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?
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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
Battle of Bentonville Reenactment March 15, 2025
I attended my first reenactment yesterday at Bentonville. It was a good experience. I finally got to hear the “crash” of musketry I’ve read about. There was much to see and do. It was definitely a worthwhile trip. A few photos and video clips are below.
William H. Strickland Letter to Family
Following is a heavily edited transcript of a letter Private William H. Strickland wrote to his “aunts and uncle” in September 1864, while he was home on furlough. The original transcript is HERE. Magnolia NC Sept the 6 1864 Aunts and uncle, I once more take the pleasure of writing you a few lines to… Continue reading William H. Strickland Letter to Family
How to Tan Squirrel Hide into Shoe Leather
Almost as soon as the war began, the South experienced shortages of many basic necessities. The war effort took priority, and the civilian population had to rely on alternative sources for food, clothing and medicine. On September 9, 1863, the Fayetteville Observer reprinted the article below from the Richmond Whig. The article gives detailed instructions… Continue reading How to Tan Squirrel Hide into Shoe Leather