Tag Archives: Wilmington

1 March 1865: “the enemy was sharp shooting all day.”

Item Description: Zaccheus Ellis was a lieutenant from Wilmington, N.C. This letter to his mother recounts how his battalion left Wilmington, and engaged with their enemies in some detail. He was killed in action in Bentonville, N.C.  Item Citation: From Folder 1, … Continue reading

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23 Febrary 1865: “There is one thing sertain this war cannot last many months longer”

Item Description: A letter from Theodore W. Skinner to his family regarding his thoughts on Wilmington, Jefferson Davis, the War, and the moral of his fellow soldiers in the aftermath of the Battle of Wilmington. Item Citation: Unit 45, in the Federal Soldiers’ … Continue reading

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12 February 1865: “The shells were thrown at the fort but when they exploded, the fragments flew in different directions, which caused us to do some tall dodging.”

Item Description:  Letter written by Zaccheus Ellis to his sister.  He discusses the living arrangements at Fort Anderson in North Carolina including the shelling by Union gunboats.  He also mentions fall in morale regarding Wilmington and lack of faith in … Continue reading

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5 June 1864: “I have your private note stating that Colonel Jourdan proposes to attack Wilmington.”

Item description: A letter from acting Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee to Commander A. G. Clary of the U.S.S. Dacotah transmitting a copy of a confidential letter (previously sent to Captain Benjamin F. Sands) concerning a proposed attack upon Fort … Continue reading

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9 January 1864: “Her cargo apparently was not large, and from the facts gathered it is highly probable that some important and distinguished rebel persons were on board, and the only object of the vessel was to get them safe into rebeldom.”

Item Description: Report by Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee, United States Navy, to Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, concerning the “destruction of the Steamer Dare,” which was attempting to run the blockade and enter the Port of Wilmington in … Continue reading

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5 October 1863: “I am outdone with these people, the soldiers are spiritless & cowed, ready to revolt at hardships which our troops laugh at, and looking forward to the time when they can be taken prisoners.”

Item Description: Letter, 5 October 1863, from Benjamin Lewis Blackford to his mother Mary, discussing his transfer from Virginia to Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, his opinions of North Carolina and its citizens, his living conditions in Wilmington, a young girl he … Continue reading

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14 June 1863: “The captain, without hesitation, acknowledged her to be a Confederate vessel and stated his cargo to consist of liquors, medicines, drugs, and provisions, with probably some articles for the rebel Government.”

Item description: “Capture of Confederate steamer Calypso, June 11, 1863. Report of Commander Bankhead, U. S. Navy, commanding U. S. S. Florida.” The report discusses the capture of the Confederate steamer Calypso off the North Carolina coast. The ship was … Continue reading

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25 March 1863: “… I have full permission to marry from Mr. Castin I don’t like to have to beg but when I know it is my own owner from whom I am asking these favors it prompts me to do so…”

Item Description:  Letter, dated 25 March 1863, written by a slave named “Jimmey” working for the DeRosset family in an office in Wilmington, N.C., stating that his owner has given him permission to marry. “Jimmey” is James W. Telfair, Jr. (born … Continue reading

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24 January 1863: “I have been very badly hurt, but am all right now. My horse ran away (she always does)…”

Item description: Letter, 24 January 1863, from Benjamin Lewis Blackford to his mother, Mary Berkeley Minor Blackford (1802-1896). [Item transcription available below images.] Item citation: From folder 84 in the Blackford Family Papers #1912, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina … Continue reading

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17 January 1863: “My only hope for a furlough is to get shot or get sick. This is the misfortune of my promotion.”

Item description: Published letter, dated 17 January 1863, as collected and published in Memoir and Memorials (The Neale Publishing Co., 1907), a memoir of Elisha Franklin Paxton. Elisha Franklin Paxton was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia in 1828. He studied at Washington College … Continue reading

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