Download Relieve Us of This Burthen: American Prisoners of War in the Revolutionary South, 1780-1782 AudioBook Free
Relieve Us of This Burthen is the first book-length analysis of Continental troops, officers, and militiamen placed as prisoners of warfare by the English in the South during the American Trend. Carl P. Borick focuses his analysis on the time 1780-82, when British isles forces most positively campaigned in the South. He gives a detailed examination of the various hardships of imprisonment and work to assist and exchange prisoners while also chronicling events and military regulations that afflicted prisoners after and during captivity. As have prisoners of any warfare, captives in the Trend suffered both physical and mental adversities throughout their imprisonments, and the impact often remained with them after their release. Many escaped their captors or broke paroles to struggle again. Others were exchanged; still others enlisted in British isles forces delivered to the West Indies, and many passed away in prison. Because of the intense battle in SC, more Americans were used prisoner there than elsewhere over the Southern Department. Borick concentrates a lot of his narrative on Charleston and the lowcountry. Some 6,000 Continentals, militia, and seamen were captured when Charleston surrendered in-may 1780. This is the largest quantity of prisoners taken throughout a single operation. Occupied Charleston became the main element prisoner depot for the English in the South. Borick also explores British isles recruiting work among prisoners, particularly by the Duke of Cumberland's Regiment, lifted from prisoners retained in Charleston for service in the West Indies contrary to the France and Spanish. That regiment's activities after and during the warfare were far not the same as those of other American troops in the Revolutionary War.
