Tour Site #5	Burning of the courthouse 10 February 1862	Back
GPS coordinates: 36.300285,-76.222512		The 1799 wooden courthouse was burned on 10 February 1862. Leading citizens had asked Col. Henningsen of the Wise Artillery to burn the town to prevent its capture. He detailed Sgt. Scruggs to handle the task. Scruggs was captured by Union forces. Only about two blocks were burned.
	Location of the 1799 wooden courthouse
		Arthur Jones ran a livery stable near the courthouse. On 9 February 1862, the court ordered him to remove the records from the courthouse to a place of safety. He hid the records in a barn in the Parksville area of Perquimans County, where they remained for the rest of the war. Jones died penniless and blind.
	Arthur Jones grave marker