Honoring Those Who Served

Kings Mountain memorial, SC

Veterans Day is a fairly modern holiday, established to honor anyone who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces—in contrast with Memorial Day, which serves to remember those who died while serving. Originally named Armistice Day, in celebration of the agreement that ended World War I, signed at the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month of 1918. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day)

I suspect we history buffs hold those who served in the older wars of our country, particularly the War Between the States and the American Revolution, in special awe.
It’s always heartwarming to me to walk through an old cemetery and see memorial flags decorating the graves of those who were known veterans ... sobering to look at photographs of the oldest living veterans of the Revolution, and to wonder what their stories were.

Confederate graves, Strawberry Chapel, SC

 

 As the wife, daughter, and sister of veterans, I’m keenly aware of the sacrifice. In awe of those who went weeks, months, and often years without word of their loved ones who went off to fight. Fascinated by the courage and tenacity it took for both men and women to endure wartime—especially those brave women who followed their men on campaign for love and necessity.

Kings Mountain, SC

In working on my next article, which focuses on the infamous British officer Banastre Tarleton, I began to wonder, why does the whole myth vs. fact thing matter ... and am I dishonoring those who fought for our country’s freedom?

Henry & Eliza Laurens, Mepkin Abbey, SC

To begin with, deconstructing myth can be hard and cruel. I've found that people would often rather hold onto their suppositions and prejudices than accept evidence for another view--or even look at the other side of an issue. (Just look at the debate over whether the Civil War really began over states’ rights or slavery.) And it's astonished me how fact can get embellished into legend, and either romanticized or demonized, not very long after the fact.

The more I read and study, the more I realize that some myths will never be completely dispelled. People's opinions are sometimes literally set in stone, and so many will continue believing the idea that the patriot cause was completely righteous, and the British one completely corrupt.

In truth, I think any serious examination of primary sources will reveal that the issues of time past were far more complex ... just as complex as some of the issues of today. And just like today, some find it easy to decide which side to give their allegiance to, but for others, the choice was excruciatingly difficult.

Francis Waring, WWII veteran, Strawberry Chapel, SC

Regardless of political leanings, the truth is that our country came to be through the blood, sweat, and tears of those who believed there was something worth fighting for ... and despite all odds, this upstart, ragtag bunch of colonists managed to wear out one of the greatest empires in the world. It was nothing short of Divine Providence that allowed us to be, and later continue as a union—and for that, I am awed and grateful.

Ironwork at the Laurens family plot, Mepkin Abbey, SC

So for today, for this month, I would like to offer my deepest gratitude, first to the Author and Finisher of our faith and freedom, and then to those who fought on behalf of both. This country has been a wonder and a marvel to many, over the past 238-plus years!

May God continue to bless America—and have mercy on us.

(Photos by Kimberli Buffaloe, Breanna McNear, and myself)

AMERICA’S FIRST CIVIL WAR ~ Part 2

AMERICA’S FIRST CIVIL WAR

Part 2

In last month’s post we saw that America’s first civil war was The Revolutionary War; a war that divided families and neighbors to the Loyalist or the Patriot cause. We also reviewed the motivations which determined their decision.

Throughout the colonies, families and neighbors who once enjoyed amicable relations now found themselves at odds with each other. Families of every station of life were impacted by the severing of ties, but two very prominent families from two very different colonies experienced division in a very public arena.

The Franklin Family

Benjamin Franklin

William Franklin

Benjamin Franklin, born to the son of a candle maker in Boston, Massachusetts, at seventeen moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When he proposed to Deborah, the daughter of his landlady, the mother did not allow the union. While Franklin was in London, Deborah married a man who later avoided prosecution for non payment of debts by absconded to Barbados with her dowry. When Franklin returned from England, he and Deborah formed a common-law marriage until they could legally marry.

William Temple Franklin's
portrait by John Trumbull

Franklin was a man of many achievements; a successful newspaper editor, printer, writer, satirist, scientist, inventor, politician, statesman, and diplomat.  He had an illegitimate son, William, possibly by Deborah. Franklin financed William’s education at the Inns of Court in London. Later, William was admitted to the bar and automatically became a member of Britain’s upper class. William made influential friends while in England and returned to become the Royal Governor of New Jersey in 1762. William also fathered an illegitimate son, William Temple Franklin, who embraced the patriot cause and would later work as an aide to his grandfather. William Franklin remained a Loyalist, was imprisoned and later exiled to London.  He was unsuccessful in his attempt to reconcile with his father and at Benjamin Franklin’s death was disowned in favor of the grandson.

