PEACE AND INDEPENDENCE
A. D. 1781 TO 1784.
1. On the 19th of October, 1781, as has been previously stated,
Lord Cornwallis surrendered himself and his army to General
Washington, at Yorktown, in Virginia. The timely arrival of the
friendly French fleet under Count Rochambeau enabled Washington
to lay siege to Cornwallis and force him to surrender.
2. The English commander, who was a skillful soldier, complained
that he had been forced, by the orders of his superior officer
and against his own judgment, into a position from which he could
not escape. General La Fayette, however, doubtless had at least
an equal share in bringing about the result, for it was his
skillful maneuvering of an inferior force that held Cornwallis
checked so that Washington was enabled to bring his troops to
their appointed places at the appointed times and cut off all
hope of escape.
3. But a glorious day it was for the colonies, for it virtually
put an end to the war, and everybody knew it. The only real
questions henceforth were as to the terms of the peace.
Independence and peace were now assured.
1782.
4. When the news reached England of Cornwallis's surrender, Lord
North, the British Prime Minister exclaimed: "Oh, God! it is all
over." He well knew that the stubborn King had exhausted the
patience of the English people. They, and not the King and his
ministers, at last put a stop to the bloodshed between the two
countries. On November 30th, 1782, a treaty was signed in Paris
by which American independence was acknowledged.
5. The war was over at last. The seven years of deadly conflict
were ended. Thanks to their patient endurance, their undaunted
courage and their untiring perseverance, the American colonies
had at last achieved their independence. North Carolina was at
last a free and independent State, owing neither allegiance or
fealty to any prince or power in the world.
6. Of coarse there was great joy at the coming of peace, with the
full recognition of the colonies as independent States. But
there were still more difficulties to be overcome before the full
tide of peace and prosperity could set in.
7. The agricultural interest of the State was doubtless affected
by the war less than any other, owing to the employment of slave
labor. But the soldiers had returned and wanted homes. Homes
were not to be provided in a day, nor the implements of
husbandry, rude though they were at that time. Cattle and
horses, too, were to be obtained before the soldier became a
farmer.
8. The finances of the country were in a wretched condition.
There was no money to pay the current expenses of the government,
and none even to pay the troops. In educational matters the
condition was no better There were only two chartered schools in
the State, one at New Bern and one at Charlotte. The
Constitution had, indeed, enjoined the establishment of schools
and colleges, but with North Carolinians of that day it was
freedom first and education afterwards.
9. The population, however, had increased steadily during the
war, so that in spite of its casualties, the State was stronger
in numbers in 1782 than in 1775. The Legislature met at its
appointed times and places, and so did the courts, and civil law
had resumed its sway. But swords are not turned into pruning-
hooks in a moment, nor are the feuds of a long, bitter war to
be settled or forgotten in an hour.
10. Naturally, the Whigs bitterly remembered how much they had
suffered at the hands of the Tories during the long deadly
struggle. Many of these latter had fled from the province,
but now desired to return and be restored to citizenship, or at
least to receive possession of their former homes. But the
people resolved that this should not be so, for they wanted no
Tories among them. Accordingly, when Tories who had left their
homes desired to return to them after the peace, permission was
refused them.
11. But it was necessary to reward the Whigs as well as to punish
the Tories. A broad, fertile land, watered by great navigable
rivers, and abounding in every possible resource for pleasure,
wealth and prosperity, was secured to us by their courage and
endurance. But if our brave soldiers desired reward, how much
more did they deserve their pay, which was still largely in
arrears.
12. Commissioners, therefore, were appointed to sell the lands of
refugee Tories, and from that and other sources to pay up the
arrears due the North Carolina soldiers. Furthermore, the land
now known as Tennessee, then a part of our State, was also to be
largely devoted to the same patriotic purpose. General Greene
was given twenty-five thousand acres; one half that quantity to
brigadier-generals, and so in a descending scale to the private
soldiers.
QUESTIONS.
1. What is said of the surrender of Cornwallis?
2. Of what did the English commander complain? What credit is
due La Fayette?
3. How were the colonies considering the question of peace and
independence?
4. What was the effect, in England, of the news of Cornwallis's
Surrender? When and where was the treaty of peace signed?
5. What had North Carolina gained by the war?
6. How did our people enjoy peace?
7. What is said of the agricultural interest of the State?
8. What was the financial condition? The educational?
9. What is said of the population?
10. What party was victor in the great struggle? What is said of
the Tories?
11. What was deemed necessary?
12. What plan was adopted towards paying off the soldiers?
Mention some payments that were made to commanding officers.