USA > North Carolina > Historical sketches of North Carolina : from 1584 to 1851, Vol. I > Part 21
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The triumphant victors were about to remount, and advance on the British post at Ninety-six, when an express arrived from Colonel McDowell, with a letter from Gov. Caswell, informing then of the defeat of Gen. Gates, at Cam- den, on the 16th, and advising the retreat of our troops; as the British, flushed with victory, would advance in strong force, and cut off all detach- ments of our people.
With Ferguson near him, encumbered with more than 200 prisoners, Shelby acted with energy and promptness. He, distributed the prisoners among the companies, each behind a private, and without stopping day or night, retreated over the mountains to a place of safety. This rapid movement saved his men and himself. For the next day Major Dupoister, and a strong body of Ferguson's men made an active but fruitless search.
So great was the panic after Gates's defeat, and Sumpter's disaster at Fishing Creek, 18th Aug., 1780, by Tarleton, that McDowell's army was dis- banded and he himself retreated over the mountains.
This was a " dark and doleful" period of American History. The British flag floated in triumph over Charleston and Savannah. The troops of Corn- wallis, with all the pomp and circumstance of glory, advanced from the field of Camden, to Charlotte, in our State. The brave had despaired, the timid took protection under the enemy. Colonel Ferguson, with chosen troops, ravaged the whole west, subduing all the opponents of English power, and encouraging by bribes and artifice, others to join him.
Under all these discouraging circumstances, the brave spirits of the west never despaired. On the mountain heights of our State, and in' its secure retreats, like Warsaw's " last champion," stood the stalwart soldiers of that day :-
" Oh Heaven !" they said, "our bleeding country save ! Is there no hand on high to shield the brave ?
What though destruction sweep these lovely plains ! Rise, fellow men ! our country yet remains ; By that dread name we wave the sword on high, And swear for her to live ! for her to die !"*
If the sky was gloomy, a storm was gathering in these mountain fastnesses, which was soon to. descend in all its fury on the heads of the enemies of our country.
It was known to McDowell, Campbell, Shelby, and Sevier, that Ferguson was at Gilbert town in Rutherford county, with a force of 2000 men, which, from the condition of the country, he could increase to twice that number. They resolved to attack him, disperse his force, or prevent its augmentation, and thus to keep the spirit of liberty alive in the South.
* Campbell's Pleasures of Hope.
59
BURKE COUNTY.
These brave men, not disheartened by the misfortunes of their country or dismayed by the force of the enemy, assembled at Watauga on the 25th of September 1780, with their fearless followers. They prepared to march on the enemy, and in their march they were joined by Col. Cleaveland with a force of three or four hundred men. This was the first of October. The next day was so wet that the army did not move. The officers met in council · at night; they all felt deeply the dangers and difficulties of their position. It was no' holiday excursion or pleasure trip in which they were engaged ; the liberty of their country, the lives of themselves, the safety of their wives and children were the object of their deliberations. Never around a council of war, were purer minds deliberating, never firmer hearts assembled. They were all of equal rank, and as the troops were in Col. McDowell's district, he was entitled to the command. But his generous temper did not desire. to command Col. Shelby, who had just achieved the brilliant victory of Mus- grove Mill over Colonel 'Ennis and the Tories; or the fearless Sevier, the hero of a hundred Indian fights, whose sobriquet as "Nollichucky Jack," would rally a thousand men at any moment, to battle ; nor the accomplished Campbell from Virginia. I extract from an account of this battle by Governor Shelby, published in 1823 ..
"Col. McDowell was the commanding officer of the district we were in, and had commanded the armies of militia assembled in that quarter all the summer before, against the same enemy. He was a brave and patriotic man, but we considered him too far advanced in life, and too inactive for the com- mand of such an enterprise as we were then engaged in." * * * * * It was decided to send to the head quarters for some general officer to com- mand the expedition.
" Col. McDowell, who had the good of his country more at heart than any title of command, submitted to what was done, but observed, that as he could not be permitted to command, he would be the messenger to go to head quarters for the general officer.
