CAM's 60th Anniversary & First USCT Park-- Part 2: Naming the Battle

Said Chris Fonvielle after his research and excavating of the grounds of the Cameron Art Museum (CAM) in Wilmington, N.C., "It convinced me that a firefight had taken place there, but I found no documentary evidence to support the archaeological record."

He began focusing his studies on the battle, piecing together information and eventually giving it a new name.

"Scarce Confederate correspondence from the battleground was postmarked Cross-Roads and Forks Road, as an intersection of the Federal Point Road.  A byroad  that ran towards the Cape Fear River stood about where you enter the Cameron Art Museum's parking lot today," he explained.  "I thought the Battle of Forks Road had a nicer ring to it."

Fonvielle wrote about his discoveries in 2007's "Last Stand at Wilmington:  The Battle of Forks Road."

His research has caused CAM staff for years to embrace the story.  They have hosted living history days with reenactors, but this next step, starting a park devotedb to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) takes the story even further.

--Old B-Runner

CAM Celebrates 60th Anniversary and Opens Nation's First USCT Park to Honor Black Soldiers

From the November 12, 2022, Port City Daily, Wilmington, N.C., by She Carver.

Lights dot the area between tall pine trees near the 2,500 pound sculpture "Boundless" created by Durham artist Stephen Hayes which was installed on Federal Point Road last year.  The sculpture memorializes 11 men and a drummer boy on a place where 1,800 black USCT soldiers fought for their freedom more than 150 years ago during the closing days of the Civil War.

This historic site will be  christened as the nation's first USCT (United States Colored Troops) this weekend.  CAM (Cameron Art Museum)  is hosting a community day Sunday, welcoming locals to explore the park and all museum exhibits are free.

Roughly 250 feet from the museum's front door, the park is situated where the Battle of Forks  Road took place, which sealed the fate of Wilmington, North Carolina in the month after Fort Fisher fell.

Since 1980, local historian Chris Fonvielle has studied the grounds where CAM is located -- excavating  rathworks, bullets, cannonball fragments, military uniform  buttons and other relics.

--Old B-Runner

USCT Sculpture at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, NC

From Feb. 23, WECT, Wilmington NC  

A new exhibit at the Cameron Art Museum  honors  the United States Colored Troops.

The Battle of Forks Road led to the fall of Wilmington in February 1865.  The battle was fought on the grounds of the museum. and honors 1,600 black troops who fought there.

The sculpture is called "Boundless" and features  11 black men connected with the battle and was created by sculptor Stephen Hayes.

He found descendants of the troops to create the sculpture.

You can never have too many statues and markers about history in my humble opinion.

--Old B-Runner

New Book on the Role of USCT at Wilmington's Battle of Forks Road-- Part 3

This new book also briefly covers efforts to preserve the Battle of Forks Road which led to its inclusion in North Carolina's Civil War Trails and the preservation of earthworks from the battle which are on the grounds of what is now the Cameron Art Museum.

The book is dedicated to  to the memory of Sgt.  Fred Johnson, a Korean War veteran and Civil War re-enactor who participated in many  Forks Road anniversary programs and was instrumental in obtaining  the state historical marker  honoring black Forks Road veterans buried at the Wilmington National Cemetery.

The title of the book evokes the memory of the 1989 historical movie about the all-black (except officers) 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment.  It is an apt comparison as black troops at both actions proved they could fight.  However, with the 54th, they were repulsed with heavy losses and at Forks Road, the black troops won.

--Old B-Runner

New Book on the Role of USCT at the Battle of Forks Road, Wilmington, N.C.-- Part 2: The Victory here Was One for the USCT

Author Chris Fonvielle says that the Battle of Forks Road was the victory of the USCT since those two brigades bore the brunt of the fighting and had made the assault on the Confederate trenches and as a result, had suffered the most casualties.

Fonvielle told the story at length in his 1997 book, "The Wilmington Campaign:  Last Rays of Departing Hope.  His "Glory at Wilmington" is a smaller book aimed at general readers, not hardcore Civil War readers.  This new book is issued by Starburst Press, an imprint of Daniel  Ray Norris' SlapDash Publishing and has plenty of maps and lively period illustrations.

