Civil War events in Caldwell County

During the month of February, the Lenoir branch of the Caldwell County Public Library and the Caldwell Heritage Museum will join together with the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources to display a series of Civil War photographs at the Lenoir Branch of the library. Entitled “Freedom, Sacrifice, Memory,” the exhibit is traveling the state through spring 2013 as part of the 150^th anniversary commemoration of the Civil War.

The photos will be on exhibit during the library’s regular hours from February 1 through Feb. 29.

In addition to the photo exhibit, two programs, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, are being presented. Both of the programs are free to the public.

February 7, 2012 – 7 p.m.

Michael Hardy will be speaking on Caldwell County’s role in the Civil War, based on his latest book, “North Carolina in the Civil Warm,” which was released in July 2010. The program will be on the main floor of the library.

February 21, 2012 – 7 p.m.

Kay and Patrick Crouch American Folk Music will present a program of Civil War era music on guitar, banjo, fiddle, flute, whistle, vocal, bugle, and percussion. They will concentrate of music relevant to the Western North Carolina mountain folk. The program will be in Room 6 on the Library’s lower level.

So I was humming along yesterday, reading through the applications sent by Mecklenburg County citizens after the war to President Johnson, asking for presidential pardon, when I found something really interesting.  On May 27, 1865, Johnston extended pardon to all former Confederates unless they fell into one of fourteen classes of citizens. Most of you are probably familiar with these classes. They included those who held the rank of colonel or above, those who held appointed or elected posta, like tax collector or post master. And then there are those who had $20,000.00 or more in property/real estate in 1860. There are 39 folks from Mecklenburg County who applied for a pardon. One was an army officer (D. H. Hill), fifteen worked for the postal department, and twenty-five fell under the $20,000 or more class.

As I am working my way through the list, going over each file, low and behold, I find an application for Mrs. Margaret M. Withers. I'll confess early: I don't recall ever coming across in my research a woman applying for a presidential pardon. So, I did some digging. Out of15,000 (or so) requests for pardons received by President Johnson from Southerners, only 389 were from women. Of that 389, only twenty-one were from North Carolina.  I'm not sure who the other twenty were, but I find the case of Withers intriguing.

Withers applied under the $20,000 or more section. She stated that her husband, Samuel M. Withers, enlisted in 1863 and died in 1864. I have not found his regiment, yet. She was asking Johnston for a "special pardon with restoration of rights of property in behalf of herself and infant children."

The author of an article I found on the subject ("Not Intended to Dispossess Females: Southern Women and Civil War Amnesty" by Bradley R. Clampitt) believes that women were afraid that their property would be confiscated at the end of the war, divided up, and given to African-Americans. I find all of this very interesting. Have you come across this? Drop me a line and let me know.

Confused...

Alright, something has me stumped, and maybe one of you has the answer for me. I keep finding references to paroles being issued to people in Charlotte before there were actually Federal soldiers there in the city.

The first Federal soldiers arrived in Charlotte on May 7, 1865. Paroles were not issued until May 12-14, 1865, when Brig. Gen. Thomas Rugers and the 1st Corps. XXIII Corps arrived in town. Now, I could probably understand folks like Gen. Samuel Cooper getting a parole. He was in Charlotte, and his parole was issued May 3, 1865. Maybe it was issued by Schofield and sent to Cooper in Charlotte. However, of the seven members of the 58th NCT issued paroles in Charlotte in May 1865, four of them were prior to the arrival of Federal soldiers. So, until I find something else, I am at a loss as to how the common rank and file got their paroles.

Any ideas?

Check it out - opening at the Charlotte Museum of History tomorrow!

Author to Speak on a Slave Escape from a Durham Plantation

RALEIGH - In 1848, Mary Walker fled slavery and the plantation that is now Historic Stagville in Durham, leaving behind her son and daughter. She spent 17 years trying to recover her family. Dr. Syd Nathans, professor emeritus with Duke University, tells of Walker's remarkable ordeal in the book "To Free A Family: The Journey of Mary Walker" at Historic Stagville on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 2 p.m., and at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh, on Monday, Feb. 13, at 11 a.m. The programs are free.