"He accordingly started immediately, leaving his men under his brother, Major Joseph McDowell."
In council next day, Shelby urged that time to them was precious, and delay dangerous ; that Ferguson would attack them, if he thought himself in force ; if not, daily acquisitions to his men would be made; under these cir- cumstances he moved the council, that, as they, except Col. Campbell, were all North Carolinians, that, by courtesy, Campbell should take the command, and that forthwith they should attack Ferguson. This daring and patriotic advice was adopted ; they prepared to attack Ferguson at Gilbert town. Here they were joined by Colonel John Williams of South Carolina, with about 400 men. . They reached Gilbert town the next day, but Ferguson had left, and taken a strong position on King's Mountain, which he deemed so impreg- nable, that on viewing it, he impiously asserted he was, now in a place that "God Almighty could not drive him from."
Notwithstanding this, it was apparent that Ferguson was well aware of the peril of his position. Surrounded by his vigilant opponents, all succor from Cornwallis was hopeless. His animated appeal to rouse the Tories, as pub- lished, shows that he had a fearful presentiment of the fate that now awaited him .*
About three o'clock on the 7th of October, 1780, after being in the saddle thirty hours, without rest, and drenched by a heavy rain, these fearless men approached King's Mountain.
This, memorable spot is located on the borders of North and South Carolina (Cleaveland County); it extends from east to west; its summit is about five hundred yards long, and sixty or seventy broad. On this summit was Ferguson posted. McDowell's men, under Joseph McDowell, Colonel .Sevier and Major Winston, formed the right wing; Campbell and Shelby the centre; the left wing by Colonels Cleaveland and Williams. The plan of battle was to surround the mountain and attack each side simultaneously. The centre commenced the attack, and marched boldly
* See Cleaveland, chapter xx.
60
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
up the mountain. The battle here was fierce, furious and bloody. The cen- tre gave way, but rallied, and, reinforced by Campbell's regiment, returned to the 'charge. Towards the latter part of the action, the enemy made a furious onset from the eastern summit, and drove the Americans to the foot; there they rallied, and in close column, returned to the attack, and in turn drove the enemy. They gained the summit, and drove the enemy before them to the western end, where Cleaveland and Williams had been contend- ing with another part of their line. Campbell now reached the summit, and poured on the enemy a deadly fire. The brave Ferguson, like a lion at bay, turned on these new adversaries, and advanced with fixed bayonet. They gave way for a moment, but rallied under their gallant leaders to the attack. " The whole mountain was covered with smoke, and seemed to thunder." At- tacked on all sides, the circle becoming less and less, Ferguson in a despe- rate move endeavored to break through the American lines, and was shot dead in the attempt. This decided the day. The British flag was lowered, and a white flag raised for quarters.
One hundred and fifty of the enemy, including their commander, lay dead on the field, 810 wounded and prisoners, 1500 stand of arms, and the American authority restored, were the fruits of this victory.
This was the turning point of the fortunes of America. This decisive blow prostrated the British power for the time, vanquished the Tory influence, and encouraged the hopes of the patriots. .
Lord Cornwallis left Charlotte and fell back to Winnsboro', deeming any proximity to such fearless men unsafe for the main army, nor did he advance until reinforced by General Leslie with troops from the north.
The official reports of this battle are recorded under the head of Cleaveland County, Chapter XX.
JOSEPH McDOWELL was in the Convention which met at Hillsboro' on 21st July, 1788, to consider the Federal Constitution, of which Samuel Johnston, Governor of the State, was President. He was distinguished for his oppo- sition to that instrument,* which was rejected by 184 to 84.
He often participated in the debates. The following, extracted from the journals, will show his views and the character of his mind.t
Wednesday, 30th July, 1788.
