MS026  
WILMINGTON, NC AND THE LOWER CAPE FEAR AREA DURING THE CIVIL WAR
1861 – 1865:  AN EXCERPTED GUIDE TO RESOURCES

Excerpts of letters, diaries, papers, and published materials comprise the body of this research collection.  The donors, Mrs. Isabel Martin Williams and Mrs. Leora Hiatt McEachern, of Wilmington, NC, created the collection, which contains no primary sources.  They copied only the portions of works; published and unpublished, in libraries, archives, and in private hands; which related to Wilmington and the Lower Cape Fear (LCF) during the Civil War.  Complete bibliographic citations and the location of the original are noted for each excerpt.

The typescripts, covering 2½ linear feet, are filed topically within each year of the Civil War.  Within each topic a chronological arrangement is used.  Subjects include troop movements, civilian life, shipping, prisoners of war, and military engagements.  Wilmington was the last Confederate port to be captured; blockading and blockade runners and the defense and capture of Fort Fisher are especially well represented.  Items of local significance, about which the donors have written, are Confederate salt works and the Wilmington yellow fever epidemic.

These and other subject headings are found listed in the inventory of these papers which follows.  The inventory summarizes the contents of some of the subject files and highlights particular items.  Lengthy series of letters and the subject headings they are filed in are as follows:  William Frederick Keeler to his wife, Anna, written while he was on board the U.S.S. Florida, blockading Wilmington (Blockading, 1863 and 1864); James Ryder Randall, a shipping agent for Power, Lowe & Co. in Wilmington, NC, to his fiancée, Kate Hammond, near Hamburg, SC (Civilian Life, 1863 and 1864); and Lt. George W. Gift, stationed on the C.S.S. Tallahassee at Wilmington, NC, to his wife, Ellen Augusta Shackelford Gift, of Cedar Spring, Early County, Georgia (Blockade Runners Ashore 1864).

Wilmington tax and war tax lists are filed in Civilian Life, 1861 and 1862.  Specifically noted in the inventory, under various subject headings, are rosters and muster rolls.  There are compilations of data on: deaths attributed to the yellow fever epidemic of 1862 (Yellow Fever, 1862); blockade runners to and from Nassau 1861 – 1864 (Blockade Running, 1864);  Federal regiments occupying the LCF 1864 – 1865 (Fall of Wilmington 1865); soldiers captured at Fort Fisher (Prisoners 1865);  Wilmington houses built before the Civil War and owner of occupant during the war (Civilian Life No Date); medical officers and doctors, military and civilian (Wilmington Defense No Date);  and on soldiers who died in the LCF, one list organized by military company (Prisoners 1865), the other by date of deaths (Soldiers and Letters No Date).

Complete reproductions are included in these papers of two items: Reverend L.S. Burkhead’s “History of the Difficulties of the Pastorate of the Front Street Methodist Church, Wilmington, NC, for the yeah 1865” (Occupation 1865); and S.K. Wightman’s “In Search of my Son,” (Retreat Up River, Federal, 1865), both cited fully in the card bibliography.

Some of the subjects are subdivided to indicate the Confederate and Federal positions.  The 1865 files are followed by those bearing no date (No Date).  Generally, that means no date can be ascertained from the papers or their subject matter.  In this group, however, it usually means that the material describes an activity spanning more than one year.  The researcher may wish to read these files first, to gain an overall picture of the subject before looking for specific events in that area.

There are four drawers of card indexes and files.  Access to the excerpts is provided by a card index to subjects.  As with the papers, the cards are arranged by year, then alphabetically by subject.  However, within each subject, cards are filed alphabetically by originator of papers, as opposed to the chronological arrangement of the papers.  In the subject index, one card was frequently used to list several excerpts about a topic found in the same source.  However, in the papers these are filed as separate items in a chronological arrangement, so there are frequently fewer index cards than there are excerpts.

Another way to gain access to the papers is through the bibliography of sources (also on cards) read and excerpted.  This annotated bibliography shows what subjects (corresponding with the headings used in the subject index) were excerpted from each source and the year of the event.  This bibliography is especially helpful if one wishes to research a particular person or family throughout the war.  This search will show all subjects the person was involved in.  Two other bibliographies are also on cards: sources read but not excerpted and sources potentially useful but not read or excerpted.

