Time Line of the Civil War in the Cape Fear Region-- Part 1

From the April 12th Wilmington (NC) Star-News.

These dates are provided by Chris Fonvielle, assistant professor of history at UNC-Wilmington. He is probably the foremost authority on all things to do with Fort Fisher and the Cape Fear River.


1860-- The Federal census showed 9,552 residents in Wilmington, about 1/3 black.

1860, November-- Southern Nationalists in Wilmington form the Cape Fear Minutemen, a paramilitary group.

1860, Dec. 20th-- South Carolina secedes. secession zealots in Wilmington rejoice.

1861, Jan. 9-- The Cape Fear Minutemen, led by Capt.John J. Hedrick, seize Forts Johnston and Caswell from US Army caretakers. Governor John W. Ellis made them return the forts as the North Carolina was still in the Union.

Leading Up to War. --Old B-R'er