Next Weekend

Next weekend I am going to make a much anticipated visit to Fort Anderson in old Brunswick Town, N.C. I have lived in North Carolina my entire life and there are still so many historic places I have never been, and this is one of them. My great-great grandfather was at the Battle of Fort Anderson, February 18, 1865. After the fall of Fort Fisher, Fort Anderson, located on the Cape Fear River, was one of the last defensive positions protecting Wilmington. Find out more here: http://www.nchistoricsites.org/brunswic/brunswic.htm

Oakwood Cemetery

This Halloween I will be at Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh, participating in the annual lantern tour/ ghostwalk. Oakwood Cemetery is the home of almost 1,500 North Carolina Confederate dead, including 103 of North Carolina Gettysburg dead. Brigadier Generals G.B. Anderson, Robert F. Hoke, William R. Cox, and Thomas F. Toon are buried here. Also, Colonel Henry K. Burgwyn Jr. of the 26th N.C.T. More information here: http://www.historicoakwoodcemetery.com/

Bennett Place

Sorry I have been MIA last few days. I have lived in North Carolina my entire life, and I still haven't explored all of her War Between the States history. Yesterday I went to the Bennett farm in Durham for the first time. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. The Bennett farm was the site of the three meetings between Generals Johnston and Sherman to discuss the surrender of remaining Confederate forces. I had always figured that the retreat from Bentonville led Johnston's forces to the Raleigh-Durham area and they surrendered Appomattox style at the Bennett farm. Such was not the case. Johnston's units were spread out around the Piedmont. My ancestor's unit, the 40th North Carolina (3rd artillery) were stationed in High Point at this time. You learn something everyday.