The tale of Mary Walker is representative of the secret labors of hundreds of women escaping bondage and trying to reclaim their families in the South. The story is also the basis for the Addy Walker doll in the American Girl doll collection.

Two extraordinary collections provide the basis for the story -- the letters and diaries of Walker's former North Carolina slaveholders, and those of the northern family who protected and employed her. In spite of her persistence and the assistance of black and white abolitionists, she was not reunited with her children until the end of the Civil War.

The programs are sponsored by the N.C. African American Heritage Commission (AAHC), whose mission is to preserve, protect, and promote North Carolina's African American history, arts and culture for all people. The AAHC is affiliated with the Department of Cultural Resources.

For additional information call Michelle Lanier at (919) 477-7103. The Division of

State Historic Sites and the Division of State History Museums are within the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.

Flag of the 16th North Carolina State Troops

It seems that I've been making an annual January  trip to Charlotte the past two or three years. The annual trip always seems to coincide with the annual meeting of the 26th North Carolina Troops, Reactivated. Last year it was to speak at the unveiling of the conserved flag fragments of the 58th North Carolina Troops. This year, it was simply to be a part of audience at the unveiling of the conserved flag of the 16th North Carolina State Troops.

The 16th North Carolina State Troops (6th North Carolina Volunteers) was the first regiment entirely made up of men from western North Carolina. They were mustered into service on June 16, 1861, in Raleigh. This regiment spent the duration of their service connected with Confederate armies in Virginia, and after mid--1862, members of the famed Light Division.

Following the battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863, the regiment was issued a new flag, a 3rd bunting Richmond Depot, with unit designation in yellow and battle honors in blue. This flag was captured on July 3, 1863, at the battle of Gettysburg, by Pvt. Elijah M. Bacon, Company F, 14th Connecticut Infantry. Bacon was later awarded the Medal of Honor. This flag was one of many returned to the states by the Federal government in the early part of the 20th century.

As many of you know, for the past several years, the folks in the 26th North Carolina Troops, Reactivated, have been raising funds to preserve Confederate battle flags (among other projects). The flags that they have conserved include those of the 26th NCT, 58th NCT, and 1st NCST. We should all commend them for the great work that they do.

No, I was not speaking this time. I just went to observe. But I did get to stand on the stage and have my picture made before they rolled the flag back into the vault. As I wrote on my facebook page, any day you get to stand beside a flag that bore the shell and shot of the battlefield, is a great day!

Off to Raleigh...

I go to our state's capital three or four times a year, to do research or give lectures. Tomorrow, I'm going to just observe. Well, ok, I might slip over to the archives for a few minutes.

Tomorrow afternoon, our friends in the 26th North Carolina Troops, Reactivated, will be unveiling their latest, completed, project: the conserved flag of the 16th North Carolina Troops. I think the 26th NCT is doing a great job at preserving the past of the state of North Carolina. If you are free about 2:30 pm, stop in and learn something about one of our great regiments.

Two Colonels

In the past few weeks, I've had a chance to reconnect with both colonels of the 37th NCT. The first colonel, Charles C. Lee, is buried in Charlotte, a place where I've been spending a lot of time of late. The second colonel, William Barber, is buried in Wilkesboro, a place where I spoke a couple of Saturdays ago. So, I thought I would share a little.

Had he lived longer, Charles C. Lee would have become a Confederate brigade commander. Charles was born in February 1834 in Charleston, South Carolina. His father was Stephen Lee, who had attended West Point, and then later taught at a military academy in South Carolina. Stephen Lee was the uncle of Lt. Gen. Stephen D. Lee. The family moved to Asheville at some point, where Stephen ran a boys school. Charles C. Lee also attended West Point, graduating in 1856. Charles served in the US Army until 1859, when he resigned and became a instructor at the North Carolina Military Institute in Charlotte, NC. On May 11, he became lieutenant colonel in the 1st North Carolina Volunteers, and upon D. H. Hill's promotion to brigadier general, colonel of the 1st NC Volunteers. That regiment was disbanded in early November 1861, and Lee was elected colonel of the 37th North Carolina Troops. He was a strict disciplinarian, and very pious, even preaching to the men. On two different occasions, he held command of demi-brigades, and given his background, would have gone far. Charles was killed by a cannon shot on June 30, 1862. His body was returned to Charlotte and interred in Elmwood Cemetery. The entire city closed for his funeral. Lee "was as brave as a lion and gentle as a lamb."

