Historic Burke, CAESAR bring Revolutionary War programs to area students
Students from Caldwell Online Academy are pictured holding pole weapons, called spontoons and halberds, from Robert Patton’s private collection.
A student from Caldwell Online Academy had the privilege of reading to her ‘troops’ from the 1768 Norfolk, England, Manual of Discipline for the Militia. One instruction given was how to ‘order the halberd,’ or place it correctly. Reading from any colonial text requires great focus, as their spellings and printing styles greatly differ from ours today.
Robert Patton gave a presentation about the American Revolutionary War era to fifth and eighth graders at Our Lady of Mercy School in Winston-Salem.
Robert Patton gave a presentation about the American Revolutionary War era to fifth and eighth graders in Winston-Salem.
Students hold Colonial-era weapons during a presentation by Historic Burke Foundation President Robert Patton.
The America 250 NC Burke Committee established by the Burke County Commissioners has been working for several months to establish programming and activities to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the creation of our Nation from 1775 through the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
The committee has received two grants from the state of North Carolina: one for $10,000 and a second one for $30,000.
In an effort to remember the Revolutionary War experiences that provided us the freedoms we enjoyed today, the Historic Burke Foundation and the Colonel Alexander Erwin Chapter Sons of The American Revolution continue to bring programming to different groups of interested students. Below are two presentations he made recently.
On Feb. 13, a group of students from the Caldwell Online Academy in Lenoir participated in a Revolutionary War program, led by Robert Patton, president of the Historical Burke Foundation, Past President of the Colonel Alexander Erwin Chapter Sons of the American Revolution and member of the America 250 NC Burke Committee.
The students had the opportunity to look and act like the Colonial Militia, dressed in period clothing and holding a variety of types of flintlock pistols, smooth bore long guns, and pole weapons. They learned the long shirts they were wearing were used not only as outer daywear, but also as nightshirts and underwear.
Patton’s fourth great-grandfather, Captain Robert Patton, moved into Burke County in 1755, then known as Rowan County. Captain Patton was commander of the Lighthorse Cavalry for the Burke County Militia under Colonel Charles McDowell. Colonel McDowell was responsible for mustering local troops at his Morganton home, Quaker Meadows, before leading them on what became known as the Overmountain Victory Trail to the victory at King’s Mountain.
Patton honored his historical heritage by portraying his fourth great-grandfather and sharing this information with the students of the Caldwell Online Academy.
On March 11, he gave a presentation to his grandson’s fifth grade class and the eighth-grade class of Our Lady of Mercy School in Winston-Salem.
Robert Patton is president of the Historical Burke Foundation, past president of the Colonel Alexander Erwin Chapter Sons of the American Revolution and member of the America 250 NC Burke Committee.
