EDENTON — In recent days, a Superior Court Judge continued the lawsuit regarding the Confederate Memorial until August; thus, the case remains in limbo a bit longer with relocation plans pending judicial review. 

Saturday, both sides of the issue – monument folks and anti-monument protestors – were by the monument doing their thing while people celebrated Juneteenth nearby.  

And as far as the Albemarle Observer knows, the lawsuit regarding Tyrrell County’s Confederate statue is still percolating up through the courts, too. More on Tyrrell County’s monument appears with this story.   

For folks from California, maybe other places above and beyond the Mason-Dixon Line, there is a lawsuit percolating through the court system regarding the placement of the Confederate Memorial to Chowan County’s 47 men who died in the Civil War in that spot of ground between the Chowan County Detention Center and Veterans Park. 

The lawsuit from the Move the Monument Coalition says placing the monument on the Chowan County Courthouse grounds would be an “ongoing violation” of their rights to equal protection under the North Carolina Constitution.

Last spring, Edenton Town Council and the Chowan County Commission approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that may – may – set things in motion for when – if – the Confederate Memorial might be relocated at some point in the future. Remember that with lawsuits still pending, no one will be moving any dirt in Veterans Park anytime soon.  

The memorial has to be placed on county property within Edenton town limits, so real estate that complies with the strict state law regarding placement of these monuments is in short supply. State law is VERY specific about where these kinds of monuments can be placed if relocated – no graveyards or museums; a place of equal stature and prominence. Beaver Hill Cemetery is not an option. 

Local History Lessons

Moving on, since it’s before sunrise, with a cup of coffee in me to inspire a few thoughts, here are a few things. Trigger warning to some folks so I’ll say history is not always an easy subject to accept, though it bears repeating because without knowing our past, we know less about our present and doomed to repeat our mistakes like Bill Murray did in the movie Groundhog Day.   

Read “The Lost Indictment of Robert E. Lee: The Forgotten Case Against an American Icon” by John Reeves. Several months ago, I found the book (strange how such an important book got there, but maybe God wanted me to find it) in the bargain bin at Shepard Pruden Library, so I bought it, read it and learned a lot about not only Lee but the Civil War.  

First published in July 2018, Reeves’s deeply researched investigation into the forgotten 1865 indictment of Robert E. Lee for treason by a Norfolk, Virginia, federal grand jury. Afterall, one would reason that after the war, why weren’t their trials for top Confederate leaders like Lee? In most cases after most wars, the losing side’s leaders face a grim fate.

The case against Lee faced several challenges:

• Political considerations: There was a desire to promote reunification and reconciliation after the war, and prosecuting Lee could have been seen as counterproductive.
• Lee’s popularity: Lee remained widely popular in Virginia, making a conviction uncertain.
• Influence of General Grant: General Ulysses S. Grant advocated for amnesty and peace, putting pressure on the government to drop the case. 

Ultimately, President Andrew Johnson granted a general amnesty for former Confederates, and Lee’s indictment was dismissed.  

Another thought, while Chowan County didn’t have a huge battle like that of Gettysburg or Chancellorsville, there were a number of skirmishes and one naval battle. Since this part of history is deliberately buried by some folks, here’s what I’ve learned. Research comes from carolana.com  

February 7, 1863 — there was a skirmish between Union and Confederate forces, according to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume XVIII.

February 11, 1863 — Companies B, E, and F of the 42nd NC Regiment (State Troops) were detached as a special battalion led by Lt. Col. John E. Brown, with the explicit mission to attack the encampment of a group of Union sympathizers, known as Buffaloes, at Wingfield, 17 miles above Weldon on the east bank of the Chowan River. After establishing his headquarters at Merry Hill, Lt. Col. Brown was preparing to attack the Buffaloe camp on the evening of March 1 when his men’s presence was detected and Union gunboats on the river opened fire.

Although forced to retreat on that day, Lt. Col. Brown returned and attacked Camp Wingfield on the morning of March 23, routing the Buffaloes and destroying their buildings and supplies. The Confederates were then trapped on the east bank of the Chowan River by Union gunboats and forced to fight off a superior force of Union cavalry and marines the next day at Rocky Hock Creek. After that, they crossed the river safely under the cover of darkness on the night of March 24. This special battalion then marched to Fort Branch on the Roanoke River near Hamilton (Martin County) and went into camp.