Lee was replaced by William M. Barber. Born in Rowan County, North Carolina, in January 1834, William was educated by Peter S. Ney before attending St. James College in Maryland. There has always been some debate as to who Ney was, some claiming that he was Marshall Michael Ney of Napoleon's Army. William continued to study law, gained admittance to the bar, and moved to Wilkesboro to open his practice. Once the War came, Barber was elected captain of the Western Carolina Stars, which became Company F, 37th North Carolina Troops on November 20, 1861.  That same day, William was elected to lieutenant colonel of the regiment. He was constantly in the thick of things, being wounded at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and captured at Spotsylvania Court House. He was a part of the Immortal 50, which predated the Immortal 600. William was released, and went back to his regiment, where he was wounded again at Deep Bottom. He had submitted his resignation, and before it could be acted upon, was mortally wounded at Jones Farm, September 30, 1864, dying on October 3, 1864, in a hospital in Petersburg, Virginia. Barber was buried in Petersburg, and then later reinterred at St. James Episcopal Church in Wilkesboro. His record in the North Carolina Troops book spells his last name as Barbour.  He spelled his name Barber until mid way through the War, when it changed to Barbour. His tombstone has Barber, and hence, that is the way I chose to refer to him in my book on the 37th NCT.

Confederate Monuments in Charlotte

For a long time, I've been collecting information on North Carolina's Confederate and Union monuments and markers. Just when I think I've collected something (photos, newspaper articles, etc) on each one of them, I find a new one - yes, a new monument.  Or, at least a reference to a new monument.

For the past couple of days, I've been working on the monuments erected by the UDC in Charlotte, starting in 1910 with the marker for the Confederate Navy Yard.  To date, there were 10 monuments in the greater Charlotte area, probably more than any other municipality in the state. Of course, not all of these were erected by the UDC. Here is the list that I'm working on.

1887 - Monument, Elmwood Cemetery.
1910 - Iron Marker, Confederate Navy Yard, currently in storage?
1915 - Bronze Marker, Last Cabinet Meeting.
1927 - Bronze marker on boulder, marking North Carolina Military Institute, also called the D. H. Hill School marker. Current location unknown.
1938 - Stone archway to Mrs. Stonewall Jackson. Torn down by the 1960s. Bronze plaque in the general area.
1930s - US Mint Marker (date and current location, unknown)
Davis/Lincoln Assassination  (date unknown, but still in sidewalk)
Temporary residence of Atty. Gen. Davis (date and current location unknown)
Judah Benjamin. (date unknown, granite slab supposedly at 200 block, South Tryon. Unconfirmed).
1997 - City Hall.


Some folks might say "well, you should know all about this." And yes, I probably should. But I don't. Any information you might have would be great. I guess the next time I am in town, I'll need to get out and wander the streets of Charlotte. Maybe a friend or two will join me as we explore these mysteries.

First book signing of the year

Friends - On Saturday, January 7, at the Wilkes County Public Library, there is going to a Civil War Symposium. It starts at 9:45 am. Speakers include Skip Smith of the 26th North Carolina Troops reactivated, Clint Johnston, author of Touring the Carolina's Civil War sites, an me (Michael C. Hardy). I'll probably be speaking on the 37th North Carolina Troops. If you are free Saturday morning (and the weather  look's great!) come on out and join us!

Events Mark the Civil War Arrival in North Carolina in 1862

This year marks the 150th anniversary of when the Civil War came home to North Carolina in 1862. Union Gen. Ambrose Burnside captured Roanoke Island in February, New Bern in March and Fort Macon in April. Takeover of North Carolina's coast was meant to stop supplies to the Confederate Army through the state's ports.

On the 150^th anniversary, those events and many others will be reviewed in a series of programs at historic sites and museums statewide.

