North Mecklenburg High School - Viking Yearbook (Huntersville, NC)

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Davidson had placed his men at the various fords along the eastern bank to do what he could to slow Cornwallisis crossing. Under Joe Graham and Colonel Polk a company set out for Cowanis Ford. Graham was to keep a patrol on the move to.see that the British did not make a surprise crossing under cover of darkness. Toward nightfall Davidson himself led a detachment to Cowanis Ford and set up camp a half mile or so back from the river, but he assigned pickets to watch from the water's edge at the Cowanis crossing point. At one o'clock in the morning the British general began his march to the river, which was reached after much difficulty and the loss of some of their cannon. But instead of going to Beatties Ford, which his actions there during the day had indicated he would try to force, he moved down the river to Cowan's. Davidson feared that Tarleton's troops would get behind him, from which position they could attack him as the British infantry began its crossing. So he stayed well back from the river bank opposite the point where the horse ford emerged on the Mecklenburg side. Mean- while, the pickets huddled on the bank near the wagon ford. Instead of taking the horse ford as had been ex- pected, Cornwallis, on reaching the river, hardly hesi- tated at the swollen stream and began crossing along the wagon ford. They were led by a Tory who lived in the vicinity. The American pickets had fallen asleep on the eastern bank, but the noise of the crossing awak- ened them and they began to fire on the Redcoats. Their firing brought General Davidson and his men racing toward the wagon ford. For a few minutes the action was lively, the militiamen were picking off many Britishers struggling in the water. The return fire was heavy, and hardly had Davidson arrived when he was struck from his horse. In a few minutes several other Americans were killed. The British loss was greater, but the skirmish proved a defeat for the Americans. Their resistance hardly slowed Cornwallisis advance. It would be recorded, however, as the last battle with an invader on Mecklenburg soil. And in the fall, on October 19, Cornwallis would surrender at Yorktown. General Davidson had been killed by a rifle ball through the heart. Tradition persists that the Tory lead- ing Cornwallis across Cowan's Ford was Davidsonis slayer. General Davidson, an amazingly successful or- ganizer, had been the driving force of the area,s re- sistance. His death was a great blow. Late that evening the Generalis body was found by David XVilson, Major john Davidson. and others. They took it to the home of David's widowed step- mother, Mrs. Samuel YVilson. That night by torchlight, with Pastor Mc-Caule conducting the brief service and with Mary Brevard Davidson standing stalwart beside the red clay grave, XVilliam Lee Davidson was buried in Hopewell churchyard. YVith independence so boldly proclaimed in 1775, securely established by 1781, Mecklenburgers were free to contribute their energies to the peaceful pursuits of building a nation. They repaired the little court house in Charlottetown, they undertook to build new school- houses or give added support to those already started in such communities as Sugaw Creek, Hopewell, and others, and they began to increase materially their crops of small grain, corn, and cotton. Mecklenburg citizens were beginning to put the emphasis on looking to the future potentialities as well as to the past,s accomplishments. Charlotte and Meck- lenburg County were building the background for their emergence into a position of leadership and a place of top-most rank. North Mecklenburg community had a great story in her early daysg she has a tremendous story right now, and the coming years should provide an even greater one. The hard core of that hard-headed, independent, industrious, determined citizenship that was the North Mecklenburger of 1775 has come right down through the generations. Yes,- North Mecklenburg is proud of her name BEBELS. for what school could deserve it more! 11

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A helpful method of getting the idea across, the Burns, Board was used by Mr. Marshall in an explanation of the properties of triangles. Interested observers were Tommy Blythe and Anita Dresser ADMI ISTRATIO DCGUR EOF TUDY Our founding fathers were interested in the edu- cation of their children even when they had no money for school houses or teachers. Often the parents were the teachers, but then there came the small church schools, and in the North Mecklenburg area an acad- emy was founded at Sugaw Creek and taught by Craig- head. Other academies were founded throughout the communities. It used to be said by the teacher when hunting a school, You furnish the boy and the book, and I will furnish the hickory. But leadership was evidenced in other ways also. Now the times have changed - but the leadership of a community, as well as the school, can often be found in the teachers. In the interest of the student, 'officials and teachers seek to enlarge the curriculum so that the student will be able to take a modern approach to a subject. Many extra-curricular activities, which enrich the life of the student, are sponsored by faculty mem- bers. Many hours and much effort are spent to en- courage growth in character, leadership. and citizenship.