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Title: Relieve Us of This Burthen

Subtitle: American Prisoners of War in the Revolutionary South, 1780-1782

Author: Carl P. Borick

Narrator: Wayne Hughes

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-14-17

Publisher: University of South Carolina Press

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Relieve Us of This Burthen is the first book-length study of Continental soldiers, officers, and militiamen held as prisoners of war by the British in the South during the American Revolution. Carl P. Borick focuses his study on the period 1780-82, when British forces most actively campaigned in the South. He gives a detailed examination of the various hardships of imprisonment and efforts to assist and exchange prisoners while also chronicling events and military policies that affected prisoners during and after captivity.

As have prisoners of any war, captives in the Revolution suffered both physical and mental adversities during their imprisonments, and the impact often stayed with them after their release. Many escaped their captors or broke paroles to fight again. Others were exchanged; still others enlisted in British forces sent to the West Indies, and many died in prison. Because of the intense combat in South Carolina, more Americans were taken prisoner there than elsewhere across the Southern Department. Borick concentrates much of his narrative on Charleston and the lowcountry. Some 6,000 Continentals, militia, and seamen were captured when Charleston surrendered in May 1780. This was the largest number of prisoners taken during a single operation. Occupied Charleston became the key prisoner depot for the British in the South.

Borick also explores British recruiting efforts among prisoners, particularly by the Duke of Cumberland's Regiment, raised from prisoners kept in Charleston for service in the West Indies against the French and Spanish. That regiment's experiences during and after the war were far different from those of other American soldiers in the Revolutionary War.

Members Reviews:

Very informative

This book puts the meat on the bones of the information available (to me) about the prisoners at Charleston. I especially found it helpful in my research of an ancestor who was there for a year. Other resources--mostly word of mouth--had him at a battle that occurred during his imprisonment. This sets the record straight. Mr. Borick writes clearly and his work is easily read and very interesting. So glad I discovered this book!

Fascinating history of British prison ships in Charleston

This history of the British prison ships in Charleston provides a much more complicated than expected explanation of how the wider war, politics on both sides, changing strategies and even class status determined the conditions of American prisoners. Highly recommended!

Definitive book on the POW expericene of the men surrendered at the siege of Charleston, South Carolina May 12, 1780

Carl P. Borick presents an excellent account of the experiences of the 6,000 men who were surrendered May 12, 1780 at the siege of Charleston, South Carolina. Well written, well researched and a pleasure to read. Borick covers all of the bases writing a short account of the events leading to the siege and then the siege. He then delves in detail into the separate circumstances and suffering of the rank and file, sailors, marines, the officers, the militia until the men are exchanged a year later in June and July of 1781. His meticulous research from pension files and other accounts provides details of day to day life while in captivity, the many escapes, diseases, deaths, and the other suffering and privations that the men endured.