Do the historical overview and themes identified for the Southern Campaign of the Revolution reflect the most important stories of this period of history?
This is one of the questions from the NPS planning and study division for NC to answer.
Here are the themes already identified as focus points for the NHA.
INTERPRETIVE THEMES
• The military events in the Carolinas substantially influenced the
eventual American victory in the Revolution
• Political rivalries in the Carolinas were catalysts to the outbreak of
the Revolution in the south and played an important role in what was
in many ways America’s first Civil War
• The brutal combat during the Revolution profoundly disrupted
traditional ways of life in the Carolinas
• The American victory in the Revolution presaged momentous changes for Native Americans and African Americans in the Carolinas.
This is red is my suggestion for an important theme. I mentioned that at the meeting I attended in Morganton.
• The soldiers of the revolution, both military and militia, supporting the rebellion represented a melting pot of cultures from the world around the Atlantic Ocean ( including English, French, German, Spanish, Welsh, Scotish, Irish, Scots-Irish, African nations, Cherokee, Cawtaba, and eastern tribes, and Polish. There may be others to be uncovered).
The ability of these cultures to cooperate and sacrifice for an idea was new and fundamental to the establishment of the new United States.
Ironically, the melting pot effect was found on both sides of the conflict, but the cooperating was of a mercenary nature.
I am thinking I have overlooked the second theme concerning catalysts to the outbreak. This might then include the battle of Alamance in the 1760s and the Battle of the Great Bridge in Virginia in 1775 where many northeastern NC men went to defend their neighbors. I don't know, but if your ancesters were there, then we should write the Park Service about them. I am almost confident that the political catalyst included the "energetic minority in Edgecombe" as well as Pitt county's support for the city of Boston. There are catalyst all over eastern NC, so you guys please reveal them to the Park service.
I have added a search box on the side here for you to search for what I have written on the blog. I am going to delete the list of blog dates. Let me know if that is a problem and I will put it back.
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We went to church today and gave thanks for the blessings thus far received and ask for protection from difficulties in the future. The theme of the Sunday School class was about faith. What is faith without doubt? Nothing. What do you do when the world appears dark and challenges you to act. Move out in faith even if you are afraid. And, why does dark happen? Sometimes we do not know because God works in mysterious ways.
We say God works in mysterious ways very often. It was the title of a hymn we sang today. I believe it refers to a Psalm, but that quote is not in the Bible as far as I know. I think it was a profound revelation of the songwriter, William Cowper.
I found this on a blog FROM NC!! So, I take it as a mysterious way and I will contact Martin at Pembroke asap. The words of the hymn/poem follow:
God Moves in Mysterious Ways
God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.
William Cowper was English. My personal opinion on this poem is that it was sent as consolation to the British in the middle of the American Conflict. For those with eyes to see, this is a clear revelation of the liberty coming to America and the encouragement to accept the change. Well, that is my preaching of the day.
Note that he was a friend of John Newton the author of the hymn, Amazing Grace. I love this version by Il Divo. Thanks, Simon Cowell. I especially love the bagpipes.
A wonderful movie was made of the story surrounding this hymn recently. I need to pull it out and see it again. This hymn was inspired by a man's spiritual journey as a slave trader and later through his affictions, toward a new life. The movie includes a protrayal of Olaudah Equiano, an African captured and brought into slavery who later was able to make money earning his freedom in America. He could not stay in America as a free man and went to England. He is a real man who wrote an autobiography about his life of freedom in Africa, slavery in Virginia, and eventually his release and work for the abolutionist movement already underway after the revolution. Some few historians question his birth in Africa because of a document he signed in SC. There is also his description of almost losing his freedom again in Georgia after gaining it in Pennsylvania. This means he had to travel, most likely, through the Carolina's. I wonder if his narrative includes any details about North or South Carolina. In any case, his autobiography should be very informative. I would like to read it. I, by the way, fully believe he was African.
Don't you think you've heard God today?
Change was certainly coming to the British empire in the late 1700s. It was foreshadowed everywhere. Thank goodness, we are on the other side of that conflict and allied with Britain now.
When you hear music like this its easy to understand how the less enthousiastic majority of Americans had doubts about any revolution. Who really wanted to give this up?
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