One interesting point Mr. Fonvielle made in this book was the case of  two brothers who fought on opposite sides in the war and were at the Wilmington Campaign.  They were Jacob and Lewis Horne who grew up in the Wilmington area, not too far from today's Monkey Junction.  (If you're from Wilmington, you'd know where this area was and why it hot this name.)

Lewis was with the local Confederate Wilmington Horse Artillery  and as they were rushing north to avoid capture, he was able to stop by his mother's and tell her goodbye.  The next day, Jacob, who was a scout for General Terry's Union forces, detoured to also visit Mom.

A Family Reunion of Sorts.   --Old B-Runner

New Book on the Role of USCT at the Battle of Forks Road, Wilmington, N.C., 1865-- Part 1

From the July 25, 2020, Wilmington (NC) Star-News  "Writer dives into 'Glory at Wilmington'by Ben Steelman.

Wilmington native, former UNC-W professor and historian Chris Fonvielle tells the story of U.S. Colored Troops (USCT)role at this battle in the Wilmington area.  I doubt there is anyone who knows more about the Civil War in the Wilmington area during the war than Chris Fonvielle.

The Battle of Forks Road was nowhere as big of a battle as Gettysburg, Shiloh or Bentonville, but it did have ramifications on the fall of Wilmington, North Carolina.

The Battle of Forks Road, just south of Wilmington back then, is also sometimes referred to as Jumpin' Run, after the nearby Jumpin' Run Creek.

It was the Confederate last stand before the fall of Wilmington.  When Confederate General Robert F. Hoke withdrew his troops from those trenches before dawn on February 22, 1865, the fall of the city was set.  Later on during that day, George Washington's birthday, Union General Alfred H. Terry led his troops into the city.

Bringing up the rear of his column were two brigades of United States Colored Troops, black volunteers.  Many had been slaves just a short time earlier and many were from Wilmington and the surrounding area.

The victory at Forks Road was largely to their honor.

--Old B-Runner

Civil War Big Business to Southeast N.C.-- Part 2

Fort Fisher logged more than 748,000 visitors in calendar year 2014, up from 614,000 in 2013.  Of course, i am never sure how many of these were actually at the fort or visiting the adjacent state park.

Another 4,000 attended the Feb. 14-15 re-enactment at Fort Anderson, up the Cape Fear River from Fort Fisher.  Officials think there would have been considerably more except for the heavy rains that fell those days.  This marked the 150th anniversary of its fall.

Another 2,000 attended the Feb. 7-8 150th anniversary of the Battle of Forks Road at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington.  This was the final battle before the fall of this important port city.

the complete impact of all these visitors will not be known for sure until room tax receipts from hotels are counted in the near future.

Civil War Means Bucks to Local Businesses.  --Old B-R'er

Battle of Forks Road Re-enactment This Weekend

From Feb. 7, 2015 "Battle of Forks Road being commemorated in Wilmington" by AP.

The battle will be re-enacted this weekend.  The Battle of Forks Road took place Feb. 20-21, 1865, but will be commemorated this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 14-15, at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, on the site of the actual battle.

The battle took place after the fall of Fort Fisher in January and led the way to the Union capture of Wilmington on Feb. 22nd.

The battle included 1,600 black soldiers who helped defeat Confederate Major General Robert F. Hoke's Confederates.  Three of the blacks were awarded the Medal of Honor for their role at the battle.

--Old B-Runner

Two Wilmington Civil War Battles Being Re-enacted This Weekend

This is shaping up to be another big weekend for Civil War and history buffs in the Wilmington, North Carolina, area.  Last month, they had the huge Fort Fisher Re-enactment and this weekend it will be the turn of Fort Anderson and Battle of Forks Road.

I am kind of wondering, however, why they would have both on the same weekend.  Fort Anderson was evacuated on February 19, 1865, so that could be commemorated this weekend.  The Battle of Forks Road took place Feb. 20-21, 1865, so could have easily been held next weekend.

I always hate when they have two things at the same time that I want to do.

Not Fair!  --Old B-R'er