Surrender of Fort Macon

Edgecombe Native Takes Fort Without Fight

________

            It was April 14, 1861. The sun was low in the west when the 54 men from Beaufort and Carolina City [Morehead City], Carteret Co., NC marched from the steamer Cora onto the sandy beach at Fort Macon. The newly recruited company, led by Edgecombe Co. native Josiah Solomon Pender, was there to capture the federal fort that protected the port of Beaufort. The take-over was a gentlemanly, quiet affair. No shots were fired and the fort was turned over with a minimum of ado.

            What led to this quiet change of command?

Josiah Solomon Pender
Taken from "Find A Grave"
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42229086/josiah-solomon-pender

            Prior to the start of the Civil War, with no threatening enemies, forts along the coast of the US had been all but deserted. Older soldiers, as a reward for years of faithful service, had been assigned caretaker duties. Most of the forts had fallen into disrepair. Fort Macon was no different.

            There was only one man on duty at Fort Macon in April 1861—William Alexander, 50 years old, a 30-year veteran who had served gallantly in the Mexican War. His wife, Ann L. Livesay Alexander, a Morehead City native, also lived at the fort.

Alexander knew trouble was on the way. Other forts along the southern coast had been captured by state forces. He was part of the Beaufort community, and he had heard the secessionist rumblings. In fact, on April 2, Alexander wrote Col. H. K. Craig in Washington, D.C. asking for a revolver for his protection. On April 12, the day the war began at Fort Sumter in Charleston, S.C., Alexander learned from Col. Craig that he was on his own. There were no revolvers available.

By the morning of April 14, Sgt. Alexander had already received word that Pender intended to capture the fort. He wrote Col. Craig again: “… A company of secessionists led by Josiah S. Pender of Beaufort are today going to seize this fort …am at a loss how to act, in premises, what to do, or where to go. I have served the US Army for the last thirty years, and am now no longer fit for any active service, have my family at the Post, and all of my property. The latter I expect to lose—having no where to move it—and cannot at this time convert anything into money.”

Cover of  Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
May 17, 1872 From North Carolina County Photographic Collection #P0001, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill .

Josiah Pender was a fervent secessionist. It was clear to him that there would be a need to keep the port at Beaufort in southern hands. In anticipation of this, he formed the Beaufort Harbor Guards, a 17-man militia company. He was acting with no official authorization. NC had not yet seceded from the Union and, in fact, would not do so until May 20. On January 9, when local citizens seized Fort Johnston and Fort Caswell near Wilmington [New Hanover Co.], NC, Gov. Ellis, who was not ardent in support of secession, sent state militia to restore the forts to US control. Obviously, Pender could not assume Ellis would support the take-over of Fort Macon.

When news of the Fort Sumter, SC attack was telegraphed to Beaufort, Pender was ready to act. His company, along with other local volunteers, boarded the Cora for the short trip across Bogue Sound to Fort Macon. Sgt. Alexander had no choice but to surrender. He and his wife remained at the fort to pack their belongings and were removed to Beaufort on April 17. Alexander was ordered to remain there to await orders. Those orders never came, and he remained where he was until Union forces re-took Fort Macon in March 1862.

After Alexander’s surrender, the triumphant Pender telegraphed S.C. Gov. Francis Pickens of his actions. He also requested guns for the fort. Apparently, he did not notify N. C. Gov. Ellis.

State Takes Fort

It is not clear when Gov. Ellis learned of the take-over of Fort Macon. However, on April 15, when President Lincoln requested troops from N.C. and Ellis realized that the Union was ready to use force against the South, a decision had to be made. Would N.C. fight with its friends, neighbors and kinfolks, or against them? Gov. Ellis made the decision and ordered the seizure of all federal operations within the state. The Goldsboro Rifles, under the Command of Capt. Marshall Crafton, were ordered to take Fort Macon. In short order, Crafton’s company and the newly formed Goldsboro Volunteers [Wayne County] were on their way to Beaufort. The next day, they assumed control of the fort from Capt. Pender.

Fort Macon was falling apart. The moat surrounding the fort had collapsed. Only 4 cannons were mounted, and their carriages so fragile as to be unusable. The backbreaking work of reinforcing the fort began on April 17. By the next week, there were more workers than could be accommodated. Capt. Henry T. Guion had brought 61 free negro volunteers and 21 slaves. The Elm City Rifles [Wilson County], The Neuse Cavalry [Craven County], The Wilson Light Infantry, The Edgecombe Guards, The Guilford [Guilford Co.]Grays, The Orange Guards, and the Warren Guards had all arrived. Many of them were soon disbursed to other assignments.

Fort Macon today as taken from the shore.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Macon_State_Park

The work continued throughout the summer, and by the end of August, the fort had been completely restored. The refurbished fort was officially turned over to the Confederacy on August 20.

Pender’s volunteer company joined the state forces on May 16 as Company G, Tenth NC Artillery with Pender as their captain. After NC seceded, the unit became part of the Army of the Confederacy. Pender’s son, Walter, only 17 years old, was a lieutenant in the Beaufort Harbor Guards. He was accidentally shot the next year. Some say the accident happened while he was instructing troops in the use of the bayonet. Another story is that he was playing around when he was shot.

Pender was not entirely happy with the situation after the state took over Fort Macon. On June 18, he tendered his resignation unless he was given a better position. The letter, contained in the William & Emmet Robinson Collection at Johnston Co. [NC] Heritage Center, includes the following: “… I have been promised time & again … Men have been promoted … neither practice nor theory in military matters. … I have submitted to be ruled & insulted even by those that knew nothing in regard to their military duties & in all human probability never will. …” The position he wanted was that of Lieut. Col. of Artillery.

Pender did not resign, but there were still problems. His wife was seriously ill in Beaufort; life at the fort was dull. In November, when his request for leave was denied, he left without permission. He falsely claimed that Gen. D. H. Hill had given him leave. He was also accused of having taken items from the Union with a forged requisition.  A general court martial at Morehead City found him guilty, and on 29 Dec 1861 he was dismissed from the Confederate Army for “Conduct unbecoming an officer & a gentleman.”

