New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-21
THE SCENE OF TIE CELEBRATION.

MECKLENBURG A HUNDRED YEARS AGO-TIIE COUNTY
SEAT AS IT WAS AND IS-RECOLLECuoNS OF THE
sEMI-CENTENN1AL Observation-Disclosures
AS RAILROAD CENTER AND YOUNG CONNER
CIAL CITY-PREpARATIONS FOR THE CELEBRA-
TION-EvIDENCES OF PATRIOTIC REVIVAL
REGRET AT THE EXPECTED ABSENCE OF OFFICERS
OF TIE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
fFRoMA STAFF CORRESPONDENT OP THE TRIBUNE
CHARLOTTE, n. c., May 1S.-Mecklenburg County,
now so celebrated the home of the Americans who
first declared independence of Great Britain, was
formed from Arson County in 1862 The county, as
well as tscounty seat named in honor of the Prn
cess Charlotte Augusta of Mecklenburg. Its place
in the history of North Carolina has always been
prominent. The Declaration of Independence was
not mere matter of patriotic words the citizens of
Mecklenburg sustained it with treasure, blood, and
lives Hero, in the streets of Charlotte, Col Davie
is said to have kept the whole British army in check
This was on the Goth of September, 1850. Lord
CORVALLIS. who commanded the British, had his
HEADQUARTERS in house now standing i'll another
part of the town. and the old site is still pointed out
while the camping ground of his army, "Old
field" also claims the attention of patriotic tourists
While in this vicinity the British were subjected to
constant annoyance and loss of life and property
by the attacks of the people. After the fall OF Fer
gusOn ON Kings Mountain their supplies had been
carious, that it was deemed wise to make change of
base. and CORVALLIS fell back with great precip-
tation to Wnnsboro in South CarOlina), less dan
gerous and rebellious neighborhood" Col. Tarleton
testified that the spirit of the people of Mecklenburg
was such that no force could overawe and subdne
their Rebel temper; and CORVALLIS himself said, in
letter to Col BalfOur, that Charlotte agree
able village but in d rcbeOus county In
Charlotte on the Sd Of December, Gen. Gates issued
his last order to the Continental soldiers, and Gen.
Greene on the Same day took charge of the Southern
Army, under the instructions of Gen. Washington,
and with the approval of Congress-
The spirit OF the women of Mccklenburg during
the trying Revolutionary period is shown by the
following paragraph, taken by the historian Wheeler
from The South Carolina and american General Ga
see of Feb. 20, 1776:
The young ladies OF the best families of Meckenblrg
County North Carolina have entered into q voluntary
association that they will not receive the addresses of
young T' ST &c Son .e vo
assisted subdung the ScOvate insurgents The ladies
being OF opinion that suc persons as stay lettering at
home when the important calls of the country demand
their military services abroad, must certainly De des
of that noblcness OF sentiment that brave and manly
spirit which would qualify them to be the defenders and
guardians Of the fair sex The ladies OF the adjoining
county of Rowan have desired the plan OF similar asSO
citation, to be drawn up and prepared Tor signature
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
In 1867 Charlotte was founded and in 1775,
while the county was well known as the seat of
Queens College, the town itself was little more than
a crossroads trading village, of not more than 40
houses Soon after the town was laid out there was
erected, on what is known Independence
square, small log building which was long used as
a church and courthouse. Neither stick chip Of
this Lighthouse now remains the ground, but it is
well remembered by men now living, and the site
will be marked Oh Thursday next by the erection of
"A tall liberty pole and flagstaff which is expected to
bear aoft the Stars and Stripes for hundred years
to come. Fifty years ago the town had not in
creased materially M population about 30 men with
their families and servants constituting nearly
the entire number of inhabitants. The sur
rounding country pretty thickly settled
however, and hithcr came several Thousand
persons on the Goth of May, 1925, to celebrate
the semi-centennial of tho Mccklcnburg decla
laration An old newspaper now before me The Char
tohe Journal of May 81, 1920 contains brief ac-
count of the ceremonies that occasion. There
were cannon-firing, music, procession, and great
gathering III the Courthouse where an address was
delivered by the Rev. Dr. Humphrey Hunter and an
Grafton by Mr.. Morrison, whose Christian name il
not given. Afterward came dinner, at which sew
eral patriotic and some partisan toasts were drunk
with great enthusiasm The Democrats seemed tO
have everything pretty much in their own way as
Andrew Jackson was toasted three times and Henry
Clay was given a slap in rhyme. The claims of Mas
sachusetts were not forgotten for among the senti