily. "DAN. ALEXANDER
To be continued
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BASDrrrr OurRAers IN CoRsoA.--The papers BY
the Hibernl, represent that bands of banditi have
complee mastery over Corsica and tho, H., ct.