Col. Lawrence O’Bryan Branch wrote of Josiah, “ … I know him to be brave, enterprising and intelligent, and devotedly anxious for the success of the Cause. …” However, it is likely that Pender was relieved to be free of the restraints of military life.

[Taken from The Connector, Newsletter of the Tar River Connections Genealogy Society, Vol. 8, No. 2, Spring 2004]

S. K. Fountain—Renaissance Man

     The term "Renaissance Man" refers to a person with genius in many areas or a person who does many different things very well. Spencer K. (S. K.) Fountain surely qualified as a "Renaissance Man."

     S. K. earned his bread and butter working for the railroad. He began, at the age of 17, as a telegraph operator for the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, later the Atlantic Coastline Railroad. In 1871, he became the passenger and freight agent in charge of the freight, ticket office and shops. He continued that service for the rest of his 54 years with the railroad. He was also credited with being the prime force behind getting the Emerson Railroad Shops brought to Rocky Mount. The railroad yard was a major source of jobs and revenue for the area for many years.

This is a picture of an engine being repaired at Emerson Shops about 1928.
The picture is from Worthpoint:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/atlantic-coast-line-acl-emerson-shops-1622372470

     S. K. learned telegraphy in 1867. Fountain was involved in the construction of the telegraph line from Tarboro [Edgecombe Co.] to Washington, [Beaufort Co.] NC that was completed in 1881. The first message over the line was reprinted in the Tarborough Southerner: "To Dossey Battle [Editor]: We send greetings. Washington is successfully connected by telegraph." The message was dated April 27, 1881, and signed by S. K. Fountain. He and his brother, Joe Fountain, an ACL Superintendent at Wilmington [New Hanover Co.], NC, supervised the installation of the first telegraph line from Rocky Mount to Wilmington.

     In 1880, Fountain, while continuing his work with the railroad, opened Rocky Mount Iron Works, Rocky Mount's first foundry and machine works. This business was located on East Main Street between Marigold and Hill Streets in Rocky Mount [Edgecombe Co.]. It was probably the knowledge gained at this business that enabled him to be so successful in some of his other ventures.

     S.K. is credited with bringing the telephone to Rocky Mount. Between 1885 and 1890, Fountain and his sons, Will and Wyatt, strung a single span of wire from the freight depot to the Rocky Mount Mills. They hung the line on trees or poles along the railroad right-of-way of the spur track to the mill. For insulators, S.K. cut off tops of soft drink bottles, hung them on nails and strung the wire across them. Fountain devised flaked carbon and cotton against a thin metal diaphragm for transmitter and earphone. 

     A turn of the crank signaled the other end of the line. He did this to establish voice communication between the railroad station and its most important client, the Rocky Mount Mills. He installed bells to alert the other end of an incoming call, and the signal was cut off by placing the receiver in a cradle. He was able to alert mill operators of arriving freight and get their requirements for freight cars for loading.

     This initial effort caused S.K. to use his Rocky Mount Iron Works, which was originally intended for farm machinery, castings, and steam engine repairs, to produce telephone equipment. He found few sources of supply for the necessary magnetos and coils, so he designed and made the castings himself and went into their manufacture. 

     Telephone Exchange

     The Rocky Mount telephone exchange had its beginnings in the S.K. Fountain home on S. Church St. It was operated by members of the Fountain household. By the late 1880s his telephone system had grown until he had a total of 20 subscribers in a thriving town of 500 souls. The exchange was later located upstairs in the Vaughan Building, later Epstein's Ladies Shop on NE Main St.

     The local telephone exchange kept pace with the growth of the city. There was a telephone in the Bank of Rocky Mount, between the Municipal Building and No. 1 Fire Station on NE Main Street. In 1895, S.K. enlisted the aid of Dr. W. P. Mercer and established telephone service between Rocky Mount and Tarboro. From the exchange at Dr. Mercer's home at Temperance Hall in Edgecombe Co., he also connected with a phone circuit to Wilson, NC.

     As the demand for service continued to grow, S.K. began manufacturing his own telephones. He organized a telephone manufacturing business located on Main and Washington Streets in the block south of Hill St. In 1890 Rocky Mount's first Chamber of Commerce boasted "telephone manufacturing" among its businesses. He also continued manufacturing and testing materials at Rocky Mount Iron Works, which occupied most of the block bounded by S. Main, Hill and Marigold Streets and extended across what is now Washington Street.

     Fountain continued to manage the telephone exchange business for years. He eventually sold the exchange to the Henderson Telephone Exchange when 1,200 phones drew too heavily upon his time from the railroad. Later this company merged with the Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Co.

A Horseless Carriage

     Typical of a Renaissance Man, Fountain was also interested in transportation. He built a "horseless carriage" by mounting a gasoline engine on a wooden frame with McCormick mowing machine wheels. However, he had problems with control. When he cranked up on S. Franklin St. and got it to full power, it became unmanageable and tore down his son-in-law's garden fence before he could get the engine stopped. He was undaunted however, and soon had his gasoline engine driving a railroad handcar. He toured much of the neighboring railroad sections on it. Three or four could be seated across the front and were protected by a big shade umbrella.
     Around the turn of the century, S.K. brought the first motorcar to Rocky Mount. It was a Reo runabout. The engine was located under the single seat and it was cranked from the side to start it.

This is a 1905 Reo Runabout, later than the one owned by Fountain. This is an ad card rather than a postcard.
The image is from from ebay:
https://picclick.com/1905-REO-Runabout-Motor-Car-Automobile-Vintage-372676346868.html

     A second car, a touring car, was purchased in 1904 from Dr. Stuart McGuire of Richmond, VA. This machine was painted red and was commonly called the "Red Devil." It had gaslights and much shining brass, with the direction controlled by a steering wheel. It created a stir in town and frightened the horses. Unfortunately, it ran over the dog owned by F.S. Spruill, Sr., the division counsel of the railroad.
     There are other "firsts" attributed to S.K. His home was the first in Rocky Mount to be lighted by electricity. He also had the first gas in his home. He had the first talking machine and made his own records from wax discs. He also experimented with radios and built one of his own. He owned the first bicycle here— a model with a tall forward wheel and small rear wheel. On an old business card, dated July 4, 1892, was printed: S.K. Fountain, Dealer in Ice. In 1904, he was chairman of the first meeting to discuss the establishment of a YMCA in Rocky Mount. The plan matured in 1911.