There is a card file of biographical data, extracted from diaries, letters, and other papers still in private possession.  The biographies are not complete and sources of information are not listed.  Prominent persons, for whom published biographical data can readily be found, are not included.

There are also files which identify Confederate military companies stationed in the area locations of the city’s fortifications, and ships (both Confederate and Federal) which were in the vicinity.  These files are further defined in the inventory.

There are also maps and a chart, drawn on posterboard.  The maps are of the LCF area; the chart shows locations of troops in the LCF throughout the war.

These notes have been published and are available for researchers in the general collection at William Madison Randall Library, call number F263.3 .W542 .

The generosity of Isabel Williams and Leora McEachern in donating these materials, which they researched, copied, arranged, and indexed, will be appreciated by historians who can more easily trace the Civil War in the Lower Cape Fear region through the use of this guide to resources.  This project began when, in 1964, the North Carolina State Civil War Centennial Committee requested Williams and McEachern to write and produce a play commemorating the fall of Fort Fisher.  In gathering data, they found there was no organized guide to available literature on their subject.  The Junior League of Wilmington provided financial aid to Williams and McEachern for equipment and travel expenses involved in gathering material, then arranging and indexing it.  They frequently lectured to publicize their project and to locate private material in private possession.  They also searched the North Carolina State Archives, East Carolina University’s Manuscript Collection, Duke University’s Manuscript Collection, and the Southern Historical Collection at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The donation of this research collection, received on February 10, 1978, included not only the excerpts and indexes, but also duplicate copies of the excerpts.  These copies will be bound and shelved in the Reference area of the William Madison Randall Library.  The primary copy and the indexes are designated Accession Number 26 of the Manuscripts Collection, Special Collections Department, William Madison Randall Library, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.  Following are biographical sketches of Isabel Williams and Leora McEachern, a bibliography of their works, and an inventory of both the excerpts and the indexes.

This Collection has been designated Accession Number 26 of the Manuscripts Collection, Special Collections Department, William Madison Randall Library, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403-3297. 

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Processed by Judith H. Davis  
Manuscripts Collection
William Madison Randall Library
The University of North Carolina at Wilmington
1976  

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

The creators and donors of this research collection are Leora McEachern and Isabel Williams, both of Wilmington, NC.

Leora (Billie) Cromwell Hiatt McEachern was born March 4, 1909, the daughter of Kathleen Sadtler and Houston B. Hiatt of Clinton, North Carolina.  She attended high school at High Point, North Carolina, and attended High Point College, St. Mary’s in Raleigh, and Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.  On June 6, 1931, Leora Cromwell Hiatt married Edward (Ned) Merritt McEachern.  They have a son, Edward Merritt McEachern, Jr.  The McEacherns moved to Wilmington in 1951.

Mrs. McEachern has served in the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society as Recording Secretary, 1967 – 69, Assistant Archivist, 1969 – 73, Editor of its Bulletin 1967 – 75, and as President, 1973 – 75.

She serves as archivist for the St. James Church and served as chapter chairperson there for ten years.  She directed the Children’s Theatre, sponsored by the Junior League of Wilmington, for several years.  Mrs. McEachern wrote and presented an educational television art series for St. John’s Art Gallery in the early 1960s.  She had been an active member of the Thalian Association Board, the New Hanoever County Museum Board, the Duplin County Historical Society, the Lord Craven Chapter of Colonial Dames XVII Century, and the Cape Fear Garden Club.

Billie McEachern has taught local history and genealogy courses at the Cape Fear Technical Institute since 1970.  Through the institute she also taught Extension courses in Burgaw and has taught local history for the public school system in New Hanover County.

Isabel (Debbie) Martin Williams was born January 4, 1921, the daughter of Margaret Grier and William H. Martin of New York, New York.  She attended Emma Willard (High) School in Troy, New York, and Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.  She worked as a radio broadcast engineer form 1942-45 for CBS and the office of War Information.  On December 27, 1943, Isabel Martin married Dr. Robert Wefer Williams and their children are Margaret, Robert Jay, Frederick Martin, and Alexander Grier.  The Williams moved to Wilmington, North Carolina in 1953.

