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blackfootblood
Devoted Tribal Member
USA
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May 22 2007
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 Posted - October 04 2008 : 3:05:45 PM
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Upon one of our recent road trips, we discovered a Revolutionary War historic site that is pretty much unknown in the popular studies of the war. Here's a brief history of the house in which I copied from the brochure:
It was built in 1772 and named "Retreat" by it's second owner, Gov. Benjamin Williams. It is located in the North Carolina Piedmont plateau and because of the horseshoe curves in the river basin, that's how it picked up this nickname.
During the American Revolution, irregular warfare was being waged in the back country of North Carolina by groups of citizen-soldiers: the Whigs (or revolutionists) and the Tories (who were still loyal to the king of England). The House in the Horseshoe was then the home of Whig, Colonel Philip Alston. On the morning of August 5, 1781, while Alston and his band of revolutionaries were camped at the dwelling, they were attacked by a larger unit of Tories, whose leader was the notorious David Fanning. During the ensuing skirmish, the Tories attempted to set the house on fire by rolling against it a cart filled with burning straw. After several casualties on both sides, Alston surrendered. The house stood riddled with bullet holes, many of which remain. Although Alston was distinguished as a lieutenant colonel in the state militia, a justice of the peace, and a state senator, his career was marked by corrupt activities. He was twice indicted for murder, removed as justice of the peace, and suspended from the state legislature for a variety of reasons. In 1790, Philip Alston sold the house and plantation and left the state.
In 1798 the twenty-five-hundred-acre plantation was acquired by Gov. Benjamin Williams, who in addition to serving four one-year terms as the governor of North Carolina, had been a captain under George Washington, was a member of the first board of trustees of the University of North Carolina, and served in the National Congress at Philadelphia. Williams enlarged the house by adding two wings containing a kitchen and a master bedroom. One of Williams ambitions was to become a planter. The growing of short staple cotton was becoming a profitable pursuit as a result of Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin, and the Horseshoe land was excellent for that purpose. In 1801, Williams planted forty-two acres of cotton; he grew nearly two hundred acres the following year. By 1803 his plantation was being worked by about fifty slaves and was valued at thirty thousand dollars. Williams died on the plantation in 1814. William's family occupied the house until 1853. The dwelling changed ownership several times until 1954, when it was purchased and restored by the Moore County Historical Association. In 1955 the state acquired the property.
Here's a few pics we took:
The left side of the house, chimney:
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The back porch of the house facing toward the river:
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On the front of the house by the main door, example of the bullet holes:
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Front of the house and to the left, you can see the original well:
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And the front of Retreat House:
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"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain!"
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Gadget Girl
Gatherer of Gathering Gadgets
USA
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May 17 2002
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Posted - October 04 2008 : 4:55:47 PM
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| Cool info BFB! What city is that near? |
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blackfootblood
Devoted Tribal Member
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May 22 2007
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Posted - October 04 2008 : 5:44:26 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Gadget Girl
Cool info BFB! What city is that near?
It's outside Fayetteville about twenty or thirty miles. Past a really small town called Cameron. One of those places you happen to stumble upon. |
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain!"
"Live well, love much, laugh often!" |
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Fitzhugh Williams
Mohicanland Statesman
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July 17 2005
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Posted - October 06 2008 : 12:43:41 PM
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| The site is very well known in reenacting circles and there is an event there every year. |
"Les deux pieds contre la muraille et la tete sous le robinet" |
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blackfootblood
Devoted Tribal Member
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May 22 2007
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Posted - October 06 2008 : 1:58:40 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Fitzhugh Williams
The site is very well known in reenacting circles and there is an event there every year.
That's interesting. I thought there might have been some sort of reenacting going on, they had a video playing in their small museum there. |
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain!"
"Live well, love much, laugh often!" |
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Fitzhugh Williams
Mohicanland Statesman
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July 17 2005
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Posted - October 06 2008 : 3:37:55 PM
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| The event is in the summer, I think around the end of July. I have never been to that one since it's a little too far away. And that is usually the time something is going on with the F&I up north. But a lot of people from this area do go there. |
"Les deux pieds contre la muraille et la tete sous le robinet" |
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House in the Horseshoe
