coaches go to Norfolk three times a week, distant 86 miles. valuable piece of sculpture ever seen in America: a statue of Washington, by Canova. With a degree of taste and Tarborough stands on the south side patriotic spirit which are highly credit- of Tar river, and contains a courthouse, able to the state, the legislature em- two churches, a bank, and an academy, ployed that greatest of modern sculp- with about 800 inhabitants. Stagetors to execute the noble work, on which coaches go every other day to Raleigh he was employed as early as 1819. It and Washington. was placed in the capitol, and excited general admiration, being made of the finest Cariara marble, in a dignified sitting posture, with an expression and features much like those of the Father of his country. The costume was that of a Roman senator. In the destruction of the statehouse, this most valuable of its contents was ruined; but although it can never be replaced, the history of it will reflect lasting honor upon the char-es. The water is charged with sulphuracter of the state. The old statehouse (which is represented in our engraving) was a wellproportioned edifice, of plain architecture, and consisted of a main building and a projection at the centre, with a basement of hewn stone, and a front of four Ionic half-columns, while a large dome, with a cupola, rose from the middle of the roof. A broad yard in front, offered a fine approach; and the building was of sufficient size to afford large halls for the legislature, and various offices, and other appropriate apartments for public purposes. The present statehouse is of granite, on the plan of the celebrated temple of Minerva at Athens, called the Parthenon, 166 feet in length, 90 in breadth, with a range of noble columns of granite, 30 feet high, and five and a half in diameter. The other public buildings are the courthouse, the governor's house, five churches, four academies, two banks, and a theatre. Wake Forest College is at Forestville, 15 miles from Raleigh. It has three professorships, and a library of 4,700 volumes, and was founded in 1838. The number of pupils is yet small. Warrenton, 62 miles northeast from Raleigh, is a small town, containing about 800 inhabitants, now frequently visited on account of its proximity to a favorite watering-place, which is resorted to, in the warm season, by many travellers. This is the Shocco White Sulphur Springs, 12 miles from Warrenton, with which there is a daily communication by stage-coach etted hydrogen and carbonic acid gases, and contains the sulphates of lime and magnesia, oxyde of iron, muriate of soda, and carbonate of lime, and is recommended for diseases of the skin and the liver. WILMINGTON.-This is the principal town in the state for trade and most other kinds of business. It contains a population of about 12,000, of whom 9,000 are whites. It stands on the eastern bank of Cape Fear river, just below the confluence of the two branches, 13 miles from the ocean, at the head of navigation for vessels of 300 tons, although steamboats go up to Fayetteville a part of the year, 120 miles. The town is chiefly built on four streets, and in some parts shows some of the ruins caused by several destructive fires, from which it has successively suffered. The houses are built of pitch pine, which renders it difficult to arrest the progress of the flames when once enkindled. Much lumber is brought down the river, and sawed up by steam-mills erected on the shore, where vessels receive their freight for the West Indies, and some of the northern ports. The railroad has increased the population in six years, about 6,000. Edenton is a small town, situated on Great quantities of turpentine, tar, &c., the bay at the mouth of Chouan river, are also brought here from the country. and contains a handsome courthouse, two Considerable quantities of spirits of turchurches, an academy, and a bank, with pentine are made, about twenty mana population of about 1,600. Stage-ufactories having been recently erected. state. We must conclude our sketch of North Col. Turnbull to send Captain Huyck Carolina with a brief account of one of into York district to chastise the rebels the most courageous acts in the his--"push them as far as he might deem tory of the revolutionary war in this convenient." "The evening before his defeat he arrived at the house of Col. Bratton and demanded of Mrs. Bratton where her husband was. She replied that he was in Sumter's army. He then proposed to her, if she would get her husband to come in and join the royalists, he should have a commission in the British service. Mrs. Bratton replied with heroic firmness that she preferred her husband's remaining and dying in the army of his country." For this bold and spirited reply, a soldier, under the command of Huyck, attempt In Ramsay's history of South Carolina, mention is made of an engagement, which took place at Williams' plantation, in the upper part of South Carolina, on the 12th of July, 1780, between "a part of the corps commanded by Col. Sumter," and a detachment of British troops and tories under the command of Captain Huck. The historian does not inform us, however, who commanded this "party" from the corps of Col. Sumter, nor are we told by him the particulars of this brilliant little engage-ed her life, and was prevented executing ment, which was the first check given to the royal forces after landing in South Carolina on the 11th of February, 1780. The following account of it is from the speech of Col. W. C. Beatty of Yorkville, delivered on the anniversary of the battle, in 1839. 66 his purpose by the interference of an officer second in command. She was then ordered to prepare supper for Captain Huyck and his officers. While doing so, the idea occurred to her that "she might play," in the language of Col. Beatty, a Roman's part and take a deadly revenge on the enemies of her country." She had poison in the house and could mix it with the food. But a moment's reflection taught her that this food might fall into the possession of the whigs, who were closely watching the footsteps of the enemy. Her own brave husband might, by some mishap, be the victim of her treachery, instead of his enemies. The idea was quickly abandoned. Captain Christian Huyck was said to be a native of Philadelphia. He bore the commission of a captain in the British army and was distinguished for his profanity and bloody deeds in the upper part of South Carolina. His enmity to the presbyterians displayed itself in burning the library and dwelling-house of their clergyman, Mr. Linyman. At the moment of his attack and defeat, "a number of women," says Dr. Ramsay, "were on their knees, vainly soliciting Huck and his officers slept in Williamhis mercy, in behalf of their families and son's house the night preceding the property." He had been despatched battle. His troops lay encamped around by Col. Turnbull, the commander