Essay On Henry Berry Lowrie

Henry Berry Lowrie was born in present day Pembroke, North Carolina. It is believed he was a ruthless gang leader amongst the Lumbee Tribe in North Carolina during the Civil War. Lowrie was a mixture of Scottish and Native American descent and was the youngest of 10 children. The story of the outlaw Henry Berry Lowrie is one of the most powerful Lumbee legends in history. It is believed that the name Henry Berry can be traced back to the Lost Colony’s ship roster at Roanoke. (Dare) According to the legend, Lowrie and his Lumbee gang members acted in the same manner as Robin Hood, hiding in the swamps stealing food from the white who had plenty and gave it out to the poor.

Lowrie’s grandparents were large landholders, but throughout a series of lawsuits and land suits, most of their possessions were taken away. It is believed that they suffered these losses because of their support of the Whigs during the American Revolution and would become targeted for generations to come by their Tory neighbors. Another theory of the loss of their land is that they were just caught in a time where whites had become hostile towards Indians. Unfortunately during these times, most basic Indian liberties were taken away and the chance for a real education for the natives and growth was very difficult. The civil war was the height of these tensions, it was also
At first the group hid out in the swamps to make sure they were not caught by the Confederate Conscription Officers who would force them into their camps. The Lowrie gang started recruiting soldiers and officers who were POWs in the conscription camps located in Florence, South Carolina. The group was very successful while battling the Confederate Home Guard, using guerrilla warfare tactics. Even though Lowrie was one of the youngest in the group, he was quick to gain respect for his