"The Lights of the Great Armada: The 147th Anniversary of the Battle of Fort Fisher," Jan. 21-22, will focus on the Navy and Marines and the maritime war. Small arm and artillery demonstrations, presentations by U.S. Coast Guard Chief Historian Dr. Robert Browning, U.S. Marine Corps Historical Company representatives Larry Bopp and Steve Bockmiller, and N.C. Department of Cultural Resources Deputy State Archaeologist Mark Wilde-Ramsing, are among activities scheduled.

Two programs in Durham focusing on the enslaved are scheduled for February. At Historic Stagville on Feb. 12, "To Free A Family"; will include a free lecture and book signing by Dr. Sydney Nathans, Duke University history professor emeritus. At Bennett Place on Feb. 16, Reginald Hildebrand, UNC-Chapel Hill historian, will lecture on "The First Year of Freedom in North Carolina: Pursuing Freedom with the Hoe and the Sword, the Book and the Lord"; admission will be charged.

A symposium, "Thunder in the East: The Civil War in Eastern North Carolina will be presented by Tryon Palace and the New Bern Historical Society on March 10, featuring Civil War historians Ed Bearrs and Mark Bradley, and Hari Jones, curator of the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum in Washington, D.C. It is one of the events in the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration (Civil War 150).

A Civil War medical program, "War So Terrible," at Bentonville Battlefield in Four Oaks on March 17-18, will compare and contrast medical practices of the Civil War to 21st century treatment in Iraq and Afghanistan. U.S. Army and Marine Corps triage units will participate dependent on availability. Candle light tours of the Harper House, which served as a field hospital in 1865, will allow visitors to see the medical setting and experience the search for a loved one at that time.

The exhibit, "Watched by Sound and Sea: Occupied Beaufort, 1862" continues at the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort through September 2012. It features artifacts from the period, and will present a speaker each month.

The April 26-28 "Flags Over Hatteras" Symposium will feature historians James McPherson, Ed Bearss, Craig Symonds, and others, speaking at the Hatteras Village Civic Center. A Civil War Trails marker will be unveiled during the weekend, and the "Flags Over Hatteras" exhibit will continue through July at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum.

Other lectures and programs will occur during the year, and through April 2015. A traveling photography exhibit "Freedom, Sacrifice, Memory: The Civil War Sesquicentennial Photography Exhibit" is visiting libraries and museums in the state through May 2013.

The N.C. Office of Archives and History oversees the state's sesquicentennial observance, which includes production of posters, symposia, a vehicle license plate, an atlas and other books, and other commemorative activities through 2015. The Office of Archives and History is part of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.

Civil War Charlotte update.

Happy New Year! I hope your 2011 was grand - mine was. And I hope you are looking forward to 2012 - I am.

Top project on my list for the first three months of 2012 is to finish Civil War Charlotte. So, I thought I would give you an update. I'm still researching, going through post-war newspapers right now. And, I'm finding lots of great stuff concerning the veterans movement following the war. I'm using an online search engine to go through the Charlotte Observer, using the simple keyword "Confederate." The downside is that it picks up every time the word "Confederate" is used: like advertisements for special rates for veterans going to national reunions in distant states, and the obituaries of prominent veterans from places like Atlanta and Richmond.  Each year (I'm in 1914 right now) produces between 500 and 700 hits. No, I'm not reading every one.

But there is some great information - like the annual veteran picnics at Mt. Zion in Cornelius, the Confederate memorial day programs at Elmwood Cemetery, and the monthly UCV meetings. There are also occasionally veteran reminiscences about war-time service, or reminiscences about war-time Charlotte.

I've been working exclusively on this chapter so far. There is nothing like it in any history of Charlotte that I've come across so far. I've got about 2,000 words on paper for this chapter, out of a projected 5,000.

I've also been working on photographs to illustrate the book. I ordered a watercolor of Camp Exchange, the temporary Union prison camp in Charlotte towards the end of the war.

Well, it is time to get back to work. I hope you have a great January!

The Lights of the Great Armada: Fort Fisher

KURE BEACH - As part of the state's observance of the Civil War Sesquicentennial, the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources' Fort Fisher State Historic Site will host "The Lights of the Great Armada: The 147th Anniversary of the Battle of Fort Fisher" on Jan. 21-22, 2012.


