Opinion
Carolinians set stage for Declaration
Was the American War of Independence fated to succeed? Not necessarily.
Opinion
When Cornwallis first invaded Carolina
As a young member of Parliament during the 1760s, Cornwallis actually voted against the Stamp Act and accused the government of mistreating the American colonists. When war came, however, Cornwallis resolved to do his part.
News
Remembering 1781’s Battle of Guilford Courthouse
This year’s anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence begins a host of notable semiquincentennials commemorating the nation’s inception. After all, it would be 11 years from 1776 until the Constitution was ratified to make the United States a bona-fide country. In North Carolina, one of the major dates will be March...
Opinion
When Carolina ladies made history
Americans insisted the power to tax lay with their own legislatures. Allowing faraway politicians to fund royal governors would make them vassals, not citizens.
Opinion
Fiction can be a teaching tool
“It is a delight!” That’s what a recent reviewer said about my novel Mountain Folk, which she called an “entertaining and instructive” blend of American history, folklore, and fantasy. “As a long-time teacher of middle school and high school students,” she wrote, “I think Mountain Folk would be a great addition to school reading lists.”...
Opinion
Greensboro is a great American city
It might be a stretch to call Greensboro, North Carolina, a hidden gem. After all, it’s the third biggest city in the state and has more people than Buffalo, New York; Richmond, Virginia; or even St. Louis, Missouri. Still, it’s far from obvious that Greensboro is special if one is merely passing through on their way to...
Opinion
Revolutionary history surrounds us
If you grew up in North Carolina, you grew up surrounded by reminders of America’s founding era and Revolutionary War.
Opinion
The Tall Tales of Robert McCall
Who better to help fool the first-class troops of a dangerous enemy than a first-class storyteller?
Opinion
Like Wheat Before the Sickle
As Gaston and Theodore Hood served in some of the key battles of the Civil War, it is likely that they fought against other relatives of mine in the Union ranks.
News
Friday Interview: The Battle of Guilford Courthouse
RALEIGH — The colonies that became the United States of America declared their independence from Great Britain in 1776, but they had to fight for years after that declaration to secure their independence. A North Carolina battle played a critical role in paving the way toward victory in the Revolutionary War. Joshua Howard, research historian in the N.C. Office of Archives and History, co-wrote a book about that battle, Long, Obstinate, and Bloody: The Battle of Guilford Courthouse, March 15th, 1781. Howard discussed this important piece of North Carolina history with Mitch Kokai for Carolina Journal Radio.
Opinion
History of Key N.C. Battle ‘Excellent’
Victories in the South concluded the American Revolution, but they are rarely acknowledged by historians. Lawrence Babits and Joshua Howard do not follow that narrative, and their accurate and readable history of this seminal battle offers a significant service to readers.
Opinion
The Patriots Behind The County Names
Many North Carolina counties take their names from defenders of liberty. Without these patriots, North Carolina history would have a much different character.
