150 Years Ago in the Civil War After the firing on Fort Sumter in April, both sides began preparations for war, and more states were forced to pick one side or the other. On May 6th, both the Arkansas and Tennessee legislatures passed ordinances of secession. And on May 20th, North Carolina became the eleventh [...]

Continue reading about Confederate Capital moved to Richmond; Death of Colonel Elmer Ellsworth; War Preparations Continue: May 1861

Ohio native and West Point graduate James B. McPherson served as Chief Engineer for General Ulysses S. Grant during the Fort Henry and Fort Donelson campaigns in Tennessee in early 1862.  McPherson impressed his commander, and  Grant recommended him for multiple promotions. By January 1863, McPherson was a Major General and in command of the [...]

Continue reading about The Death of General James B. McPherson at the Battle of Atlanta July 22, 1864

North Carolina was the last state to secede from the Union, doing so on May 20th 1861.  The state contributed about 125,000 soldiers to the Confederacy, and of these, 19,673 were killed in battle and another 20,602 died of disease.  This combined total of over 40,000 dead was the largest number of deaths of any [...]

Continue reading about North Carolina’s Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration