The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-08-26
NAT. MACON.

The following characteristic anecdotn of
this venerated patriot, is extracted from Col.
Ben!on's new York;
In the year i77S the Southern States had
become battlefield, big with their own fste,
and possibly involving the issue of the war.
British fleets aud armies appeared there,
strongly supported by the friends of the
British cause; and the conquest Of the South
was fully counted upon.--Help vas needed
in these Sites, and Mr. Macon, quitting
college, returned to his native county in
North Carolina, joined militia company
as a private, and marched TO South Carolina,
then the theatre of the enemy's operations.
He had his share in all the hardships and
disasters of that trying time; was at the fall
of Fort Moultrie, surrender Of Charleston,
defeat at Camden, and in the rapid winter
retreat across the upper part of North Car
olina. He was in the camp on the left bank
of the Yadkin when the sudden flooding of
that river, in the brief interval between the
crossing Of the Americans and the coming
up of the British arrested the pursuit OF
CORVALLIS, and enabled Green TO allow some
rest to his wearied and exhausted men. In
this camp, destitute OF everything, and with
gloomy prospects ahead, snmmors came to
Mr.. Macon from the Governor of North
Carolina, requiring him to attend a meeting
of the General Assembly, of which he had
been elected a member, without his know
ledge, by the people of his county. He
refused to 90; and the incident being talked
of through the camp, came to the knowledge
of the general. Green was man himself
and able to know man. He felt at once
that, if this report was true, this young soldier
was no common character. and determined
to verify the fact. He sent for the young
man inquired of him, heard the truth, and
then asked for the reason Of this unexpected
conduct-ths preference for suffering camp
over comfortable seat in the General As.
sembly. Mr.. Macon answered him, in his
own quiet and sententious way, that he had
seen the faces of the British many times
but had never seen their backs, and meant to
stay in the army till he did. Green instantly
saw the material the young man was made Of
and the handle by which he was to be worked
| That material was patriotism, that athande q
sense ofdu'y; and laying hold Of this handle
he quickly worked the young soldier into q
different conclusion from the one he had ar.
rived at. He told him he ceuld do more
rood as Il member of the General Assembly
than as soldier; that in the army he was
but one man, and in the General Assembly
he might obtain many, together with the
supplies they needed, by showing the desti-
tuition and suffering he had seen in the camp
aud that twas his duty 90. This view of
duty and usefulness was decisive. Mr.. Macon
obeyed the Governors summons; and by his
representations contributed to obtain the
supplies which enabled Green to turn back
g. ace Cornwells, fight him cripple him, and
drive him further back than he had advanced,
(for Wilmington is south of Camdcn) disable
him ON remaining in the South-of which, up
, to tho battle of Guilford, he believed himself
to be master--and sending him to York
town, where he was captured, and the wal
| ended.