Newspapers / The Robesonian (Lumberton, N.C.) / Dec. 3, 1923, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of The Robesonian (Lumberton, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Bittls of Raft Swamp and Minor Engagements in Ttn Vicinity By A. W. McLean There qeems ^ be some conflict Ndr h Carolina historians as to the different engagements between the Whigs and Tories in the Cape Fear section. Caruthers and Graham me vague about many incidents, and the former is often in error regarding locations and distances. Other writ ers confuse Raft Swamp, McPhaul's tain and Drowning creek so hopelessly th.t unless one is familiar with locaii ties he is unab'q to say at what point an engagement really did take place. This mistake of the historians is both natural and probable when one into consideration the fact that rpitd'**""* here were different from those which prevaiied in other parts of the State. Thar# were so many skir adahes and short, sharp encounters that it is difficult to characterise the fopdition of affairs except as an in termittent warfare without much ies* on either side but prosent{4 *3* ough vigor and directness as to make Jt gngafs for eithsi psrtisan fac^i The whole region along Lumber river or Drowning creek, because of the Denise swamps, became infested with bands of Tories and Whigs boot on harassing and plundering their ene wa* a sharp encounter; or a "battle", -T it was called. ^ Nothing like a decisive battle wps fought, however, because the woods and swamps gave the weaker force, if surprised, an opportunity to escape without much loss. Besides, the To ries, who were the chief offenders, were never powerful enough in num bers nor organized sufHciently to of fer much resistance. They were hopelessly outnumbered at all times **nt could only hop4 to wage a defen sive and desultory warfare. Their hostility consisted not so much in upon defiance and in definite cam paigns as in sudden surprises and swift raids on defenseless Whigs. Their whole object was* to terrorize their enemies. And the Whigs when organized always retaliated in kind. Their deeds were generally as merci less as those of their enemies. This disordered state of affairs be wildered peaceloving Whigs and To ries alike. Therefore it is not sur prising that historians are not able to WMM SO !H C0010 MOT WORM Canoed Strength, Weight and Now Cuing Own Work, by Taking Lydia E. Pinkham'* VegetaMe Componnd Marion, Ind.—"I was ail run-down, narvous and bent over. I could hardiy arag arounu, tet alone do my work. I read some letters in the papers telling what tyaia E. Pink ham's Vegetable Compound had done for others and I thought I would try it. Then a man told my husband about his wife and what good*it had done her and wanted Mm to nave me try M. 1 too* one uotue ana could see what it did fof me in a week's time,add when I had takenlhree bottles I had gained both in strength and weight and was doing my own work. I took it before my iast baby was bom and it helped me so much. 1 sure am g!ad to recommend the Vegetable Compound to any woman who suners from female ail ments, for 1 know by experience what it can do. I have used Lydia E. Pink ham's Sanative Wash, also the Liver PHls, too, and think them fine. "—Mrs. WM. ELDMDGE, 620 E. Grant Street, Marion, Indiana. A record of nearly fifty years service should convince yod* of the merit of Lydia E. Pinkham's Compound. give * coherent Account of operations. Most of the battles were mere shir mishes magnified by rumor and hear say accounts until people lived in ter ror of imminent seizure. But there were a few engagements of some consequence and these, with the ex ception of the battle at Beattie's bridge, whL'h is given elsewhere, will le inc uded in this chapter with such additional evidence as has been pro cured from local sources. The late D. P. McEachern, of Red Springs, asserted that a slight en gagement was fought near his old home about one-fourth mile below Mil! Prong, where the old revolution ary stage road crossed the Lowry ^swamp. A party of Whigs reeon noitering in this region came upon a larger body of Tories and put them to flight.. There were casualties from this encounter, for bones and old war relict were recently dug up by work men while grading the Red Springs end Bowwow reload. Since this was near to McPhaul's mill tne skir mish was kpown as the Battle of Me Phaul't Mill, hut in reality it was nothing more than an exchange of voileys. The late Hamilton McMillan in his reminiscences of the early Scotch sett ler. mhkea Mention of a short en gagement at McPherson's creek, near