Flag of the Union. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1850-18??, 1853-02-11

sssH BIZ HON. WM. A. GRAHAM. e
The sixth Lecture before the New Yurl
| Historical Society, was delivered on Thursla.
| evening at Metropolitan Hail. by, Hon. VIM
a. Graham, late Secretary ok the Navy Yht
attendance was exceedingly numerous Tht
subject of the lecture was the British Inya
| sion of North Carolina in the year i $50 ane
! 1881; a topic, which the lecturer remarked
he would not have chosen, had he known ir
due season, that distinguished member Of ths
Society had spoken upon at former occasion
The subject was indeed common place, but
still it was the story of our ancestors-of theil
struggles and sacrifees-their freedom and re-
nOwn. The scene too was remarkable---the
actors represented broad national principles
and on the close of the drama depended the
fate of an empire. IF any other apology were
needed for the selection of the theme, he might
say he was ITO the manor born,' and had
had access from. time to time, to documents
that tended. perhaps, to throw light upon some
of the more obscure spots in the history of the
time and place, which he had undertaken to
speak upon. The, period was 1880 and 1871
FIVE wears after the first blood of the CoIonists
had been shed at Lexington, and four years
after the national Declaration Of Independence.
North Carolina had been no idle spectator of
the warfare, from its first breaking out up to
that time. As early as the passage of the
Stamp Act, disputes between the people and
the Provincial Government aeitated the colo
ny, and aided much the investigation of ques-
tions Of more general interest. They produc-
ed free discussion of the British Constitu-
ton, and sharpened the minds and opinions Of
the people in coming to true understanding
of their rights in the Colony. Her prompt
and decided manifestations of sentiment eyi.
denced in the proceedings of the Mecklinburg
Convention. and were ably sustained by mill
tary aid in the immediate scene of danger, and
in manner, too, which showed that North
Carolina had no exclusive or selfish thought in
organizing a defence against the British Tnva-
sion. In all the different campaigns of the
revolutionary period North Carolina faithfully
and ungrudgingly furnished her quota to re-
cruit and sustain the Federal army through
Uut tire se,srs aud protracted detehce OF the
South. Her brigades were marched. under
most depressing circumstances. to take their
share in deeds OF bloody conflict in South Car
olina and Georgia in fact, in all the inpor-
tant battles of that time the troops of North
Caroliua took an active and effective part
The lecturer then went into very lengthen-
ed and minute detail of the military opera
tions of the British and Federal troops in the
Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia, de. &c, and
also dwelt with much particularly upon the
various engagements with the enemy in which
the North Carolina militia bore part, and of
which that State was the scene. He also re-
ferred to the battle of Ramsoncr's Mills, in
which the Tories were signally defeated, though
they far ont numbered the Wings, under the
command of Col. Locke. The lecturer refer
red to this important engagement for. the rea-
son that no mention of it was made by Mar
shall or others who wrote upon the Revolu-
tionary war--the only reference to it is in
Lossings "Field Book Of the Revolution. -
The characters Of many of the heroic sons of
North Carolina, who risked their all in the de.
fence of their native State and land, were de- {
lineated by the lecturer in an almost erithtisi-
astie yet graphic manner: |: among others the
devotedly patriotic exploits of Dawson. Rich
ardson, and Davy, received large measure Of
mention. The particulars of the celebrated
battle of GuiIford Court House-with which
most students of history are familiar--were
detailed with minnteness and effect. After
concluding his observations upon the general
subject chosen for remark, the lecturer said
that as the rapid course of time hurried as
from the period of the revolution, the charac-
tiers. incidents and places associated with those
DAYS. became Of more and more interest to us.
We might, like the Athenians Of old, praise
our ancestors and admire their trophies. though
their noble deeds were performed and laurels
won in ever 30 distant parts of our country
Those deeds excited tones that yibrated, from
Maine to Georgia-they were the exploits Of |
Greene, of Marion, Sumpter, Davy, Richard
son. and a host of others, who aided 50 much |
in checking the advances Of the British chief,
who at that time held his head quarters In the
CITY of New York. One of the Generals who
in the moro important operations
Of the era with readiness Of force that never
was surpassed, was native Of Rhode Island.
The union Of forces, energy and interest was
for common end-the expulsion OF d common
eneny-the establishment Of common free
dom, which under the providence Of God was
nobly accomplished. ss e
Such, observed Mr. c. Is the lesson We
draw from the example 81 our fathers. May
we improve and transmit i to our children
aud in generstinns to come may they assemble
in the same friendly spirit in which we are
met tonight, to mingle together IN sympathy
to keep bright > common glory. citizens Of the
same free. and happy and united, States Of
america
-nz- The Louisville courier mentions afeat
Of strength which was exhibited N that city
81. -. - zzsS n ~ - "A =