Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-03-03

bic circumstances. It was variously |
at from four to fce thousand
persons. We heard no estimate lower
than four thousand. Our own opin-
ion is that the multitude, if rumbef-
women and children-would
not fall far, if any short of five thous-
and-among them the very handsome
military companies of Wilmington,
the Wilmington Light Infantry, and
the Wilmington Light Artillery, ac-
companied by the Cornet Concert
Club. But large as was the crowd, it
would have been at least a third
larger had not this entire section been
visited in the early morning by an
unusual disturbance of the elements.
TERRIFIC THUNDER STORM
burst over the Cape Fear region just as
the day vas ushered in on which her
people bad prepared themselves to
celebrate great action of their illus
trious ancestors. Peal after peal of
thunder rent the air, and cloud an
swered back to cloud the deafeuiug
sounds, as if to do honor to the heroic
dead, whose magnificent achievement
at Moore's Greek Bridgesone hundred
years ago contributed SO largely in
shaping the distinies of continent.
The storm kept back large numbers
who would otherwise have gone from
Wilmington. These, when the skies
in few hours became clear, were left
to nurse their regrets in the dull city,
and to send after those who had gone
to the battle ground their longing
wishes to be with the patriotic throng.
The steamer North State with the
military companies, the COrnet Concert
Club, and number of citizens, and
the steamer North East, with "citi-
zens generally" and representatives of
the press, reached the landing not
much after twelve o'clock, and those
on board started for the ground, some
two or three miles off, in procession
cons ,stin9 of civil and military, pedes-
TRANS and equestrians. with all man
ner of vehicles intersperscd. When
the Wilmington delegation reached
the vicinity of the monument which
stands to the memory of the heroes Of
the fight, the crowd already assembled
was SO large as not TO be perceptibiy
increased by this new addition, al
though the military and the band
greatly added to the interest of the
occasion and gave IN imposing APP
xIcdLd W OIlC
One hundred years ago in the time
of which the eloquent orators on Mon
day spoke far better than we can write,
the sun of the 26th of Febru lry rose
upon people excited by other aud les
pleasurable feelings and anticipations
than those which on Monday occupied
the minds of them who gathered thor
selves around this monument to the
dead. Then a dark aud doubtful
struggle was seen approaching, the
men were hurrying to aud fro, their
ordinary avocatiOus neglected, not for
the pleasuIes of a gay pageant, or the
Joys of social intercourse, but to meet
danger and guard against threatened
evil. The yeomanry of the Cape Fear
and the Neuse were wstching the pro
gress Of the clansmen and gathering
rapidly to the point at which the
stand was TO be made for the purpo {
of alresting their progress Anxiety
for the result, fear for the effects of
future upon the cause. which patriots
held dear, could not be absent from
the hearts of the best and bravest, az
they looked forward to the morrow.
And the 9th, which so many of our
citizens cele brated in peace and har-
mOnv on Monday, one hundred years
ago, presented a verr different appe ar
arce. Within the lines now feebly
marked by gentle elevations, the sites
OF former ailments, and where wO-
men and children lOitered on Monday
III careless security, We're ranked only
stern men nerved with other thoughts
than those of pe"ce and quiet. Where
the shOtiess cannon stood on Monday
IND gave forth its joyous salute, the
engine Of war Yves planted to vomit
rorth the messengers o. death on the
advancing foe. The plain wooden
bridge was then plankIess, and the
causeway through the swamp. aud the
dark waters of the sluggish creek
formed the deathbed of many who rose
that morning full of lusty life. On
Monday hundreds pointed to the
stump beside VIII CHI the brave High
land leader fell, or stood laz'ly on the
bridge and talked of muskets still
buried in the alluvial bed of the
stream, or looked for shot marks in
some of the old trees. The descend
ants Of the men of the 9th met on
Monday in peace, although, perchanea,
at that early stage in the revolutionary
struggle their sizes may have honestly
differed.
The programme, as laid down py
the Committee of Arrangements, was
carried out to the letter, by the chief
marshal and his efficient assistants.
The extensive assemblage, which was
largely composed of ladies, seemed to
be wholly imbued with the spirit of
the occasion. Subdued fervor and
transformations patriotism pervaded
every heart, and induced all present to
lend attentive ear to the words which
fell from the lips Of the different ora
tors. Four orations were delivered:
the first by Captain S. A Ashe of
Raleigh, formerly of Wilmington-a
descendant of the John AISLE who, with
Hugh Waddell. resisted the landing of
British stamps on the banks of the
Cape Fear, and who was engaged in
the great event then being celebrated,
the second by E. W. Kerr. ESQ,
of Sampson; the third by Rev J. N.
the Hon. Edward CantwelI.
1t would be impossible for US in he
brief limits which the necessities of
restricted space compel US to confine
our notice, to do anything like justice
to all four of the eloquent and able
addresses of these gentlemen, sur
rOuI deo as tney were With everything
which ,uld thrill the heart or inspire
the mind-speaking on the first battle
ground of the Revolution to au audi
ence which was composed of the des-
pendants of the heroes of the battle,
and under the shadow of the monu-
ment which had been erected to their
memory.
But before these addresses were de-
Liver ed the assembly was called to or
der by DIR. s. s. Satchwell, Chairman
of the Committee of Arrangements,
who announced that the exercises of
the occasion would then be opened
with