the bridge known in the later years as Davis' bridge, in upper Robeson. A party of Whigs had seized three prominent Tories, court martialed them, and had ordered them to be shot. Meantime they^vere be ing held as prisoners in their camp along McPherson's creek. The To ries, recruiting a large force, deter mined to rescue their friends. They fell upon the Whigs so suddenly that the .latter were, for the instant, thrown into utter confusion, and start ed to retreat. Perceiving, however, that the Tories did not greatly out number them, they withdrew to higher ground and offered to give battle, in order to recover the prisoners who, in the excitement of the attack, had escaped to their friends. The fight was sharp, occasional firing continu ing for some time. The los. was not heavy on either side, however, for the woods afforded good protection. The hottest fighting took place when the Tories, having secured the three pris oners and not caring to prolong the fight, withdrew to the open space nSat where their boats were tied. In the mass formation the Whigs killed eighteen Tories before the latter could get out of range. Among these was a young Tory officer who, together with the other dead, was buried by Mrs. Black and Mrs Murphy a few days later (see Murphy sketch). Captain Ashe in his History of North Carolina gives an account" of two battles fought in this region—one at Beattie's bridge (P. 684) and the other on the "east side of Drowning creek" (P. 693). There can be no doubt that the latter was the en gagement fought at Beatty's bridge near the present site of Gilchrist bridge. The (fate, {the iay tof[ the and, and the smaller details of the battle agree substantially with local traditions. But of the fhrst battle of Beatty's bridge on August 4, 1781, in which Colonel Wade won a victory over Colonels McNeill and Ray, we have no authentic data. It is quite probable that Beatty's bridge inas much as it was an important Tory , causeway was the scene of many such encounters and that this was merely one of them. Yet the Tories, many , of whom came from hdrthem and tral counties, not being familiar with the section were likely to confuse I names and to adopt such as wer( current. For example Emmet in hi: 'etter to Governor Burke < State Records, XV 590) refers to McFall'; [ mill on Drowning creek" whereas thi: ' mill is located over seven miles fron the stream. Such errors as this— and we are constrained to believe that I others were as unfamiliar with loca lions—were due to the fact that Me Phaul's mill, Raft swamp and Drown ing creek jyere used interchangeabl; Good Crops, High Prices, Reserve jForce We wish to beg of our goo Farmer Friends that they forget not the drop in 1920. and the hard times we had in 1921. We have been favorer this year as never before. We have made good crops, * and have received high prices for same, but good crops and high prices ^ wii! not he!p the condition of any but those who iay aside a part of the proceeds. You have worked hard to make money this year and you have succeeded, and we want to see you— KEEP YOUR MONEY Remember the iesson of 1920 and save enough from 1923 to act as reserve against any ioss we may have 1924. Do not spend aii your cash, but keep enough to finance yourseif on cash basis, and pay your tosses which will surety come. To ali our foiks living within oar district we wish to invite you to deposit in this SAFE BANK YOUR SURPLUS FUNDS. We promise to do as in the past, all in our power to make our relations pieaaant and profitable to hoth sides. 4 PER CENT. INTEREST COMPOUNDED QUARTERLY PAID ON SAVINGS ACCOUNT. The Bank of Pembroke Pembroke, N. C. DEPOSITS $259,433.99 RESOURCES $296,621.19 R- H. LIVERMORE, President. A. M. BREECE, V. Pres. B. M. PAUL, Cashier. CAPITAL, SURPLUS AND UNDIVIDED PROFITS $28,471.03 ; " - *. . ' . to denote any Tory activity in thigiian tire region. Moreover as Rafc Swamp bridge and McPhaul's mill are situated on branches of the same stream and are oniy a few miies aparts there wou'd hardly be any distinction made except by one familiar with the country. McPhaul's mill/ situated about one and one-haif miies west of Antioch church in Hoke county, was the base for Tory aggression during the Revo lution. Captain NeiU McPhaul, an officer in the British army, and an ardent, courageous Tory, lived here and looked after the interests of the King. The large tract of land lust beyond the grist mill had been used for years as a sort of assembling ground for the people of the section, and when war was declared Captain MePhaul made further use of it by al