March 24, 1863 – there was a skirmish at Rocky Hock Creek by Bennetts Millpond that was a follow-on of the Confederate attack on Camp Wingfield, of the day before. 

August 20, 1863 — Col. Benjamin F. Onderdonk (1st NY Mounted Rifles) reported from Portsmouth, VA to Assistant Adjutant General (Capt.) Hazard Stevens (U.S. Army) about this overall expedition. His report for the Capture of Edenton includes:

“I reached Edenton at noon on the 15th, taking the town completely by surprised, they having gained no information of our approach. I threw out strong pickets and scoutned the country in every direction, dispersing the guerrillas and driving them into the swamps, where it was impossible for us to go. I also captured Sergeant McCoy, Joshua C. Stacey; Privates Miles Lane, Thomas Smith, and J.C. Floyd, all of the Sixty-sixth North Carolina Rangers, or guerrillas; Maj. William R. Haughton, with authorization for raising a battalion; Private Gerged Whidbee, of Moore’s battalion artillery, stationed at Wilmington, and home on furlough (both the latter desire to take the oath of allegiance, and I earnestly recommend that they have permission to do so); Private Thomas H. Privitt, First North Carolina Volunteers, home on furlough, and Private Lemuel Sawyer, First North Carolina Volunteers, with authorization to raise a company of either mounted or dismounted rangers.”

August 20, 1863 — Maj. Franklin A. Stratton (11th PA Cavalry) reported from near Portsmouth, VA to Col. Benjamin F. Onderdonk (above):

“From this point my command marched in the rear of the column during the following three days, and until we entered Edenton nothing of note occurring. Being ordered to halt at the edge of the town, I remained there a few hours and was then directed to move back about a mile and bivouac.

“The same night I sent out a company under Captain Reisinger to search for guerrillas in the vicinity of Dr. Warren’s plantation. He returned the next morning, having found the place of rendezvous of about 40 guerrillas, who had, however, fled a few hours previous. He searched the country in the vicinity, but was unable to find them.” 

May 6, 1864 — Capt. Melancton Smith (U.S. Navy) reported from his ship, the U.S.S. Mattapesett off Roanoke River, to Brig. Gen. Innis N. Palmer (U.S. Army, District of North Carolina):

“General: I have to inform you that I engaged the ram Albemarle yesterday from 4:40 to 7:30 p.m. with all my force, and regret that our efforts to capture her were not attended with success. Our shot had no perceptible effect upon her, close alongside. I drove her, however, into the mouth of Roanoke River, somewhat damaged, I think, but with machinery not disabled. I captured the Bombshell, with 37 prisoners, officers and men. Have not as yet had any official return from the Cassacus, who has her in charge, and is anchored several miles below. Our loss in the large vessel is 5 killed and 26 wounded. I shall be able to hold possession of the sound against any force the rebels can organize at this point.

“I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
“Melancton Smith,
“Captain and Senior Naval Officer.”

On October 15 at 9 p.m. — the cavalry and artillery arrived, and he withdrew his pickets. His men reboarded the U.S.S. Jersey Blue and sailed at once for New Bern, where they arrived at 8:30 on October 17.

On October 17, 1863 — Capt. William L. Kent (23rd MA Infantry) reported from New Bern, NC to Col. Simon H. Mix (3rd NY Cavalry, leader of the expedition) about this overall expedition. Highlights about the Occupation of Edenton include:

Per orders, he drew in his pickets at Elizabeth City at 7 p.m. October 14, and at 9 p.m. he and his men sailed for Edenton, near the mouth of the Chowan River. At 1 a.m. October 15, one of his men was lost overboard from the upper deck of the U.S.S. Jersey Blue due to meager accommodations and no rail to keep a man from falling overboard.

At 9 a.m. October 15, his men landed at Edenton, relieving a detachment of various regiments from Plymouth, NC consisting of 9 commissioned officers and 100 men under the command of Lt. Beagle of Brig. Gen. Henry W. Wessell’s staff. Capt. Kent threw out pickets on all the roads leading from the town and awaited news of the expected cavalry and artillery.

