Louis Manarin was the former State Archivist for the Commonwealth of Virginia. During his life he authored, co-authored and edited over a dozen books on Virginia and North Carolina history and was active in many historical organizations. One thing he wrote that caught my interest was a manuscript on the history of Onslow County, NC, in the Civil War. Very little has been written on the history of the war there despite multiple naval actions along the coastline and actions in the interior. There are entries in the Official Records of the Army and Navy, a short book on the Battle of Jacksonville along the New River (written by Lieutenant Colonel Lynn Kimball- a digitized copy can be found at the internet archive- link) but no single book on the county. So when I learned that Mr. Manarin had written on the subject I set out to try and get a copy. Easier said than done, it wasn’t available on Ebay or Amazon. A search revealed that there was a copy in the Lee and John McNairy Library at the Lenoir Community College, located at 231 Hwy 58 South, in Kinston, NC. I called the Onslow County Museum in Richlands to see what they knew about the book. They informed me that it wasn’t a book at all but rather a manuscript written in preparation for a talk that Mr. Manarin gave. So on a trip through central NC I stopped at the library and photographed it in its entirety (appears in the sources at the end of this post). It appears to me that it may have been written in October of 1982 as background material for a course with a required reading list and possible research projects. Manarin’s major focus is on the effect the war had on the local population, its tax structure, allowances made for the families of those who served, and the effects of inflation. He also discusses several of the specific military actions which I have categorized by year.

1861

The manuscript provides some details on Fort Huggins “Colonel James G. Martin, North Carolina’s Adjutant General, observed that a six-gun battery, with a two-hundred man garrison, should be constructed on the south side of Bogue Inlet. The fort was built in late 1861-early 1862 on the tip of Huggins’ (Russel’s) Island. It was a well constructed open-face earthwork about 1,000 feet around. It mounted six cannon and contained barracks for the troops and a well-built powder magazine. Captain Daniel Munn’s Company of Artillery, North Carolina Local Defense Troops, known as the Bladen Stars, was stationed at the fort in January, 1862. The company remained there until early March when it was ordered to New Bern to assist in the defense of that city. It is presumed that the cannon and artillery were removed at that time and the fort was abandoned. On August 19, 1862, a Union force under Colonel Thomas G.Stevenson, 24th MA Volunteer Infantry, blew up the magazine.” Manarin discusses the individual units raised in Onslow County and where they served. They spent a significant amount of time serving outside the state. He then goes on to discuss specific actions that occurred in the county primarily concerning blockade running and attacks on salt producing facilities. Fort lies within the Hammocks Beach State Park in Swansboro, discussed in a previous post (link).

1862

In January the British brig York grounded on the beach near Bogue Inlet. While unloading their cargo two Federal ships arrived and burned the vessel.

On April 5th, during the Burnside Expedition, a detachment of the 103rd NY, under colonel Baron Egloffstein, was sent toward Swansboro to attack an outpost of Confederate cavalry. After capturing some horses, on April 13, the Federals camped in and around Thomas Gillett’s house and property. Here they were attacked by a detachment of the 19th NC (2nd NC Cavalry), commanded by Lieutenant Colonel W. G. Robinson. The attack occurred around 11:00 PM, Lieutenant Colonel Robinson was wounded and captured.

In June the 9th NJ, with a company of the 3rd NY Cavalry, tried to move on Swansboro from the Carteret County side of the White Oak River. Advancing down the White Oak Road the Federals destroyed some cavalry barracks but were unable to ford Broad Creek and withdrew.

On August 14th a detachment of Federal troops under Colonel Charles A. Hickman left Newport Barracks headed for Swansboro. They advanced to Edward Hill’s plantation, Cedar Point, on the left bank of the White Oak River, where they waited for two steamboats to transport them across. The boats, however, never arrived. They were able to find four small boats and a group of sixteen men crossed under Captain Joseph M. McChesney of the 9th NJ. As they approached the wharf at Swansboro, they were met by a force of Confederates and broke off the attack. McChesney and his men did manage to destroy the barracks and powder magazine at the vacant fort on Huggins Island.

