Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-01-15
CAROLINA STANDARD: WEDNESDAY, JA15, 1862 s1esg ezz
TANNING NARRATIVE.

The following communication we lind IN the Pe-
tersburg Espress Of 31st ult, printed in type so
small and ink so pale as to be almost illegble 1t
is believed to be from the pen Of Col John Hillory
Wheeler. The communication and the Tanning
manuscript" to which it refers will be read with in
terest by most of readers, as it refers to inn
portant period in earlier revolutionary history
The Roman maxim that during the war the laws
are SILENT may be likewise applied to letters, and
Southern literature hitherto always dependent and
depressed must now lie for the most part in abey-
ancc until the present IS brought to close. 1t
is pleasant, however, to draw attention to an in
teresng exception to the general rule in the recent
appearance at Richmond, under the editorial care
of Thomas H. Wynne, of "The Narrative of Col
David Tanning, "a Tory in the Revolutionary War
with Great Brittany giving an account Of his Ad-
written by himself, with an Introduction and Ex-
planatory Notes." 1t is neatly printed on elegant
snow-whte paper-a rarity in these days of block
ade-and comprises ninety two pages luxuriating in
a wide sea of margin. The surprise which the an
nouncement of such work issuing from the press
in these hard times, may OCCASION will be lessened
when add that it is printed for ptiyats cireula
ton only-the number Of copies being limited to
fifty. The editor Mr.. Wynne, is distinguished for
his enthusiastic interest in the collection and preser
walton of the scattered materials-the fotsam and
ietsam of our historical literature and he has given
striking exhibition Of it. in bringing out this work.
amid the distractions of business and the disturb
ances of war. From Mr.. Wynne's preface we learn
that the acquisition of copy of Tanning MSS. is
mainly owing to the perseyering efforts Of Mr.
Wheeler, author Of a History of North Carolina
The introduction to the Narrative" is from his pen.
After Fanning's death in 1926, st st. john New
Brunswick, his son, who appears to have been
very worthy man, allowed an agent Of the Massa-
chusetts Historical Society, to make copy of the
original MSS and Mr.. Wheeler obtained permission
to make a transcript of that copy, which is exact
rer6atia ct iteratim.
Governor Swain, the patriach of historical mat
tiers in North Carolina, had long known of the ex-
istence of Fannings MSS and had made repeated
Intellectual efforts to obtain copy, and it was owing
to suggestion of his that Mr.. Wheeler made his
recent successful effort to get it. He gives it as his
opinion based upon internal evidence and com.
parison with other accounts, that the narrative"
may be depended upon as ga truthful record. y
The explanatory notes add much to the interest of
the Narrative" Among them is one making ref
erence to some sketches of the Revolutionary war
in the Carollnas published in the I'd volume of the
Southern Literary Messenger, from the MSS of Col.
Guford Dudley. The note is erroneous in regard
to Mrs. Dudley. She was not niece Of John Ran
doph, of Roanoke, the orator. but his first cousin.
She still survived in Louisiana in 1885, aged eighty
y
said ~ have nothing to do but read my Bible and
write to my friends" Col. Dudley, who raised q
patriot volunteer company, at Halifax, North Caro-
lina in l774, was native of Caroline county. Va.
David Tanning was born in johnson county, N.
c. and was of age about the time Of the outbreak
Of the old Revolution He wrote his Narrative"
in 1890, in Nova Scotia. Although illiterate as is
abundantly apparent from the photography and
syntax Of his Narrative" he possessed ex.raordi-
nary qualifications for the career Of Tory partizan.
He fearless, prompt cold-blooded, remorseless,
indomitabie, full of resources. He was Colonel Of
Loyal militia of Chatham and Randolph counties;
was engaged in forty skirmishes killed many ''reb
els" took much plumber and many prisoners; cap
tured at Hillsboro, Gov. Burke, his council, and
divers officers of the "Reber' army; he was twice
wounded and fourteen times made prisoner. He
repeatedly effected his escape with the scientific
skill Of accomplished burglar. Some of these
episodes in his career were rather unpleasant: 81
got back to Roburus Creek; but was taken in three
days; and again introduced at Ninety-Six. | was
chained and ironed as before in tho centre of room
80 feet square, forty five from the ground the
beating in, through The roof, with CRATES open
night and day." 1t was, however not many days
before he effected his escape; but on the folio wing
day, meeting with party of Rebels, he says " |
received two bullets in my back one Of which is
not extracted. l luckily kept my seat in the sad
turned my horse into the woods and remained there
eight days; having no support but herbs, except
three eggs"
Tanning was one Of three persons excepted from
tue amnesty act passed BY North Carolina in 1888.
During the Revolutionary war, every State con-
tanned a formidable number of the disafected, some
of whom were doubtless conscientious, and sacri-
feed their property and their homes to mistaken
sense Of duty; but the larger portion Of them, like
Tanning, were unprincip!ed and malignant.
1t is an interesting subject of inquiry in what
proportion the disatfected of the old Revolution
compare with those of the Revolution Of 1861. The
relative number was undoubtedly far greater then
than now. The condition of North Carolina in
1871 was most deplorable; without continental
troops, without arms with only regiment Of voun'
tcers in arms Col. Dudley's, and that in the upper
part Of the State; and Tanning ranging through q
large tract of country, plunderng, burning killing
the General Assembly, the Governor the Council
and other officers of the civil government, and the
State archives collected at Wake Court house, (noW
Raleigh) with Tanning threatening on the one hand
and garrison of British veterans at Wilmington or
the other. But the limits of this notice will not al
low us to pursue this and other interesting topics
that suggest themselves. Fannings Narrative
of this period of internecine war in North Carolina
the future historian will make much use Of, and he
will borrow from it vivid pictures of the time!
that tried mems souls" and it will be especially
serviceable for biography of Tanning desdera
tum which, it is to be hoped will hereafter be sup
piled, when the clangor Of arms shall have ceased
and Southern literature shall enter upon new ant
brighter career under the bengnant auspices of tn
Independent Confederacy.
The Power OF RIFLED GUNs-SHps AGAINST BAT
TEn1Es-1MpoRrANr OFFICIAL SUGGESTIONS. -Colone
Harvey Brown, the Yankee commander at Fl. Pick
ems gives the following as facts elected in the BON
bardment of the 22d ult, in report to the Wa
Department at Washington:
/. That with the most efficient guns of the larges
calibre, and served in the best manner, no seriou
injury can be done to stone or brick walls, or t.
guns in sand batteries, or to troops serving them
unless probably by rfed guns, if properly protect
ed, at a distance Of FROM two thousand to tire
thousand yards
g. That shells and hot shot are not to be depend