The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-21
LECTURE OF HON. W. A. GRAHAM,
British INVASION OF NORTH CAROLINA,
Before the New York Historical Society.

DtIOlC TIC Now IOik niSlUriCdl DUVltty'
The sixth lecture of this delivered yester
day evening, at Metropolitan Hall by the Hon. W. era
ham, on the above subject The body and gallery OF the
edfce filed to by a highly respectable
dience At the hour appointed the lecturer accompanied
by the Hon. Luther Bradsh, President of the Society,
DR.. Hawkes., Dr. Francis Dr. Dewitt and other distin-
gui.hed gentlemen presented himself the audience
ard after the applause which greeted him had subsidized
said
Mr. President, and ladies and gentemen-Regar riding
the New York Historical Society national institution
have scrupled to undertake the task devoved
this evening" however conscious of my nadequacy to its
proper fulfment primary object its establishment
being the study and dissemination of correct knowledge
Of American history the topic which purpose to
gage your attention is the British invasion Of North Caro-
ina in ESQ and 81 Having been requested to turn my
attention to some subject pertaining to the history OF
the Southern States it not until after the choice of
this and at too late period to prepare another that
learned that reverend and distinguished friend of NINE
who preceded in the series of exercises appointed
by the society," had made the subject of his discourse
another interesting chapter in the history of North Caro-
lima. With earlier information this point, would
gladly have chosen other topic to give greater
rey and interest the lectures which has thus
far been SO well received by the public.
of ancetorsof their struggles and sacrifcesteir
freedom and The scene too, is circumscrbed
but the actors personiGcations of principles and
representatives Of nations, and upon the close Of the
drama depended the fate of empire If other apology
be wanting for the selection of this theme,
slam native there and to the born"
and from occasional to official documents well
as from the Traditions and legends of those whose honor
able bore witness of opportunities for acquaint
with ome at least of the events of that period
impressed with the conviction that from of ehroni
cers and printing presses in the then infant State at the
time of these occurrences and from negligence or acct
dent since they have received full justice from the
pen Of history Let be remembered that the period to
which refor is 1850 and 1884, than five years
after the first blood shed the Of the Revelation
lexington and full five years after the national Deca
ration of Independence.
had North Carolina been no Indifferent idle spec
tator while other States the theatre of war; in
regard to the common cause, in the incipency Of the
contest As early the passage of the Stamp Act and
down to the breaking out of the hostites disputes OF
domestic nature touching the rights of creditors in the
province to proceed by attachment against the lands of
debtors residing in England and the NAL of
the provincial government had been agtated between
Of the colony which added to the of complaint Of
more general interest produced free discussion of the
rated the public mind in relation to the rights Of British
subjects in the colonies Emboldened in these controver
Sizes the population were intelligent and acute in their
comprehension of the issues involved Jealous undue
control by the mother country and ready to hazard any
consequences in resisting her encroachments. This
sponded to the call for the first continental Congress- in
IVA in the proceedings of her various provincial
State and in those Of her popular assemblies
among which it may be enough to particularze the
Wilmington, Cumberland Rowen and Tfyon associations,
and the memorable meeting in Mchlenburg the Goth
Of May 1775 which declared absolute independence.
And these prompt and decisive manifestations of senti
ment had been sustained by military aid in the mme
she had no selfish, sectional exclusive ideas of de-
assembled in Hlsborough on the Goth Of August 1775,
in December Of that year an expedition was sent under
Colonel Howe for the defence of Norfolk and Lower Vr
gna against Lord Dunmore the royal Governor of that
province who having collected large army of whites
to the apprentices and slaves of the country This force
in conjunction with detachment of regulars and vir
ships army in the battle at Great Bridge and obliged him
TO abandon Norfolk, and take refuge board Of
in the harbor as the last royal Governor of North
CaroEa six months anterior had been obliged to do at
Wilmington.
About the same date, an expedition under Colonies
the SAFE m soe c cam the
from royalist emi.sary of that name in the north
with the troops of that State under General Richardson
and Colonel Thompson, drove the tory commanders,
of Nneyx and their retreat surprised and defeated
them with the capture of four hundred of their followers
This is known in tradition the camp campaign,
from the violent storms with which its camps
visited.
In the Autumn of 177e force of nineteen hundred
despatched against the Cherokee Indians who had
espoused the British and committed depredatons
on the neighboring settlements which chastsed and
compelled them to sue for peace.
In the campaigns of l777 rs, 10 and 80 she furnish
ed her conngents to the continental service upon the
acquisitions Of Congress to meet the common eIrmy in
other States and her militia marched by divisions
brgades regiments and bataons TO the aid of South
Carolina and Georgia. not to mention that the ranks of
Sumter and Pickens often filed with her citizens,
who took service under those famous partisan officers
when those States the seat of and comput
ed among the troops of South CAROLINA From New er-
sey to Florida inclusive there few battle fields in
which portion of the troops engaged in defence of the
liberties of the country were not hers.
Besides these contributions however for military ope-
raons abroad considerable force required for the
interior defence and safety Of the State Although the
great mass of the people true to the country there
was no contemplate number who maintained their loyal
ty to the and stood ready to defend it with arms
This was more conspicuousy true of body of Scotch
Hghlanders who had emgrated in large numbers to the
rcvery between the colonies and the mother country
and the signal victory obtained by Colonies Caswe and
Ellington at the bridge of Moores Creek of the wes-
tern tributaries OF the Cape Fear the 9th February
1777 with thousand men, the tory forces levied
in that region, under General MDonald and Captain
Mleod, numbering fifteen hundred men, who march
ing to relieve Governor Martin from his exile board
English ship of at the mouth Of the Cape Fear and
bring him back and restore him to his authority in the
colony, is one of the proudest events of the war; in
that year Pursued with vigor as this victory was,
in capturing prisoners, AIMS military stores and
the Of the enemy in this State cheered
the hopes of the patriots that its effects widely and
deeply felt Still the feeling of attachment to the royal
cause infected individuals and in many instances whole
neghborhoods and districts and required constant vigil
lance, determination and energy the part of the
authorities and troops Of the new government.
In the spring of 1776 formidable invasion threat
ened by military and naval command under Sir Henry
Clinton and Sir Peter Parker, at the mouth of Cape
Fear and large military force called out to repe It.
But its attention directed to the tempting
prize of Charleston where in June of year occurred
the famous rcpuse which has given Immortality to the
name of Mouric. With the exception of large detach
mtted depredations in the county of Brunswick
among which the sacng of the private mansion OF
the patriot General Howe British force had entered
the territory of North Carolina until the period
in the outset of these remarks the latter half of the year
1850. But although the geographical position of the
State the military plans Of the enemy had thus long
delayed his visit he now with prestige of sue
cess which threatened entire subjugation South Caro-
lima and Georgia had been oyerrun and conquered and