And Musical, Too

     As if his talents in all these other areas were not sufficient, S.K. was also the leader of an early Rocky Mount band—the "Silver Coronet Band." He played the violin for amusement.

     When he saw crowds gather each year for a riding tournament at Old Sparta in Edgecombe Co, Fountain reasoned that here was the making of an agricultural fair for Rocky Mount. Through his initiative and effort, the fair was held and brought the single biggest crowd of the year to the city.

     When Fountain reached the age of 70 in 1921, he retired from the railroad. He applied to Harry Walters, Chairman of the ACL Board of Directors, and who had been a contemporary friend of his, to permit him to continue to work. He was physically able to work, he wrote, and he further advised Walters that his pension was not sufficient to sustain him. It was not until Mr. Walters had assured him that he, too, would step down in a brief time, that S.K. became satisfied. Walters told him he could do nothing to increase the pension, but he enclosed a check for $10,000 as a gift of appreciation for his long service and faithful and fruitful work.

Who Was S.K. Fountain?

     Spencer K. Fountain was born at Buckhorn, in Wilson Co., NC on 26 Dec 1848 to Carolina Virginia Adams and Spencer Fountain. His mother was the daughter of Mary James Hobbs and George Washington Adams. S.K. Fountain married Sarah (Sallie) Louise Vaughan, b. 18 Dec 1852, on 22 Dec 1879. She was from Halifax County, NC. They had nine children.

[This article first appeared in The Connector, newsletter of the Tar River Connections Genealogical Society. Sources for that article were: Article by Hazel Rawls Carr, S.K. Fountains great grand daughter; "S.K. Fountain Was a Man of Many Firsts," by Pattie Lambert; "Fountain Switchboard on Display … " by Jim Nichols, Evening Telegram, 17 Nov 1974; "When the Railroad Came to Town," Evening Telegram, 29 Aug 1995.]

[Fayetteville Weekly Observer (Fayetteville, NC) 1 Jan 1850]

He Sold Her Teeth.

[Reidsville Times.]

            Mr. Bangs, a widower from a near county, appeared in Danville, Va., with a full set of his first wife’s false teeth set on old fashioned gold plate. The former Mrs. Bangs wished those teeth buried with her, but Bangs had an eye to profit and loss, and he laid them aside for a rainy day, when he could wipe all tears away, and December would seem as happy as May. So Bangs “set ‘em up”” and got the money down. He bought his wedding clothes with the money and now he and the second Mrs. Bangs are as happy as two on a limb. Chew this, ladies. It’s the truth.

The Tarborough Southerner (Tarboro, NC) 1 Jan 1885

[The Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, NC) 28 May 1879]

THE AIRSHIP VISITS WILLIAMSTON

__________

(Special to the [Wilmington] Messenger.)

            Williamson [Martin County]  N. C., April 14 [1897].—The mysterious airship seen at Wilmington and other points was observed here last night about 9 o’clock. When first noticed it appeared as a black mass against the moon-lit sky, going slowly from South to North. Its altitude was not great, being near enough to enable the observer to discern outlines of its rigging with the naked eye. As it passed over the town it ascended rapidly and a brilliant light was thrown out far ahead of it. The light was seen by some who could not, on account of the great height it had attained, catch the faintest glimpse of the aerial machine. If it should appear again there will be many to behold it as people are much interested and will watch for its re-appearance. — News and Observer (Raleigh, NC) 16 Apr 1897

_________

            The airship was first seen in North Carolina at Wilmington [New Hanover County] about April 5, 1897. The Semi-Weekly Messenger of that city reported that hundreds of people watched as the brilliant mass floated from east to west across the sky. “Many persons saw net-work about the aerial wonder.” Watchers with field glasses observed its wires, ropes and rigging and all were amazed by its powerful searchlight.

            The mysterious airship was next seen at Goldsboro [Wayne County] about April 9^th or 10^th. The Press-Visitor of Raleigh [Wake County] said: “Those who saw the object describe it as a great light moving rapidly from east to west.”

________

Found at http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/oddities/airship.html

            On April 13 The Press-Visitor in Raleigh carried the following article:

THE AIRSHIP.

_____

Arrangements Made for Its Appearance Tonight.

            The Press-Visitor this afternoon completed arrangements by which the air-ship will appear over Raleigh at 3 o’clock tomorrow morning.

            Efforts were made to secure its appearance here on a dark night, but the dates were all taken save tonight. This will prevent Raleigh, owing to the moon-light, from having quite as good a view as some other towns.

________

            Apparently the mysterious airship had an identity by this time. The Press-Visitor reported that many saw the airship pass over the city. It was identified as “the first automobile dirigible balloon ever invented which is a success. It is simple in its construction. It consists of an elliptical gasbag 128 feet in length and a car weighing 45 pounds. It is constructed on the aeroplane system, and operates perfectly. [This is 6 years before the Wright brothers first flew an ‘aeroplane’ over the sandy beach of NC.] The machine is operated by an electric storage battery and propeller. Its lifting power depends upon the number of cubic feet of gas in the bag."

            This announcement this did not stop the speculation. The airship continued to be spotted and by the time it was seen over Kenly [Johnston, Wilson Counties] about April 22, watchers saw sails and (very clearly) two men. 

            The Kenly sighting was the last reported in local newspapers throughout the months of April and May of 1897. The excitement had run its course.

