Day trips from Asheville, NC- to Morganton

This trip took a full day.

Ridgecrest

Swannanoa Gap- Excerpted from the marker- On March 24, 1865, Union General George Stoneman led 6,000 cavalrymen from Tennessee into southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina to disrupt the Confederate supply line by destroying sections of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, the North Carolina Railroad, and the Piedmont Railroad. He struck at Boone on March 28, headed into Virginia on April 2, and returned into North Carolina a week later. Stoneman’s Raid ended at Asheville on April 26, the day that Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to Union General William T. Sherman near Durham. On April 20, 1865, Union General Alvan C. Gillem, leading two of General George Stoneman’s brigades, attempted to cross the Blue Ridge at Swannanoa Gap en route to Asheville. Confederate General James Martin sent his entire command to the gap and stopped Gillem at Royal Gorge (in front of you to the left). Private Charles White recalled, “Our Home Guard got busy on the mountain sides and cut big trees across the roads leading to Swannanoa and Lakey’s Gaps. We succeeded in making a barricade that no cavalry force would soon cross or clear away, but those of us (25 or 30) working on the road to Swannanoa Gap were trapped in the gorge by too early appearance of a part of Stoneman’s men and were quickly taken prisoners. Gillem, who reported Swannanoa Gap effectually blockaded and defended, left Colonel John Miller’s brigade to hold the Confederates in place with feigned attacks while he led the rest of his men to Rutherfordton, 40 miles south of here. Two days later, the raiders approached Asheville after a forced march of sixty-nine miles through Rutherford, Polk, and Henderson Counties. Then, wrote White, “The Yankees got word of General Lee’s [April 9] surrender and soon all of their prisoners were given freedom to where they chose. The 17 year-old White returned to his home on the Broad River while Stoneman’s raiders continued toward Asheville.

Carson House- Marion

Carson House (excerpted from the tablet)- Union General Alvan C. Gillem led two brigades of General George Stoneman’s raiders here to the Jonathan Logan Carson house on April 19, 1865. News of the cavalry’s approach arrived before the Federals. The family buried some of its valuables in the forest and concealed others in a nearby cabin. Fearing for her husband’s life, Carson’s wife persuaded him to hide in the woods; loyal slaves remained here to protect the women and children. To your left front, the raiders skirmished briefly with a few Confederate home guards, who quickly fled. Some of Gillem’s men rode into the house and plundered it, but one of the officers prevented the soldiers from burning the dwelling. The cavalrymen then camped here, receiving word of General Robert E. Lee’s surrender in Virginia. They frightened the Carson family, as well as Emma Lydia Rankin, a schoolteacher boarding here. She later wrote, “By the time the little skirmish was over the horrid blue coats were swarming in and through and around the house.” At times it seemed that “there were about a million of them” roaming the grounds. Soon, however, they were gone, riding toward Asheville. Blocked at Swannanoa Gap, Gillem turned south to Rutherfordton.

Morganton

**Quaker Meadows- 119 St. Mary’s Church Road**

Morganton Rocky Ford Engagement (excerpted from the marker)- Union General Alvan C. Gillem led two cavalry brigades to Asheville through Burke County and Morganton while Gen. George Stoneman escorted most of his command to Tennessee from Lenoir, North Carolina, on April 17, 1865. Two and a half miles east of here, at the Catawba River bridge, the Federals encountered Confederate General John P. McCown on leave, Colonel Samuel McDowell Tate recuperating from a wound, and Colonel Thomas Walton and 80 members of the Home Guard. According to Gillem, about 300 men and one piece of artillery had torn up the bridge and held Rocky Ford. Gillem sent one battalion of the 8th Tennessee Cavalry upriver to flank the Confederates, but soon the other battalion dismounted and charged across the bridge after Federal artillery had knocked out the Confederate piece, killing or capturing more than 50 guardsmen as well as the cannon. The Confederate account differs. Walton’s men occupied small earthworks or rifle pits until word arrived that the Federal detachment had crossed the river at Fleming’s Ford. Walton signaled a retreat by firing the cannon four times. The Home Guard reported no casualties but saw dead Union cavalrymen in the river and the woods. At Morganton large supplies of corn and bacon were found, Gillem reported blandly, but local residents charged that the Federals plundered private property in retaliation for the Home Guard’s resistance. Selina L. Norwood wrote, “They tore everything to pieces at Uncle Avery’s, held pistols to the ladies’ heads, drove them out of the house and took what they liked.” Many of the Federals were said to be Tennessee Unionists taking revenge for depredations on their homes by Confederate supporters.

Morganton- Burke County Courthouse (excerpted from the marker)-During the Civil War, Confederate recruits mustered here on the grounds of the old Burke County Courthouse. The first unit—the Burke Rifles (Co. G, 1st North Carolina Infantry)—was enrolled for active duty on April 18, 1861, and mustered into state service in Raleigh on May 13. While many of the young Burke County men went off to war early, the conflict did not come to the county until April 1865, when Stoneman’s raiders passed through. Union General Alvan C. Gillem led two cavalry brigades to Asheville through Burke County and Morganton while General George Stoneman escorted most of his command to Tennessee from Lenoir, North Carolina. On April 17, Gillem encountered the Home Guard under General John P. McCown at Rocky Ford on the Catawba River nearby. After a brisk engagement, the Confederates withdrew, and Gillem entered Morganton, where large supplies of corn and bacon were found, he reported. Some of Gillem’s troopers destroyed courthouse records, while others plundered private property. Slaves assisted the cavalrymen, numbers of whom were “home Yankees” (native Unionists) who exacted revenge against Confederate sympathizers. Almost as quickly as they appeared, however, Gillem and his men vanished, riding west on April 19, ultimately to Asheville.

The Cedars- 100 South King Street, Also known as the Tate House. Samuel Tate recruited and was Captain of Company D of the 6th NC. Wounded several times he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel at Gettysburg.