This two-day event will highlight the war's largest amphibious assault with a Navy and Marine living history program that includes small arms and artillery demonstrations, a period torpedo exhibit, as well as special presentations focusing on the Union and Confederate sailors and marines who fought at Fort Fisher in January 1865.

Among the guest speakers will be Dr. Robert M. Browning Jr., Chief Historian for the U.S. Coast Guard. The author of several books and dozens of articles on the Civil War, Browning will present "None can be more vigilant than we are...the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the Civil War." Also presenting will be Dr. Mark Wilde-Ramsing, Deputy State Archaeologist with the N.C. Office of State Archaeology, who will discuss the blockade runner Modern Greece, and Larry Bopp and Steve Bockmiller of the U.S. Marine Corps Historical Company and Ship's Company.

Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. The program is free both days; donations are appreciated.

All Fort Fisher programming is made possible by support from the Friends of Fort Fisher, a nonprofit group, and 2012 sustaining members Mike McCarley and James M. Taylor.

As this year draws to a close, I must stand back and say, what a year! It's been a privilege to get out and visit so many places and talk to so many of you. As a way to wrap up the year, I thought I would look back at a couple of highlights.

     This year, I've had the chance to do 55 lectures and/or book signings. These have been in almost every corner of the state, from Fort Fisher, to Charlotte, and Old Salem, to Asheville and Waynesville. I started this year at the North Carolina Museum of History, speaking at a program that centered around the flag fragments belonging to the 58th North Carolina Troops. April was the Allatoona was the 29th and 39th NCT's Monument dedication, and in May, I was back at the Museum of History, speaking at a Civil War Sesquicentennial. Also in May, I was in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, signing books at book the Reliance Saloon (Beer and a Book) and at the American History Store. The Fort Fisher event in July was great (love to hear that 32-pounder sound off). The event in October at Old Salem was really great. I spent the first half of the year speaking and signing North Carolina Remembers Gettysburg, and the last few months speaking and signing North Carolina in the Civil War.

Next year is looking even better - if that is at all possible. I'll start off speaking in Wilkes County on January 7 (at the library, I think). In February I'll be in Greenville, Tennessee, and the Caldwell County Public Library. I'm already scheduled to speak at the Civil War Round Tables in Burlington and Durham this year, and in Hanover Court House on May 27. I'm sure I'll be back in Gettysburg at least once, maybe twice.

One series of special events that I am really looking forward to is a series of book signings with friend and New York Times best-seller Sharyn McCrumb. Earlier this year, Sharyn asked me to write a forward to a re-release of her novel, Ghost Riders. This tome follows the war-time lives of Keith and Malinda Blalock. I'm really looking forward to this event.

So, it's been a great year. I've enjoyed all of the places and events and people. Next year, with the release of Civil War Charlotte, is going to be even better.

“Freedom, Sacrifice, Memory” Civil War Photo Exhibit on Display at N.C. Maritime Museum and Wilkes County Library

RALEIGH – Heroic tales and valiant feats are depicted in images that reflect North Carolina’s dedication to the war in the “Freedom, Sacrifice, Memory: Civil War Sesquicentennial Photography Exhibit” (www.nccivilwar150.com). The N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort and the Wilkes County Public Library in North Wilkesboro will host the free display from Jan. 2-29, 2012, sharing images and stories that capture the history and people of the Civil War (1861-1865).

  “The Civil War was the first war widely covered with photography,” explains Dr. Jeffrey Crow, Deputy Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. “The ‘Freedom, Sacrifice, Memory’ exhibit provides images of historic figures, artifacts, and documents that brought the reality of the war from the battlefront to the home front, then and now.”

 The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources will display 24 images from the State Archives (www.archives.ncdcr.gov), the N.C. Museum of History (www.ncmuseumofhistory.org) and State Historic Sites (www.nchistoricsites.org) on simultaneous eastern and western routes. Between April 2011 and May 2013, 50 libraries will showcase “Freedom, Sacrifice, Memory” offering visuals that present gallant women, African American triumph and the perseverance of Confederate soldiers. A notebook accompanies the exhibit with further information and seeking viewer comments.

