The Civil War in North Carolina



Reminiscences and Memoirs of North Carolina and Eminent North Carolinians

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then moved to Somerset County, Maryland.

        Dr. Ramsey was invited to Charleston, South Carolina, and Dr. Brevard practiced in Charlotte, as before hinted; then married, lost his wife, entered the Southern Army, and was captured in the fall of Charleston, and I believe there caught a disease which baffled all the skill of medicine, as I, myself, heard Dr. Reid, the Physician General to the Southern Army, declare, as I rode with him from Charlotte to John McKnitt Alexander's, where Dr. Brevard expired. He was buried in Charlotte beside his wife." See Southern Home, of July 5, 1875, furnished by Dr. J. M. Davidson, of Quincy, Florida.


        A more extended notice of this immortal paper will be presented under the head of Mecklenburg County.

        Dr. Brevard served in the army as Surgeon, and was taken prisoner at the surrender of Charleston, May 12, 1780. From confinement and unwholesome diet he was taken so seriously ill that he was permitted to return home. He proceeded as far as the house of John McKnitt Alexander, his friend and compatriot. It was there he breathed his last, in 1781, but he lies buried by his wife in the lot now occupied by A. Brevard Davidson, in Charlotte. On this same lot was located the "Queen's Museum," before the Revolution, its name was changed to "Liberty Hall."

        In the words of Dr. Foote in his admirable Sketches of North Carolina, "he thought clearly, wrote well, fought bravely, and died a martyr to that liberty which none loved better, and few understood so well."

        He left only one child, a daughter, who married Mr. Dickerson of South Carolina, whose son, Colonel James P. Dickerson, was Lieutenant Colonel of the South Carolina Regiment in the Mexican War, and fell in battle near the City of Mexico.

        We have seen that John Brevard's other children were:

        III. John, who served as Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War.

        IV. Hugh, also an officer and in battle of Ramsour's Mill.

        V. Adam was a blacksmith, served one year in the army and afterward became distinguished as a lawyer, wit, and writer.

        VI. Alexander Brevard entered the army of the Revolution as cadet, was promoted to captaincy in the Continental Army and engaged in the battles of White Plains, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Monmouth and Germantown. The severity of this service, broke down his health, and he was sent into the country for its restoration. After a short absence he reported in person to General Washington, who seeing his delicate figure, reduced by suffering and war, remarked to him that he was unfit for duty in the service and advised him to return home.

        He did so and his native climate soon improved his health, he then joined the Southern army under General Gates, by whom he was assigned to the duties of Quartermaster in his command, and as such served in the battle of Camden. After Gates' defeat, and General Greene had succeeded to the command of the Southern army, Brevard saw much active service before the close of the war. In the hard-fought battle of Eutaw, (the hardest in the South), he behaved with great gallantry.

        The war being ended, he returned home and entered into the iron business with his father-in-law, Major John Davidson, and General Graham, who also had married a daughter of Davidson. This business he continued until his death, November 1, 1829.

        He left seven children. Among them were Ephraim, an extensive iron manufacturer; J. Franklin, in Legislature from Lincoln (1818); Robert, an iron manufacturer; Alexander Joseph M., in Legislature (1827); Theodore, moved to Alabama, there elected Judge, moved to Florida afterwards; Harriet, married to Daniel M. Forney; Mary, and others.

        VII. Joseph, the youngest son of John Brevard, held the commission of Lieutenant in the Continental Army when only seventeen years old. He was, as many of the family now are,
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