Mr. Jos. McDOWELL-Mr. Chairman, I was in hopes that amendments would have been brought forward to the constitution before the idea of adopting it had been thought of or proposed. From the best information, there is a great proportion of the people in the adopting States averse to it as it stands. I collect my information from respectable authority. I know the necessity of a federal government; I therefore wish this was one in which our liberties and privileges were secured ; for I consider the Union as the rock of our political salvation. I am for the strongest federal government. A bill. of rights ought to have been inserted to ascertain our most valuable and unalienable rights.
The fourth section of the first clause gives the Congress an unlimited power over elections. This matter was not cleared up to my satisfaction. They have full power to alter it from one time of the year to another, so as that it shall be impossible for the people to attend. They may fix the time in winter, and the place at Edenton, when the weather will be so bad that the people cannot attend. The State governments will be mere boards of elections. The clause of elections gives the Congress power over the time and manner of choosing the Senate. >
I wish to know why reservation was made of the place and time of choosing senators, and not also of electing representatives. It points to the time when the States shall be all consolidated into one empire. Trial by jury is not secured. The objections against this want of security have not been cleared up in a satisfactory manner. It is neither secured in civil nor criminal cases.
* Ellicott, Debates, vol. ii 218.
t Debates in the Convention of North Carolina, 1788, at Hillsboro'.
61
BURKE COUNTY.
The federal appellate cognizance of law and facts puts it in the power of the wealthy to recover, unjustly, of the poor man who is not able to attend at such extreme distance, and bear such enormous expense as it must produce. It ought to be limited so as to prevent such oppressions.
I say the trial by jury is not sufficiently secured in criminal cases ; the very intention of the trial by jury is, that the accused may be tried by persons who come from the vicinity or neighborhood, who may be acquainted with his character. The substance, therefore, of this privilege is taken away.
By the power of taxation, every article capable of being taxed, may be so heavily taxed that the people cannot bear the taxes necessary to be raised for the support of their State governments. Whatever we may make may be repealed by their laws. All these things, with others, tend to make us one general empire.
Such a government cannot be well regulated, when we are connected with the Northern States, who have a majority in their favor-laws may be made which will answer their convenience, but will be oppressive to the last de- gree upon the Southern States. They differ in climate, soil, customs, man- ners, &c. A large majority of the people of this country are against this constitution, because they think it. replete with dangerous defects. They ought to be satisfied with it before it is adopted, otherwise it cannot ope- rate happily. Without the affections of the people, it will not have sufficient energy to enforce its execution-recourse must be had to arms and bloodshed. How much better would it be if the people were satisfied with it. From all these considerations I now rise to oppose its adoption, for I never will agree to a government that tends to the destruction of the liberty of the people.
CHARLES MCDOWELL was a member of the Senate of the State Legislature in 1786, 1787, and 1788.
Joseph McDowell was a member of the House of Commons in 1782 to 1788, and in Congress from 1793 to 1795, and from 1797 to 1799.
At one time (1786) all three of the members of the General Assembly were of the McDowell family, which proves their usefulness and worth.
General Joseph McDowell lived on John's River, and died there. His family returned to Virginia. One of his sons, Hugh Harvey, now resides in Missouri-another, Joseph J., lives in Ohio, and in 1843 to 1847 was a mem- ber of Congress from that State.
General Charles McDowell married Grace Greenlee, widow of Captain John Bowman, who fell at the Battle of Ramsour's Mill (June 20, 1780), by whom he had several children, among them Captain Charles McDowell, now re- siding on his late plantation on the Catawba River, near Morganton. Gene- ral Charles McDowell died 31st March, 1815.
SAMUEL P. CARSON was also a native and resident of this county. He was born at Pleasant Garden, and was distinguished for the activity of his mind, his energy of character, warm and enthusiastic temper, and patriotic feel- ings.
His first appearance in public life was as a member of the Senate from Burke County in 1822, and again in 1824.
The next year, 1825, he was elected to Congress over Dr. R. B. Vance, where he served continuously until 1833.
His second contest with Dr. Robert B. Vance in 1827, produced an angry feeling between them, which was terminated by a duel in the fall of that year, at Saluda Gap, in South Carolina, in which Dr. Vance received a mor- tal wound, of which he soon died.