A member of the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society, Mrs. Williams has served on its board, and worked with Billie McEachern as Editor of its Bulletin 1967-75.  In 1960-61, she was President of the Junior League of Wilmington.  With its sponsorship, she also wrote children’s radio programs for in-school listening and worked with the Children’s Theatre for several years.  She served on the board of St. John’s Art Gallery and initiated an art series for educational television.  Mrs. Williams has been a board member of the Wilmington Public Library for several years.  She served on the state board of the North Carolina Symphony Society and assisted in founding its Wilmington chapter.  She also assisted in founding the Thalian Hall Commission, was a member of its original board and served as its second president.  She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Thalian Association.  In 1961-62, she was President of the New Hanover County Medical Auxiliary.

Isabel Williams wrote and adapted children’s plays, which have been nationally distributed by the Community Children’s Theatre of Twin Falls, Idaho.  In 1966 she won the Seattle Junior Programs Competition for her play, Festival of the Washing of the Flowers.  She has written radio series for children and books and articles of historical interest.

Much of her work on local history has been done with Billie McEachern.  In 1964, at the State Civil War Centennial Committee’s request, they wrote and directed a play commemorating the fall of Fort Fisher – This is How it Happened.  Their research for this play led to the creation of this group of papers.

This research also led to the correct placement of an historical marker for the State Salt Works, which was in operation during the Civil War.  The marker was first placed near Bradley Creek.  They began protesting the location in 1973, and working through the North Carolina Archives State Marker Department, were responsible for the rewriting and placement of the marker to its correct location on Highway 132 at Mohican Trail.

In 1975, the Lower Café Fear Historical Society awarded Mrs. Williams and Mrs. McEachern the Clarendon award for historical writing.  Following is a bibliography of their writings.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WORKS BY ISABEL M. WILLIAMS AND LEORA H. MCEACHERN

Williams, Isabel. Thalian Hall.  4 vols.  Wilmington, NC, 1976.

“Musictime.”  Radio series, in-school listening.  Wilmington, NC, 1956-1960.

Children’s Plays:

The Festival of the Washing of the Flowers

Dr. Coppelius

Jack and the Beanstalk

The Magic Flute

Hansel and Gretel

Distributed by Community Children’s Theatre: Twin Falls, Idaho.

McEachern, Leora H. Gravestone Records.  9 vols.  Wilmington, NC, 1971-

Abstracted.  Duplin County, NC, Court Minutes 1784 – 87.

Copied.  Thomas Howey’s Tax Book of Wilmington, North Carolina – 1860, 1861, 1862. Wilmington, NC, 1967.

With Mathews, Lula Walton and Walker, Curry Kirk.  St. James Church, North Carolina: Historical Records, 1737-:  vol. 2, 1852 – 1872 and vol. 3, 1873 – 1892.  Wilmington, NC, 1965-

Isabel M. Williams and Leora H. McEachern, in collaboration, Salt—That Necessary Article.  Wilmington, NC, 1973.

Edited.  Wilmington-New Hanover Safety Committee Minutes, 1774 – 1776.  Wilmington-New Hanover County American Revolution Bi-centennial Association: Wilmington, NC, 1974.

Play:

This is How is Happened, A Dramatic Reading.  Wilmington, NC, 1965.

Pamphlet:

History of the Lower Cape Fear: Exploration, Colonization, Growth, 1524 – 1900. Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce: Wilmington, NC.

Leaflets:

Lower Cape Fear Revolutionary War Events, 1765 – 1774, 1775, 1776.  Wilmington- New Hanover County American Revolution Bicentennial Association: Wilmington, NC.

Articles:

“Private Salt Works in Brunswick County.”  Brunswick County Historical Society, Newsletter.  Vol. XII, No. 2, May 1972.

Williams and McEachern edited the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society, Inc., Bulletin, Wilmington, NC, from 1967 – 1975.  They were also frequent contributors.  Articles they wrote or compiled are listed below in chronological order of appearance in the Bulletin.  

