More than a year in advance of the National Paper, attributed to Mr.
Jefferson, the people of Mecklenburg County declared themselves a free
people and took the lead in throwing off the British yoke. On the 4th
day of July, 1776, the National Declaration, adopting (?) some of the
language of the Mecklenburg convention, "rang out" the glad tidings
"that these United Colonies are, and, of right, ought to be, _free_ and
_independent_ States."
To celebrate the "glorious fourth," the good people of Alamance County
unveiled and dedicated a monument at Alamance church to the memory of
Colonel Arthur Forbis, a gallant officer of the North Carolina troops,
who fell mortally wounded at the battle of Guilford, March 25th, 1781.
By invitation of the committee--Rev. C. H. Wiley and Dr. D. P.
Weir--the Grays participated. Invitations of this kind were never
declined. The day was intensely hot, and the distance from Greensboro
being too far for a march in those days, wagons were furnished for our
transportation. The exercises of the occasion were opened with prayer
by Rev. E. W. Caruthers. He was followed by Gov. John M. Morehead,
who, taking the sword which the brave Forbis had carried while he was
an officer, with it lifted the veil from the monument. The Governor's
remarks were just such as those who knew him would have expected of
him. The exercises were closed by Rev. Samuel Paisley, that venerable
man of God. The Grays, after firing a salute and performing such
duties as were required, returned to Greensboro, having spent an
interesting "fourth."
On the 1st of October, in the same year, we visited by invitation the
Orange Guards, a military organization at Hillsboro, N.C. The
occasion was their fifth anniversary. We took the morning train to
Hillsboro, and in a few hours reached our destination. We found the
Guards at the depot awaiting our arrival. Lieutenant John W. Graham,
on behalf of the Guards, received us with a most cordial welcome.
Lieutenant James T. Morehead, Jr., responded upon the part of the
Grays. We were then escorted to quarters, which were prepared for us,
at the Orange Hotel, where we enjoyed the delicacies, luxuries, and
liquids so bountifully "set out" at this famed hostelry, then presided
over by the genius of Messrs. Hedgpeth and Stroud. In the afternoon we
were escorted to the Hillsboro Military Institute, and gave the young
gentlemen there an opportunity of observing our _superior_ skill, both
in the manual and the evolutions. At night the chivalry and beauty of
"ye ancient borough" assembled in the Odd Fellows' hall to do us honor
at a ball,
"And then the viols played their best;
Lamps above and laughs below.
Love me sounded like a jest,
Fit for yes, or fit for no."
As Aurora began to paint the East in rosy colors of the dawn, we
boarded the train for home. Some with aching heads, some with aching
hearts.
The Orange Guards were closely and intimately associated with us
during the entire four years of the war. We entered the service about
the same time, at the same place, and served in the same regiment. Our
friendships were there renewed, and many, so many, are the memories
sweet and sad, which we mutually share. Our marches, our wants, our
abundance, our sorrows, and our rejoicings--each and all, they were
common to us both. In love and allegiance to our native State we
marched forth to take our places among her gallant sons, be it for
weal or woe; hand-in-hand together till Appomattox Court-House, we
struggled and endured. There like a vesture no longer for use, we
folded and laid away our tattered and battle-stained banner, to be
kept forever sacred, in the sepulchre of a lost cause.
My diary intimates no occasion for even a "skirmish" until the 22d of
February, 1861, when we again donned the gray to honor the memory of
"George W." and his little hatchet. We were entertained during the day
with an address at the court-house by Jas. A. Long, Esq., on the
all-absorbing _question_ of the times.
The Congress of the United States had assembled as usual in December,
and was at this time in session. The clouds surcharged with sectional
hate and political fanaticism were now lowering over us, and the
distant mutterings of that storm which had been heard so long, and
against which the wise and patriotic had given solemn warning,
foreboded evil times. South Carolina had already, on the 20th of
December, adopted her ordinance of secession; Mississippi on the 9th
of January; Florida followed on the 10th, Alabama on the 11th, Georgia
on the 18th, Louisiana on the 26th, and Texas on the 1st of February.
Events now crowded upon each other with the rapidity of a drama. On the
10th of January, 1861, Governor Ellis telegraphed Hon. Warren Winslow
of North Carolina, at Washington, to call on General Winfield Scott and
_demand_ of him to know if he had been instructed to garrison the forts
of North Carolina. The Governor stated that he was informed that it was
the purpose of the Administration to coerce the seceded States, and
that troops were already on their way to garrison the Southern forts.
On the 12th, Governor Ellis addressed the following letter to President
Buchanan:
"Your Excellency will pardon me for asking whether the United
States forts in this State will be garrisoned with Federal troops
during your administration. Should I receive assurances that no
troops will be sent to this State prior to the 4th of March next,
then all will be peace and quiet here, and the property of the
United States will be protected as heretofore. If, however, I am
unable to get such assurances, I will not undertake to answer for
the consequences. Believing your Excellency to be desirous of
preserving the peace, I have deemed it my duty to yourself, as
well as to the people of North Carolina, to make the foregoing
inquiry, and to acquaint you with the state of the public mind
here."
