This past week, I went to Duke for more research. It was a productive visit, and I interacted with a lot of very nice people. While I was in the area, I dropped in on the Bennett Place State Historic Site. Bennett Place was the site of three meetings between Generals Joseph Johnston and William… Continue reading Visit to Bennett Place
Author: Kirk
1925 Map of Shipwrecks Near Wilmington
Latest Discovery: The Catherine McGeachy Buie Papers
I recently discovered the Catherine McGeachy Buie Papers online. As usual, my discovery was by accident. The collection is hosted by Duke University on their “Libraries” website. The collection contains scans of hundreds of documents, mostly letters sent to ‘Kate’ McGeachy. As I skimmed through the documents, I found letters written by soldiers in the… Continue reading Latest Discovery: The Catherine McGeachy Buie Papers
The Real Reason Colonel Cantwell Resigned?
When North Carolina seceded from the Union, Wilmington resident John L. Cantwell, a Mexican War veteran, was commanding the 30th North Carolina Militia. Cantwell resigned from the militia and attempted to be elected colonel of two different regiments. He failed both times. Finally, on April 30, 1862, he was elected colonel of the 51st North… Continue reading The Real Reason Colonel Cantwell Resigned?
Company B Casualties from May to October 1864
[Wilmington Journal, November 10, 1864] ON THE LINES NEAR RICHMOND, VA, November 1st, 1864 To the Editors of the Journal: You will confer a great favor to the families and friends by publishing the following list of killed, wounded and prisoners of Co. B, 51st N. C. T.: Sergt Calvin Tucker, died July 12th, 1864,… Continue reading Company B Casualties from May to October 1864
Visiting the Averasboro Battlefield
Last week, I visited Chapel Hill to do some research. I uncovered a few new letters and some miscellaneous information that I will be sharing on this website during the next few weeks. On the way back home, I stopped at the Averasboro Battlefield. The Battle of Averasboro was a small but important fight. Confederate… Continue reading Visiting the Averasboro Battlefield
Sarah Ketchum’s Pension Woes
The previous post contains a short biography of Captain David W. Ketchum, Assistant Commissary of the 51st North Carolina. The unexplained gap in his service record between 1863 and the end of the war became a problem for his widow 25 years after his death. This is the story of Sarah Ketchum’s three-year wait to… Continue reading Sarah Ketchum’s Pension Woes
Sorting out the Facts for Captain David Ketchum
Conflicting Sources I recently discovered two Find-A-Grave memorials for David W. Ketchum. The memorials contain conflicting information. Memorial #16296735 lists his date of birth as October 13, 1838, and date of death as April 19, 1893. The memorial has a photo of Ketchum’s tombstone with the birth and death dates inscribed on it. The other… Continue reading Sorting out the Facts for Captain David Ketchum
Visiting Fort Clinch State Park
Last week, I visited the Fort Clinch State Park on the northern end of Amelia Island, Florida. It’s a nice park, with all the amenities. The fort is in excellent condition. Admission to the park is $6.00 per car. An additional $2.50 per person is required to walk around the fort. Fort Clinch was constructed… Continue reading Visiting Fort Clinch State Park
Company I Casualties from May to September 1864
On May 1, 1864, Company I, 51st Regiment North Carolina Troops, moved from Petersburg to Ivor Station to join the rest of Clingman’s brigade on an expedition to Suffolk. The company had 129 men on its rolls. Six of the men were absent. Over the previous two years, the company had lost only two men… Continue reading Company I Casualties from May to September 1864