 One of the images portrays a poignant letter from Colonel Isaac E. Avery that embodies the courage and passion of the Confederate forces. Born Dec. 20, 1828, in Burke County, North Carolina, Avery served in the 6^th NC Troops and led the attack on Cemetery Hill at Gettysburg, Pa., in July 1863. As his final act, Avery wrote a message to Major Samuel McDowell Tate reading, “Major. Tell my father I died with my Face to the enemy. I. E. Avery,” and he marked it with his blood.

For information on the exhibit in Beaufort call the museum at (252) 728-7317; in Wilkes County call the library at (336) 838-2818. For information on the statewide tour visit call Cultural Resources at (919) 807-7389.

Brothers versus brothers.

We are all familiar with the idea of the War being a War in which brothers fought against brothers. But how often do we actually come across those stories? In my research for Civil War Charlotte, I've actually found on such tale. Ok, I kind of knew this story before, but not all of the details. So, here are the details.
     In 1838, Dr. John H. Gibbons became chief assayer at the new United State Mint in, or near, Charlotte, North Carolina. The first gold rush was rapidly expanding the town. Previously, the Gibbons family had lived in Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia to be exact. There were ten Gibbons children.
     One of those sons was John Gibbon (no, I don't know why he does not have the s). John was eleven when the family moved, and went on to spend about five years in the Queen City. John graduated from West Point in 1847, and served in the Mexican War and the Seminole War, and taught artillery tactics at West Point.  When the Civil War started, John became chief of artillery for Irvin McDowell. In 1862, he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers and assigned command of a brigade of Wisconsin Men. Later, this brigade was known as the Iron Brigade. John later commanded the 2nd Division, II Corps, and at Gettysburg, commanded the Corps during part of the battle. It was on his front that the Picket-Pettigrew-Trimble charge landed on July 3. He was also wounded the second time. Gibbon would later command the XVIII Corps, and then the XXIV Corps. Following the War, he served out West, battling the Sioux , Cheyenne, and Nez Perce. He later commanded the Army of the Pacific Northwest, before retiring in 1891. He died in Baltimore, Maryland,  and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
     An older brother was Lardner Gibbon. Lardner was a Lieutenant in the United States Navy and was sent by the US government to explore the Amazon River. On July 2, 1861, he was appointed a captain in the Confederate States Artillery. He is listed as ordinance officer and commander of corps artillery in the 2nd Military District of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.  He later resigned on August 5, 1863. Just what his role was after his resignation is unclear. An interesting aside is that both John and Lardner served as best men in the wedding of Daniel Harvey Hill. Lardner died on January 1, 1910.
     Yet another older brother to John was Robert Gibbon. He was born in 1822 and graduated from the Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia.  He returned to Charlotte where he was living when the War commenced. Robert was appointed surgeon of the 28th North Carolina Troops on or about September 25, 1861, and served in this capacity until appointed senior surgeon of James H. Lane's brigade on January 29, 1864. Once the War ended, Robert returned to Charlotte and practiced surgery in the Queen City. Two of his sons founded Presbyterian Hospital. Robert died on May 14, 1898.
     The last brother was Nicholas Gibbon. He was born in 1837 and was attending lectures at the Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia when the war commenced. He returned to Charlotte and enrolled in the North Carolina Military Institute, under the command of family friend D. H. Hill.  Nicholas served as a private in the 1st North Carolina Volunteers. Once that regiment mustered out of service, Nicholas was appointed Assistant Commissary of Substance in the 28th North Carolina Troops (under the command of James H. Lane, another North Carolina Military institute professor). Nicholas served in this capacity until resigning on September 17, 1863. He then served on Cadmus Wilcox's staff and in other positions until returning to North Carolina to look for deserters. Nicholas married into the Alexander family and farmed in Mecklenburg County after the War. He died on October 17, 1917.
     There you have it, brothers fighting brothers. By the way, two of the Gibbon sisters also married Confederate soldiers, and somehow, they are all related to James J. Pettigrew.

Stonewall Jackson's Death - Union Soldier Tells How That Great Leader Was Shot.

Folks  - I dug this out of the Charlotte Observer (11.06.1910). Since I wrote the book on the 37th NCT, the regiment that fired on Jackson and his party first, driving them to the other side of the Orange Plank Road and into the guns of the 18th NCT, I've been interested in the story of Jackson's mortal wounding at Chancellorsville. Or course, we know that Jackson was under fire twice. However, Hay's story just confirms that there was much confusion going on that evening. After reading this story, what do you think?

