1916- Arrival of Governor Craig

The following article describes the welcome Governor Craig received at the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence celebration in 1916.

 The Charlotte News 5/20/1916, p.2

 GOVERNOR CRAIG WARMLY RECEIVED

 Governor Craig of North Carolina Warmly Greeted at Every Turn – He and His Staff Very Much in Evidence and Made Very Marked Contribution to Celebration.

With the arrival of Governor Craig and staff yesterday afternoon at 4:30 o’clock the climax of the second day’s celebration was reached and it appeared that the prospects for a big day today, with the biggest crowd that ever assembled in Charlotte and perhaps in the state, was already insured. Mr. Cameron Morrison, and Mr. Hamilton C. Jones headed the committee of citizens that went to greet the governor and bid him welcome to Charlotte.  

On the same train with Governor Craig was Adjutant General Laurence W. Young and several members of his staff, others having arrived in advance of the governor. The gubernatorial salute of seventeen guns was fired and, headed by the Charlotte Municipal Band and 250 soldiers, Governor Craig and his party and General Young and his staff were taken to their headquarters at the Selwyn hotel, where many of the city’s leading citizens and many notable visitors accorded Governor Craig and Mrs. Craig, who accompanied him a warm reception.  

Governor Craig’s Party.  

Governor Craig’s retinue was composed of the following: Aides – General Laurence W. Young, adjutant general and chief of staff; Col. John D. Langston, aide-de-camp; Col. Ernest Erwin, aide-de-camp; Col. George McNeill, aide-de-camp; Col. Frank S. Lambeth, aide-de-camp.  

The members of the administrative staff in the governor’s retinue were: Col. George L. Patterson, paymaster general; Col. Thomas R. Robertson, chief of ordinance; Col. Lee B. Bristol, chief of quartermaster corps; Col. Thomas Stringfield, inspector general; Lieutenant Colonel Wyatt L. McGee, assistant secretary general; Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Hyde Pratt, assistant chief of engineers; Major Gordon Smith, assistant adjutant general; Major Baxter Durham, quartermaster corps; Major York Coleman, judge advocate general’s department; Major L. C. Sinclair, judge advocate general’s department; Major George W. Craig, assistant general; Lieutenant A. B. Clarke, detailed to adjutant general’s department; Col. T. B. Whitted, chief of engineers; Major Baxter R. Hunter, chief surgeon; Capt. E. C. Boyette, surgeon.  

In addition to these the following brigade commanders and United States army officers were in the governor’s retinue: General B. S. Royster, brigade commander; Major S. Glenn Brown, brigade adjutant; Major H. L. Clark, brigade surgeon; Major H. L. Hunt, United States army; Capt. Alex. Greig, Jr., United States army; Capt. Bernard Sharp, United States army.