The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-05-03
Flora Mcdonald.

Copyrighted 1885, by Funk & Wagnalls.l
In the winter of lS49 started to fol.
low the line OF General Green's famous
retreat before CORVALLIS from the Ca
tawba to the Dan, in 1881; but soon
turned eastward to Fayetteville, North
Carolina, where arrived toward sun
set on mild January day. In the even-
ing l called upon Mrs. Mol, a
sprightly Scotch woman and a widow,
eighty.seven years of age. She was the
"oldest inhabitant" in all that region.
She had been brought from Scotland
when she was an infant. was told that
she we'll remembered the notable Flora
Mcdonald when that lady was resident
of North Carolina. She received me
very kindly, and seemed to be pleased
to be questioned about the famous hero
inc of the Hebrides.
~ was girl of fourteen" said Mrs.
Mol, "when Flora and her hus-
band came to Cross Creek Ian old name
of Fayetteville She was then about
forty years of age, not very tall, but a
very handsome and very dignifed
woman, with fair complexion, sparkling
blue eyes, the finest teeth I ever saw,
and hair nearly covered with fine lace
cap and slightly streaked with white, as
she had endured much trouble. Her
voice was sweet music" continued Mrs.
Mel, "and oh, how the poor and
the church missed her when she went
home, after experiencing much trouble
here. She was often at my mothers
house when she first came, and Ialmost
worshiped her because OF her beauty
and goodness"
SIS her dwelling place here yet stand
ing?" inquired.
"No; it was partly burned in great
fire here about twenty years ago. AS
you pass from the market house to the
court house you may see the ruins of it
near the creek"
The old lady then stepped to a quaint
looking chest of drawers, and taking out
a dingy letter written by Flora to Mrs.
McL-'s eldest sister, then maiden
of twenty, handed 1t to me to read. 1t
was brief note, but an exceedingly in
teresting one, as it was in the the bold
handwriting of the heroine of Skye. l
was permitted to make copy of it and
q tracing Of Flora's signature. Here is a
copy:
''Feb. 1, 1776.
''Dear Maggie: Allan leaves to morrow to
Join Donslds standard at Gross Creek, an
shall be alone wi my three BARNS. Gamma ye
com an stay wi me awhile? There are
troublesome times ahead, I ween. God will
keep the right. hope q our ain are i the
right, prays your guild friend,
FLoRY MACDONALD"
"You see," says Mrs. Mol, "she
wrote her name Flory-she always did.
The letter was written at her new house
at Cameron Hill, near the Barbecue
Church, where the good Mr.. Campbell
preached as often as possible. Flora was
a pious member of the Barbecue congre-
CATION"
''Then she did not live here long ?" /
said.
"No; she soon moved to Cameron
Hill, about twenty miles north of here" "
On the day when that note was writ
ten the royal Governor of North Caro-.
lima issued a proclamation calling up.
on all friends of the King to assemble
with arms at Cross Creek and join his
standard. The Macdonalds were all
staunch loyalists. They had been loyal
to the Stuarts, now they were loyal to
the House of Hanover. The troubles OF
Flora in North Carolina now began,
Her husband and others, mostly Scotch.
men, readily obeyed the call of the Gov
ernor.
''Flora came with her friends" said
Nrs. McL-., ~ remember seeing
her riding along the line on a large
white horse and encouraging her coun'
trymen to be faithful to the King. Why
she looked like a queen. But she went
no farther than here, and when they
marched away she returned to hel
home. She dined with US, and the next
day sister Maggie went out to Barbacue
TO stay awhile with Mrs. Macdonald, Al
she had desired"
Nearly month afterward these Scotch
loyalists were routed, dispersed, made
prisoners or killed in battle at Moore'l
Greek bridge. Flora's husband wa
among the prisoners and was sent Il
HALIFAX jail. He was soon afterward re
leassd ON parol, whenshe left Nortl
Caroline with his family for Scotland il
I. . British war-sloop. On the way tn
J sooosl was attacked by French crusier
whom the courage Of the English seamel
ond msriners appeared TO desert them
osd ceptare seelned inevitable. The.
3 voeo about TO surrender when Flora ap
nooyod On deck, and BY words and deed
o tAinulatsd their spirits that they bea
3 u ~ ehemy and The Macdonalds Yer
u1od ealsly o. THAR nativs soil of th
IS y = G6ye. Dusine ~ lnGaGsnsa
aoegysly seen6eA - ~ ben1