Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-08-23
The Father OF william A. Graham.


lution," gives the following notice of the Whig
candidates father. Mr.. Lossing, be it remem-
bered, is political opponent.
Captain Joseph Graham was an excellent speci-
men Of the young men Of Carolina who focked ia
the army fighting for independence. He was
born in Pennsylvania, on the 18th Of October
1863, and at the age of seven years accompanied
his widowed mother to North Carolina. He wal
educated at Queens Museum, in Charlotte, ant
was spectator at the famous Convention helc
there in May, 1775. In May, 177s, at the age O
nineteen, young Graham enlisted in the fourth
regiment Of North Carolina regular troops, under
Colonel Archibald Lyle. Marching northward
his commander received instructions to return te
Carolina, and Graham went on furlough. He
was called into active service in the autumn Of
that year, and accompanied Gen. Rutherford to
the banks of the Savannah, soon after the defeat
Of Gen. Ashe at Brier Creek. He was with Gen.
iincoln while manGuvering against Provost, and
was in the severe battle at 4Ono, in June, 1879.
A fever prostrated him, and he returned home
While plodding in the field, he heard Of the fall
OF Charleston and defeat of Buford at the Wax
haw, and, like Cincinnatus, he left the furrow to
engage in public duties He was appointed ad-
jutant of the Mecklenburg regiment. He fought
the enemy with Major Davie, at Charlotte, in the
autumn of $780, In that engagement, he was
cut down and severely wounded by British
dragoon. He received six sabre and three bullet
wounds. These confined him in the hospital for
two months. When recovered, he raised a com
pany of mounted rifemen, and with his fifty men
disputed the passage of the British army at
Cowan's Ford. With his company, and some
troops from Rowan he surprised and captured
q British guard at Harts Mill, only mile and a
half from headquarters at Hillsborough, and the
next day was with Lee when Pyle was defeated.
He was engaged in active service all that sum-
mer, and in September was appointed n major,
and with pretty strong force proceeded towards
Wilmington to rescue Governor Burke, who had
been abducted from Hillsborough, by Tanning, O
noted Tory, and his associates; south Of Fayette.
vile he encountered q band of Tories, and de-
feated them. His force was only one hundred
and thirty-six; that of the Tories was six hun
dred. He was engaged in two or three military
enterprises soon afterward, when the surrender
of Lord CORVALLIS caused cessation Of hostili-
ties at the South. With this campaign, Major
Graham's revolutionary services closed. In the
course Of four years, (at the end of which he
was only twenty three years Of age,) he had
commanded in fifteen engagements, and was
greatly beloved by his companions.
Major Graham was elected the first sheriff of
Mecklenburg, after the close of the war, and, in
1877, married a daughter of John Davidson, one
of the members of the famous Mecklenburg Con-
vention. BY her he had twelve children the
youngest of whom, the Hon. William A. Graham
is now (l852) Secretary Of the Navy of the Uni
ted States. Soon after his marriage, he erected
iron works, and settled in Lincoln county, eight
miles from Beatte's Ford, where he lived forty
years, and died. In 1874, one thousand men
were raised in North Carolina to assist the Ten
nessee and Georgia volunteers against the Greek
Indians. Graham was urgently solicited to take
the command. He consented and received the
commission of majoR general He arrived with
his corps just the Creeks had submitted to
Generals Jackson Coffee and Carroll, after the
battle at the Horse Shoe For many years after
that war, Gen. Graham was the senior officer of
the fifth division of the State militia. Temperate
in all things, he enjoyed remarkable health until
about the time of his DEATH which occurred from
apoplexy, on the 18th Of November, 1886, at the
age Of seventy seven years. His honored remains
lie in secluded spot, near the great road leading
from Beattie's Ford to Linconton.