“Excerpts from Letters Written in the Lower Cape Fear Area, 1861 – 65.”  Vol. X, No. 2, June 1967.

“The Prevailing Epidemic – 1862.” Vol. XI, No. 1, November 1967.

“The Richard P. Paddison Papers.” Vol. XI, No. 2, March 1968.

“Salt Production in the Lower Cape Fear, Pt. 1 (Location of the State Salt Works).”  Vol. XIV, No. 1, October 1970.

“Salt Production in the Lower Cape Fear, Pt. II.”  Vol. XV, No. 2, May 1971.

“Early Salt Production in the Lower Cape Fear.”  Vol. XV, No. 3, May 1972.

“Alfred and Susan Jane (DeBose) Gurganious Letters, September 1861 – July 1862.”  Vol. XVI, No. 3, May 1973.

“A.F. Williams Diary, 1862.”  Wol. XVII, No. 3, April 1974.

“Miss Buie, The Soldier’s Friend.”  Vol. XVIII, No. 1, October 1974.

“River Excursions, 1864.”  Vol.  XXI, No. 3, May 1978.

Inventory
Manuscript/Box/File

Included in the descriptions below is an item count of typescripts of excerpted materials followed, when applicable, by the number of photocopies of the original papers.  These photocopies are attached to the typescripts and are not included in the item count.

Short titles are given in the inventory for the following sources:  Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861 – 65, edited by Walter Clark, written by members of the respective commands, 5 volumes, Raleigh, NC: State of North Carolina, 1901; and North Carolina Troops 1861 – 1865, a Roster, compiled by Louis H. Manarin, Raleigh, NC: State Department of Archives and History, 1971 - .

Following this inventory of the papers in this group is an inventory of the accompanying Charts and Maps, and the Card Files, which both index the papers and provide additional information.

026/1/1
1861,  Capture of Forts. Confederate plants to occupy forts below Wilmington, NC. (April) 13 items

026/1/2-4
1861,  Civilian Life. Wilmington Tax List (File 3), Wilmington War Tax List (File 4).  Photocopies (p) or original letters and the Wilmington War Tax List.  17 items, 7p

026/1/5
1861,  Early Blockade.  6 items

026/1/6
1861, Events Between April 16 – May 20, 1861. Muster roll (Item 3) of Bladen Light Infantry, dated April 26, 1861;  communications to and from Col. John L. Cantwell, who was in charge of Wilmington Confederate forces at the capture of area forts.  16 items, 1p

026/1/7
1861, Fort Fisher.  10 items, 2p

026/1/8
1861, Fort Sumter Reaction.  8 items

026/1/9
1861, Movement Through Wilmington.  8 items

026/1/10
1861, North Carolina Secession.  3 items

026/1/11
1861, Reaction to War Events.  Includes roster (Item 9) of the Wilmington Rifle Guards, dated January 29, 1861;  a report of the Uniform Committee (Item 13), listing design details and costs of military uniforms made in Wilmington, 19 items, 2p

026/1/12
1861, Salt Works.  (November – December) Largely extracts of Wilmington Journal (Newspaper) articles about the need to manufacture salt locally.  13 items

026/1/13
1861,  Soldiers and Letters.  Letters. sent from Forts Caswell and Johnson, Camp Wyatt.  Several are to or from Oliver E. Mercer of Brunswick Co., NC.  30 items, 4p

026/1/14
1861, Wilmington Defense. Military companies and commanding officers in Lower Cape Fear region (LCF).  27 items

026/2/1
1862,  Blockade Running.  Primarily narratives of blockade running adventures in LCF, involving the Giraffe, Ella and Annie, Banshee, Kate, Cecile, and others.  16 items

026/2/2
1862, Blockading.  Orders from the U.S.S. Mount Vernon, stationed in VA, to the U.S.S. Minnesota, blockading Wilmington.  Reports of the U.S.S. Minnesota activities.  Excerpts of journal of Joseph P. Canning, stationed off Wilmington on U.S.S. Cambridge.  Letters from Alexander Horn, stationed off Wilmington on the U.S.S. Monticello, to his family in Maryland.  25 items