Springfield Republican

John Hays, a Northern soldier, who belonged to the third division of the Second Army corps in the civil war, visited the battlefield of Chancellorsville recently and after looking over the lay of the land closely, has since come to the conclusion that he was directly responsible for the shooting of "Stonewall" Jackson on May 2, 1863, which resulted in his death a few days later. The cavalry to which Hays belonged was ordered to report to General Berry during the battle, but Berry could not be located, and Hays was sent out as a scout to find him.

   He found General Couch, and asked him where the brigade should go, and received the reply, "Damn it, go where the fighting is!" So Hays started back, but could not find his brigade. It was dusk, and while riding down a lonely road he noticed a little group of mounted men. Thinking they were Union soldiers, he had started toward them when a volley of musketry ripped out from all sides of him. His horse never having received a baptism of fire, wheeled and bolted down the road.

   Hays turned as he went and saw a commotion among the horsemen, and came to the conclusion that the volley had taken effect on them instead of killing him. A few days later he heard that General Jackson had been fatally shot by his own men at this place. Upon his recent visit to the field he relocated the old landmarks, and a Confederate officer, who was with Jackson, bore out his theory.

Holiday Open House at Fort Fisher

KURE BEACH - Tap into the Christmas spirit and share holiday cheer as Fort Fisher State Historic Site in Kure Beach sponsors its Holiday Open House on Tuesday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Enjoy seasonal refreshments, decorations, and entertainment throughout the day, including the elementary school chorus from Leland Christian Academy at 11 a.m., followed at 12 noon by songs and stories of Civil War blockade running by noted historical entertainer John Golden (aka Captain Roberts) and actor/interpreter and storyteller Joyce Grear (aka Harriet "Moses" Tubman), telling stories of the African-American experience and Christmas cultural traditions in the Cape Fear region.

The Murray Middle School Jazz Band will cap off the festivities at 1:30 pm. with selections from their holiday repertoire.

For the history lover on your shopping list, special discounts will be offered on all Fort Fisher Museum Shop merchandise. Be sure to try the new Battery Buchanan coffee, especially blended for the Friends of Fort Fisher.

This free event is hosted by the Friends of Fort Fisher and Fort Fisher Chapter No. 2325, United Daughters of the Confederacy. For information, contact Paul Laird at 910-612-7067 or plaird@friendsoffortfisher.com.

The Confederate Dead

In my research today, I came across this little piece:

The Confederate Dead - The Confederate dead are being removed from the Chickamauga battle field and reinterred in the Confederate cemetery at Marietta, GA. The Journal says that about two hundred bodies arrived there during the past week. (Daily Carolina Times June 19, 1869).

The process of disinterring and then reinterring the earthly remains of soldiers has always held some fascination for me. I've always tried to include these details in the books and articles that I've written. This coincides with the second most-asked question: where is my ancestor buried? Of course, you probably know the most-asked question: do you have a photograph of my ancestor? Of the two regimental histories that I've written, I only have about 10 percent of the men captured in a photograph, and few of the ten percent are in uniform.

So, what does this have to do with NC and the War? There were several North Carolina regiments that fought at Chickamauga.  In the 58th regiment alone there were 57 killed or mortally wounded. A few were disinterred and returned home, like Lt. Col. Edmund Kirby (Richmond, VA) and Pvt. John Eben Childs (Columbia, South Carolina). The vast majority of them lie either still on the field, or at the Marietta Confederate Cemetery in Georgia.

Book signings for December

Folks, right now, I have three events on the calendar. More my follow.

Saturday, December 3, 2012, I'll be speaking at the historic Ft. Defiance just north of Lenoir in Caldwell County at 1:00 pm. Everyone is welcomed to stop by and enjoy the festivities!

On Tuesday, December 6, I'll be speaking at the Concord History Museum in Concord at 7:00 pm.

On Thursday, December 8, I'll be speaking to the Stonewall Jackson Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp in Charlotte, NC. They meet at Riverview Fish Camp at 6:00 pm.