PC.5055 Outer Banks History Center Collection of Civil War Letters and Manuscripts, PC.5055

[Identification of item], PC.5055, Outer Banks History Center Collection of Civil War Letters and Manuscripts, Outer Banks History Center, Manteo, N.C., U.S.A.

The Outer Banks History Center Collection of Civil War Letters and Manuscripts, 1861-1865, primarily consists of letters written by soldiers during the Civil War as well as documents pertinent to the Civil War on the Outer Banks. Topics discussed in the letters include Fort Hatteras, the Fort Hatteras garrison flag, Camp Raleigh, Camp Brightwood, provost duty, the Burnside Expedition, the Battle of Roanoke Island, and army food rations. This collection was assembled by Outer Banks History Center staff from various discrete documents. Transcripts are included for most letters. In addition to the letters, the collection includes a Confederate requisition and receipt related to services rendered by the steamer Junaluska, a call to service for "Free Negroes" to aid in the Confederate response to the Union invasion of Roanoke Island, a guard report and list of prisoners issued by staff at Fort Reno, and three passes granting soldiers passage to New Bern and Norfolk. The collection also includes a folder of secondary background material, such as soldier histories and historical sketches, supplied by dealers who sold the documents or volunteers who researched the documents.

Materials arranged chronologically, with the exception of the folder of soldier histories and other reference material, which is arranged alphabetically by topic or soldier's name.

North Carolina's Outer Banks region was the setting for two important Civil War engagements. Union victories at Hatteras Inlet and Roanoke Island early in the war placed the area under Federal control and extended the blockade to the southern coast. The Hatteras Inlet bombardment began on 27 August 1861, when Commodore Silas Stringham and General Benjamin Butler launched an amphibious assault on the two small forts, Fort Hatteras and Fort Clark. Since the Confederate government placed a higher priority on conflicts in Virginia, the Hatteras Inlet forts were poorly equipped and the militia stationed there was poorly trained. Both forts fell within two days. The battle on Hatteras Island is significant in several ways; it was the first amphibious assault in U.S. naval history, it was the first joint forces operation, and it was the first territory seized by the Union and held for the duration of the war.

A few months later, in February 1862, the Union assembled another fleet for an attack on Roanoke Island. Once again, the Confederate government had most of its forces committed to the defense of Richmond. It had sent only 1,400 soldiers to defend the island compared with the 13,000 troops and 67 vessels commissioned by the Union. Though the Confederate soldiers fought to defend the island, they were overwhelmed by the Union's far superior numbers. Hundreds of rebel troops were taken prisoner.

1. Civil War Letters, 1861

2. Civil War Letters, 1862-1864

3. Civil War Manuscripts, 1861-1865

4. Soldier Histories and Other Reference Material

The following items were purchased by the Outer Banks History Center: three letters by Samuel Areson, two letters from "Samuel" to his friend "Luther," 20 December 1862 letter to "Jack," William Greaves letter, and the John Fisk letter.The following items were donated by the Friends of the Outer Banks History Center: report of guard mounted at Fort Reno, Hosea Towne letter, J.W. Isham passes to New Bern and Norfolk, George Goodrich letter, "Free Negroes" Called for Service, two letters addressed to E.F. Pritchard, and the Edward G. Yellowley letter.Two documents related to the steamer Junaluska were donated by Arthur Gray Coyner, 1997.The C.C. Herrington letter was donated by William C. Wooldridge, October 2009.The James Hobbs letters were donated by Thomas and Frances Sanderlin, August 2016.Immediate source of acquisition for all other materials unknown.