Cabarrus-Rowan County NcArchives News.....Mexican War Veterans 1907
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carolyn Shank Carolynshank@msn.com February 26, 2008, 2:04 am

Charlotte Daily Observer 1907
18 Aug 1907

Three Mexican War Vets

Concord, Aug. 17 - On the shady side of Union Street this morning, perched 
upon the stone mounts in front of Cannon & Fetzer Company, sat three men who 
were almost unobserved by the hurrying throngs passing on their shopping and 
business journey, until a newspaper man dropped down by the side of them and 
began passing the time of day.

Col. James N. Brown was in his glory, for he had run upon several companions 
of by-gone days, and the three were talking over their varied experiences, 
perfectly oblivious of all things except their happiness at the meeting.

Mr. E.R. Blackwelder, a native of Cabarrus County, but who removed to Rowan in 
1854, was the oldest of the group, being 82 years of age. He is stout and was 
really the youngest looking man in the crowd. He is in fine spirits and came 
down from China Grove this morning to see what is going on in this city.

Next to him sat Mr. George W. Barnhardt, the veteran of No. 5 township, who is 
known to nearly every one in the county. Mr. Barnhardt is spry and full of 
humorous jokes and was feeling unusually good this morning. He is in his 81st 
year.

Col. James N. Brown, of this city, was doing the honors of treating to cigars 
and otherwise entertaining his comrades in his usual splendid manner. The 
three men enjoyed each other's company and were pleased to meet a stranger or 
any one who would stop to greet them.

This meeting of these three Mexican war veterans was altogether by chance, 
there being no formal appointment. Mr. Brown lives here, Mr. Barnhardt came to 
town as usual Saturday and Mr. Blackwelder ran down for the day.

It was in January, 1846, that these old men - young then - started out on a 
tramp to Charlotte, where they enlisted with the United States troops in the 
great Mexican war. They walked from Charlotte to Fayetteville, where they were 
put aboard a vessel and taken by water to the mouth of the Rio Grande river 
and began their raids against the enemy. After a service of eighteen months, 
they returned to their native home, and have been living in this vicinity ever 
since.

There were ninety of them who volunteered from this section and the trio above 
named are the only ones that survive. The meeting today was one of general 
delight to all of them, and to the newspaper man it was a pleasure to hear 
them tell their war reminiscences.

After the discharge of these men from the service the United States government 
conveyed to each one a land grant of 160 acres - a section which has long 
since passed into the hands of the land grabbers and speculators.


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