Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-08-18
WINSTON, N c., THURSDAY, AUGUST 49, 1881

WINSTON, N. I
North Carolina in the Revolutionary
War. !
SHE FURNISHED MORE MEN IN lIl6
THAN ANY SOUTHERN STATE.
From Senator Vance's Grafton at
/ Kinston.
The Continental battalions, six
in number and we'll filled, we're in
the North under Washington, and
participated in the we'll fought
field of Princeton, Brandywine,
Germantown and Monmouth.
When General Lincoln was crder-
ed to take the chief command of
the Southern department in IT'S,
they accompanied him. Besides
these 1000 militia had already
been sent to fhe defence OF Charles
ton. The Governor was authoriz-
ed soon after 10 raise 5000 men to
send to the aid of South Carolina,
which State was then threatened
with subjugation. These forces
were promptly raised and when ad'
ded to those kept IN the held at
home, the whole number could not
have been lees than 10000 men
furnished by North Carolina.
When we consider that her popu-
lation at that time could not have
exceeded $4,000, it will be seen
that she was eending her full quota
to the support OF the war. AS
usual, she failed to receive credit
for the value and extent OF her ser
vices. Others have written the
history of those times, and they
have written it in the narrow spir-
it of laudation of their own States.
In truth, North Carolina constitu-
ted by far the greater part of any
Southern army whether under
l Howe, Lincoln, Gates or Greene.
She was refuge for tine Patriots
of South Carolina when their State
was subdued and overrun by the
, British and Tories and their Off
GERS were permitted and encouraged
to enlist recruits in our borders.
Under letter Of authority from
Governor Nash, Col. Williams, a
native of North Carolina, then res
ident in South Carolina, enlisted
: one of his largest companies in
Gas we'll county. Another compa-
ny of his command enlisted one Of
his largest companies in Caswell
county. Another company of his
mand was enlisted in Tryon, now,
, Lincoln county, by Hambright and
> Chronicle. Williams and Chron-
. .cle both fell gloriously at Kings
Mountain, and all the men of that
command are credited in the cur
trent histories to South Carolina
At the battle of the Cowpens the
mounted militia who so ga.lantly
t, stood by Morgan's Regulars ano
aided him in that signal victory
\ are likewise credited to South Car
,g olina, whereas every man of them
: including their commander, Col
! Joe Mcdonald, hailed from the
counties of Burke and Rutherford
Gen. Davidson, in command o
about 7CO Mecklenburg men, fel
at Cowan's Ford. There being
Y some delay and jealousy as to th'
E filling OF his place, Gen. Pickens Q
South Carolina who was presen
III with about thirty straggsers from
d that State, was placed in command
From that day forward all th'
deeds of these Mecklenburg mel
are also credited to South Carolina
In the brilliant actions OF Hang
ing Rock and Rocky Mount; th
North Carolina troops under Irwin
!, Huggins and Davie constituted b,
far the greater part of the patrio
forces; yet as Gen. Sumter was il
! command, South Carolina again i
|. given all the laurels won there.
McRee, in his life and letters G
Iredell, affirms that it was general
ly believed and understood tina
A even the North Carolina Continen
tails were distributed in the lines c
other States to fill them up to tn
regulation size; and their indivld
uality being thus lost all the glor
which they won went to adorn tn
brows of others. l am inclined t
believe this is true.
Thus 1t went on during the wa
of Independence-thus it went Q
c during the great civil war-an
thus it will always go on SO long q
.ls our men CT letters permit the repu
tation of our people to fall into tn
keeping of others. Our brave sor
Or have indeed been able to snatc
victory from the enemy amid tt
smoke of battle, but have not bee
" ah1o to xurost ifc 1curolc frnp, ~,