lowing the royalists to use it as a ren dezvous. Troops were recruited and dril ed here; Whigs were made priso ners and "carried off to the Tory camp at McPhaul's mi!!, ' and hard pressed Tories often fled there for protection. Fanning came there of ten either with prisoners pr for the purpose of recruiting and spending .pvhiis, In h!8 MBpve ht isaR"! afferent pomts by reference to the distance from McPhau's mill. After the war the p'ace 1-ecame a voting precinct and county fair ground. The rendezvous on Drowning creek (or Lumber river)' besides the region around, what is now Gilchrist bridge, was at Floral College. Here the Tories met and drilled regularly. El rod and Fanning, a few days prior to the battle of Raft swamp, reviewed their joint commands of 300 men while they were* in camp on the s ight elevation between the old Bethea ditch and the site of the present Cen ter church. iThe iand where the; forces were stationed is now owned by Henry Alford. Flora! Col'ege, unlike McPhaui's miii, never became an important Tory stronghold. The Scotch of the sur rounding country were too apathetic for the ioyalists. The location did not afford as secure protection as did McPhaul's mill. Consequently they used it oniy to display their strength and as drill ground for raw recruits, j The Whigs kept a close watch oh McPhaul's mill, being quick to attri bute any new movement of Tories to the efforts of those who lived in that vicinity. They made no effort, ap parently, to disperse the Tories until their activities became so flagrant that outside aid had to be summoned. This occurred in the fa'! of 1781 and was the direct cause of the battle of Raft swamp, the only considerable en gagement, with the exception of Beat jty's bridge, which was fought in this immediate locality. Information had come persistently to General Greene that the Tories, were stirring themselves, and by the first of October he had completed ar rangements for moving against them. This force of 850 infantry and 200 cavalry had been drilled on Little river, * Montgomery county, by such seasoned officers as Captain Simmons, of Rowan; Captain Graham, of Meck ilenburg; and Major Smith, of Meck lenburg. By slow movements the Whig force arrived at Monroe's bridge on Drowning creek, where they re mained a few days. Here they were joined by Captain Gillespie, of Guii ford, with a troop of dragoons and several companies of mounted infan ) try. This increased the force, ac cording to Genera! Graham, to about , 1400—a cavalry of 350 and infantry ! about 1050. After crossing Drowning creek, the Whigs fumed to Rav ing ws their objective point McPhaui'g mi L and the Torv yeoion nlnmr tho Rw swamp. On Octoboo^aS, 1781, the advance dragoons surprised a re connoitering party under **Young Hec tor" McNti-i and put them to flight. Advancing rapidiy to McPhaui's milj the Whigs found that the Tories, numbering .bout 400, had broken camp about an hour before and were then in rapid retreat down RaO (Continued on page 3) NOTICE OF COMMISSIONER'S „ ^ , SALE OF LAND ) Under and by virtue of an order of th< Superior Court of Robeson County, made ir the special proceedings en tit ted Mrs. Winn , Britt, administrator vs. E- H. Britt an< others, the same being No- 4780 upon th< specia! proceedings docket of said court. tin undersigned commissioner, wiii, on Monday the iO. day of Dee. 1#28. at 1" o'eioek. noor at the court house door of Robeson County North Carotins offer for sale to the Mghmi bidder for cash at pnbMe auction the follow '"C tracts of !and iying and being in the coun ty of Robeson and in Britta ToWh hip, bounded and described as foiiows. to-wlt: Lot No. 2, being in two tracts. First trset: Beginning at a stake, the 8. corner of tot No. i, and runs north 29 ess) 29.4i chains to a stake, McAiMster* corner! thenee with his tine south 71 1-4 west 10.18 chains to a stake and pointers, his corner thence with his other Hne north 62 8-4 weal 5.86 chains to a stake in his iine- thend) south 11 east 19.87 chains to the beginning containing 11 1-4 aerea. Second Tract: Beginniag at a stake in thi edge of the Orrum Bead near a iightwoot stump and runs thenee about north east tt a stake in J. A. McAiiister iine: thenee nearb west with the said McAllister iine to a stake the comer of Reddin Rice's iine: thence hi) iine south east to the pubiic road: thenm said road to the beginning, containing H acres, more or less. This the 9. day of Oct. 1928. 