PIRATES LAND ON 

CURRITUCK BEACH

1820

          Murder and Piracy.—Norfolk (Virginia) July 19.—On Saturday last, five seamen, who had come up from the beach near Currituck Inlet, stopped at a tavern a short distance beyond the draw-bridge, where they deposited their baggage, and came into town [Norfolk]. They reported that they belonged to an English brig bound from New Providence to Liverpool, which had foundered off the coast of North Carolina; but, among other circumstances, that of their having each a considerable number of Spanish dollars, which they carried about them quilted in belts, led to a belief that they had been engaged in some piratical enterprise; and yesterday our vigilant chief magistrate issued his warrant to have them brought up for examination, and accordingly Thomas Jones, John Radcliffe, Charles Rogers, alias Nicholas Wilcom, Philip Pierce, and Nathan Smith, were conducted into court. 
           Nathan Smith, a native of Belfast, State of Maine, was summoned as a witness in the case, and, being sworn, stated, that he shipped at New York, in the ship Curiazo, which ship was bound to Buenos Ayres, where she remained two months. He was then compelled (having no money) to enter on board the ship Union, a patriot privateer; remained on board the Union six months; was sent in a Spanish prize to Buenos Ayres. He then shipped in the Patriot brig General Rondeau, captain David Miles, and sailed on a cruise. He detailed the transactions on the cruise, which extended to the coasts of Spain and Portugal, and in the Mediterranean. They returned through the Straits, and proceeded to the West Indies. The witness then stated as follows:— “The captain (Miles) used the men very ill; and the day after we passed the island of Barbados, the crew mutinied, and rose upon the officers. I was below at the time the mutiny took place, being a little intoxicated. I heard a great noise upon deck, as of a number of people in a scuffle, and now and then the clashing of swords.

1821 map of the Norther Outer Banks showing New Currituck Inlet
near the North Carolina-Virginia border. Taken from OBX Connection:
 http://www.obxconnection.com/outer-banks-forum/forum-thread.aspx?Thread=35991

            “It immediately occurred to me that the crew were engaged in massacring the officers, and on going on deck next morning, I had but too good grounds for suspicions. The deck was sprinkled with blood, and six officer, viz.—Captain David Miles, second lieutenant M’Sweeney, the captain of Marines, the serjeant of marines, purser, master’s mate, and four privates of Marines, were missing, and several of the crew on board severely wounded. I was informed, that the officers and marines who were missing, were sent away in a boat. This happened about 12 miles from an island, the name of which I was ignorant of.            
          “The crew then took charge of the privateer, and appointed Robinson the gunner, captain—hailed the prize-brig, which was still in company, and told the prize-master to go where he pleased. Shifted our course for the United States, and in two days made land; we then stood for Charleston, and, three days after, put three men on board an English brig, and paid the captain for their passage to England 20 bags of sugar. Three days after, spoke a sloop bound to New York; wanted to put some of our men on board of her, but the wind blew too hard: two days after, spoke an American schooner from Savannah for Boston, and put 13 or 15 more of our men on board of her, paying 20 bags of sugar for their passage. Next day made the land again, which proved, to be the coast of North Carolina, when 15 or 16 of the stoutest men remaining on board turned to and plundered the privateer of everything valuable, which they carried ashore with them in a boat, and abandoned the General Rondeau, leaving me and 13 more on board.           
             “Robinson (the captain) then proposed to run into Wilmington [New Hanover Co.], and give the privateer up to the United States, which was determined on. Off the bar we were boarded by a pilot, who remained on board two days, when he left us, and went ashore with Robinson, and five of the crew. We were then chased two days by an United States’ revenue cutter, and escaped in a heavy blow. The General Rondeau leaked very badly for two or three days after the blow, and as soon as we got her with 20 or 30 miles of land we scuttled her, and took to the boat, bringing with us only our clothes. We landed on Currituck beach at night, where we found lodgings, and the next morning proceeded on to Blackwater [River] in a boat, and there hired three carts to fetch us on to Norfolk.” 
            The money which these men had, they say, was taken out of one of the feluccas [two masted ship] captured up the Straits. One states the sum taken to have been 6,000 dollars, and another 14,000 dollars; but the whole was divided amongst the crew after the mutiny. A few bales of cochineal [red dye] were also taken out of the felucca, which were on board the General Rondeau when they abandoned her. The amount found upon the prisoners is 9,272 dollars, 25 cents, which has been deposited in the United States’ Bank. There are two more of the party who came ashore at Currituck, but they were left on the road from Blackwater, being too unwell to travel.                       
            After a patient examination of nearly five hours, the prisoners were all committed to gaol.            Smith, whose description is given above, is the only American of the party. The rest are all Englishmen. It is also stated that the crew of the brig was composed chiefly of English and Spaniards, or natives of South America.
            Robinson and his five companions, who left the privateer off Wilmington bar, have been apprehended at Smithville [Southport], North Carolina, and 4 of the 15 or 16 who had previously left her, are also in custody at Wilmington, North Carolina.

[Taken from The Annual Register: A View of the History, Politicks and Literature of the Year 1820]

          CAPT. JOHN IVEY.—The Roanoke News [Weldon, NC] states that this gentleman who has been for a large number of years running as a passenger conductor on the Wilmington and Weldon road, and who is deservedly popular, has resigned his position as a conductor to accept the place of depot agent at Rocky Mount. Capt. Jos. M. Howell succeeds Capt. Ivey as conductor.

[Wilmington Journal (Wilmington, NC) 15 Oct 1869, Page 1]

http://www.sparkmuseum.com/TELEPHONE.HTM

HOME TELEPHONE AND

TELEGRAPH COMPANY.

          The following points can now be reached over the lines of this company:

Ashville,        N. C.                                     Atlanta, Ga.
Charlotte,                                                Baltimore, Md.
Beaufort,            “                              Chattanooga, Tenn.
Durham,             “                                  Charleston, S. C.
Enfield,               “                                    Chase City, Va.
Goldsboro,         ”                                          Chicago, Ill.
Greensboro,       “                                     Cincinnati, Ohio
Henderson,         “                                      Columbia, S. C.
Littleton,            “                                           Danville, Va.
Louisburg,          “                                       Lynchburg, Va.
New Berne,         “                                     Nashville, Tenn.
Oxford,              “                                      New York, N. Y.
Raleigh,                “                                   New Orleans, La.
Rocky Mt.,           “                                           Norfolk, Va.
Warrenton,           “                                       Petersburg, Va.
Weldon,               “                                    Philadelphia, Pa.
Wilmington,         “                                      Richmond, Va.
Winston,              “                                         St. Louis, Mo.

          And all other important and intermediate points east of the Mississippi River.