026/2/3-4
1862, Civilian Life.  Letters, Wilmington Tax List (File 4). 21 items

026/2/5
1862, Fort Fisher.  10 items, 1p

026/2/6
1862, Movement Through Wilmington.  6 items

026/2/7
1862, Prices.  2 items

026/2/8
1862, Raids.  3 items

026/2/9
1862, Refugees from Wilmington.  1 item

026/2/10-11
1862, Salt Works.  Primarily extracted newspaper reports of locations of salt works, prices, and availability of salt.  58 items, 5p

026/2/12-13
1862, Soldiers and Letters.  Letters sent from Forts Fisher, Caswell, Johnson, Camp Wyatt and Whiting.  38 items, 6p

026/2/14-15
1862, Wilmington Defense.  Primarily excerpts from Clark’s Regiments, listing locations of regiments and officers’ names.  34 items, 1p

026/2/16
1862, Wilmington Harbor.  2 items

026/3/1-3
1862, Yellow Fever.  (September – November)  Primarily extracts of newspaper accounts of the epidemic in Wilmington.  Includes: Item 51, a 4 page list of deaths attributed to yellow fever, extracted from the Deaths columns of September 17 – November 15, 1862, newspapers.  Item 54, Records at Oakdale Cemetery, a record of yellow fever deaths, listing victim’s name, date of death or burial permit, sometimes also age and place of birth.  Record made after the war, considered incomplete.  Item 55, Dr. W.T. Wragg’s report on the epidemic, which was, in original form, sent to the War. Dept. at Richmond (15pp.).  Item 66, Dr. E.A. Anderson’s defense of Wragg’s report (22pp.).  Both items describe Wilmington’s climate, vegetation, and condition of streets and buildings; they also describe cases of yellow fever, the symptoms and treatment.  69 items, 1p letter, 26p of Wilmington Daily Journal.

026/4/1
1863,  Blockade Runners Ashore.  2 items

026/4/2-3
1863,  Blockade Running.  Primarily narratives of blockade running adventures in LCF, involving the Lee, Advance, Mary Celeste, Cornubia (Lady Davis), Ella, and Annie, Banshee, and others.  58 items, 2p

026/4/4-7
1863, Blockading. Primarily Letters from William Frederick Keeler to his wife, Anna, written while he was on board the U.S.S. Florida, which was blockading Wilmington.  Letters from Alexander Horn to his family, while he was stationed on the U.S.S. Monticello, blockading Wilmington.  Reports from Federal vessels Minnesota, Iroquois, Mount Vernon, Niphon, Sacramento, State of Georgia, Penobscot, William Bacon.  80 items.

026/4/8-9
1863, Civilian Life. Primarily Letters from James Ryder Randall, a shipping agent for Power, Lowe & Co., in Wilmington, to Kate Hammond, his fiancée, near Hamburg, SC.  Randall’s duties included entering and clearing vessels at the Custom House and discharging them.  He named several blockade runners and their success and failures.  Randall mentioned some of his speculations and occasionally asked Kate for a list of personal items she’d like ordered whenever a blockade runner went out.  47 items, 29p

026/5/1
1863, Fort Fisher.  Includes Letters from T.A.E. Tuten, who was stationed at Fort Fisher, and from Susan Lamb, wife of Col. William Lamb, to their respective families.  17 items, 4p

026/5/2
1863, Movement Through Wilmington.  11 items

026/5/3
1863, Preparation for Battle.  2 items

026/5/4
1863, Raids.  4 items, 1p

026/5/5-7
1863, Salt Works.  Newspaper extracts concerning salt prices; communications between Gov. Vance and the State Salt Commissioners.  50 items, 17p

026/5/8
1863, Soldiers and Letters.  Letters sent from Fts. Fisher and Caswell, Camps Lamb, French, Whiting, and Evans.  23 items, 4p

026/5/9-10
1863, Wilmington Defense.  Data on military personnel in LCF.  42 items, 4p