11-15-4 Thurs. E. J. Britt, Commissions! TRUSTEE'S BALE OF LAND Under and by virtue of the power and au thority contained in a certain deed of trust from J. M. 8e!!ers and wife, to W. F. Bris tow, for W. O. Sellers, same being dated the 4th day of October, 1920 and registered in Book 51. page 176, Public Registry of Robe son County, (default having been made in the payment of the obligation secured thereby) the undersigned trustee, wiii on Saturday. De cern her 22nd, 1928. at 12:00 o'clock Noon, at the Court House in the Town of Lumberton, N. C.. offer for sale at public auction, to the highest bidder for cash. Ore following describ ed lands and premises, to-wit: Ail that tract or parcel of iand lying and situate and being in the County of Robeson and the State of North Carolina near th* Tbwn of Fairmont and being farm No "A" 1 on piat of iand formerly owned by W. O Sellers, piat of which is on record in -County. Register of Deeds' office in Book -Page-to which said piat for a more perfect description reference is her! Being part of the W. O. Sellers sub-di vision as surveyed end mapped by A. C Bis hop, Civil Engineer, and said tract contain ing 26.8! Acres. This the 22nd day of November, 1928. W. F. BRISTOW. Johnson A Johnson. Trustee Attorneys. 11-26-4 Mens NOTfCE OF SALE OF VALUABLE LAND AMO TfMEED Under and by virtue of the power and an thority veeted in the undersigned executor by the witi of the !ate Margaret McCsrmiek. da aaaaed. ! witi at it o'csock a. m-. December M, 1923. an the premia** near the town of Eowtand. N. C.. offer far aaie sard aei! for aaah. to the hiahaat bidder the fottowing iand and timber aituate thereon, to-wit: age ' in and near the town of Howland, and wtEh in a ahor* diatanee of the Atiantie Coaet Line Raiinaad. on both aide* of Mitcheit Swamp and on both aide* of Tye's or McCormick * Branch, adjoining the tend* of ida McQueen. Fair abth. A. T. McKeiiar. Lucia MtCaiiom. Bras wei! Estate ianda. W H. MeLeiian, John Mc Cormick Estate ianda. Bniioak'a Addition to Rowiand and W H. McCaiium. containing 309 saCRES. more or ieaa. , The timber on thta iand consisting of ion# and abort ieaf pine, arum, oak and pop tar which is now being carefuiiy measured ao aa to determine the quantity thereon, wiii first be offered for aaie separate!* from the iand. I The abov* ianda are now being aurveyad and subdivided and witi ba offered far sate in amai] pareeia and iota without the timber ai tuate thereon and the whoie farm wii! then b, offered for aaie both with and without the timber, and the greatest price offered either way wiii controi as to the purchaser. Persona desiring to aee this iand and timber thereon wii! be shown the same by the under signed executor at any time. The of. the timber and iahd witi be made subject to the approve! of the under signed. This the 15th day of November. 1923. A. T. MCKELLAR, Executor. McIntyre. Lawrenc. A Proctor, Attorneys for the Executor. 11-15-4 Thura Junius J. Goodwin attorney for some of the I^zat**, "* r- -- --.-^-d NOttCE OF MORTGAGEE'S HALE OF LAND Under and by virtue of the power contained in a certain mortgage deed executed on the 24. day of December 1919. by M. N. Fotger and wife, to the undersigned mortgagee, aatd mortgage being registered in Book 43, page 135 in the office of the register of deed* "f Robeson County, defatdt having been in the -payment of th* note secured by paid mortgage, notice is hereby given that the undersigned mortgagee, with on Monday the 19. day of November 1923. at 12 o?*iock, noon, at th* court house door of Robeson County, Nort*< Carolina, offer for sale at public auction t« the highest bidder for cash, to satisfy th* terms of said mortgage the following tract of iand tying and being In the county of Robmpn and in Lumberton Township bounic-: and described as foliowa, to-wit: Firat Tract. On the North *Me of the Ll*"a beth Road. Located about 1 1-2 mites no ih cast of the town of Lumberton, and being iot No. 3 as subdivided by the At'sntic C* t Rea tty Company. November 191?. a map d? which said property or lot is duty record in Book of Maps No. 2. page 33 in the off ce of the register of deeds of Robeson Coun'y to which map reference is hereby made for a more partlcuiar and complete description by metes and bounds thereof, the same confin ing 6.55 acres. Second Tract: In Lumberton Township, about one and one ha!f mites north east uf the town of Lumberton. and being iot No. m in the division of the estate of T. N. Higiey, deceased, as shown on a map of the T. N. Hlgley property, subdivided by the At lantic Coast Reaity Company, in November <.h-*h ssM map is duiy registered in Book of Maps No. 2. page 33 in the office of ,! register of deeds of Robeson County, to which reference is