The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-08-29
NORTH CAROLINA DURING THE REV0-
LUTON.
By OLIVIA LYMAN LAMB.

By OLIVIA LYMAN LAMB.
paper read at the closing exercises. OF
Henderson Graded School May 10. 1907
No State in all the Union exercised
greater patriotism and bravery dur
ing the Revolution than did North
Carolina. No power was her own
until after the battle Of Moore's Greek.
Then and there all British authority
ceased, and she was a Province no
longer, but State. Nothing of the
old government remained, and the
people faced their destiny without
fear or danger, but they determined
that it should be ruled by the people.
She suddenly emerged from royal
ruin into state of strength, beauty
and prudence. But the long and
dark years of trial and tribulation
had but just begun. For Alamance
sheltered her first martyrs, the BRAY
est and noblest patriots of America,
giving their lives not only for the
defense Of their homes but for the
political rights of man. The grass
was hardly green above their graves
newly made, when the tramp of
martial hosts echoed DER the distant
hills, and the ground was still stained
with the blood of her heroes. The
shout of the avenger was answered
over the hills and valleys as the last
sigh of their dying lips passed away.
The banks of the Alamance glowed as
the crimson folds of the flag of liberty
f1uttered in the breeze and Tyron's
soldiers bearing it in triumph from
field to field in bloody but victorious
battles. North Cardinals sons fought
under arms at both North and South.
No victory was completely won unless
North Carolina blood was shed. Far
away in Germantown the brave and
noble General Nash fell in 1.-the thick
est OF the fray" and strangers have
erected monument over his distant
grave, Both North and South was
"enriched with North Carolina blood :"
She was always first to the front and
last to desert, without wavering,
without faltering, responded to the
bugle call,
"On, where swords are changing, clashing,
On, where balls were crushing, crashing,
On to victory or to DEATH
Shall not the brave and noble deeds
be recorded in history? And, when
the first cannon roared at Guilford.
women were sending prayers to
Heaven that they might gain the vic
tory for their honor and their liberty,
for it seemed that their very sinew 8
were made Of steel. Every planta-
ton was battlefield, and every man
and woman a soldier.
They watched. toiled, fought. pray
ed and bled that the happiness of
their prosperity might be safe and the
posterily Of those who were fighting
against the land that gave them birth.
The battles of Ramseur's Mill and
Kings Mountain will be remembered
while patriotism has a name. MANI
smaller conflicts equally as fierce
were fought but have not found an
historian worthy of the theme. The
banks of the Yadkin and Catawba, the
Haw and the Dan witnessed scenes
that would fill volumes if recorded.
Is there not some among us to
write of the bravery of our fore
fathers? Shall it be forgotten and
blotted from the history of our State
OF the people who solemnly gave up
their lives, their fortune and their
honor to the cause they defended so
bravely? North Carolina gave her
sons sacrificial offering on the altar
| of the liberties their fathers had won
| and had left as an Inheritance to their
posterity. Many sleep far from the
land OF their nativity. Peace to their
ashes! Honor to their memory and
to the mothers who bore them!