The Revolutionary War soldier who died from a sleepwalking accident
In short: Buncombe County, North Carolina, carries the name of a man whose life ended in a bizarre domestic tragedy. While he was a hero of the American Revolution, his legacy is tied to a sleepwalking incident that reopened old battle wounds, forever linking his name to the western North Carolina landscape.
The county was named in 1792 to honor Colonel Edward Buncombe, a soldier who served in the Continental Line during the American Revolutionary War. Born in St. Kitts and raised in England, Buncombe moved to North Carolina in 1768. He was a prominent figure in the Patriot cause, serving in the First Provincial Congress and commanding the 5th North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Line before his military career was cut short by injury.
During the Battle of Germantown in Pennsylvania on October 4, 1777, Buncombe was wounded and captured. He was eventually paroled to Philadelphia. His death in May 1778 was marked by a peculiar circumstance: while reportedly sleepwalking, he fell down a flight of stairs. The fall reopened his previous combat wounds, leading to his death from bleeding. He was subsequently buried in Philadelphia's Christ Church Burial Ground.
The creation of the county itself was a matter of local logistics and political maneuvering. In 1791, residents petitioned for a new county from parts of Burke and Rutherford counties. Though originally proposed as 'Union County,' it was renamed for Buncombe in 1792. The area was so vast at the time that locals referred to it as 'the state of Buncombe.' Its boundaries have since been carved into several other counties, including Haywood, Yancey, Henderson, and Madison.
Today, Buncombe County serves as a major economic and cultural hub. It is home to Asheville, the twelfth-largest city in North Carolina, and features the French Broad River and Pisgah National Forest. The region's economy is driven by healthcare, manufacturing, and a massive tourism industry that attracts between 10 and 12 million visitors annually to the surrounding metro area.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Revolutionary Origins of NC County Names: Buncombe | america250
- Also: Buncombe County, North Carolina
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