Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1911-10-11
BRONZE TABLET UNVEILED THIS EVENING
A Patriotic Deed During Revolutionary
Times to be Remembered.

This evening at $3.50 O'Clock, q
bronze tablet, in memory of Mrs
Elizabeth Maxwell Steele'a liberal
and patriotic assistance to Gen,
Nathan Greene while in Salisbury
February 1st. 1881, was unveiled
aid the following program was
rendered:
Music, "My Country 'Tis Of
Thee. -
Mrs. James P. Moore, regent
of r izabeth Maxwell Steele
chapter III charge.
Prayer, Rev. Byron Clark, D
D.
dwelling of mark,r t, Eliza
bath Maxwell Steele by Miss
Mary Hand rson and Miss Janet
Quinn.
Marker wreathed by Elizateth
Maxwell Steele Clsrv, of Green's
boro, and Richard Henderso on, Jr.
Remarks by State Regent, Mrs.
William Reynolds Winston.
Address, Hon. Theo. F. Kluttz.
Music, "Carolina."
Benediction, Rev. +. J. NAL
lett.
Music, "ssar Spangled Ban
ner ="
The tablet is located on the
itfs granite abuttment at the en-
tran,e of Smiths drug store,
this being con sidered the nearest
p int to where the Steele tavern
~ I'd When Gan. Greene stopped in
Salisbury
Qnlte crowd is here to-day to
be resent at the cereu on,es which
are very interesting
History ON THE SUBJECT.
Rev J. Rumple's History of
Rowan gives the following par
ticulars of the affair which is the
inspiration for the placing Of
this marker:
"Having followed the track of
the British army from the Ca.
tawba River to Salisbury, thus
giving a continuous narrative Of
their march. let US now return
and trace the course of Generals
Greene and Morgan over nearly
the same ground. Unfortrnate. Y
we have not in this case, the bene-
fit of journals, maps, aud "Order
Book." as before. Fut still We
shall be able to ascertain some
facts concerning this days march.
General Morgan crossed the
Catawba River at Island Ford, on
the northern border of Lincoln
county, on the 23th day of Jan
uary, 1881, only tw hours ahead
of the British van guard, under
Brigsdier General O'Hara. 1t
was just at the hour of sun set
when the British came to the
banks of the broad stream, sweep.
ing onward with its wintry cur
rent from the foot of the Blue
Ridge. In the darkness there
was danger in crossing the stream,
especially with the courageous
Morgan and his army on the 9th
or side to receive them. But with
a trained army of two thousand
unencumbered with baggage or
prisoners, the British comman-
der could confidently calculate
upon overtaking the Americans.
numbering. only about one thous-
and in all, half of whom we're
militia, and embarrassed with the
five hundred prisoners lately cap
ture at Cowpens. The passage
of the Catawba was therefore
postponed until the next morn.
ing. That delay was the saliva.
tion of Morgan and his little ar
my During the night the rain
fell IN torrents, ard by morning
light the river was brimful and
unfordable, in which condition it
renamed for forty. eight hours.
For two days the British were
compelled to linger on the west
ern banks, while Morgan and
Greene were on the other side
planning the details of the re-
treat. Sending the five hundred
prisoners off, under the care of
the five hundred militia, by q
route higher up the country to.
wards Virginia. Gen. Morgan.
with his regulars, seems to have
remained on the east bark of the
Catawba, watching the British
aud prepared to dispute their pas.