By: Steve Chickillo
Introduction
Hidden beneath modern development in North Charlotte lies a critical piece of America’s forgotten Revolutionary War history. Through personal discoveries, eyewitness findings, and a reevaluation of long-held regional myths, this report reconstructs a compelling narrative: that the Alexander family of Mecklenburg County, linked to Benjamin Franklin by marriage and ideology, played a pivotal and dangerous role in resisting British advances through the Carolinas. Their efforts, coordinated with Native allies and sustained through local infrastructure and natural defenses, culminated in the construction of a fortified Revolutionary encampment on the site now covered by warehouses and commercial complexes near Northlake Mall.
The Alexander Legacy and the Mecklenburg Declaration
On May 20, 1775, nearly fourteen months before the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, local leaders in Charlotte, NC declared their independence from British rule. Known as the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, this act of defiance was signed by prominent citizens, including members of the Alexander family. These men were not just farmers or landowners; they were political thinkers, veterans, and men of action.
It is widely believed, though often left out of mainstream accounts, that one of the Alexanders contributed heavily to drafting a constitutional document for Mecklenburg that echoed the spirit of Franklin and Jefferson. This regional constitution, though lost to time in its original form, is said to have influenced the thinking of the founding fathers themselves. Correspondence and indirect kinship connections between the Alexanders and Benjamin Franklin through extended family and political alliances strengthen this claim.
The British Threat and Strategic Value of the Alexander Lands
The British viewed the Alexanders as dangerous revolutionaries whose land and influence posed a serious threat. Their property, positioned along key creeks and early roadways, gave them a commanding position for surveillance and defense. It is here that Revolutionary militias coordinated movement, guarded supply routes, and likely stored weaponry and provisions.
Recent findings reveal tiered, flattened hilltops consistent with military use, a network of trails and creekbeds ideal for strategic retreat or ambush, and heavy stone formations that could have supported defensive structures. A Revolutionary camp, long overtaken by forest and later commercial construction, once stood just behind what is now the Northlake Mall movie theater. That land—scarred but not erased—still holds wisteria-covered traces of fortification.
Native American Alliances and the Creekside Settlement
Supporting the Revolutionary cause in this region were Native American communities who lived along the creeks now threatened by apartment construction. Artifacts such as stone arrowheads, carved bowls, and tools have been uncovered here. These findings indicate long-term settlement and collaboration with colonial militias, potentially offering food, intelligence, and tactical support.
This alliance challenges the simplistic narratives of constant conflict between Natives and settlers. Instead, it supports a picture of coordinated resistance to British incursion.
Geologic and Archaeologic Significance
Beneath the Revolutionary and Native layers lies a geologic mystery. Columns of black volcanic rock, possibly kimberlite, rise from the ground in formations of thirteen—an uncanny number that may not be accidental. These rocks are dense, shimmer with gold-like flecks, and do not match local quartz patterns. They suggest this site holds not only historical but mineralogical value.
Remnants of 19th-century mining operations, including mine carts, a deep water well, and an old pump station, connect the Revolutionary past to the later gold rush era. This adds further urgency to the need for historical preservation.
Modern Destruction and Urgent Preservation
Despite these findings, over 50% of this vital historic zone has already been destroyed. Amazon and other developers have erected massive warehouses over sites where old homes, mine entrances, and historical artifacts once stood. Bulldozers have razed what remained of the Alexander farmland, burying its secrets beneath asphalt and concrete.
One section, however, remains—a last unpaved frontier behind the movie theater, across from the prison land and north of the I-485 cutoff. Here lie the last traces of the Revolutionary camp, the Indian creekside village, and the geological formations. This land must be protected.
Conclusion: Setting the Record Right
Charlotte’s role in the Revolutionary War has long been underestimated. The Alexanders were not mere bystanders but critical agents in the formation of American independence. Their land was a fortress, their allies numerous, and their danger to the British so severe that their erasure was a military objective.
Steve Chickillo’s firsthand discoveries, combined with a reanalysis of regional records, present a new chapter in North Carolina’s history—one that demands public recognition and preservation. The legacy of liberty, etched in red clay, stone, and memory, must not be forgotten again.
The Battle of Cowan’s Ford, fought on February 1, 1781, is one of the key Revolutionary War engagements in North Carolina. It occurred on the Catawba River, near North Charlotte, and has strong historical connections to the Alexander, Davidson, Latta, and McCauley (or McAuley) families and their properties. Here’s a detailed explanation and how it ties these elements together: