The Civil War in North Carolina
From Atlantic coastal sites at Forts Fisher and Macon to Union cavalry operations in the western mountains, North Carolina offers a wide variety of Civil War sites as diverse as its landscapes. Rebel blockade running in Wilmington. Ironclads at Kinston and Plymouth. Sherman’s” March to the Sea” and Johnston’s efforts to halt Sherman’s path of destruction. Surrender more than two weeks after Appomattox. North Carolina has seen its fair share of Civil War skirmishes and her men paid the ultimate sacrifice.
1861
Even before South Carolina seized Fort Sumter in April 1861, North Carolinians were seizing forts to the East. On January 9th and 10th , Wilmington citizens seized Forts Johnston and Caswell in present day Southport and Oak Island, but both were later released, and seized again during the outbreak of the war. On April 15th, two days after forces overtook Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, President Lincoln called upon Governor John W. Ellis to send volunteers to suppress the insurrectionists. Gov. Ellis replied, “can get no troops from North Carolina.” Gov. Ellis then ordered the seizure of Fort Macon near Morehead City and the federal arsenal in Fayetteville as well. On May 20th, North Carolina, one of the last states to join the Confederacy, seceded from the Union. But on July 7th, Gov. John Ellis died of tuberculosis. But by the end of July, the first significant skirmish occurred in North Carolina. The Union was looking to gain a foothold in the Outer Banks to disrupt trade at Hatteras and as well as prevent Confederate raiders from plundering ships along the northeastern coast. By August 28th, the 9th and 10th New York Volunteers landed near Fort Clark. Without taking any casualties, Union troops occupied Fort Clark by nightfall, and waited until morning to mount an attack on Fort Hatteras. But the Confederates had a plan. They had planned to gather additional reinforcements, but they had never arrived, so Colonel Martin and Commodore Barron started strengthening Fort Hatteras’ defenses for an imminent Union attack. Early on the 29th, a heavy Union bombardment ensued. The Confederates were unable to return significant fire due to wet gunpowder, a fire within the fort, and many shots did not detonate. An officer estimated 3,000 Union shells were fired in 3 hours. Confederate forces could not sustain much more, so Union Commodore Stringham demanded an unconditional surrender. Before Commodore Barron accepted the surrender, he sent as many men as possible to New Bern. Although the Union victory resulted in few casualties for either side, with only one union dead and 12 Confederate dead, the capture of Fort Hatteras was a significant Confederate defeat. Around 700 Confederates were captured, thirty cannons and five small boats were now in union hands. The Union also acquired a fueling station to strengthen its blockading effort, and the union Army obtained a post for military operations in Northeast North Carolina. The fort’s capture gave the Union a morale boost, after the humiliating defeat at First Bull Run. Due to these forts falling, the Union would hold the Outer Banks throughout the entirety of the war, and citizens of the Outer Banks had to swear an allegiance to uphold the US Constitution.
1862/1863
Sketch of Burnside's route to Roanoke Island
On February 7th, a Union invasion fleet consisting of 100 vessels consisting of 15,000 men sailed into Croatan Sound led by General Ambrose Burnside. He had plans to form a beachhead at Roanoke Island so he would have a base of operations to attack Confederates in North Carolina from the sea. Three Confederate forts were opposing the landing, and between the three forts were 3,000 rebels under Col. Henry Shaw. About halfway up the island, Burnside’s men encountered a Confederate battery and a force of around 1,500 men, but outflanked them. The Confederates retreated, and with their backs towards the Sound, forced to surrender. Burnside next turned to New Bern. Confederate Gen. Lawrence O’B. Branch, commanding an inadequate number of troops, decided to defend the city using fortifications located several miles south of the city along the Neuse River. Burnside landed his men 12 miles downriver on March 13 and began marching toward New Bern. By then, Branch had moved his men closer to the city and braced for the oncoming attack which began the next morning. The Confederates were able to hold off the Federals for several hours, until the center of their defenses collapsed and forced Branch’s remaining troops to retreat, which Branch withdrew them by rail to Kinston. New Bern fell the next day and stayed in Union hands until the end of the war. Burnside went on the take Beaufort and Fort Macon and was later promoted on March 18th. On September 8th, former U.S. Congressman and former colonel of the 26th North Carolina Regiment, Zebulon B. Vance became governor of North Carolina. In December, with the Civil War in its second year, Brig. Gen. John Foster, the Union commander at New Bern, organized a large overland raid to Goldsboro consisting of 10,000 infantry, 640 cavalrymen, and 40 artillery pieces to coincide with Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's attack on Gen. Robert E. Lee's position at Fredericksburg, Va. The two Union commanders intended to prevent either Confederate force from reinforcing the other. The object of Foster's raid was to destroy the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad Bridge over the Neuse River at Goldsboro, thus severing the rail line that was shipping valuable supplies from the port at Wilmington to Virginia. The campaign lasted approximately 18 days, and although Foster was satisfied with the success of the operation, damage to the bridge was merely minor. Within two weeks the railroad was fully operational. The most significant damage from the raid was to personal property, crops, and livestock. Casualties were roughly 1,055 on both sides.
For the most part of the year 1863, the Civil War had no major significant events within the state, besides the creation of several Colored, and White units organized serving the Union, such as the 2nd North Carolina Infantry of African Descent, and 2nd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry.
For the most part of the year 1863, the Civil War had no major significant events within the state, besides the creation of several Colored, and White units organized serving the Union, such as the 2nd North Carolina Infantry of African Descent, and 2nd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry.
1864/1865
Map of the Union attack on Fort Fisher
By late 1864, Wilmington, NC became the last major seaport open to Confederate blockade runners. Located on the Cape Fear River, the city's seaward approaches were guarded by Fort Fisher, which was situated at the tip of Federal Point. A formidable bastion, Fort Fisher mounted a total of 47 guns with 22 in the seaward batteries and 25 facing the land approaches. The Union now had their eyes sent on cutting off the Confederacy from much need supplies. After the failure of his December expedition against Fort Fisher, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler was relieved of command. Maj. Gen. Alfred Terry was placed in command of a “Provisional Corps,” including Paine's Division of U.S. Colored Troops, and supported by a naval force of nearly 60 vessels, to renew operations against the fort. After a preliminary bombardment directed by Rear Adm. David D. Porter on January 13, Union forces landed and prepared an attack on Maj. Gen. Robert Hoke's infantry line. On the 15th, a select force moved on the fort from the rear. A valiant attack late in the afternoon, following the bloody repulse of a naval landing party carried the parapet. The Confederate garrison surrendered, opening the way for a Federal thrust against Wilmington, the South's last open seaport on the Atlantic coast. By February, the mastermind behind the First Battle of Bull Run, Joseph Johnston was in command of all Confederate forces in North Carolina in preparation to try and hold back Union forces under General Sherman, entering to the south through South Carolina, whose main objective was to capture Goldsboro and link up with additional troops coming from the coast. After several skirmishes between the two clashing armies, they finally met as a whole on March 20th. While Slocum’s advance was stalled at Averasborough by Hardee’s troops, the right wing of Sherman’s army under command of Maj. Gen. O.O. Howard marched toward Goldsborough. On March 19, Slocum encountered the entrenched Confederates of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston who had concentrated to meet his advance at Bentonville. Late afternoon, Johnston attacked, crushing the line of the XIV Corps. Only strong counterattacks and desperate fighting south of the Goldsborough Road blunted the Confederate offensive. Elements of the XX Corps were thrown into the action as they arrived on the field. Five Confederate attacks failed to dislodge the Federal defenders and darkness ended the first day’s fighting. During the night, Johnston contracted his line into a “V” to protect his flanks with Mill Creek to his rear. On March 20, Slocum was heavily reinforced, but fighting was sporadic. Sherman was inclined to let Johnston retreat. On the 21st, however, Johnston remained in position while he removed his wounded. Skirmishing heated up along the entire front. In the afternoon, Maj. Gen. Joseph Mower led his Union division along a narrow trace that carried it across Mill Creek into Johnston’s rear. Confederate counterattacks stopped Mower’s advance, saving the army’s only line of communication and retreat. Mower withdrew, ending fighting for the day. During the night, Johnston retreated across the bridge at Bentonville. Union forces pursued at first light, driving back Wheeler’s rearguard and saving the bridge. Federal pursuit was halted at Hannah’s Creek after a severe skirmish. Sherman, after regrouping at Goldsborough, pursued Johnston toward Raleigh. Then on April 26th, Johnston met Sherman at Bennett Place in Durham and surrendered his force, the largest troop surrender of the war, encompassing Confederate forces in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida.
North Carolina played one of the largest roles for the Confederate cause during the American Civil War. She sent away more troops away to war, and when they returned, her landscape was changed as well. The federal arsenal in Fayetteville lay in ruins, her crops and farms ransacked, and her coastline littered with ship wrecks and her ports overtaken by the Federals. Excluding the Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina did not have any further major battles, but did have close to around 100 minor skirmishes.
North Carolina played one of the largest roles for the Confederate cause during the American Civil War. She sent away more troops away to war, and when they returned, her landscape was changed as well. The federal arsenal in Fayetteville lay in ruins, her crops and farms ransacked, and her coastline littered with ship wrecks and her ports overtaken by the Federals. Excluding the Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina did not have any further major battles, but did have close to around 100 minor skirmishes.