                                                             F. C. TOEPLEMAN,
                                                                        Gen. Manager





http://www.bobsoldphones.net/Pages/Kellogg/Kellogg.htm

[The Eastern Reflector, Pitt County, North Carolina: July 12, 1904]

RALEIGH WINS FIRST STATE

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

[1913]

By N. W. Walker

"The State high school championship contest in football, inaugurated last fall under the auspices of the General Alumni Athletic Association of the University, was won by the Raleigh City High School, at Chapel Hill, on Saturday, December 13th [1913]. The preliminary contests narrowed the claimants for championship honors down to three teams—Raleigh [Wake Co., NC], Washington [Beaufort Co., NC], and Wilmington [New Hanover Co., NC]. The committee on athletics accordingly arranged for two games to be played at Chapel Hill.

"The first game was played by Raleigh and Wilmington, Saturday, December 6th, and resulted in a score of 29 to 6 in favor of Raleigh. The second game was played by Raleigh and Washington, on Saturday, December 13th, and score was 29 to 0 in favor of Raleigh. The Raleigh High School team was, therefore, declared winner of the championship title, and was accordingly awarded a silver cup, presented by Alexander Taylor and Company, of New York, through the Athletic Association.

"The teams that played the two games at Chapel Hill gave two beautiful exhibitions of football. It is believed by many who saw the games that the Raleigh team was the best strictly amateur high school team ever developed in the State. Its work was little short of perfect for a high school team. There is no question about the ability of this team to defend the championship title with great credit for 1913 and to hold it against all comers.

"The following paragraphs, commenting on the work of Mr. Phillips, who coached the team, and giving the records of the individual players, are taken from the Raleigh News and Observer of December 14:

"The coaching of the Raleigh eleven has been done by Mr. G. B. Phillips, who does not pose as a University star but who learned to play ball while at college and worked with 'Doggie' Trenchard during the summer and who has wrought well this season. After the class room duties of the day, Mr. Phillips has spent his afternoons this fall on the athletic field and has helped the capital boys mold themselves into a victorious football machine.

Individual Records Of Players On The Raleigh Team

Raymond Tyree, center, age 16, weight 140, sophomore. Tyree can pass the ball and get his man and that is why he plays at center.

Sam Parham, right guard, age 18, weight 168, freshman. Sam is a strong, fearless guard who always holds his part in the line.

Stewart Crinkley, left guard, age 16, weight 160, senior. Crinkley's avoirdupois, hard work and consistent playing make him a dependable guard.

Toxy Whitaker, right tackle, age 16, weight 163, sophomore. Whitaker's weight, strength and grit make him a good tackle.

Carlyle Weathers, L. T., age 17, weight 173, junior. Carlyle blocks his hole in the line, gets his man and always stops him, too. The tackling and the line-breaking of this strong, fearless chap assures him a berth on the All-State team.

Andrew Crinkley, R. E., age 18, weight 140, graduate. Andrew waited until late in the season to don his uniform and show them how he did it last season. But in landing forward passes, in breaking up interference and in fast, gritty playing, he ranks first among high school ends in the State.

Ralph McDonald, L. E., age 17, weight 130, senior. When necessary, Ralph can do well in the back field; and at his end he gives full account of himself in breaking up interference and helping with the forward passes.

Earl Johnson, Q., age 16, weight 135, junior. In speed, grit and generalship, Earl easily ranks first among the football generals in the high schools of the State.

Ralph Champion, R. H., age 17, weight 154, freshman. While Johnson was out with a bad shoulder, Ralph was a good general; and in his regular position at right half he belongs on the All-State team. His grit, endurance and strength can carry the pig skin through the line or around the end; or he can run the interference for another to make the gain.

Eugene Mills, L. H., age 17, weight 140, sophomore. In clean, gentlemanly, speedy playing, Captain Mills is a star. His long end runs, his running of interference and his toe work are brilliant.

William Bowen, F. B., age 17, weight 160, sophomore. In plunging the line and in booting the pigskin, Bowen is a star player. In fact, in his punting he ranks with college booters.
Roy Smith, who has played right end in a majority of the games, has a plenty of speed and grit to make up for his feather-weight.

Betts, Koontz, and Coley have played splendid ball as utility men."

[Taken from The North Carolina high school bulletin, Volume 5, 1914: edited by Nathan Wilson Walker. This publication was digitized by Google and can be found by searching Google books.]

 



A Few Words About Mister Ganey

“As a finale to the record of characters whom I personally knew around Wilmington it would not be just to omit one who was unique, if not distinguished, in my early recollections of the town. The facts in regard to him, as given here, are nearly literally true, and may serve to illustrate a phase of our ante-bellum civilization which is not familiar to the present generation, and for their benefit I record them in the following form.

Ganey—Mr. Ganey, as he preferred to be called— was a curiosity; one of those half-witted creatures who occasionally startle us with an observation that sounds uncomfortably like satire. He lived in a cabin in the woods, worked sometimes, when obliged to, in the surrounding turpentine forest, but subsisted chiefly on the charity of the neighboring planters. Although "innocent of the trammels of spelling," and as superstitious as the most ignorant (person), he regarded himself as much better than his poor neighbors. He even assumed an air of familiarity—but in a very solemn way—with the gentlemen to whose houses he paid his periodical begging visits, and was extremely sensitive to any fancied slight on such occasions. In imitation of them he thought it incumbent on him to carry an umbrella, and wear a high hat and gloves of some kind, and he recognized no distinction as to the time when this was to be done; so that, even when chipping turpentine (by an act of trespass on some planter's land) he might sometimes be seen arrayed in a cast-off stove-pipe hat and tattered cotton gloves, and carrying a faded umbrella in one hand, and a turpentine hacker in the other. He liked to be "mistered" when spoken to, and a failure to so dignify him was sure to be responded to by a similar neglect to attach a handle to the name of the person thus addressing him. He had contracted from the local piney woods preachers a habit of droning his words through his nose, and of adding, with an indescribable emphasis, "er" to every third or fourth one, without regard to whether it was a proper name or not. Strange to say, too, he was—perhaps from an incapacity to appreciate danger—absolutely fearless. He borrowed a gun on one occasion and went to a public gathering to demand satisfaction from a leading and wealthy planter for some alleged indignity to him. When asked what he was carrying a gun for, he replied that he was "a totin' it for that wolf-er." "What wolf do you mean?"

