Beaufort in Carteret County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Dividing Line Between Old & New Town

Photographed By J. J. Prats, February 4, 2012

1. Dividing Line Between Old & New Town Marker

Inscription. This indicates the dividing line between old and new town, and was erected in place of a cannon which formerly stood here; said cannon being part of the armament of the U.S. Privateer “Snap Dragon,” commanded by Cap’t Otway Burns, in the war, 1812–1815.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War of 1812.

Location. 34° 42.908′ N, 76° 39.729′ W. Marker is in Beaufort, North Carolina, in Carteret County. Marker is at the intersection of Frontage Street (Front Street) and Pollock Street, on the right when traveling west on Frontage Street (Front Street). It is across Pollock Street from the Beaufort Town Hall and across Front Street from Grayden Paul Park and the town dock. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 617 Frontage St, Beaufort NC 28516, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Shackleford's Wild Horses (within shouting distance of this marker); Cape Lookout Lighthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Marine Research (approx. 0.2 miles away); John G. Newton (approx. 0.2 miles away); Michael John Smith (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Burying Ground (approx. ¼ mile away); Beaufort (approx. ¼ mile away); Menhaden Fishermen Monument (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beaufort.

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sectionhead>More about this marker. One assumption that can be made is that the cannon that once stood here was placed vertically in the same manner as this metal post.

Also see . . . July 1813: Otway Burns and the Snap Dragon. 2010 article by Harry McKown in North Carolina Miscellany blog of the North Carolina Collection at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

American privateers as a whole did substantial damage to British shipping in the War of 1812, capturing, by one estimate, more than 1300 British ships. Burns and the Snap Dragon contributed their share to that total. There is no complete record of the career of the Snap Dragon, but one authority estimates that she engaged 67 British vessels, capturing 42 of them. Another authority states that on one voyage Burns captured ten ships, with 250 prisoners and cargo valued at more than a million dollars.

(Submitted on January 2, 2022.)

Photographed By J. J. Prats, February 4, 2012

2. Dividing Line Between Old & New Town Marker

Photographed By Tom Bosse, circa September 21, 2021

3. Dividing Line Between Old & New Town Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 148 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 2, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3. submitted on December 30, 2022, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.