The Randolph Family

The Peyton Randolph House
Williamsburg, VA

Peyton Randolph

Peyton and John Randolph, cousins of Thomas Jefferson, were born (1721 & 1727) in Williamsburg, Virginia to Sir John and Lady Susannah Randolph a wealthy, aristocratic, powerful Virginia family. Their father, a prominent attorney and Speaker of the House of Burgesses, died when Peyton was sixteen, leaving their house and other property in trust for the older son. At different times, the brothers were both educated at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg and later studied the law at London’s Inns of Court. Upon his return, Peyton was appointed Virginia’s attorney general and later became Williamsburg’s representative in the House of Burgesses.

John Randolph

Peyton had challenged some of the rights of the Royal Governor he was appointed to defend, but it was not until 1764 with the conflict over the Stamp Act that his conflict with the British crown escalated. In 1766 he was elected Speaker of the House of Burgesses. Meanwhile, Peyton’s younger brother John succeeded him as the Virginia’s attorney general; however, by now the two brothers were politically polarized. Peyton joined the Patriot cause and John left for England in 1775 with most of his family. John’s son, Edmund joined the American army and he served as aide-de-camp to General George Washington.

The Wren Chapel is in the
Wren Building - Williamsburg, VA

The Wren Chapel 

In 1784 John died in England. As a patriot, Peyton had a warrant for his arrest and execution, but would die of a stroke in Philadelphia in 1775. After their deaths, both brothers were returned to Williamsburg where they are buried with their father in the Randolph crypt beneath the Wren Chapel at the College of William and Mary.

It may seem ironic that in the Franklin family Benjamin and his grandson embraced the Patriot cause while Benjamin’s son, William remained loyal to the crown. And, in the Randolph family, the younger brother, John remained a Loyalist, while his own son Edmund chose to join his uncle in pursuing independence from England.         

Like America’s Civil War of the nineteenth century, families and friends relationships would be tested and strained by their disparate loyalties.     

AMERICA’S FIRST CIVIL WAR

AMERICA’S FIRST CIVIL WAR

When most Americans hear the term civil war, they might think of the war fought from 1861-1865, when our nation was torn apart by those sympathizing with either the confederate or the union leaning states. In reality our first civil war, The Revolutionary War, was fought nearly one hundred years before. Like the Civil War of the 1800’s, the Revolutionary War divided families and communities in their loyalties.

John Adams was known to have said that about thirty-three percent of the American populace supported the Patriot cause, thirty three percent sided with the Loyalists, and thirty-three percent were undecided. Historians later estimated that only twenty percent of the colonists desired to stay united with England. Obviously, those who supported the patriot cause were influential and intent on pursuing independence. Those who remained neutral wavered in their support depending upon which side appeared to be winning at the time. There were a myriad of reasons why people aligned themselves with the Loyalist or the Patriot cause.

Who remained loyal to the crown, and why?

           

Those who held jobs by virtue of their allegiance to the crown:

~Royal Governors

~Lords and some of the gentry

~Leaders of the Anglican Church

~British troops

Other groups who supported the Loyalist cause:

~Those whose financial interests and business connections were tied to Britain

~Those who considered themselves British or had close family ties with England

~Some Native Americans believing England would win, and hoping the “invaders” would leave

~Some black slaves who were promised their freedom if they joined the British side

~Those who could not imagine the colonies winning against the world’s greatest navy and army

Who sided with the Patriot cause and why?

~Those who felt unjustifiable taxes were imposed on them without the requisite representation in the British Parliament 

~Those who preferred the previous government’s attitude of laissez faire, and resented George III’s growing interference in the life and commerce of the colonies.

~Those who were influential lawyers, planters and merchants as well as everyday men and women who believed they were entitled to live independently of English rule.

~Some Native Americans sided with the colonists, particularly when they were winning, and when the new Congress made a strategic plan to halt the settlement Indian lands at that time.

~Some black slaves were promised freedom by the Americans, others went to war with their masters or continued working where they were. Some black and white men fought together in the same units.

Many families were divided in their loyalties during the American Revolution.  Join me next month when I share about two very influential families that experienced such division.