026/5/11
1863, Wilmington Harbor.  3 items

026/6/1
1864, Blockade Runners Ashore.  Largely consists of Letters from Lt. Deorge W. Gift, stationed on the C.S.S. Tallahassee at Wilmington, to his wife, Ellen Augusta Shackelford Gift, of Cedar Spring, Early County, Georgia.  Most were written during October 1864 while the Tallahassee and crew awaited suitable conditions for running the blockade.  Gift wrote that when the Tallahassee sailed out of port it would be converted from a cruiser into a merchant vessel named Olustee.  13 items, 9p

026/6/2-4
1864, Blockade Running.  Includes a list (Item 7) of steam vessels engaged in blockade running to and from Nassau, November 1861 – March 10, 1864, which was published June 3, 1864, in The Wilmington Journal. The list names vessels, number of trips from Nassau or other ports for each, and their fates when unsuccessful.   Several narratives of blockade running adventures in LCF, involving the OWL, Armstrong, Raleigh, Greyhound, Lillian, Advance, Lynx, Night Hawk, Atalanta (Tallahassee), and others.  66 items, 12p.

026/6/5-6           
1864, Blockading.  Includes several Letters from William Frederick Keeler to his wife, Anna, written while he was stationed on the U.S.S. Florida, which was blockading Wilmington.  33 items.

026/6/7-9           
1864, Civilian Life.  Includes several Letters from James Ryder Randall, shipping agent in Wilmington, to his fiancée, Kate Hammond, near Hamburg, SC.  He lists blockade runners' failures and successes, notes prices and the failing condition of Confederate currency.  48 items, 30p.

026/6/10            
1864, Fort Fisher.  10 items, 3p.

026/6/11-12        
1864, Fort Fisher, First Battle, Confederate.  (December)  Primarily extracts of published histories.  34 items.

026/6/13
1864, Fort Fisher, First Battle, Federal.  (December)  Primarily extracts of published histories.  24 items.

026/7/1              
1864, Rose Greenhow.  Extracts of published accounts of her death.  4 items.

026/7/2              
1864, Sidney Lanier.  Extracts of published Letters from Sidney Lanier while at Wilmington and Smithville, to his friend Will Hopson.  3 items.

026/7/3              
1864, Movement Through Wilmington.  Includes a Confederate Transportation Circular (Item 1) of Instruction to Post Quartermasters and Agents in Charge of Transportation, which explicitly defines conditions for granting transportation tickets.  6 items.

026/7/4
1864, Preparation for Battle, Confederate.  10 items.

026/7/5              
1864, Preparation for Battle, Federal.  17 items, 2p.

026/7/6              
1864, Prices.  1 item.

026/7/7              
1864, Raids.  9 items.

026/7/8-11         
1864, Salt Works.  Extracts of newspaper articles concerning salt prices, sale notices of salt works, and raids on salt works.  Communications between Gov. Vance, Salt Commissioner D.G. Worth, General Whiting, and others, concerning the defense of the State Salt Works.  79 items, 26p.

026/7/12-13       
1864, Soldiers and Letters.  Primarily Letters sent from Forts Holmes and Fisher, Camps Lamb, Whiting, and Davis.  32 items, 8p.

026/7/14           
1864, Wilmington Defense.  Data on military personnel in LCF.  28 items.

026/7/15           
1864, Wilmington Harbor.  2 items.

026/7/16           
1864,Yellow Fever.  4 items.

026/8/1
1865, Between Battles, Confederate.  (December 1864-January 1865)  17 items.

026/8/2             
1865, Between Battles, Federal.  (December 1864-January 1865)  22 items, 1p.

026/8/3             
1865, Civilian Reaction.  (January - February)  8 items.

026/8/4             
1865, Coming Home.  8 items.

026/8/5             
1865, End of War.  (March- May)  Includes roster (Item 7) of the 3rd North Carolina Infantry, organized February 2, 1866.  7 items, 1p.

026/8/6            
1865, Fall of Wilmington.  (February)  Includes listing (Item 17) of Federal regiments in the LCF in December 1864-July 1865.  17 items.

026/8/7-9          
1865, Fort Fisher, Second Battle, Confederate.  (January)  Primarily extracts of published histories.  50 items.

026/8/10-11       
1865, Fort Fisher, Second Battle, Confederate.  (January)  Primarily extracts of published histories.  32 items.