The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1905-08-30
Cornwallis and Greene,
March IS, 1871.

Ntoi St h~5 ssSt
It may be that there are many
persons who in the mad rush for
selfish ends, do not stop to let the
great facts or events which brought
the right of self government to ap-
proval in 1776 weigh upon their
minds. Without weighing these
facts we are wanting in the power OF
appreciating a government ''by the
people, of the people, and for the
people" Indifference to these facts
brings with it indifference to the
principles which upderlie them, and
prepare us to be led by almost any
man who sppropriates to himself all
wisdom, and claims to be in touch
with the woes of his fellows. From
the days of Absolom till now such
course has been proven to be full OF
evil. By keeping fresh in our minds
these great facts, and principles We
may transmit them with the wsrmth
and patriotic vigor OF our foretathers
to our children, and thus ft them tor
grander and more glorious achieve
ments than has yet been attained.
In order to aid 10 this work I wish to
recite briefly q bit Of history made
by General Cornwallis of the British
and General Greene OF the American
army, on the 18th day of March, 17S1.
Having recently spent part OF two
days ON tbs ground where these two
armies met in conflict and having had
access to the condensed history OF
the position Of these armies as CON-
piled by those who by much laber
and diligence are qualified to speak
advisedly on the matter, [ am
brought to the conclusion that the
battlefield at Gailford, N. c., ranks
firssin importance in the overthrow
Of British rule in the United Colonies
OF America. on or about the 14th OF
March, 1781, Crornwsllis left his
camp at. Old Jamestown on Deep
river and began his march towards
Greene's position, some fifteen miles
away, in north east direction The
place where it is said Cornwallis' tent
was stretched at this camp is we'll
preserved. 4 sympathiser with the
British it is said was owner OF the
land where the camp was. The tent
It is said stood on 8 hill overlooking
the country in northernly direction.
a circular mound Of about sixty feet
in diameter, with q row OF cedars
around it marks the spot where the
tent stood snd where the British flag
doated for the last time victoriously
over the Colonies. The student finds
many things here to interest and in.
struct. Indeed he feels that every
hill and rill is full of history, and as
he pauses the deepest currents OF
patriotic feelings bestir themselves
in his breast.
One of the strange facts that fast
claims our attention is that the march
of Cornwallis lay along way occu'
pied by Quakers whose religion is an
excuse for nonpsrticipation in war.
The birth place Of our present
Speaker of the House Of Representa-
tives IN Congress ls near MIDWAY De-
tween the camp Of Cornwallis and
Greene's position and near the road
over which the army passed. Gull
ford college, Quaker school, stands
on this road also, and the Quaker
church which then stood near where
the college now stands were used by
CORVALLIS as hospital for hif
wounded. Through these quiet and
in measure protected hills Corn
wallis with a feeling of security anc
confidence approached Greene's po
sition on the Salisbury road. This
position was we'll taken and tht
forces were in the following order
General Buffers brigade of n c., OF
south side of the road, Gen. Eaton
bridade on north side Singleton
artillery was stationed in the road