"I mean that Mc er," he replied; and the gentleman referred to having just then made his appearance on the round, Ganey would have shot him if he had not been knocked down and disarmed. As soon as he recovered his feet he attempted a second assault, and to the magistrate who seized him and commanded the peace he said:

"You git out'n the way-er, you's a Dimmycrat-er, an' me and him's both Whigs-er."

When food for powder was getting very scarce during the war between the States Ganey was conscripted. He had escaped service up to that time because nobody would enlist him, but they took him at last. He was not afraid of the fighting that was in prospect, but he did have a mortal aversion to being ordered about "like a (poor person)," and made to sleep on the ground, and go hungry, and barefooted, and ragged, as he had seen some of the soldiers doing. So, when he was being brought into town, rigged out in his old stove-pipe hat and cotton gloves, and while crossing a deep and wide stream in a ferry boat, he suddenly stepped overboard, to the astonishment and dismay of the guard, and, disappearing for a moment, rose again serenely to the surface and began to float off, looking like a bottle with a long stopper in it. He was rescued and, on being asked how he managed to float, as he did not seem to try to swim, replied:

"I reckin the Lord done it-er—but I was a'treadin' water-er."

After an interview with the conscript officer, during which he solemnly swore that he was sixty-five years old, although not over forty, if that, it was thought best to put him in the Home Guard, and accordingly he was furnished with an old musket and sent to a sea-coast village which was garrisoned by a Home Guard regiment and a few regular troops. It was a very hot day and the road was through deep sand all the way. After trudging for two or three hours along this road he at last arrived in the village, and upon turning a corner of the street he came to a house with a wide piazza fronting the harbor, and discovered sitting on the piazza in his shirt-sleeves, reading a newspaper and looking exceedingly comfortable, an elderly gentleman whom he at once recognized as the proprietor of a large plantation in the county and whom he had often seen sitting on the county court bench. He immediately halted, brought his old musket down with a thud in the sand, wiped the streams of perspiration from his face with his sleeve, and without other salutation, said:

"I'd like to know how it is-er, that we poor folks-er has to come a-walkin' and a-sweatin'-er through the sand-er, for to fight the battles of the country-er, and you swell heads-er is a-settin' on your piazzas a-keepin' cool-er?"

"Good morning, Ganey," said the gentleman, without noticing the inquiry.

"Good mornin', Green-er," replied Ganey, resenting the neglect to "mister" him, "but you haint answered my question-er."0

"Well, Ganey, the reason I am sitting here, and don't turn out with the soldiers is that I am an officer of the regiment."

"You are an officer of the regiment-er? What officer are you-er?"

"I am the Commissary."

"You are the Commissary-er ? What is a Commissary-er?"

"A Commissary is the man that provides rations for the troops—that feeds them."

"A Commissary is the man-er that provides rations for the troops-er, that feeds them?" Well, what are we gwine to have for dinner today-er?

"Really, I don't know, Ganey."

"You don't know-er? Well, you're not fittin' to be a Commissary-er; I'm a-gwine home-er."

And he did go and was allowed to remain there.

One of Ganey's peculiarities was his inordinate fondness for ham, which he conceived to be the most aristocratic of all dishes, and sufficient, if supplemented by wheat bread, to satisfy the most fastidious palate. Bacon in any other form, and corn bread, were objects of his special contempt, the reason being that those articles constituted the standard dishes of the poor whites and (blacks). Nothing short of extreme hunger and the inability to get other food could induce him to eat them. For a ham, however, and some flour he was always willing to sacrifice his pride, even to the extent of working, and the possession of these articles completely filled the measure of his happiness, and brought the umbrella, stove-pipe hat and gloves into continuous use while the larder held out.

The progress of the war, however, resulted in a steady reduction of the number of these seasons of happiness for him, and hams became correspondingly more precious in his sight.

Finally, when all was over, and the Northern soldiers took possession, Ganey, who had not seen a ham in a long time, learned that the Government Commissary in town was distributing rations to the half-starved people, and he thereupon started for the scene of action. His habiliments were more picturesque than ever. His head—which looked as if it had been driven into his shoulders with a force that bent them—was covered by a "bell-crown" of the year 1856, and his clothes consisted of a threadbare and shiny "claw-hammer" of still earlier date, which displayed a waist of excessive length and a tail that appeared to have begun to grow out of it but had never reached maturity, and a pair of baggy cotton trousers. Supplementing these, he wore a pair of gloves which suggested a compromise between mittens and cavalry gauntlets, and the melancholy remains of a pair of Confederate shoes. His umbrella—originally a green cotton one, now colorless except where patched—was used as a walking cane, and with the rib ends tied around the handle, resembled a balloon in the first stages of inflation. As thus arrayed, and walking in the middle of the road leading to town, visions of ham—boiled ham, fried ham, and raw ham—and of flour in barrels, sacks, buckets, or cooked as bread, floated before him and quickened his gait. He did not "let on" to anybody the condition of his mind or stomach, but, as he afterwards confessed, he did "natally hone after ham and flour vittles."

Underlying this longing appetite, however, there was a feeling of dissatisfaction with the business for which he had started to town. He had always regarded his levy of contributions on the surrounding planters as not only legitimate but as a sort of vested right which had been confirmed by long acquiescence on their part but he had never seen any "Yankees"— except a foraging party, who were not engaged in distributing charity—and, being uncertain as to how he might be treated, and withal a little shaky generally in regard to the outcome of the business, he insensibly slackened his pace as he approached the ferry—the same ferry which had been the scene of his floating exploit.

There was a guard of blue-coats there, who were greatly tickled by his appearance, and who chaffed him a little, but good-naturedly sent him on with a word of encouragement, at which his spirits began to revive rapidly. At last he reached the town and meeting a citizen, said:

"Mister, whur's the Commissary-er ?"

"At that large store, yonder," answered the man, pointing to a building into and out of which persons were passing, and then laughing in spite of himself at Ganey's outlandish rig.

Now, Ganey did not know the name of the Commissary, and was therefore entirely ignorant of the fact that he bore the same name as the Commissary of the Home Guard, for whose knowledge of his duties he had expressed such contempt .

