Talking About Gen. J.D. Cox, Schofield's Move to Wilmington and Sherman's Carolinas Campaign

Over in my Saw the Elephant:  Civil War blog this past week, I have been writing about Gen. Schofield's 23rd Corps moving from Tennessee to D.C. and Wilmington, a man very involved in the Wilmington Campaign, Gen. John D. Cox.

And also what the move and man had to do with Sherman's Carolina Campaign.

Also, that when Cox's division landed at Fort Fisher several weeks after it fell, it resembled a farmer's pumpkin patch as those shells rusted.

These were all events leading up to Wilmington's fall and Joe Johnston surrendering at Bennett Place near Durham, N.C..

This was a big part of the Fort Fisher/Wilmington Campaigns, but I wrote about them in connection with the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group's meeting in February.

--Old B-Runner

"A Soldier's Walk Home" Schedule-- Part 3

From the site.

These are the destinations of Philip Brown on his walk across North Carolina retracing the steps of Washington Duke returning home from New Bern at the end of the war.

May 15--  Seven Springs to Goldsboro
May 16--  Goldsboro to Princeton
May 17--  Princeton to Smithfield
May 18--  Smithville to Clayton
May 19--  Clayton to Raleigh
May 20--  Raleigh
May 21--  Raleigh to Morrisville
May 22--  Morrisvile to Durham
May 23--  Durham to Duke Homestead

Hope he doesn't take I-40 through the area as he would never get there in the monumental traffic jams.

--Old B-R'er

Was He That "Duke"?

Not only is there some confusion about whether Washington Duke was in the Confederate Army or Navy, but also, there is the name "Duke."  And then, he was returning home to Durham, NC, and going to the Duke Homestead.  And, after all, there is that National Champion school in Durham.

Might this be one and the same?

Duke, Duke, Duke, Duke of Durham.  --Old B-Runner

Washington Duke's Long Walk Home Re-enacted-- Part 2

The re-eanctment trek will end May 23rd, with Philip Brown's arrival at the Duke Homestead in Durham.

Washington Duke was a sailor in the Confederate Navy, captured by the Union forces, released at the end of the war and taken to New Bern, North Carolina.

Brown is retracing Washington Duke's walk, but is doing it for all warriors returning from all wars.  Shortly after completion of the walk, Brown will start work at the Gettysburg National Military Park.  Not a bad thing to do after this.

Other stops along the way will be Kinston, Seven Springs, Goldsboro, Princeton, Smithfield, Clayton, Raleigh, Morrisville and Durham.

More information at his website, www.asoldierswalkhome.

Again, Not Sure Why It Is Called a Soldier's Walk When Duke Was in the Confederate Navy.  --Old B-R'er