The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-27
GUILF0RD BATTLE FIELD.
The Historic Grounds With Their Beautiful Tablets
aed Splendid Monuments.
By G.. S. Bradshaw, Esq.

President Morehead tells elsewhere IN
this issue of the origin, the purpose and
the work of the Guilford Battle Ground
Company There are two facts above all
others entitled to emphasis.
First. 1t is the only battle field of the
Revolution which has been reclaimed,
adorned and preserved in its entirety. It's
history, its heritage and its glory are,
therefore, the common property of the
whole country. This historic spot is hal
lowed scarcely more by the memories Of
the brave deeds of dead heroes than by
the self-sacrificing efforts of the few who
have been dutifully engaged in the patri-
otto work of preserving it, Across its
sacred acres the line of Mason and Dixon
never ran, New York, New Jersey, Penn
sylvania., Maryland Virginia, South Caro-
lima and the other States whose heroes
fought and persisted may here meet on
common ground and cover with tear and
flower the sacred dust of the fathers.
These 100 acres were reserved when the
Hateful line aforesaid was run. They be-
longed then--they are rendered now to
the Government for which they drank
the life blood of patriotic heroes. 1t is now
al mag nluceHI baIlle 1dIh Will It's Clidi III
ing groves of stately oaks, its beautiful
flowers, its lovely lake, its cool springs
and its acres of hill and vale covered with
beautiful memorial stones and splendid
monuments And strange as it may sound
in the materialistic ear of this age, the
work so far has been done by individual
effort. Less than twenty years ago that
great lawyer and prince of Carollnlans.
Hon. David Schenck, in the midst OF the
exacting duties of a busy professional life,
conceived the idea of the redemption and
preservation of this great Battle Field
The enthusiasm OF his great soul reached
high tide in its execution. He secured q
charter and organized said company, of
which he was president and leader. Its
capital stock was taken by a'few patriotic
citizens. The company now owns this
Battle Park. The purchase money for the
same together with all of the incidental
and necessary expenses of the company
was thus paid by private individuals In
the same way many of the monuments
have been secured. For the past ten
years the States legislature has supple
mented individual effort with an annual ap-
preparation of five hundred dollars. This
sum is a mere pittance in the support of
serving it. The Stars and Stripes float not
over another historic spot which has
levied and exacted so great a tax upon
the patriotism of the individual.
The late Judge Schenck is succeeded by
Major Joseph NJ Morehead. the present
president who is not less jealous in al
efforts for the promotion OF the great OBJ
ject of the company
Second This Rattle 1yac bo
the pivotal and the turning point in the
stupendous struggle. From its bloody and
terrible blow CORVALLIS reeled, staggered
and fell seven months thereafter at York
town. If not the greatest and bloodiest
struggle of the Revolution in daring. reck-
less valor and in priceless sacrifice it was
the greatest in it's effect and in its result
1t was the one fatal wound from which,
the British forces never rallied. The
more one studies it the more it grows IL
greatness-in its stupendous results and
the more clearly one is convinced that his
tory has done scant justice to that )us
trous and glorious day. Surely this great
government can afford to maintain ant
preserve in its entirety one great Battle
Field of the Revolution and where Is
there in all that bloody drama one thai
appeals more strongly to the pride and
patriotism OF this Republic? The nationa
Government for more than three decade;
in the natural and pious duty of preserv
ing the memories that throng and cluster
about the glorious battle fields of The
War Between the States, has seemed te
ignore the earlier but no less glorious
struggle of the fathers. This should not
be. From national standpoint the
father fought to establish it, The sor
fought to preserve it. Each was a great
war and each was without a parallel in
the annals of time in the awful sacrifice
of blood and life. Both father and son
were victorious. The Government still
lives and still grows and is still expand
ing-in resources boundless and in strength
ample and inexhaustible.
Let the glorious memories that attach
to the scenes of the struggles of each live
and be preserved
lone crowded hour of glorious life
Is worth an age without a name"
One needs to recur to the lessons taught
by the history of the early struggles OF
his ancestry to appreciate the wondrous
fabric over which the old flag floats 10
day. 1t is fit, therefore that one of the
two days of the first great Reunion of the
nonresident natives of North Caroline
should be devoted to the old Battle FielJ
of Guilford Court House where we may
all read and study again in glorious his
tory in the beautiful tablets and splendid
monuments with which it has been adorn.
ed by the muniieence of patriotic and
public spirited individuals.
The homecoming nonresident will re-
pair there on the second day of the great
Reunion to rekindle at its altar the
flame of love for his old mother State ans
to renew his allegiance to the fadeles:
memories of his patriotic sires Whose
valor there wrote in crimson letters ''tht
purple testament of bleeding war; Ant
whilst they linger both nonresident ant
resident will strike hands in the patriotic
effort to induce the national Government
to extend its fostering hand of help in the
permanent preservation of this great Bat
tie Field.