School History of North Carolina : from 1584 to the present timeMoore, John W. (John Wheeler)
History
School History of North Carolina : from 1584 to the present time
Moore, John W. (John Wheeler)
North Carolina -- History
10. When Fanning captured Governor Burke at Hillsboro, the Chief-
Magistracy of the State devolved upon Colonel Alexander Martin,
of Guilford. This latter gentleman had seen some service in the
field as an officer of the Continentals. Governor Burke was
treated, from the hour of his capture, with extraordinary
harshness. He was compelled to march all the way to Wilmington,
and, after some delay, was sent thence by ship to Charleston.
11. General Leslie, who commanded the British army in South
Carolina, placed the captive Governor upon an island near
Charleston, where the deadly malaria was supplemented by danger
of assassination from certain Tories, who were loud in their
threats of executing such a purpose. Burke made repeated
applications for a change of quarters, or for exchange as a
prisoner, but was told that he was kept as a hostage to be
executed in case of the capture and punishment of David Fanning.
12. After months of torture from such treatment, Governor Burke,
feeling that he was justified in disregarding his parole,
effected his escape and returned to North Carolina. He resumed
his office for the short interval between his return and the
meeting of the Legislature. To his great discomfiture, he was
defeated at the next election for Governor by Alexander Mafitin.
The members of the General Assembly could not forgive this
breach of his parole, and he regarded their act as evidence of
public condemnation. His sensitive spirit brooded over this.
His domestic relations were not such as to soothe and sustain
his wounded mind, and the life that opened with such brilliant
promise soon closed in gloom. Governor Burke died and was
buried on his farm near Hillsboro. No stone has ever marked the
spot. He left one child, a daughter, who died unmarried.
13. General Griffith Rutherford had been a prisoner in the
battle of Camden. Upon his exchange, he at once renewed his
efforts to deliver North Carolina from her foes. He soon
collected a body of Mecklenburg and Rowan militia and marched
for Wilmington.
14. On nearing the city he received news of Lord Cornwallis's
surrender at Yorktown, on October 19, 1781. He pushed on his
lines, and arriving in Wilmington he found that Major Craig had
taken ship and was flying from the land he had so scourged by
his presence.
15. The number of men enlisted from North Carolina in the
Continental army during the Revolutionary war was: in 1775,
2,000; 1776, 4,134; 1777, 1,281; 1778, 1,287; 1779, 4,930;
1780, 3,000; 1781, 3,545; 1782, 1,105; 1783, 697. The State
furnished, in Continental troops and militia, 22,910 men.
QUESTIONS.
1. What British forces were in North Carolina after the
departure of Cornwallis? Who was in command at Wilmington?
2. Can you tell something of Major Craig?
3. Tell something of the character of David Fanning.
4. Give further description of his traits. Mention the horrible
condition of the State under Fanning's exploits.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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