of the it. A road enclosed in a lane passed British forces at Rocky Mount, with the door, and sentinels were posted along the following orders: "You are hereby the road. The guard kept negligent ordered, with the cavalry under your watch, and the troops lay in fancied command, to proceed to the frontier of security-undreaming of to-morrow's the province, collecting all the royal militia with you in your march, and with said force to push the rebels, as far as you may deem convenient." Previous to the issuing of the above order, Colonel Bratton, Major Wynn, and Captain M'Clure, had attacked and defeated a body of tories assembled at Mobley's meetinghouse in Fairfield district. This gallant adventure on the part of a few bold whigs, had induced scenes-unknowing that they were already marked for defeat and death. On that same day, Col. Bratton, with one hundred and twenty-five men, principally his neighbors, left Mecklenburg county, North Carolina, under the conviction that some royal force, would shortly visit their neighborhood to avenge the defeat of the tories at Mobley's meetinghouse. During the march, about fifty of the men dropped off, and thus only seventy five were left to attack the enemy, instead of one hundred and thirty-three, as stated in the history of Carolina. With this force, Col. Bratton arrived that night near their encampment. Intelligence of the enemy had passed up, and their number, had been received during the day. After concealing their horses in a swamp, the whigs impatiently awaited the dawn of day, to commence the attack. At length it came, and with it victory. One half of the men, led by Cel. Bratton and Capt. Moffit, came up the lane, while the other half, commanded by Capt. M'Clure, of Chester, a brave and daring officer, were sent round to the head of the lane. Thus the enemy were enclosed, speedily routed and conquered. When the attack commenced, Huck and his officers were in bed, and were aroused from their slumbers by the roar of the American guns. The captain quickly mounted his horse and attempted to rally his men. This he several times effected, but all his efforts were unavailing-the determined spirit of the whigs carried all before them-and as soon as Huck fell, his men threw down their arms and fled. Huck, Col. Ferguson of the British army, and thirty-five or forty men, lay dead on the field or were wounded unto death. How many perished in the woods is not known the rest escaped. Of the whigs, only one was killed-whose name was Campbell, as stated by Col. Gill. The rest, though in the thickest and hottest of the fight, escaped unhurt, to fight other battles and do further service in the cause of their beloved country. This battle is said to have lasted one hour. This victory was not only brilliant and glorious in itself, but it had the most salutary and important effect on the destinies of the state. It was the first time since the fall of Charleston, that any power dared to meet the hitherto victorious enemy. This victory reanimated the drooping spirits of the country. The citizens were buoyed up with new life and fresh hopes. It brought them confidence, and taught the enemy to dread the vengeance of freemen, fighting for their liberties, their lives, and domestic altars. It had the direct and immediate effect of embodying the whigs, and in a few days afterward, six hundred new troops joined the army of Sumter. Thus reinforced, on the thirtieth of the same month, Gen. Sumter made a spirited attack on the British forces at Rocky Mount, and in eight days afterward gained a complete victory over the enemy at Hanging Rock. After the engagement was over, the officer who had saved the life of Mrs. Bratton the evening before, was about being put to death by the whigs. He asked the favor of being carried into the presence of Mrs. Bratton, who immediately recognised him, related her obligation to him, and implored that his life might be spared, which was done. Thus she had an opportunity of proving that she was as grateful in the hour of triumph, as she had been bold and spirited in the time of danger. Col. W. Bratton, who was chief in command on the occasion, was a gallant officer throughout the American revolution. He was in the battles fought at Guildford courthouse, Hanging Rock, Blackstocks, Rowsam's mills, and Mobley's meetinghouse, beside the one already recounted. In all of these engagements, he fought with great spirit, courage, and determined bravery. In the darkest period of his country's distress, he stood firm in her cause, and by his influence and example, encouraged and cheered on his whig neighbors, and "bid them hope for brighter and better days." As an evidence of his uncommon daring, it is said, that on the night before the battle at Williamson's, he reconnoitred the encampment and advanced entirely within their line of sentinels. By this bold adventure, he acquired information which greatly contributed to the victory which they gained. The distinction and honor of having killed the famous Captain Huck, or Huyck, as his name was more properly written, belonged to John Carroll, who greatly distinguished himself in many engagements by his extraordinary boldness and daring. Huck was shot while endeavoring to rally his men. This battleground is now known as Brattonsville. THIS state, although presenting many of the leading features which characterize North Carolina, enjoys some counterbalancing advantages, of much importance to commerce and agriculture. There is a good harbor at Charleston, and several of the rivers and inlets along the coast are more accessible, and navigable to a greater distance. The low land which borders the ocean has many tracts of good soil, among which are numerous rice-fields. The line between the high and the low lands is still more marked than in North Carolina, in its influence on trade and the position of towns. Rice and cotton in the low grounds, and cotton and grain in the middle regions, and apples and other northern plants in the mountains, mark their appropriate sections, while maize yields abundantly in all parts. The oak and palm, as well as the pine and walnut, are prevailing native trees, and many others have been introduced. A few of the events in the early history of South Carolina have been given in the preceding pages, in speaking of the first settlements of North Carolina, with which it was for a time connected. Oyster Point, near Charleston, was first occupied by a colony under William Sayle, who, having made a survey of the coast some years previously, arrived on the coast in 1670, and after several changes of place, finally chose the spot at the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper rivers, near that now covered by the large and flourishing city of Charleston. The number of the colonists was soon increased, as we have before remarked, and the name of South Carolina was conferred on the new settlement. |