Volume XIII
Number 31
December 29
1945
THE STATE
A Weekly Survey of North Carolina
Entered as second-class matter. June 1. 1933, at the Postoflice at Ralclsh, North Carolina, under the Act ol March 3. 1879.
Colonel Benja
In Cleveland
He was one of the outstanding' characters
during’ the Revolutionary War period, and
his exploits in and around Wilkes County
were off a varied nature.
TODAY'S gallery of American
war history has a wonderfully
diversified interest. We gaze
with mystified appraisal at the al¬
most overwhelming impressiveness
of our latest contribution. They are
so freshly electrified with action,
theme and treatment, they seem to
us to be very contrasting to those
quiet, modest canvases of war
which were hung many years ago.
And yet, by what common language
the scenes and personalities of the
lot of them come to communicate
in our minds.
Take for instance the personality
behind that scene of 1780. On what
is now Federal Highway 421. be¬
tween Boone and North Wilkesboro
(nearer Boone), stands a high
peak called Riddle's Knob or Wolf’s
Den. Colonel Benjamin Cleveland,
famous old Whig and pronounced
fatalist, marked that spot with a
bit of artifice and stratagem that
lends permanent color to his rec¬
ord.
“I’ve always told you,” Cleve¬
land once said to a hunting com¬
panion. “No man dies until his ap¬
pointed time, and when it comes,
there is no escape!”
An Exciting Life
Was it this belief that made him
the daring, fearless fighter that he
was, or had his many narrow
escapes from horrible deaths
brought about the conviction? He
lived more than 68 years, most of
which were filled with adventure,
excitement, romance, and some¬
times gruesome horror. He was one
of the first to resent the threatened
tyranny of taxation without repre¬
sentation, one of the first to volun¬
teer his services to his country in
the fall of 1775. He was a noble
B;/ LlICILi: K. ROYHEN
hero, a strange mixture of tender¬
ness and brutality: one minute with
tears in his eyes, another using his
rifle or his fists.
Cleveland married Miss Mary
Graves of Orange County. Virginia,
and moved in 1769 with her parents
to Roaring Creek in North Caro¬
lina. Later, the Clevelands moved
to a point of land called "The
Round About." fifteen miles below
Wilkesboro. so named because the
land was shaped like a horseshoe,
almost surrounded by the Yadkin
River. It was here that Cleveland
experienced his first spectacular
escape from death.
Experience With Snakes
He was hunting with Reuben
Stringer one day. pursuing a large
elk toward the river, when he de¬
cided that he would cut through to
a rocky point on the water’s edge
where he was sure the elk would
attempt to cross. Scarcely had he
reached the rocky promontory and
come to a stand-still than he
realized he had run directly into a
bed of rattle-snakes, coiling and
rattling and preparing to strike.
With no time for a second thought,
and certainly no regard for the icy
temperature of the river, Cleveland
made a dive for the deepest spot,
thus saving himself from horrible
death.
Another escape came during his
Revolutionary war days, from the
hands of one of his own men. Ini¬
tiated into warfare during the
French and Indian days. Cleveland
was first appointed ensign in a regi¬
ment under Col. Robert Howe.
Later, he became Captain of his
own volunteer riflemen, taking an
active part against the Tories. In
1778. following his influence in the
division of Surry County into
what is now Wilkes, he was made
Colonel of the Militia and placed
at the head of the Commission of
Justice. He was later sent to the
State Senate. And then he came
upon the most brilliant part of his
career, his leadership in the Battle
of King's Mountain, in South Caro¬
lina.
History records: "An incident. . .
transpired, which came near cost¬
ing Cleveland his life. Charles
Bowen. . . heard that his brother
had been killed. . . and without due
consideration for the danger he in¬
curred. commenced a wild search,
hoping he would find him in
wounded condition only. At length,
he found himself within fifteen
paces of the enemy, near to Col.
Cleveland. As the enemy began to
show signs of wavering and sur¬
rendering, Bowen promptly shot
down the first man among them
who hoisted a flag, and immediate¬
ly, as was the custom, got behind
a tree for reloading. Col. Cleveland,
whose horse had been shot from
under him, advanced on foot, and
suspecting from the wild actions of
Bowen that he must be a Tory,
demanded the countersign. Bowen
was too bewildered to remember,
whereupon Cleveland leveled his
gun and attempted to shoot. For¬
tunately. the gun missed fire.
Bowen, hardly aware of his own
act. snatched his tomahawk from
his belt and would have buried it
in the Colonel's head, had not his
arm been arrested by a soldier
( Continued on page 29)
THE STATE. December 29. 1945
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