hereby made for a com n'ete description by metes and bounds there of the same containing 3.82 acres. And ad joins iot No. 3 which is described above. The two iots or tracts of iand being the same described in a deed from M. C. Lee and others to Ethei H. Foiger said deed is registered in Book 3-R. page 634 in the office of the re gister of deeds of Robeson County. North Carotins. This the 9, day of November 1923. First Nations! Bank of Lumber'm, E. J. Britt, attorney. Mortgt c* 11-15-4 Thurs. SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION. North Carotins, Robeson County, in the Su perior Court. Edward hunt vs. John Hunt and wtte. Ju'ia Hunt et ai. To the defendants. Luia Home. Esteii Horne. Leonard Home. Bessie Home and Bffie M-rne. or any other person, or persons hav ing any ciaim or interest in this action: You and each of you witi take notice "-*t an action was instituted, aa above entitled cn December 14, 1922, for the purpose of mak ing aaie of the hands hereinafter described, to make assets to pay cert-in Indebtedness se fared by * mortgage deed .goin.t the MM !;nd<, and thot by virtue of o decree entered !< Mid oction tho !ondo doteribed oo foiiow.. to-wit: !" Pembroke Townihip: On th ewmtem .ide of the puMic rood tending from at. Anno Church to Nei] Novo!'. dweUtng od joining the Nnd. of ^e My N<wmo! High Sob..!. B W Lnwery W. H. Lowery ond other.: Be ^n.!ny ot 0 otok+ by ^ pine in war wfga of the .o!d rood, the comer of Mid Mormoi Hhth Schooi ).nd ond run. no thot iine ond beyond oo B. W Lowery'. Hne north 48 weot H 4S choin. to o otoke in o ditch by 2gumpointers, B W Lowery', comer: thence north 45 8-4 eoch 5.94 choin. to o .toko in center ot the Conn! in Wittering Ho!e Bronch by o HMtp!e ond 2 gum pointer.: thence down the Conn! in Mid brooch. Mo vnrioa. coaroeo to o .toko in upper edge of the Mid paMic rood in north book of th^ Conn! by o torgegnm poin ter: thence M the upper edge of Mid rood couth it weet 4 2! ehnino to the beginning, eontoining 5 ocrec, more or test), were Mid by o court conunicioner on Jane 27, !92!, ot i2 o'clock noon ot the coarthoaM door in the Town of Lemberton. M. C.. .ad that the Truateee of the Indian Norma! Sehooi ot Pambroke, N. C. becam, the !aat and higheat bidder at the purchaae priee of M900.M. and that tha commiaeioner reported tha aaie to the Cierk of th. Sonar {or Court on Jana Z7th. HH, and that pursuant to aaid report the <dh) adta waa confirmed aa to tha dafandante, dohh Hunt aad wife, Jniia Hunt And yon -m futfho take m^icethat^youare to ha aad appear before th an tdariigaeJ C.c x of the Superior Coart oa or before December Ztat iMZ, aad ahow cauae. if any you have, why the aaid aa!e ahouM not be confirmed aa to each of you; and you wiii further taka notice that if you fai! to appear before the under* igned Cierk on or before December Ziat 19ZZ, and ahoweanae why aaid aaiiahooid not be confirmed that a deere wii! be entered barring you from any further ciaim or in tereat in the iande hereinbefore daacribed. and the relief demanded by the piaintiff wii! bo granted. Thia the Ziat day of November, i92!. C. B. 8KIPPBR Cierk Superior Court Robwton County Mon., TT CHEST of SH-VER Whether she is a bride-to-be, a bride or the mother of ten, her woman heart will thrili on Christmas mom if she sees this new silverware for her table. Every woman likes special silverware for her Sun day dinner table—for company—and for special oc casions. Hei^ table is her pride and she glories in its inviting appeal to the guests in her home. Our displays offer a wide selection as to the silver ware needed and in price. Come in and inspect the beautiful silverware now on display for Christmas giving. A. J. HOLMES, Jeweler JEWELRY SHOP 5= -T— Their Weifare istiaturally your foremost thought. Arc you preparing now for them? If you haven't started preparing for their future you are robbing them unconsciously. Your intentions are the best. Are you waiting until you have a fortune to invest? If you are, again you are robbing them unintentionally. Consult us. We can be of a service to you that perhaps you had never thought of. We are in position to give you both advice and financial aid that will be invaluable both to you and yours. First Nationai Bank of Fairmont, N. C. A. J. FLOYD, President. T. L Johnson, Vice Pres. J. F. Johnson, Cashier. * A. R. Bullock, Vice Pres. Mrs. C. D. Baker, Asst. Cashier. J. W. Bums, Vice Pres. J. R. Bracey, Asst. Cashier.
The Robesonian (Lumberton, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 3, 1923, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75