What was happening in McDowell 250 years ago?
Local historian details area in July 1776
AMERICA 250
The document which Thomas Jefferson had so ardently labored over in his upstairs room was finally read before the Continental Congress. On July 4, 1776, it was approved. They called it the "Declaration of Independence" — the first of its kind, formally declaring the separation of the Colonies from Great Britain.
How long it may have taken for word of the Declaration to reach McDowell County isn't known. What is known is that on July 5, and the days that followed, Dragging Canoe's warriors unleashed their fury on the western frontier. Following the Catawba River down from its head, the warriors, accompanied by local Loyalists dressed as their Cherokee counterparts, attacked the settlements and outlying home-steads along the river, burning homes, farms and hastily built fortifications, destroying crops and taking the lives of anyone who happened to be in their path. Reports placed the total dead at around forty people between Old Fort and Morganton. The Crooked Creek section was particularly hard hit.
Hunting John McDowell's home at Pleasant Gardens was burned, and with it his written proof of ownership of land along the Nolichucky River, shared with Jacob Brown. Land that had been part of Brown's Purchase, the negotiation which had taken place at Pleasant Gardens and had opened the western lands for settlement all the way into Kentucky.
The McDowell County settlers fled, seeking more effective protection, to the fort at Quaker Meadows near Morganton. On their way, several families were attacked, and a number of children were killed. The story of the survival of Lydia Burchfield, Thomas Burchfield's daughter, has persisted for many generations. Lydia, in her own words, is said to have shared with her grandson the events that left her scalped and maimed for life. Miraculously, she lived, grew up, married and had children. She rests today in an obscure grave not far from Nebo.
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Around July 11, the local militia was attacked near the junction of the North Fork and the main Catawba River near the current site of Burnette's Landing. In what became known as the Battle of the Fork, the militiamen and the Cherokees waged bloody war. There were casualties on both sides, including Capt. Reuben White of Johns River in Burke County, who died in battle. A number of others were wounded. These events prompted Griffith Rutherford, head of the Committee of Safety in Salisbury, to plead for reinforcements, more arms and ammunition. His request resulted in the Cherokee Expedition of 1776, in which more than 2,000 armed militia, the largest military force assembled to date in the Colonies, marched into the Cherokee towns west of the Blue Ridge. This campaign would change the course of Cherokee history and that of the American frontier.
More substantial forts were constructed, Davidson's at present Old Fort, and Cathey's at Pleasant Gardens, the latter destined to become the command center for Rutherford's Expedition and subsequent actions.
The settlers' worst fears had been realized, that such bloodshed as they had recently witnessed would be one of the costs of freedom. It would be several years before the Revolution itself would come into their backyards, but in the meantime, danger was close enough. July 1776, the year of independence, was filled with battles and talk of battles with their Native American neighbors.
It was during this time that men and women distinguished themselves as leaders, as heroes and heroines. It was during this time that all had to ask themselves the ultimate question: Is it worth it? Their answer was "yes!" In the days and years to come, the meaning of that declaration in Philadelphia would become a driving force and a sustaining factor. Staying the course had never been more imperative. And stay they did.
The story of our McDowell County's contribution to the cause of American liberty has all too often been overlooked. It's a story worth knowing and a story worth taking to heart. In this year of the 250th anniversary of American independence, it's worth looking back to those people, some of whom were our own ancestors, and remembering the sacrifices they were willing to make in order to be part of an independent America.
It's also worth evaluating what the future may hold for us and our future generations. Benjamin Franklin was asked, following the drafting of the United States Constitution, "Well, doctor, do we have a republic or a monarchy?" His reply was, "A republic. If you can keep it."
Our republic is more fragile than we realize and keeping it requires hard work, dedication and common sense. As we celebrate our 250th anniversary this year, let us all take the time to ask ourselves, "How do we keep it?" The future is ours to determine. History demands that we keep it well.
Anne Swann is a McDowell County historian and researcher.
