My previous post recounts the events that led up to the Battle of Smithfield. The situation at dawn on February 1, 1864: Captain Lee and his men were trapped in Smithfield. They were positioned at the end of main street near Pagan Creek, hoping a gunboat would arrive soon to support them. Their hopes were… Continue reading Duel Down Main Street: The Battle of Smithfield (part 2)
Category: North Carolina in the Civil War
Duel Down Main Street: The Battle of Smithfield (part 1)
Smithfield, Virginia is in the southeastern part of the state across the James River from Newport News. The town is famous for its smoked hams, processed there since the late 1700’s. Smithfield was also the site of a small but sharp engagement fought on the town’s Main Street during the Civil War. The Battle of… Continue reading Duel Down Main Street: The Battle of Smithfield (part 1)
Visit to Bennett Place
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
1925 Map of Shipwrecks Near Wilmington
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
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
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.
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
Letter to Gov. Vance: “there ain’t no bigger liar”
The following transcript is an edited version of a transcript posted on the Private Voices website. I corrected spelling, grammar and format to improve readability. The original transcript is available HERE. BACKGROUND: Gerome Prosper FormyDuval, born October 12, 1821, resided near Old Dock in Columbus County. His son, Coval, served as a private in Company… Continue reading Letter to Gov. Vance: “there ain’t no bigger liar”
A Soldier Complains About Clothing
For most of the war, Confederate troops were poorly equipped with arms, food, and uniforms. North Carolina did a better job equipping its soldiers than the other southern states, but Tar Heel troops still lacked for many of the items they needed. New clothing was issued periodically, but by 1864, the quality of the uniforms… Continue reading A Soldier Complains About Clothing