The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-31
A REVOLUTIONARY HERO
NE oUrWIrrED THE nRrrlsnERs.
A north Carolina Patriot Who Displayed
tho Greatest GailantrY aud skill In
the Glorius struggle OF 20.


in proportion 70 its size than any other por-
ton Of the Old North State. From this
comparatively small triangle has arisen a
constellation Of brilliant minds and noble
hearts which have adorned both the military
and legal professions. General Robert John
son. General y. II. Hoke. General s. d.
Ramsour, General Henry Forney and an-
other general, brother Of the last. whose
patronymic we cannot recall, together with
Judge David Shenck, Judge l.. 81. Nc
Corkle, Judge Alexander Hoke. Judge
W. i. Binum and the late Judge
William Ship, are names widely known
and Justly honored Dy all North Csrolinians.
This remarkable section also claims the ma
tlvity of another Of North CarOlinas most
gifted and honored sons. the Hon. William
A. Graham. once United States senator,
Secretary OF the Navy under killmOre's adj
minstratiou and Governor of his State
Even In Revolutionary times this noted tract
of country claimed distinction for It's sons
and contributed many gallant spirits 10 the
cause Of liberty; notably that distinguished
officer, General Joseph Graham, father Of
Governor Graham.
But in en- unknown grave beneath old
Incoln's soil there sleeps one whose men,
ory has almost been allowed 10 sink into the
4
sterling character and intrinsic worth, his
services 20 his country entitle him 10 stand
D cdmpeer among this gallant band. Adam
Reep, whose name became a terror 10 the
Tories in the CRrolinGs, was a brave and
noted Wing scout, true and noble
hearted man. who sustained the same
relation 90 North Carolina as did
Ethan Allen 20 Vermont. Standing out
clear and distinct q silhouette upon the
dark and bloody background of that stirring
aud adventurous time. he always appeared
with a halo Of romance about him. Born of
humble, yet indeed eminently respectable
parents. with a simple heart full of noble
and general impulses, he was early fired
with the spirit Of liberty and when the
crisis came stepped forward willing to seori-
fee himself upon the altar OF freedom.
Trained in the wild and rugged school of
nature, il was amid struggles with Indians
and wild beasts that he gained the hercu-
lean strength and activity which, with his
indomitable courage, made him inyincible
20 his enemies. Fully SIX feet in height,
robust. quick and active as a tiger. a crack
shot with both rife and pistol and an eX-
pert swordsman, he. was o man whose
proves few desired TO encounter. Yet
withal, he was tender and gentle as a
woman, illustrating in bis rugged character
the tfuth of the poets familiar lines, The
bravest are the gentlest, the daring are the
loving"
GATHERED CHILDREN AROUND BIN.
lie was fond Of gathering children about
him. and on one occasion IN particular bore
little boy, of whom be was especially fond.
upon his broad shoulders over the battle
field OF his greatest fame pointing out the
landmarks and relating the incidents Of that
bloody day. This was the field OF the battle
of Ramsour's Mill, one Of the fercest blood
lest and bitterest struggles Of the Revolution
aud it may be said the turning point OF the
gloomy crisis ia the South In this hotly-
contested battle Adam Reep was one of the
principal moving spirits and made his pres
once fatally felt He it was who in
formed Colonel Locke Of the enemys
force and position, piloted him to
the scene of action, advised the
plan Of attack and in the battle was Locke's
main support. With his thirty gallant fol-
lowers Reep charged the Tories in their
abattis on the right, drove them from IT and
thus gained the first important step toward
victory. Colonel Locke had made his
secoud unsuccessful charge up the hill, los
ing a number Of men and meeting with
stubborn resistance. when he hailed Keep,
who was PASSING They make q bold
stand What shall do with them, ADAM
Club EN-" was his terse response, ss he
hurried on TO re-eDter the hight. his ad
vice was taken. and when the order was
rush into the enemys midst. delivering
sWeeping blows with bis long, heavy rifle,
which in the forcible language of my in
f0rmant. knocked his adYersarles right and
left like so many corn stalks. Later IN the
dav. when the Tories were hastily and igno-
miniously retreating, neighbor hailed one
of them with the question, Was Adam
kiledf' the answer was no, but he's Killed
Tt re- not howevar. upon the field of
battle that mis- greatest service was rendered
E. his country, but ia the more dangerous
and useful capacity of scout. The I'M
portant part played in history by the scout
Is perhaps 10 the superficial mind ooscured
and overshadowed by the pomp and gay
tiusel of vast armies. and the lone, tattered
and travel-wOIn man is forgotten tor the
dashinq and brilliant soldier. The lie
soon lives-fitting in the shadows between
the sunset and the daWn-ls often ut en-
blem of the fate which enshrQuds his men,
orv. rendering him almost mythical
parsonage. Yet often the fate OF battle
hinges upon the information gathered by the
faithful scout. lowering Ike one OF Mac
beth's spectres about the lines Of the enemy
while the camp fires are burning low and
tho army is Wrapt IN slumDer. for true
scout is as eye aud ear 20 the commander,
and also the finger with which he feels his
opponents pulse. Victor Hugo claims tnat
Ii was but the nod Of a perhdiOus guide
head which turned the scales at Waterloo;
and indeed this does not seem 10 be merely
q scintillstion of the poets brilliant rheto-
rio. bat 70 rest upon "a solid basis u truth.
The services rendered the Wing. forces 10
the Old North state by Adam Keep were
numerous and OF great importance. Dart
ing about from point 70 point, running
many dangerous risks and making many
hslrbreadth escapes. he kept the Fatrlot
leaders advised OF the movements or the
Tories and was instrumental Ia winning
more than one hard-iOught battle during
the Revolutionary period the Tory element
largely predominated in the western part
o. the State. and Adam Reep was most
cordially hated by many OF his nearest
Reighbors: indeed, bis life was atteLhPtou
Oh more than one occasion, ana IL Is OWING,
perhaps, to this strong Tory influence tn|
size history Of this true man ana oraFe sOi-
der has not become more widely AboEn'
Colonel John Moore. known as Iory J0nu'
who was IN command Of the forces tnon
eucamped eight miles west OF h "lusoui
Nil had offered a reward for the capture
VI Keep dead or alive.
A TELLING AND MARROW ESCAPE.
IL was at this time that Adam made q
thrilling and narrow escape from party Oh
British soldiers who were proving aQous
Tie country forcing men 10 take the oatn Oh
allegiance. Having been surrounded ~ Lbs
house by this squad OF men. VINO han cap,
tlred barrel OF brandy in the nelgL ooIhOou
and were drunk. be had escaped, klling one
and wOunding several. and sWihihinR 10
rYer fed 10 the house of his most lntlule'o
freud, Christian Reinhardt AS precau-