He went to the building designated, and upon entering saw what he thought was the most entrancing sight his eyes ever rested on. An apparently countless number of flour barrels were piled over the wide floors, and hams by the hundred were hanging up, or scattered around, loose. Women and children were being supplied by the clerks with provisions of all sorts, and the rush of business quite bewildered him. Several young men of the town had been employed by the Commissary to assist in the work of distribution, and to designate the most needy of the applicants for assistance. One of these young men recognized Ganey as soon as he came in, but said nothing, knowing that Ganey did not remember him, even if he had ever seen him before, and having heard the story of his conversation with the Home Guard Commissary, and remembering the identity of the names of the two commissaries he at once resolved to have a little fun.

Every moment of his stay in the store seemed to enlarge the hollow in Ganey's anatomy, until he felt as if his whole interior was a howling wilderness. He looked and ached, going farther and farther into the store until he reached a point in front of the clerk, when the latter very politely inquired what he wished.

"I want to see the Commissary-er."

"You'll have to send in your name before he will see you, he's very busy just now."

'My name's Ganey-er, George Washington Ganey - er."

"Ah! Ganey's your name, is it ? Then you are the man that insulted him, and told him he was a very ignorant Commissary not to know what the soldiers were going to have for dinner1—and all that sort of thing. What do you want to see him for ?"

The expression on Ganey's face was indescribable.

"He told us," added the clerk, "that you would probably come in for a little help, and to be on the lookout for you."

"Who told you-er?" asked Ganey, with a wild look.

"I said the Commissary told us," answered the clerk.

"The Yankee Commissary-er? "Do you wish to insult Captain Green again, by calling him a Yankee ?" said the clerk, sharply. "Captain Green-er.”

"Yes, yes, Captain Green, the Commissary, the man that provides rations for the troops, that feeds 'em."

Poor Ganey! The hams and flour barrels seemed to be receding from his gaze, to be fading in the dim distance never to return, while the figure of Captain Green, sitting in his shirt sleeves, with a newspaper in his hands which fluttered in the breeze, rose up mockingly between him and this vision of bliss. His countenance assumed an expression of despair which was pitiful to see, and the heart of the clerk failed him in presence of such evident suffering. Finally he said:

"Mr. Ganey, Captain Green is a good, kind man, and I'll go into the office and see him for you. Perhaps he will not be hard with you."

Back again came the vision, slowly, but each moment more distinctly, until the world seemed to him to be a vast plain of snow-white flour, studded with golden hams.

"But here comes the Captain, now," and while Ganey looked anxiously for the elderly gentleman whom he knew, a fine looking young man walked out towards them and the clerk, addressing him, said:

"Captain Green, this is Mr. Ganey who wishes to see you," and immediately disappeared, leaving the two confronting each other.

The Captain thought this was the rarest specimen of a native he had yet encountered, and, regarding him for a moment during which he tried hard to keep his countenance, he said:

"Well, sir, what do you wish to see me about?"

"Are you the Commissary-er?

"Yes."

"That feller told me-er, Capt'n Green were the Commissary-er," said Ganey, with indignation.

Well, that was right; I am Captain Green."

Not until then did the truth dawn on Ganey, and it lifted a great weight from his heart. He looked around upon the wealth of hams and flour with an inexpressible longing, and then said:

"I heerd you was a-givin' out-er of rations-er, and I come to git some-er,—some ham-er and flour-er," the last words being uttered in a tone of almost pathetic anxiety.

"Were you in the rebel army ?" asked the Captain.

"They tuck me-er for the Home Guard-er, but I left the fust day-er," quickly answered Ganey; and he felt that he was getting closer to the hams and flour.

"Because," said the Captain, "we reserve the best rations for the rebel soldiers and their families."

Ganey almost fainted, and the entire stock of hams and flour seemed to have been suddenly snatched away by an evil spirit .

In despair he asked:

"What d'ye call-er the best rations-er ?"

"Oh, fresh meats, canned meats and vegetables, sugar and coffee and the like," answered the Captain.

Ganey had never seen any canned meat and did not know what the phrase meant, but he hoped— Oh! how he hoped it did not not mean ham. So, with almost a wail in his voice, he asked the question, and, upon receiving a negative answer, the vision re-appeared to him with more vividness than ever, and under its influence he almost forgot his "ers" in stating his case and the necessity of ham and flour to his very existence. The Captain was, as the clerk said, a good, kind man, and recognizing the situation he overwhelmed Ganey with astonishment by giving him two hams, a small sack of flour and some other things, with he eagerly seized upon and started off with, merely saying, as he left:

"I wish you well-er."

As he went out of town, fairly staggering under his load, he met the Commissary of the Home Guard who hailed him and said:

"Why, Ganey, you must have been to see the Yankee Commissary."
"Yes, and he knows what I'm gwine to have-er for dinner to-day-er!"

From: Alfred Moore Waddell, SOME MEMORIES OF MY LIFE [Raleigh, NC: Edwards and Broughton Printing Company, 1908: p. 61 -71.

When Trains Took 8 Hours

From Goldsboro To Weldon

That today's railroads form an effective and constantly improving communications arm in the scheme of national defense is emphasized by comparing a troop train time table issued 87 years ago during the War Between The States with today's Atlantic Coast Line schedules.

The Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, a Coast Line predecessor, issued the time table to govern the movement to Confederate Army troop trains between Goldsboro [Wayne County, NC] and Weldon, [Halifax County, NC],a distance of 78 miles. According to the schedule, the trip took eight hours in those days compared with three hours and 39 minutes now.

That portion from Goldsboro to Rocky Mount [Edgecombe/Nash Counties, NC] took four hours and 15 minutes in 1862. Today [1949] it is a one hour and 40 minutes run.

W.D. Rice, retired lumber mill foreman, Emerson [Railroad] shops, Rocky Mount, found the old time table recently in his father's trunk.

Also holding special interest is the wording carried at the bottom of the time table: "Trains returning will keep out of the way of all trains running on this table. They will leave Weldon at 6:15, 9:15, 12:15 and 3:15, day or night, passing the up or schedule trains at the principle turnouts, going through in about eight hours. Trains that have fallen one hour behind time will lay back for the next train and run its schedule. Not more than three trains to be run by one schedule and they will keep at least one mile apart.

"After one hour and ten minutes have elapsed from the time any train should have arrived, any empty or returning train may proceed cautiously, observing all the rules of safety prescribed on the general time table.