On the 15th day of January, J. Holt, Secretary of War (_ad interim_),
in behalf of the President, replied as follows:
"It is not his (Buchanan's) purpose to garrison the forts to which
you refer, because he considers them entirely safe under the
shelter of that _law-abiding_ sentiment for which the people of
North Carolina have ever been distinguished."
The congress of delegates from the seceded States convened at
Montgomery, Alabama, on the 4th of February, 1861, and on the 9th,
Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, was chosen by this body for
President, and Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, for Vice President
of the Confederate States. On the 18th of February Mr. Davis was
inaugurated and the Provisional Government was instituted.
On the 4th of March, "at the other end of the avenue," Abraham
Lincoln, nominated by a sectional convention, elected by a sectional
vote, and that the vote of a minority of the people, was inducted into
office.
Eager now were the inquiries as to the probabilities of a war between
the sections. Everything was wrapped in the greatest uncertainty.
North Carolina still adhered to the Union.
The anniversary of our company occurring on the 15th of March, which
was now near at hand, we determined to celebrate the occasion. We
accordingly issued invitations to the Rowan Rifles, of Salisbury, the
Blues and Grays, of Danville, Va., and the Orange Guards, of
Hillsboro, to be present with us. The Danville Grays, commanded by
Capt. Claiburne, arrived on the evening of the 14th, the Rowan Rifles,
Capt. McNeely, accompanied by Prof. Neave's brass band, greeted us on
the morning of the 15th; the Orange Guards, Capt. Pride Jones, brought
up the rear a few hours afterwards. Our visiting companies were
welcomed, and the hospitalities of the city extended in an appropriate
address by our then worthy Mayor, A. P. Eckel, Esq. Special addresses
of welcome were made to the Danville companies by John A. Gilmer, Jr.;
to the Rowan Rifles, by Lieut. James T. Morehead, Jr.; and to the
Orange Guards, by Lieut. Wm. Adams. Having formed a battalion, under
the command of Col. R. E. Withers, who had accompanied the Danville
companies, we paraded the streets some hours. We repaired, by
invitation of Prof. Sterling, to the Edgeworth grounds, where we found
a bountiful lunch ready for us, prepared by the hospitable hostess.
From Edgeworth we marched to the college, and passed in review before
the bright eyes and smiling faces of the assembled beauty of that
institution. At night our guests were entertained at a sumptuous
collation in Yates' Hall, prepared by the ladies of our city. After we
had refreshed the inner man, and regaled ourselves at the groaning
tables, we moved, by way of a temporary bridge, constructed from the
third-story window of the Yates building to the large hall in the
Garrett building adjacent. Here, under the soul-stirring music
discoursed by the Salisbury band, the feet began to twinkle and sound
in quadrille, and continued until
"The jagged, brazen arrows fell
Athwart the feathers of the night."
On the next day all departed for their homes. Ah! who surmised so soon
to leave them again, and on so different a mission!
We now pass from these holiday reflections, which are germane only to
the introduction of these reminiscences, and arrive at the period when
our _law-abiding_ old State called her sons to arms; when we pledged
our _most_ sacred honor in the cause of freedom, and willingly made the
sacrifice:--
"All these were men, who knew to count,
Front-faced, the cost of honor--
Nor did shrink from its full payment."
On Friday, the 12th day of April, 1861, General G. T. Beauregard, then
in command of the provisional forces of the Confederate States at
Charleston, S.C., opened fire upon Fort Sumter. Then, on the 15th,
came the proclamation of Mr. Lincoln, calling for 75,000 troops. As
this levy could only mean war, Virginia determined to cast her lot
with the Confederate States, and, accordingly, on the 17th added
herself to their number.
This proclamation was the out-burst of the storm, and with lightning
speed the current of events rushed on to the desolating war so soon to
ensue.
On the 16th of April, Governor Ellis received from Mr. Cameron,
Secretary of War, the following telegram, viz.:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, D.C., _April 15th, 1861_.
TO J. W. ELLIS:
Call made on you by to-night's mail for two regiments of military
for immediate service.
SIMON CAMERON,
_Secretary of War_.
_Governor_ Ellis immediately telegraphed back the following reply:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
RALEIGH, N.C., _April 15th, 1861_.
TO SIMON CAMERON,
_Secretary of War_.
SIR: Your dispatch is received, and if genuine, which its
extraordinary character leads me to doubt, I have to say in reply,
that I regard that levy of troops made by the administration for
the purpose of subjugating the States of the South as in violation
of the Constitution, and as a gross usurpation of power. I can be
no party to this wicked violation of the laws of the country, and
to this war upon the liberties of a free people. _You can get no
troops from North Carolina._ I will reply more in detail when I
receive your "call."
JOHN W. ELLIS,
_Governor of North Carolina_.
It is to be remarked that as early as the 19th of March, Senator Thos.
L. Clingman had dispatched Gov. Ellis, to wit:
"It is believed that the North Carolina forts will immediately be
garrisoned by Lincoln."