The Narrative of Colonel David Fanning: Vol. 1

by David Fanning

A narrative written by David Fanning who had commanded Loyalist militia from North Carolina during the American Revolution.

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1865

About the author

David Fanning (c. 1755 – March 14, 1825) was a Loyalist leader in the American Revolutionary War in North and South Carolina. Fanning participated in approximately 36 minor engagements and skirmishes, and in 1781, captured the Governor of North Carolina, Thomas Burke, from the temporary capital at Hillsborough. Additionally, Fanning was captured by Patriot forces 14 times throughout the war, each time escaping or receiving a pardon. After the British defeat in the war, Fanning fled to Canada, where he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1791 to 1801 representing Kings County. After being convicted of rape in 1801, Fanning was expelled from New Brunswick, and settled in Nova Scotia, where he lived the remainder of his life.

In 1790, Fanning wrote The Narrative of Colonel David Fanning, which would first see print in 1861 in Richmond, Virginia, then the capital of the Confederate States of America. North Carolina historian Samuel A'Court Ashe wrote that Fanning was "one of the most extraordinary men evolved by the Revolutionary War", but Fanning's calculated and sometimes brutal methods during that conflict have left him with a controversial legacy.

Reviews

[William Guerrant]

Poorly written and poorly organized, but still better than I expected from a man such as Fanning. Even with its limitations and shortcomings, a fascinating and important resource in any study of Revolutionary era North Carolina.

It is remarkable that in 2021 a reader can access online a pdf of the original 1861 publication, for free, from the University of Alberta.

[Buck]

I throughly enjoyed this account of the actions of Loyalist militia during the American Revolution in North Carolina. Written by a former commander of a militia unit, the books brings to life the common thoughts and struggles of American military officers fighting to preserve their government. I found many of the small details very interesting and those were especially helpful to me when interpreting this period at historic sites. An excellent primary source!

[Ed]

The only printed first person account of the Revolutionary War in NC.