Rowan County Courthouse
Escaped Destruction
The Old Rowan County Courthouse, a visible reminder of Salisbury’s antebellum prosperity, was erected in 1855 and is one of North Carolina’s finest Greek Revival-style public buildings. It served as Rowan’s third courthouse until 1914. Salisbury native John W. Ellis, who was North Carolina’s governor when the war broke out, was the first judge here. He was called the “secessionist governor” for refusing to send state troops in answer to President Abraham Lincoln’s call for volunteers to suppress the “rebellion.” On May 20, 1861, North Carolina became the last state to secede from the Union.
Almost four years later, on April 12, 1865, Union Gen. George Stoneman, leading a cavalry raid through western North Carolina, rode into Salisbury. His forces burned vast quantities of military stores, including 10,000 weapons, a million rounds of ammunition, 17,000 uniforms, 250,000 blankets and more than 200 tons of food and other supplies. Light from the giant bonfires reportedly was seen 30 miles away. The stores had been sent to Salisbury to prevent them from falling into Gen. William T. Sherman’s hands as he marched north from Georgia. Stoneman also burned and destroyed the Confederate States Military Prison located in Salisbury. Although Stoneman’s raiders burned military supplies and facilities here in town, the courthouse escaped destruction.
“ . . . I can be no party to this wicked violation of the laws of the country, and to this war upon the liberties of a free people. You can get no troops from North Carolina.” – Telegram to President Lincoln from Governor Ellis, April 15, 1861.
Marker is at the intersection of N Main Street (U.S. 29) and W Council Street, on the left when traveling north on N Main Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