Capt. Kent felt obliged to put guards on many private houses, then sent out three separate patrols for the several quarters of the town, in order to arrest the pillage which was commenced by men employed on government transports and schooners. This plundering was indiscriminate as to friend or foe, and had obtained progress before his arrival.

Capt. Kent met many loyal citizens here who would be glad to see a Union garrison in the city; he named two (2) of them.

Since there is no record, or at least records are few and far between, of how or where Chowan County’s men died — or even their gravesites — while fighting for the Confederacy, at least we do have a list that shows how many families were affected by the war:

Chowan County’s Civil War dead   

• Charles Davenport 
• Edward Bunch 
• John H Cale 
• William B Cofield 
• Samuel R Dennis 
• James M Hankins 
• Amos Harrell 
• Thomas Harrell 
• Joshua S Harvey 
• John Haste 
• Elisha Lane 
• Henry Lane 
• Hosea Mansfield 
• Jonathan Miller 
• Harvey Nixon 
• John H Norcom 
• William Norcom 
• Jeremiah Rogerson 
• Robert K Sexton 
• Benjamiah Skinner
• Henry Skinner 
• Norman Smith 
• Abraham Stamm 
• Bryant Todd 
• James Wiggins 
• Thomas Backus 
• Kenny Boyce 
• Timothy Copeland 
• James Creecy 
• Charles Elliott 
• Stephen Garrett 
• BF Goodwin 
• Eli Goodwin 
• John W Hudson 
• NC Jordan 
• William E Parrish 
• Timothy Perry 
• John Proctor 
• William J Smith 
• William B Welch 
• Baker F Halsey 
• Quenten T Sanders 
• John Dail 
• Jesse Davis 
• John Taylor 
• Baker Hasley 
• James Keith Marshal 

Tyrrell County’s statue

Like Chowan County, Tyrrell County was the site of several battles during the Civil War.

At that time, the county stretched from the US 64/264 intersection all the way to what is currently Washington County. It was a vital trading area, as people were able to get supplies both north and south.

According to History of Tyrrell County by David E. Davis, Company A of the 32nd North Carolina Regiment was founded in May 1862. It consisted of 17 officers and 84 enlisted men. All officers were members of the same church, “a coincidence not occurring again in the whole Confederate State Army.”

Some families have ancestors who fought for the Union due to their dealings with trade partners in Baltimore and other northern ports.

Local historians recall a battle in 1863 in which Union troops captured and ransacked Columbia and burned the bridge across the narrows of the Scuppernong River, but no record has been found documenting this raid.

According to Davis’ retelling, a Union gunboat anchored off the Columbia after the fall of the Albemarle Sound and the town was pillaged. Thomas Alexander, the county’s Register of Deeds at the time, is reputed to have saved the county’s records, by loading a wagon with documents. A slave drove the wagon to a local home to hide them.

Other feats of bravery by all who live in Tyrrell County have been passed down through the generations. For some, the inscription of “in appreciation of our loyal slaves” on the base of Tyrrell County’s Confederate monument is a way to honor those who helped save the town .

While carolana.com notes the Sept. 24, 1864, battle near Columbia, there were troops present in the county throughout the Civil War, particularly in the fishing village of Gum Neck.

On Sept. 24, Col. D.W. Wardrop, with the US Navy, sent two army steams up the Alligator River to capture Confederate soldiers. He asked Cdr. W.H. Macomb, leader of the US Navy, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, to send a gunboat up the Scuppernong River. Macomb ordered that Valley City, the lightest draught gunboat they had in the Albemarle Sound, up the river, accompanied by a tug, Martin.

While crossing the bar at the mouth of the Scuppernong, the Valley City was grounded and Confederate soldiers fired upon it. The tug was able to turn Valley City so it could return fire and eventually drove the enemy off, but by the time it got afloat, they did not proceed further.

The boats sent into the Alligator River successfully captured the Confederate soldiers.

The Tyrrell County Confederate Monument was erected in 1902, and is one of the few such statues erected in a public space before 1904. Prior to that time, most such statues were erected in cemeteries.

The monument was originally in the middle of the intersection of Broad Street and Main Street, according to images at the Tyrrell County Library. According to local historians, the North Carolina Department of Transportation moved the statue in 1938 to the courthouse grounds to accommodate some road work related to US 64.