State

By BILL SHARPE David L. Swain managed to keep the University of North Carolina open throughout the Civil War, winning postponement of the draft of students. It was in 1868 that the University was forced to close. While the upheaval of Reconstruction primarily is blamed for tills closing, perhaps a contributing factor was a Chapel Hill romance. When the Union army occupied Chapel Hill in April 1865, the uni¬ versity president. David L. Swain, a former governor, tried his best to be ready for the ordeal. He had hidden as much of the family valuables as he could, and he waited now for the re¬ ception of the conqueror. But one treasure he had not thought to hide — his 20-ycar-old daughter, Eleanor. Into his office strode General Smith B. Atkins, commander of the cavalry invading the village. It was a force of 4,U00 mounted men. In due time, the general met Elea- Romance That Closed The University Governor Swoin had hidden mast of his family valuables before the Union Army reached Chapel Hill but he forgot to hide the most precious treasure of them all. nor, and it was love at first sight. With¬ in three weeks, the Union officer had won Eleanor’s heart. Tongues in the village wagged. That the daughter of the town’s most promi¬ nent citizen should fraternize with a hated Yankee was almost incredible. The misbehavior of the Unionists, their looting and disorders, had embittered the villagers. But the lovers paid no attention to the gossip, and both Eleanor and her suitor importuned Swain to give per¬ mission for the marriage. Perhaps now they would have simply eloped to South Carolina and been married anyway, but that was not the thing a well-bred Southern girl and a Northern gentle¬ man did in those days. Swain was distraught. He realized that such a union would be a shock not only to Chapel Hill but to all North Carolina, and it would be a bitter pill for the family to swallow. But at last the troubled father yielded, and went north to investigate the character and credentials of his prospective son-in-law. In Atkins home town of Freeport, Ill., he found that the suitor was highly regarded, once editor of a substantial newspaper. So (per¬ haps reluctantly) he gave his consent. When the invitations went out for the wedding. North Carolina was rocked by disbelief. Here was a staunch Confederate, a former governor, a University president, giving his daugh¬ ter in marriage to a hated enemy. The repercussions were even more violent than Governor Swain had anticipated. Few people showed up for the cere¬ mony, and it is said that some re¬ cipients spit on their invitations and ground them underfoot. There was still bitterness over the savagery of occupa¬ tion. A few close friends and relatives were present, and many of these found it “impossible” to stay for the recep¬ tion. And some of these came, not to congratulate the bride and groom, but to offer condolences to the family. And after the wedding, resentment increased instead of dying out. In¬ furiated and disgusted, General Atkins took his bride to his Freeport home, where they made their home and raised their children. But they never escaped the grief at the unhappiness their mar¬ riage had brought to so many friends and relatives. As for Swain, he suffered, too; from lack of confidence. North Carolina refused to forgive him or his daughter for the disaffection, and though Swain was keenly hurt, he was powerless to combat the undercurrent. It was not long before despair and destitution fell upon the state and the University was closed. 1 1 THE STATE, May 15, 1Э6В