"When this time table goes into effect, all other time tables will be suspended until further notice. It will be announced by telegraph and an extra engine running with flags on both sides. [T]hen all section masters as well as trains will keep out of the way. Wood and water will be got ready immediately and kept ahead by some 25 to 50 cords, with extra hands at the pump. Section masters will at once have old sills cut up on their sections and all pumps kept in order. On this may depend the victory or defeat of our troops. All must do their duty efficiently and safely.

"S.L. Fremont.

Eng. And Sup't.

"Goldsboro, April 3, 1862."

The Richmond and Petersburg, the Petersburg and the Wilmington and Weldon, with approximately 245 miles of main line, formed the principal and most important means of communication with the country that supplied Lee's armies, particularly during the campaigns in Southeast Virginia and were, in effect, the "Bread Line" of the Confederacy. Their importance was further magnified by the fact that Wilmington [New Hanover County, NC] was the principal, and for a long time, the only open port that could be used by blockade runners bringing essential supplies for the forces of the Confederacy. Fort Fisher, commanding the mouth of the Cape Fear River below Wilmington, was of utmost importance to the Confederate plan of strategy and the railroads connecting Wilmington and Richmond furnished a line of communication that enabled the quick transport of troops and supplies.

Today, the Atlantic Coast Line, operating over the only double track route between the East and Florida points with its network of rails serving the six Southeastern states, is still a "Bread line"; but, in addition, in time of national emergency it represents an even stronger link, 5,568 miles long, in the communications system of the entire Eastern seaboard.

Source: Rocky Mount Evening Telegram, Rocky Mount, NC, 3/19/1949

Catching Turtles

One day I was walking home to the farm from school, and Julian Rhodes, my third sister's son, then about nine years, was with me; when we got to Toisnot Swamp, where there were two long railroad bridges, we saw a negro coming up the embankment from the water below; he had in his hands two turtles; we asked him how he caught them.

He said, "On hooks."

"What kind of hooks?"

He said, "Large fish hooks," and he showed us one that he had in his pocket.

What did he put on the hooks?

"Frogs.''

On the way going home Julian and I talked the matter over, and came to the conclusion that we must have some hooks. When we got home we told our story to the whole family and embellished it the best that we could, trying to enlist enough sympathy with our plan to get the hooks.

At last father said, "I will get the hooks for you." The next day Julian went home with me again and continued to do so as long as the interest in the turtles kept up.

But this interest came to a very sudden stop. My father not only got the hooks for us, but he put the hooks on the lines and put some lead on, too, to help sink the hooks; he showed us how to put the frogs on the hooks, by hooking them through the back. He also told us to put our lines in places so that we would not forget where they were; but to tie them under the water so that others would not see them and rob our hooks. This we did in the morning as we went on to school; in the afternoon we were so anxious to reap the fruits of our planning that we ran nearly all the way to the swamp.

The first day we got two turtles out of the six hooks that we set. We did not know how to get the hooks out of the turtles' mouths, for they had swallowed the frogs, hooks and all. So we carried our trophies in pride and jubilation to the farm. Everyone in the family was highly pleased; for stewed turtle with some parsley put in for flavoring certainly does make an appetizing breakfast. Our good luck followed us for some time, and we had got up quite a reputation as fishermen. The enthusiasm was dying out a little, for we no longer ran in our eagerness to get to our hooks, but went along more like workmen on their way to work.

One day when we had lifted nearly all of our hooks without finding a turtle, we came to one of the hooks that seemed to be hanging onto something down under the water; we could pull the hook up a part of the way, and then there would be a pull on the line like there was a strong spring working against us. We could not pull the hook out of the water; Julian and I both had a trial at it.

We were about to leave it, when I thought of one more way. I cut a pole with a fork at the top; with this pole I straddled the line with the fork, and, keeping the line taut, followed it down in the water, trying on each side of the line to dislodge the hook; at last, I felt the object on the hook giving way, and I was drawing the hook with what I thought to be a large turtle to the surface, when quicker than words can tell it a large copperbellied moccasin came out of the water with the hook in his mouth. He was at least one inch in diameter and three and a half to four feet long.

My hands were so near his head I was afraid that he would bite me; I was so excited I really did not know what I was doing; but to save myself I grabbed him about the neck with my left hand; the snake was busy, too; he tried to turn his head to reach my hand with his mouth; but he did not have enough free neck to do so; he did the next best thing that he could; he brought his long wet body out of the water and threw it upon my shoulder and around my neck. I had already got out my big jack-knife and opened it with my teeth; with this I commenced to cut off his head; two or three pulls of the sharp edge on his throat and his head was off, and I felt the body relax. I dropped my knife, took both hands and unwound the nasty, slimy, scaly body from around my neck and threw it off with that strength born of panic, and got out of the swamp as quick as my legs could carry me.

Julian was ahead of me, for as soon as he saw the snake he made a bolt to get away; he must have fallen in the water, for he was wet all over. We sat down on the railroad, and after breathing hard for a while became calm; then my fighting qualities came to my rescue; so I went back, got my knife and the snake and brought him up on the railroad. Julian held the body while I pulled the skin off. We carried the skin home, and stuffed it with wheat bran, and this snake skin was hanging in my room when we moved away in 1868.

This story was taken from Tributes to My Father and Mother and Some Stories of My Life by Jesse Mercer Battle, 1911. It appeared in The Connector, newsletter of Tar River Connections Genealogy Society in the Summer 2005 issue.

Jesse Battle was the son of Amos Johnston Battle, grandson of Joel and Mary P. Battle. Amos was born at Shell Bank, Edgecombe County, North Carolina. In 1830, he married Margaret Hearne Parker, of Edgecombe County, N. C. He served as pastor of Baptist Churches in Nashville, Nash Co., NC; Raleigh, Wake Co., NC; and Wilmington, New Hanover County, NC.

In 1843, Amos and Mary Battle moved to Wilson, Wilson Co., NC where Jesse Battle, the author of Tributes… was born on Nov. 11, 1850. Therefore, the stories of his childhood took place in and around Wilson.

The full text of the book, Tributes to My Father and Mother" can be found at http://www.archive.org/details/tributestomyfath00batt