HISTORY.

It

The first attempt of the English to settle their possessions in America, was made at Roanoke Island, in this State, in 1585. The colonists got into trouble with the Indians, and the settlement was abandoned the following year. In 1630, an immense tract of land, south of the Chesapeake, was granted to Sir Robert Heath, and called Carolina. As he did not colonize it, however, the grant was afterwards declared forfeit. In 1663, the territory was granted by Charles II. of England to a company of eight of the most distinguished noblemen of England. This grant embraced the territory lying between latitudes 29° and 36° 30′ north, and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The grantees were given full powers over their domain. The northern part of this province was, about this time, settled by dissenters from Virginia. It was called Albemarle, and an absurd Constitution for its government was drawn up for the proprietors by John Locke. was for about twenty-five years, nominally, the supreme law of the province, but was at length abandoned, because of the impossibility of carrying out its provisions. The colonists, however, showed a rare wisdom in the establishment of their government. They carefully guarded the rights of property and of person, and granted entire freedom in matters of religion. The colony grew and prospered slowly, and in 1674 contained only 4000 inhabitants. Its early history, however, was marked by continuous strife between the authorities and the inhabitants. In 1695, John Archdale, a Quaker, was appointed Governor. By a series of wise measures, he succeeded in restoring order and quiet, and in establishing churches and providing for their support. During his administration tar and turpentine were first exported. In 1711, by the aid of troops from Virginia, a rebellion which had been incited by Thomas Cary, who wished to retain his place as Governor, was suppressed. A little later, the Tuscarora Indiaus commenced a merciless war upon the settlers. They were conquered, with the aid of the neighboring colonies, in 1713, and compelled to move northward. In 1729, the king purchased the privileges of the proprietors, and Carolina became a royal province, and was divided into two colonies, called North and South Carolina. Slavery was introduced into the colony at an early day, and continued to form the basis of its agricultural industry until 1865. In 1765, the population was greatly increased by the arrival of a band of Presbyterians from the north of Ireland, who settled in the northwestern

part of the State. They were followed by a colony of Moravians, who settled between the Yadkin and Dan rivers, and a colony of Highlanders, who settled on the upper Cape Fear, near the present town of Fayetteville.

The colony actively supported the measures of resistance to the aggressions of the crown, and was represented in the first Continental Congress, which met in 1774. The Governor endeavored to put a stop to the "seditious" proceedings of the patriots, but without effect. A hearty coöperation was given to the cause of the United Colonies, and in May, 1775, a convention of the people of Mecklenburg county formally threw off their allegiance to Great Britain, and proclaimed the independence of North Carolina. This declaration was not generally sustained in the province, however. In July, 1775, the Governor took refuge on board a man of war in Cape Fear River, from which he issued his orders to his partisans to join him on the coast. They made several efforts to do so, being very numerous in the State. In the summer of 1775, a party of 1500 loyalists, under command of McDonald and McLeod, on their way to the coast, were met by a force of patriots, under Caswell and Moore, and routed, with a loss of 850 prisoners, including McDonald. McLeod was killed. The assembly took vigorous measures to maintain the cause of the colonies, and between August 20th, 1775, and July, 1776, ordered nine regiments to be raised for service in the American army. In April, 1776, the delegates of the colony, in the Continental Congress, were ordered to unite with the delegates of the other colonies in a declaration of independence of the British crown. In December, 1776, a State Constitution was adopted.

North Carolina was partly exempt from the horrors of the war until 1780. The successes of the British forces in Georgia encouraged a strong party of tories to rise in arms, and 700 of them set out to join. the British at Augusta, Georgia. They were met and routed on their march by Pickens' partisan band of South Carolina. Seventy of them were tried for and convicted of treason, and five of them were hanged. Two parties of tories rose in 1780. One succeeded in reaching the British outposts, but the other was dispersed. On the 9th of October, 1780, the strongest body of tories, which had yet taken arms for the king, was defeated at King's Mountain, by a force of militia under Shelby and Sevier. They lost 150 killed, including their leader, General Fergusson, and a large number wounded. The rest, 800 in number, surrendered, and 10 of their leaders were hanged on the field.

The battle of Guilford Court House, (March 15th, 1781,) in which General Greene was defeated, was fought in this State. North Carolina furnished her full quota of men during the war, and fairly won the privileges which the successful issue of the struggle brought the States.

In 1784, the State ceded to the United States the territory now embraced in the State of Tennessee. The Constitution of the United States did not prove acceptable to North Carolina, and was rejected by the Convention in 1788, but was finally ratified in 1789.