He was succeeded in Congress by Hon. James Graham, * and removed soon after to Arkansas, where he died in November, 1840.
ISRAEL PICKENS, late Governor of Alabama, was born in Cabarrus County, then Mecklenburg, represented this county in the Senate in 1809, and this District in Congress in 1811 to 1817.
* For whose biography see Lincoln, chapter xlvi.
62
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
BURGESS S. GAITHER is a resident of this county, and the present Solicitor of the State for this District. He was a member of the Senate in 1840; Super- intendent of the Mint in 1841, and Speaker of the Senate in 1844.
Many others of Burke might be named, but already has the sketch been extended beyond the limits prescribed, and another edition will present their names, lives, and services to the country.
The following are the members of the General Assembly from Burke County, from date of erection to last session.
Years. Senators:
Members of House of Commons.
1778. Charles McDowell,
1779. Eph'm McClain,
Thomas Wilson, Wm. Morrison.
1780. Eph'm McClain,
Hugh Brevard, Jos. McDowell.
1781.
Andrew Woods,"
Hugh Brevard, Jos. McDowell.
1782.
Ch. McDowell, Ch. McDowell,
J. McDowell, Waightstill Avery. W. Avery, J. McDowell.
J. McDowell, Waightstill Avery.
J. McDowell, David Vance.
J. McDowell, Jos. McDowell, Jr.
1788.
Ch. McDowell,
1791.
Jos. McDowell,
1792. Jos. McDowell,
1793. Jos. McDowell,
1794. Jos. McDowell,
1795. Jos. McDowell,
1796. 1797. 1800. 1801.
W. Avery,
James Murphy, Andrew Beard,
1802. 1803. 1804.
Wm. Davenport, Andrew Beard, John H. Stevely,
1805.
J. H. Stevely,
1806.
J. H. Stevely,
1807 .*
William Tate,
1808. 1809. 1810.
I. Pickens,
David Tate,
1811.
David Tate,
1812. 1813. 1814.
H. Rabourn,
David Tate,
1815.
A. A. McDowell,
1816.
Alex. Perkins,
Brice Collins, John Phagan. · Brice Collins, J. R. McDowell.
1817. 1818. David Tate, 1819. 1821. David Tate, 1822.
Sam'l P. Carson,
1823. J. R. McDowell,
1824.
Sam'l P. Carson,
1825. J. R. McDowell,
1826. 1827.
Matthew Baird, Merritt Burgin, M. Burgin, M. Burgin,
1828. 1829. 1830. 1831. Mark Brittain,
David Newland,
1832. Jas. McDowell,
1833. Mark Brittain,
A. Burgin, David Corpening.
1834.
Sam'l P. Carson,
Jas. H. Perkins, Sam'l Fleming.'
J. McDowell, Jos. McDowell, Jr. J. McDowell, Jr., David Vance. John M. McDowell, Jos. McDowell, Jr. Waightstill Avery, Alex. Erwin. Alex. Erwin, John McDowell. A. Erwin, Conrad Heldebrand. Wm. White, Alexander Erwin. A. Erwin, Conrad Heldebrand. Wm. Davenport, Wm. Walton. B. Smith, David Tate.
David Tate, Thos. McEntire. David Tate, Thos. Coleman. A. Erwin, Hodge Rabourn. John Carson, Brice Collins. John Carson, Brice Collins. Brice Collins, David Tate. Abraham Fleming, Thos. Brevard.
Chas. McDowell, Isaac T. Avery. Isaac T. Avery, Chas. McDowell .- Chas. McDowell, Isaac T. Avery. Wm. Dickson, John M. Greenlee. Wm. Dickson, Brice Collins. Brice Collins, Wm. Dickson. Brice Collins, Joel Coffee.
A. Perkins,
J. R. McDowell, Matthew Beard.
Alex. Perkins, ,
Brice Collins, J. R. McDowell. Brice Collins, Wm. Dickson. Matthew Baird, Merritt Burgin. Wm. Roane, Brice Collins. Alney Burgin, Peter Ballew. Peter Ballew, Edwin Poor.
