The Curious Case of Private Lewis Smith

Service Record Lewis H. Smith enlisted in the Confederate Army on January 21, 1864, at Goldsboro. When Smith signed up, the 19-year-old farmer requested assignment to Company B, 51st Regiment North Carolina Troops. The new private made his way to Petersburg and reported for duty with his unit. North Carolina Troops recounts his brief military… Continue reading The Curious Case of Private Lewis Smith

Walter Bell: Farmer, Merchant, Teacher, and Soldier

While perusing the John J. Wilson letters last week at UNCW, I came across a list of students who attended the “school taught by W. R. Bell from July 13th 1857 to March 17th 1858.” This list was the first time I had seen any indication that Walter Raleigh Bell had been a schoolteacher. Intrigued,… Continue reading Walter Bell: Farmer, Merchant, Teacher, and Soldier