A larger Federal force arrived at Swansboro the morning of August 17th on five steamers and two gunboats. Facing no resistance the 2000-3000 Yankees set out to destroy local salt works. They also ransacked property and confiscated farm animals from locals. At the lower end of town they destroyed the salt works belonging to C. H. Sarnam which consisted of a large copper boiler, 11 iron vats and 2 large buildings. The following day 2 steamers started up the sound and destroyed Mr. Hawkins‘ saltworks, which were capable of producing 7,000 bushels of salt per year. They then destroyed Colonel N. Saunders’ salt works with à capacity of 2,500 bushels a year. Two smaller works on Queens Creek were destroyed. A private, home on furlough, was also captured during the raid.

On November 23rd Union Lieutenant William Barker Cushing, commanding the USS Ellis, steamed up the New River. This raid will be described in detail in a future post and will only be covered briefly here (link). Five miles from the inlet he spotted a vessel loaded with cotton and turpentine, which the Confederates had set afire to prevent capture. Cushing proceeded upriver, briefly occupied Jacksonville, captured two small schooners and the Wilmington mail before leaving. Headed downstream with their two prizes, the Federals shelled a Confederate camp on the river bank. Five miles from New River Inlet, on November 24th, the Ellis came under fire from Confederate infantry along the river. Two to three miles before the inlet, the Ellis grounded due to pilot error and came under attack from artillery. Driving off the guns the Yankees went ashore, destroyed a salt work and ten boats, and reboarded the vessel. On the morning of the 25th, with all attempts to free the Ellis overnight having failed, the Confederates resumed artillery fire from four different points, using heavy rifled guns including one Whitworth. With the ship’s engine destroyed Cushing set the Ellis on fire and escaped.

1863

On June 13-16, a Union force under Colonel C. A. Hickman advanced from Newport Barracks, occupied Cedar Point, and camped on Hill’s plantation. A reconnaissance party was sent to Peletier’s and Smith’s Mills. They drove off a few Confederate pickets and returned.

In November a Northern schooner, the Alice Webb, ran aground at Swansboro mistakenly believing they were near Beaufort. The crew and passengers along with the ship’s cargo were captured.

On December 17th the blockade runner G. A. Bigelow, under Captain Sabiston, was burned at Bear Inlet by Union forces. The schooner had run into the inlet several days earlier but had safely landed her cargo before being discovered. When the Federals learned that the schooner’s cargo had not been destroyed, they returned. The cargo, four extensive salt works in full operation along the coast near the inlet, and over 500 sacks of salt were destroyed. A number of prisoners were also taken.

1864

In January Confederate troops under General J. G. Martin crossed Onslow County to attack the Federals at Newport Barracks. The operation was conducted as part of General George Pickett’s unsuccessful campaign to capture New Bern. On February 2nd General Martin’s men captured the barracks and seventy to eighty Yankees, along with a large quantity of supplies before returning to Wilmington.

On February 4th the blockade runner Nutfield, was deliberately burned to prevent her from falling into Federal hands.

At 7:00 AM on March 25th a Union vessel crossed Bogue Bar and headed toward Swansboro, while a second ship headed for Bear Inlet. The force sent against Swansboro encountered Confederate cavalry and were repulsed. At Bear Inlet the Federals captured and burned a schooner loaded with salt and leather and carried off between seventy and eighty slaves. A number of slaves were left onshore because there was not enough room for them on the ship.

In April a small naval expedition was sent to Swansboro. They destroyed 225 barrels of fish, captured three boats, and took twelve Confederates prisoner. The sailors went ashore for about three hours and ransacked the town. They damaged Mr. McLean’s store and house, burned Mr. Barnum’s warehouse, as well as Dr. Eaves’ and Mr. Lean’s shops. A number of slaves and horses were taken.

In June the Federals landed near Swansboro capturing four or five pickets. That same month, when a Federal force occupied Jacksonsille they found it necessary to return to their base by way of the White Oak Road, covered in a future post (link). They stopped at Swansboro, burned a schooner loaded with salt and turpentine, and took about twenty prisoners.

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