David Newland, Edwin Poor,
David Newland, David Neill.
David Newland, Mark Brittain. Joseph Neill, David Newland. Elias A. Hooper, Alney Burgin .. Alney Burgin, Francis P. Glass. A. Burgin, F. P. Glass.
Waightstill Avery, Jos. McDowell.
1783.
1784. Ch. McDowell,
1785. Ch. McDowell, 1786. Ch. McDowell, 1787. Ch. McDowell,
Eph'm McClain, Jas. Wilson.
Israel Pickens, -
Hodge Rabourn,
A. Beard,
63
CABARRUS COUNTY.
Years. Senators.
Members of House of Commons.
Edw'd J. Erwin, Jas. H. Perkins.
Edw'd J. Erwin, James H. Perkins,
and Elisha P. Miller.
1838. Thos. Baker,
1840. B. S. Gaither,
1842. A. Burgin,
Sam'l J. Neal, Todd R. Caldwell, and W. W. Avery.
1844. . B. S. Gaither, :
T. R. Caldwell, Benj. Burgin.
1846. S. F. Patterson,
Wm. F. Mckesson, J. J. Erwin.
1848. S. F. Patterson,
Alfred Mailor, S. B. Erwin.
1850. Tod R. Caldwell,
W. W. Avery, T. Geo. Walton.
CHAPTER XI.
CABARRUS COUNTY.
Date of its formation-Origin of name, situation and boundaries-Population and products-Concord its capital-Early history-Black Boys, or the gun- powder plot-Character and services of her sons-Members of Assembly.
CABARRUS COUNTY, was formed in 1792, from Mecklenburg County, and was so named in compliment to Stephen Cabarrus, member from Chowan County, and Speaker of the House of Com- mons. Mr. Cabarrus lived in Edenton, or near, at a place called Pembroke. He was a native of France, a man of great vivacity and talent, a useful and honorable man.
It is situated in the south-western part of the State, and is bounded on the north by Rowan and Iredell, east by Stanly County, south by Union, and west by Mecklenburg.
Its population is 6,943 whites; 119 free negroes; 2,685 slaves; 8,673 federal population ; 753 persons who cannot read.
Its products are 86,300 bushels of wheat; 418,180 bushels of corn ; 51,998 bushels of oats ; 17,276 bushels of potatoes ; 4,568,726 pounds of cotton; 10,460 pounds of wool; 3,761 dollars worth of gold.
It is remarkable for its production of gold fifty-two years ago.
The following is an account of the first gold mine ever discovered in the State :-
We have been kindly furnished by Colonel Barnhardt with the following history of the opening of the Reed Gold Mine, in Cabar- rus County, and the number and weight of the pieces of gold found at different periods. .
A sketch of the discovery and history of the Reed Gold Mine, in Cabarrus County,
North Carolina, being the first gold mine discovered in the United States.
The first piece of gold found at this mine, was in the year 1799, by Conrad Reed, a boy of about twelve years old, a son of John Reed, the proprietor. The discovery was made in an accidental manner. The boy above named, in company with a sister and younger brother, went to a small stream, called
1835. Peter Ballen,
1836. Thomas Baker,
Edw'd J. Erwin, Wm. M. Carson, and E. P. Miller. Wm. M. Carson, E. P. Miller, and Jos. Neal.
64
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Meadow Creek, on a Sabbath day, while their parents were at church, for the purpose of shooting fish with bow and arrow, and while engaged along the bank of the creek, Conrad saw a yellow substance shining in the water. He went in and picked it up, and found it to be some kind of metal, and carried it home. Mr. Reed examined it, but as gold was unknown in this ' part of the country at that time, he did not know what kind of metal it was : the piece was about the size of a small smoothing iron.
Mr. Reed carried the piece of metal to Concord, and showed it to a William Atkinson, a silversmith, but he not thinking of gold, was unable to say what kind of metal it was.
