The Civil War in North Carolina
When students are taught about the Civil War, the state of North Carolina is rarely mentioned. There were no extremely major battles fought in North Carolina, but it did have an impact in the war. In fact, one of the last battles of the Civil War was fought in Durham. Not many North Carolinians realize that the American Civil War was very close to home.
Fort Fisher
Although there were various and numerous other forts in North Carolina, Fort Fisher was one of the largest Confederacy forts. Located near the mouth of the Cape Fear River, it served an important purpose-it kept Union blockading ships at bay so that blockade runners could get to Wilmington, the Confederacy’s only link to European trade. Because of this, supplies could be delivered to the Confederate army. The Cape Fear River even came to be known as the “Lifeline of the Confederacy.”
Tar Heels
North Carolina soldiers in the war were dubbed “Tar Heels” by the Army of Northern Virginia because the soldiers from North Caroline were usually tar, pitch, and turpentine harvesters. The “Tar Heels” made up about one sixth of the Confederate army, as NC provided more soldiers than any other Confederate state. On the other hand, nearly eight thousand North Carolinians fought for the Union, due to the fact that most of the residents did not feel as strongly about preserving slavery. North Carolina also did its part to supply efficient generals. Some of the most famous Confederate generals from North Carolina include Braxton Bragg, Daniel H. Hill, William Dorsey Pender, Stephen Dodson Ramseur, Robert F. Hoke, and James J. Pettigrew. All in all, the Tar Heel State provided 133,905 soldiers to the Confederate cause.
Sherman's March to the Sea
After Sherman’s March to the Sea campaign to Savannah, William Sherman turned around and destroyed South Carolina on his way to North Carolina. When he got to Raleigh, he spared it and left the city untouched. On March 19, 1865, Sherman’s army was attacked by General Joseph E. Johnston’s forces at Bentonville, thought the Confederate troops soon surrendered. Sherman and Johnston settled on the terms of surrender a month later at Bennett Place. This was the last major battle of the Civil War.