The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-02-06

Dut very Oll1erent had been my
opportunity to acquire information
with regard t that action. With a
large portion Of the Wings engaged
IN II, my father and brothers We're
acquainted at the time; and with not
a rev or them l myself became &C
qualnted, as a youth. at a subsequent
PERIOD. Nor was this all. One Of
my brothers had himself been deep
~ concerned in the battle, having
led into it about sixty of the most
disciplined INC expert riflemen in the
country.
FROM my early boyhood, therefore,
had been familiar with the detai
OF the Battle of Ramsauer's Mill
having heard them recited scores of
tunes. in the form of a fireside and
exciting story.
u need hardly emark that, by the
lndulgent attention with which thc
and representations, and the kind
and complimentary replies he oc-
caslonally made to me, | was highly
gratlhed. He at length inquired of
me whether he might expect to NEE
at Charlotte any of the leading mem
bers Of the convention which pre-
pared and passed the M~ecklenbur
Declaration Of Independence, an4t
especially whether my father would
be there. 1 replied tina my father
was dead, and that DR.. Prevard (sic).
n author Of the Declaration, was
also dead; that, OF the members Of
the convention still living, | knew
personally but two-Adam Alexander,
who had been president of the body,
and John McKnitt Alexander, his
brother, who had been It's secretary:
that they were far advanced in life,
and lived at some distance from Char
lCtte, but hat l felt confident THEN
evergreen spirit of patriotism, united
to their strong desire to see him,
would bring them there, should they
be able to travel.
Q the evening of that day, hav-
ing arrived at the headquarters Of
the troop to which l belonged, I sur
rendered my place to my superiors
II rank, and received from Washing
ton, in their presence, a compliment
peculiarly gratifying to me, as well
GA acCOunt of the Of it's be-
StOWal as Of its own impOrt-On what
he was pleased to pronounce my
honorable and exemplary department
rs an officer, and the interesting ar,i
valuable information l had impact a
to him respecting the country and
its inhabitants through which had
escorted him.
During Washington's stay in Sal
NoN = "tLo 4 1AS <
son, in the capacity OF junior master
Of ceremony, and when the General
left Salisbury, on his way to the
Ncrth, l again, at the head Of Il new
and larger escort, him to
Gui.tcrd Courthouse, the celebrated
battle-ground Of Greene and Cornwall
liS. (; distance, as well as l now re
member, OF about sixty miles. Hay-
ing there conducted him over the
field of action OF the two armies, ac-
c riding to the best information /
could collect respecting it's localities
ah,i IritS. we returned to the court
lr'Lse, where, conformabiy to my
orders. ] reluctantly took leave OF
hin-h,>, 20 proceed on his %journe,
t" TIE tier seat of government, aud
| TO retrace my route to the South
Nor, highly fiattered as | had been
by his notice Of me. and ever by
occasional marks of his apparent
Partially toward me, and sincerely
attached as l had become to his per
son was the act Of ~leavc-taking, on
ny part, without much more emo
tiOn TRAN l believed l should exper-
ience.
Having paid to him, at the head
OF my little squadron, the farewell
ceremony, in military style, and be
ing abOu to issue the command to
move forward, Washington beckoned
me to approach him. Having eagerly
advanced to within a suitable dis
lance, he bowed in his saddle, and
extended to me his hand. That act
accompanied, as l fancied it to be.
by an appearance, in his countenance
Of marks of feeling, again COMPLETELY
unnamed and silenced me. AS, or
first meeting him, l was able to greet
him only with my sword, | cOulC
now bid him n DorSOnal farewell ir
no other way than by the pressure
Of his hand; and, observing my emo
ton, my eyes once more swimming
in tears, he returned the pressure
anu addressed to me a few Words
thanking me cOurteouS!y for my IL
voted attention., and what he was
pleased to call my numerous service
to him, n hoping to see me durins
the prosecution of my studies il
Philadelphia, to which place l hat
apprised him of my intention to re,
pair. he again pressed nv hand. anl