Mr. Reed kept the piece for several years on his house floor, to lay against the door to keep it from shutting. In the year 1802, he went to market to Fayetteville, and carried the piece of metal with him, and on showing it to a jeweller, the jeweller immediately told him it was gold, and requested Mr. Reed to leave the metal with him and said he would flux it. Mr. Reed left it, and returned in a short time, and on his return the jeweller showed him a large bar of gold, six or eight inches long. The jeweller then asked Mr. Reed what he would take for the bar. Mr. Reed, not knowing the value of gold, thought he would ask a " big price," and so he asked three dollars and fifty cents ($3 50!). The jeweller paid him his price.
After returning home, Mr. Reed examined and found gold in the surface along the creek. He then associated Frederick Kisor, James Love, and Mar- tin Phifer with himself, and in the year 1803, they found a piece of gold in the branch that weighed twenty-eight pounds. Numerous pieces were found at this mine weighing from sixteen pounds down to the smallest particles. The whole surface along the creek for nearly a mile was very rich in gold.
The veins of this mine were discovered in the year 1831. They yielded a large quantity of gold. The veins are flint or quartz.
I do certify that the foregoing is a true statement of the discovery and history of this mine, as given by John Reed and his son Conrad Reed, now both dead. GEORGE BARNHARDT.
January, 1848.
Weight of different pieces of gold found at this mine :-
1803, 1804,
28 9
lbs.
7
66
66 66 1824,
. 16
66
66
66
8
1835,
134
66
66
42 4 1 8
1b. lbs.
115 lbs. steelyard weight.
The annual products of the gold mines of the State, have been estimated at five hundred thousand dollars .* The produce of Ca- barrus mines in 1840, by the census, was estimated at thirty-five hundred dollars.
The revolutionary and colonial history of Cabarrus, belongs to Mecklenburg, to which it was united. No part of the State was
* Report by John H. Wheeler, Superintendent of Branch Mint, to the Secretary of the Treasury, in 1838.
"Six Months in America," by Vigne.
€
66
66
3 2 13
66
12
65
CABARRUS COUNTY.
more fixed and forward in the cause of liberty than this immediate section.
At the Convention of Charlotte, in May, 1775, this part of Mecklenburg joined heartily in that fearful stand of pledging "their lives, fortunes, and most sacred honor" to defend, sustain, and protect their liberty and independence.
The circumstances of that declaration, the actors in the con- vention, the boldness with which they proclaimed and vindicated their sentiments, as well as the instrument itself, have been already recorded in the former volume of this work .*
Without any support from abroad ; without any previous move- ment to guide their course, the conduct of this people meets at once our warmest admiration and enduring respect. It is one of the proudest pages of our country's history, and one to which her sons point to with joy and congratulation. The portion of Mecklenburg, now Cabarrus, entered freely into this important and patriotic movement.
But there is a circumstance connected with the early history of Cabarrus, that deserves record. I allude to the destruction of the powder and other munitions of war, in 1771, by the citizens of Cabarrus, for which I am indebted to Hon. D. M. Barringer, our present Envoy to Spain, furnished by R. Kirkpatrick, Esq. 1
History of "The Gunpowder Plot," or the Black Boys of Cabarrus.
In the year 1771, some difficulties arose between Governor Tryon of North Carolina and the Regulators, and in order to coerce them into his mea- sures, the Governor procured from Charleston, South Carolina, three or four wagon loads of the munitions of war, consisting of gunpowder, flints, blankets, &c. They were brought to Charlotte, North Carolina, and from some suspicious movements amongst the friends of liberty, wagons could not be procured to transport them on; at length Colonel Moses Alex- ander procured wagons to convey it to Hillsboro', the then seat of govern- ment. The vigilance of the jealous Whigs was ever on the alert, and in a settlement lying now in the County of Cabarrus, known by the name of the Rocky River Settlement, sixteen miles north-east of Charlotte, and seven or eight south of Concord, there existed as much of the true spirit of patriot- ism as ever was found in the same bounds, and where not a Tory was ever born or ever breathed.
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