The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-07-28

Charlotte. ". c.. has been doubted and
derided, il is well to tell its story
while there are some persons snrviv-
ing who know of it and worked In
it. have found a numbe of work
men and persons. whose memory Il 5
aided mine, and here gives a true his
tory Of the Charlotte Navy Yard
Soon after the fight between II
Monitor and The Merrimac." it be
came apparent 10 the Confederate
government that it would not be pos
sible to hold Norfolk. Va, and the
United States navy would soon take
possession of the fort and navy yard.
SO naval officers were sent to the IN
terror in the spring of 1852 TO select
a site to which all the valuable nova
BILE property in the navy yard would
be taken. They came alon~ the only
| railroad then far enough inland to be
| safe. and reached Charlotte. n. G., on
their mission. Both the officers, capt.
w. d. Murdaugh and. | think. Capt.
| VIM. Parker were old friends OF my
| husband. Capt. John Wilkes during
United States navy OS41-1S54) and.
Of course, he met and
them.
"On talking about their request he
showed then, a place he recently
purchased, lying about 600 feet along
! the TalifO0O WITH wv Icot ITOTtdSc III
East Trade street. This they thought
exactly suited to the purpose. far
enough inland to be safe from attack
by sea and lying on the only rail-
road which connected Richmond with
the Southern states Of the Confeder-
acy. So the Confederate government
bought the property, on promise to
pay for it.
"A large quantity of material nd
coke ovens, foundry and machine
shops erected. A wooden Ian ling
stage was built from the yard to the
railroad for convenience in loading
and unloading. This was carried as
far as the sack of the brick building
on East Trade street, near College
street to facilitate the movement OF
naval stores and was then and for
many years afterward called THE
Navy Yard wharf Subsequently it
gave the name to all cotton dis
tricts about College street. which has
always been known ever to this day
as "The Wharf an enduring remind
: er Of the navy yard in Charlotte.
N large guns were cast there, &C
cording to the testimony Of Capt
!, Ashton Ramsey, who now lives il
; Baltimore and who has given us mucf
Information on the subject. He TOLD
of a large trip hammer, which wa:
part of the machinery brought from
ANoI dIIu which was Oh SICdl "a
Osity here. l we'll emit Capt.
Wilkes taking me to see it work. Will
\ one blow it flattened a mass Of irol
and thenext the 'pOnderous mass cam
dOwn so gently as only to crack al
: egg. placed under it.
Workmen With Machinery.
n MANY came with the ma
i chinery from Norfolk and their fami
o lies are still with US. Som, Of tn
names I recall:
n "B. N. Presson, r. Culpepper, R. W
Grimes. H. w. Tatuln. and may 9th
ers. Other men of this vicinity en-
tered the yard, Martin Frazier, Thorn
) as Roberts, John Garibaldi, John All
ernathy, John Rigler and many NOR
1T When the navy became a thing c
er the past, MAN, of these staunch an
te good men entered Capt. wiki s. ser,
he ice in the MeckleEburg Iron Work
A. where they remained until DEATH, c
m infrmity terminated their labors.
Many Of the above list, as we'll 6
ne some excellent colored men. wel
I'd with him until th~ir death. and 4
ps strikes of discomfort ever disturbe
al their cordial relations.
ne "One small gun was brought fro
ny Norfolk and passed with other m;
he terial to the MeckIenburg Ire
er Works For many years it was use
lis in the celebration and parades. b.
Tearing II light DuTSL ana l01Ol
ii some one. Captain Wilkes had it brol
en- up.
ed When Richmond was taken b. IL
II Federal army, Mrs. jefferson Dav
h and her family were il Charlotte, IL
n house on North Brevard streetl mort
east corner) and East Fifth stree
n having been rented for her use. VIII,
NJ the news reached here the authoriti
.r- prepared to remove the specie frc
ter the treasury and other va1uables Sc
MS here for safe keeping. Mrs. Davis i
at sisted on accompanying the train Wi
her children and her niece. The M.
lat at the navy yard were formed into
n company as marines, armed a.
me ordered out to guard the treasu
ID train. Ca pit. VIM. Parker was in COZ
by mand. lust before they left
in brought his old sword to me. aski
der me to keep it for him, and il ST