The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-05
HISTORIC GUlLFORO.
North Carolina Troops vindicated by Re
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GREENSBORO, y. c., Mar. A. Special. F.
That historic spot Of North Carolina, and
known as "Guilford Battle Ground has
lust been exhumod from the dust and debris
Of a century gone. by the patriotic enter
prise of one of her gifted sons, ana the hu-
initiating stigma Of cOWardice that has at
tached 90 the North Carolina militia ON ac-
count OF their conduct at that much-dls-
cussed battle. has at last been wiped away,
and i'm the light of recent critical analysis Of
all the facts. that army OF fleeing, disorderly
veOmen has been yindicated. and tafdt
Justice has h0nOrcd their action in manner
not To- be- forgotten by grateful posterity
The events of the Revolutionary war, ae
given I'm connection with General Nathan
iel Greenes conduct at that noted time and
Mace. are TOO we'll known 10 the student OF
Colonial history tO need repetition now, and
as vOur correspondent wishes 90 give only
some interesting facts about the old battle
ground" as 10 now rppeafs, ne would ai7o
respectfully call the attention of the read
inv plblic iOa recent careful and eXhaus-
tive history of the stirring events immediate
Is connected with that battle, by eX-Judge
David Schcnck, IL. d.. "a native OF the
state. and now citizen Of this place.
The old battle ground is four and one
half miles north Of the town, and Is inter-
,ectod by the Cape Fear and ladkin valley
Railroad. which road has contributed large
ly in bringing it into recent favorable no.
tice.
About three years ago Judge ,chenck yis-
tied the place frequently, carefully study
ing the topography Of the locality in the
lieht of an available history, came %
the conclusion that the 'efdict
of history was unjust 90 Nofth caro-
lima. With what success he has Nindicated
the dead heroes, the reader Of thaf history
must Judge. in addition 10 bis cOntriDu-
fiou t0 history the Judge energeiically un-
dertoOk 20 reclaim tine spot from waste ana
desolation. This has 30 far been most ei-
fectually done. The battle of 6uiiford
Courthouse. fought between the American
forces under General Nathaniel Greene
and the British forces under Lord corn
walli. ON the 18th Of March, 1891. one
hundred and iX wears thereafter, ON the
7th of March. 1887. the GuIif0rd Battle
Ground Company was chartered Dy act oi
the North Carolina legislature Win pro
vision for capital stock ~ f-@vH, difiutu
into shares of SO each and having all the
usual powers OF private corporations. lhe
persons named In the charter were Colonel
Julius A. Gray, DR.. ID. ". &. Benb0w, Col
Onel Thomas 3. ko0gh, j. W. scott and ID
schenck: and the company was organized
ON the 9Th OF May. 1881, with ID. cchenck,
president. The president was authorized
/ Ia raise funds by the sale Of stock ana b,
soliciting contributions % buy up the land
Do improve and beautiiy, and 70 erect mon
nments. Up 90 the last annual celebration
i'm March. $50. he had collected and dis
bursed about 81 ,6J0 The company nov
owns f0rty-eight acres Of land locate,
centrally on the old battlefield. A hand
some pavilion and speakers stand have beer
erected m "A magnificent grove just Yves
and 100 Yards OF the railroad. A keeper o
the grounds lives at the place tnl occupie
/ "A neat lodge built by the company. In th'
receptiOn-rOOm Of this lodge is 10 be found /
museum Of most interesting battle relics
eXhumed aud picked up all over the BATH
grounds parts OF muskets, old flint locks
rust-eaten bayoncts, ramr0ds. cannon
balls, grape shot. swords, buttons, Dras
sword. belt buckles. one Of the buttons
marked with 4 letter ~" supposed q
have belonged 70 the notorious TarletOn.
one Of the most interesting objects abOu
the place is a large persimmon tree, nov
two and a half feet ln diameter. 10 wa
preserved because Il marked the spot whnr
a splendid ir0n-gray charger was siet ur
der Lord CORVALLIS, the work OF Mort
Carolina or Virginia rifeman. The ire
has been inclOsed. it was presented 90 IA
company with a small parcel Of ground b
Mrs Pbehe g. Ross. puDilc-splrited an
patriotic lady. and her son, Dir. J, NJ. Ross
The tree. though over century old.
HING every year with a heavy frui
age. and IS apparently in health
condition. ON the eastern boundary oi IN
battlefield and abOtfi a mile nom the pei
simmon is also historic white OAK, now
giant OF It's kind. and the most maJestl
monument OF the landscape % be see
anywhere. IL was silent witness OF th
bloody struggle and had It's top shot ava
b bv a cannOn-bail This wound only ga,
additional beauty. The trunk Is now ab0l
four feet in diameter and its limbs stand OF
I an round in splendid conical proportions;
} Much public spirit has been evoked J
; the effort 10 beautify the place. just IN u
E edge Of the old held Is a spring at While
. MANY OF the soldiers are said 70 have nile
their cantecns for the last time. IL h'
r been artistically adorned by a solid DO,
. Of marble with a circular basin for n
: -pring. The block WAS cutfrom Nantaha
Mountain in Western North Carolina, IN
was presented By Mrs. DR.. ID. X. cchenc
with the cash donation from Dir. W.
CIvde. OF New York city, an elega
4 na,ilion Ornamented By magnilce
silt eagle has been erected over the plac
and In honor Of the donor IL has been call
CLYDE spring" The town OF winston b
y made donation which will b. appropriate
to the alornment OF another spring near
e which il called "WiHstOn spring IN non
y Of Major Joseph Winston, OF Surry count
who, with his rlilemen iroln tne mountain
, dealt such destruction to the british.
= Misses McGa!llard and Huske,of Foryl
eompany--a heavy block os granite e