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SKETCHES OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

Illustrating Principally the Revolutionary Period of Mecklenburg,
Rowan, Lincoln and Adjoining Counties, Accompanied with Miscellaneous
Information, Much of It Never before Published

By

C. L. HUNTER

1877

DEDICATION.

TO THE DESCENDANTS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOTS OF NORTH CAROLINA,WHETHER NOW ABIDING WITHIN HER BORDERS AND SHARING HER PROSPERITIESAND ADVERSITIES, OR SCATTERED ABROAD IN OTHER STATES OF THE AMERICANUNION, BUT WHO STILL CHERISH A LASTING VENERATION FOR THE MEMORIES OFTHEIR HEROIC FOREFATHERS; AND TO THE YOUNG MEN OF THE STATE GENERALLY,WHO WOULD DRAW LESSONS OF WISDOM, PATRIOTISM AND ENDURANCEFROM THE EXAMPLES HEREIN DESCRIBED, THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLYDEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE.

History has been defined, "Philosophy teaching by example." There isno branch of literature in a republic like ours, that can becultivated with more advantage to the general reader than history.From the infinite variety of aspects in which it presents the dealingsof Providence in the affairs of nations, and from the immense numberof characters and incidents which it brings into view, it becomes asource of continuous interest and enjoyment.

The American Revolution is undoubtedly the most interesting event inthe pages of modern history. Changes equally great and convulsionsequally violent have often taken place in the Old World; and therecords of former times inform us of many instances of oppression,which, urged beyond endurance, called forth the spirit of successfulresistance. But in the study of the event before us—the story of theRevolution—we behold feeble colonies, almost without an army—withouta navy—without an established government—without a good supply ofthe munitions of war, firmly and unitedly asserting their rights, and,in their defence, stepping forth to meet in hostile array, the veterantroops of a proud and powerful nation. We behold too, these colonies,amidst want, poverty and misfortunes, animated with the spirit ofliberty and fortified by the rectitude of their cause, sustaining fornearly eight years, the weight of a cruel conflict upon their ownsoil. At length we behold them victorious; their enemies sullenlyretiring from their shores, and these feeble colonies enrolled on thepage of history as a free, sovereign and independent nation.

The American struggle for freedom, and its final achievement, was anact in the great drama of the world's history of such vast magnitude,and fraught with such momentous consequences upon the destinies ofcivilization throughout the world, that we can scarcely ever tire incontemplating the instrumentalities by which, under Divine guidance,it was effected. It has taught mankind that oppression and misrule,under any government, tends to weaken and ultimately destroy the powerof the oppressor; and that a people united in the cause of freedom andtheir inalienable rights, are invincible by those who would enslavethem.

No State in our Union can present a greater display of exaltedpatriotism, enduring constancy and persistent bravery than NorthCarolina. And yet, how many of our own people do we find who know butlittle of the early history of the State, her stern opposition totyranny under every form, and her illustrious Revolutionary career.