The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-05-08

THEIR DECLARATION ~ INDEpEyDENCE
SKETCH or TUE sTRroGLE win THE ROYAL
GOVERNOR ~ NORTH cARoLIyA--TlIg BATTLE
OF ALANAScE-RgsotuTIox PASSED OK THE
VIEWS OF THE BATTLE oY LExiS0ToS.
to the Editor Of he Tribune The
Rev. DR.. StOrrs, in bis recent address before
the New York Historical Society, in reference
to the effect produced in America by tho con.
fliet at Concord and Lexington, on April 10.
lI75, states that on hearing Of il the "people
of Mecklenburg, on the borders OF Virginia
and North Carolina, met together and de-
clased their independence OF the mother
country. Now, when the selected orator for
the anniversary of Historical Society Of such
distinction and learning as that Of New York
falls into such an error, il seems not inappro.
pirate that sketch Of the historical event TO
which he refers should be given. Mecklen-
burg is and was on the borders Of North Car
oina and South Carolina, and its county aeat
Charlottes Town-the present thriving and
busy City Of CharlOtte-was the scene Of the
original Declaration Of Independence. II is
reached by rail from Washington in about "a
hours, through a country more interesting to
the American citizen aud patriot than any
other OF equal extent on the continent The
route to Charlotte is patriotic pilgrimage.
stirring "reminiscences. Every town and vii.
lage has been the theatre Of some heroic ef.
fort or some historic achievement dear to
everyone who reyeres the past.
The tourist passing down the Potomac first
comes in sight of the grassy slope Of Mount
Vernon, the residence being in plain view,
although shaded by the trees. Then you pass
through Stafford in Virginia, where the troops
Of burnside aud Hooker wintered in 1862 -63,
to Fredericksburg, where Macyes Hill, in
sight Of the station, testifies to the courage
that defended and the gallautry that attacked
it in December, 1862 and few miles be-
yond is Guinea Station, from which easy &C.
cess can be had TO the battlefield Of Chancel-
lorsville, fought in May, 1868, between Lee
and Hooker. BY the side of the road is the
farm house where Stonewall Jackson died,
and just beyond, on the right to the west, the
battefields Of Spottsylvania Court House aud
the Wilderness, fought by the troops of Lee
and Grant. Along this route marched the
good Coy. Spottswood on his expedition to
cross the Blue Ridge of mountains. when he
discovered the Shenandoah, and named il the
Euphrates, and instituted the Order Of Ira
montana Knights, the insignia Of which was
golden horse. shoe hence, in the local ira.
ditons they are known as the knights of the
Golden Horseshoe At Richmond you are
within reach of the seat of King Powhatan,
where Capt. John Smith was rescued by Poca-
hontas, and Yorktown, the scene Of the surren-
der ofCornwallis. In the suburbs Of Richmond
you will see a stone setto mark the spot where
Benedict Arnold's picket was posted when
in command Of British troops and Royalists,
he occupied the town in 1880. Leaving Rich.
mond BY the Danyille route, you pass over the
ground over which Greene retreated and ma
n9uyered and maueuvered and retreated, in
the Spring Of 1881, in his effort to draw Corn.
wallis further into the country, until he could
get sufficient force together TO strike and crush
the British General. At the beautiful and
furnishing town of Greensboro, N. c., Won
are within five miles of the battle field of
Guilford Court House, where the LIST Regi-
ment of the Maryland Line drove back the
light infantry Of the Guards, the Jagers, and
the 83d Regiment and then locking bayonets
with the Grenadiers and Second Battalion of
the Guards, routed them. From Greensboro
you pass through rich and populous country
first to Lexington, and thence cross the Yad-
kin TO Salisbury. The railroad bridge is
within 600 yards of the trading ford, where
Morgan and Greene passed with the spoils of
Cowpens, and where the river rose so rapidly
behind them that CORVALLIS, in pursuit, was
effectually dcbarred even the attempt Of
passage. To the east is the battlefield of
Alamance, fought four years before Concord
and Lexington, between the Kings troops
and the Regulators, about which shall speak
more in detail presently.
At Salisbury you will be shown the Office
where Andrew jackson studied law, and the
site Of Steels Tavern, where Greene, after
the affair Of Beattie's Ford, alighted, ''fa.
tigued, hungry, alone, and penniless,n and
where still live the descendants of that good
landlady, Who having overheard this expires.
sion of the WORKOUT General, came to his
apartment with her small bag Of coin that she
pressed him to take. This bag was ut that
time the only military chest in the Depart.
ment of the South. Below Salisbury, on the
railroad, you will pass Concord, and thence
go on to Charlote--in old times Charlotte's
Town and as Lord CORVALLIS said in n let.
ter to Col. Balfour, Charlotte is an agreea.
bic village, butin id rebellious country.p
Beyond Charlotte, on the railroad to Atlanta
you pass the battlefield of Kings Mountain
and are within reach of that of Cowpens, in
each Of which battles the opposing British
force was absolutely captured or DESTROYED.
Such is the route to Charlotte. The people
through that mountain country are Of that
Seotch;lrish Presbyterian stock whose settle.
ments extend from Pennsylvania through the
Valley OF Virginia, and through the mountain
country of North Carolina and South Caro-.
lima. 1t is race that has always been brave.
hardy, and liberty-loving. Ii was among
them IN the mountains of West Augusta thai
Washington proposed to make his last stand
and final effort for the liberties. Of the Colo.
MES. Grave, temperate, frugal, simple, God
iearing-but fearing neither man nor devil
this race begat Andrew jackson and Stone
wall jackson. They began the struggle for
liberty IN arms before organized resistance
met organized power in Massachusetts. This
hardy and brave people had conquered the
wilderness and the savage, and they were
willing to obey the laws, provided those laws
were enacted by their own legislators but,
with that jealousy of power inherent in free.
men, they utterly refused to pay any taxes
except such as were according TO law. Ac-
cordngly on the 10th of October, 1866, at a
meeting composed Of delegates from the diff.
ierent districts Of Orange county, which then
comprised large section of the Province of
North Carolina, resolution was passed 'sThat
we pay no more taxes until we are satisfied they
are agreeable to law, and applied to the pur-
poses therein mentioned, unless we cannot
help it or are forced.
The contest thus begun by this association.
which called itself the Regulators, eliminated
IN the battle OF Alamance, which was foughtbe-
tween the royal troops under Gov. Tryon on
the one side aud the Regulators on the other,
on the 18th Of August, l77l, westward of the
Alamance River, on the road from Hillsboro'
TO Salisbury History as yet onls affords us
Tryon's report Of this battle, and he gives his
own troops as upwards Of l,l0O, with two
field pieces from Gen. Cage and that of the
rebels as 1000 The action lasted two hours.
when 1.-THE rebels took to tree fighting, and
much annoyed the men who stood at the guns.
which Obliged me to cease the artillery for a
short time, and advance the first line 10 force
the rebels from their covering The result
was that ''it pleased God to bless his Males.
TVS arms in this province with signal victory
over the Regulators The King troops lost
90 killed and wounded, and the rebels 20
killed, many wounded, and several were taken
prisoners. Gov. Tryon returned at once 70
iiillsboro' "where his judges we're waiting Al
an especial Court Of Oyer and Terminer TO
try the prisoners taken in battle. =
Twelve were capitally convicted as traitors,
six were executed on the 10th Of June, near
the town Of Hillsboro', and BY the solicitations
nj N ftft nft he. 4 4 n