The sympathies of the people of North Carolina were with the South in the late war, and on the 20th of May, 1861, an ordinance of secession was adopted, and the State withdrew from the Union and joined the Southern Confederacy. Large numbers of troops were contributed to the Confederate army, and the forts along the coast were occupied. Fort Hatteras, at Hatteras Inlet, was taken by the Federal fleet in 1861, and Fort Fisher and the other defences of the Cape Fear, by the army and navy in 1865. The fall of Fort Fisher opened the way to Wilmington, which was at once occupied by the Union army. The State was held by the various columns of Sherman's army, in 1865, which advanced from Cheraw, South Carolina, through Fayetteville, and from Wilmington, and Morehead City, and concentrated at Goldsborough, after which they advanced on Raleigh. The Confederates made several efforts to check this advance, but were too weak to accomplish anything. The battles of Averasboro and Bentonville were fought by the armies of Sherman and Johnston, and the latter general surrendered his forces to the former, near Raleigh, and closed the war in the State. During the war, several severe struggles occurred on the coast, the principal of which were the capture of Roanoke Island by the Union forces, and of Plymouth by the Confederates.

In 1865 a Provisional Governor was appointed by the President, and in 1867 the State became a part of the "Second Military District," commanded by Major-General Daniel E. Sickles. A State Convention was held in 1868, which adopted the present Constitution. This instrument was ratified by the people at the polls in April, and on the 25th of June, 1868, Congress formally readmitted the State into the Union.

CITIES AND TOWNS.

The principal cities and towns are, Newberne, Fayetteville, Salisbury, Charlotte, Henderson, Elizabeth City, Beaufort, Warrenton, Greensboro, Kinston, and Tarboro.

The capital of the State, is situated in Wake county, 4 miles west of the Neuse River, 286 miles southwest of Washington, latitude 35° 47' N., longitude 78° 48′ W. It is very near the centre of the State, and lies in the midst of a beautiful country. The site of the city is elevated, and is noted for its healthfulness. The city is well built as a rule, the central portion is occupied by a handsome park, covering 10 acres, and known as Union Square. From this park four streets, each 100 feet in width, radiate in as many directions; these streets divide the city into four parts, each of which is a square of four acres. In Union Square stands the State House, a magnificent edifice, and one of the largest and most imposing of all the State Capitols. It is built of granite in imitation of the Parthenon, is surrounded with columns of the same material, and is crowned with a grand dome. It is 166 feet long by 90 feet wide. Raleigh also contains the Governor's residence, and the other State buildings, the State Lunatic Asylum, and the North Carolina Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, a Court-house, a jail, 5 churches, and about 9 news

paper offices. It has direct railway communication with all parts of the State and the Union.

Raleigh was made the capital of North Carolina in 1788. It is named after Sir Walter Raleigh. In 1870 the population was 10,149.

WILMINGTON,

The largest city in the State, is situated in New Hanover county, on the east bank of the Cape Fear River, just below the entrance of the northeast branch of the Cape Fear into the main stream. It is 34 miles from the sea, 135 miles southeast of Raleigh, and 416 miles southwest of Washington City. The city is located in a plain extending back from the river, and those of the streets that are not paved are very sandy. As a general rule the city is well built. It contains several fine public buildings, a number of churches, several public and private schools, a theatre, and about 4 newspaper offices. It is lighted with gas, and has an efficient police force. It is the handsomest city in the State, and is regarded as a pleasant place of residence.

Wilmington is the chief commercial city of North Carolina. It is connected with all parts of the Union by railway. Lines of steamers navigate the Cape Fear to Fayetteville, and steamships ply regularly between this port and the principal cities of the Northern and Southern States. Large quantities of rice, cotton, turpentine, rosin, tar, pitch, lumber, and naval stores are exported annually from Wilmington. In 1861, the year before the civil war, the tonnage of the district was 14,511 tons registered, and 10,394 licensed and enrolled. The war struck a severe blow at the commerce of the city, but it is now rapidly regaining its former proportions. The city contains a number of steam saw-mills, planing and rice-mills, machine shops, and distilleries. Wilmington is governed by a Mayor and Council. In 1870 the population was 13,446.

Wilmington was originally called Newton, and was given its present name in honor of an English nobleman of that name, who had secured Governor Johnston the government of the colony. It was settled before the Revolution, and during the war was merely an unimportant village. It was occupied by the British in January, 1781, and held by them until the close of the war. During the civil war it was strongly fortified by the Confederates, and was one of the principal ports from which they kept up their communications with Europe. It was the centre of a large blockade trade. It was blockaded by the