Notable Wilmington Anniversaries This Year: 1862 Yellow Fever Epidemic

From the December31, 2021, Wilmington (N.C.) Star-News  "The year ahead:  11 Wilmington anniversaries we'll be marking in 2022" by John Staton.

YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC : 160 YEARS

Back in 1862,  hundreds of Wilmington residents died and thousands more, about half the  Port City's population, fled the city when there was an outbreak of yellow fever spread by mosquitoes. 

Kind of reminds you of our present-day troubles with COVID-19.

There is a marker in Wilmington's Oakdale Cemetery showing where some 400 of those deaths are buried in a communal grave.

It reads:

1862 Burial Site of Yellow Fever Victims.

Communal burial site of approximately  400 people who died of yellow fever during Wilmington's epidemic between September and the frosts of November 1862.  Few yellow fever  victims' burials are marked with headstones.

In 1862, Wilmington's population, black and white, was approximately 10,000.  About half the population fled the city to avoid the epidemic.

Of the reported 1,505 cases , 654 (43%) died of yellow fever.

--Old B-Runner

Another Fort Fisher/Wilmington Connection in the Book: Rose O'Nel Greenhow

yesterday, I wrote about Union Ensign Robley Evans' turning down a request to amputate his legs which I took from the magazine/book "The Civil War on the Front Lines."

In the section titled "Women at War: Spies, Scouts, Soldiers, and heroic Homemakers" there was a paragraph on one Rose O'Neal Greenhow.

"Few women espionage agents could surpass the successes of Rose O'Neal Greenhow, a well-connected Washington, D.C., socialite.  Greenhow not only organized a spy network that significantly contributed to the Confederate victory at First Bull Run, but served five months in Washington's Old Capitol Prison for her role, along with her young daughter.

After Greenhow was released, she returned to the South nut drowned returning from a mission to Great Britain in 1864, when the blockade runner carrying her ran aground on The North Carolina coast.

The blockade runner was the Condor and it ran aground off Fort Fisher.  She is buried in Wilmington.

--Old B-Runner

Wilmington, N.C.-- Part 4: Can't Miss Sites

The Salvo: Travels section of the Civil War Monitor magazine is a must-use source if you're visiting any of the places they have covered.

CAN'T MISS

CHRISTINE DIVORKY--  OAKDALE CEMETERY (520 N. 15th Street)  established 1856  There are sections for those who died in a yellow fever epidemic during the war, a Confederate Mound where 350 are buried.  Also the graves of Rose O'Neal Greenhow, W,H,C. Whiting and J.N. Maffitt.

BILL JAYNE--  FORT ANDERSON--  Just south of Wilmington.  Wilmington remained in Confederate hands for over a month after the fall of Fort Fisher.  Fort Anderson protected the southern approach to the city and is the home of some of the best-preserved Civil War earthworks in U.S..  Also ruins of colonial Brunswick Town, burned by the British in 1776.

ME--  BATTLESHIP NORTH CAROLINA--  After all I gave nickels and dimes as a schoolkid to save the ship for the state.

--Old B-Runner

The Condor and "The Wild Rose of the Confederacy"

The Condor was one of five Falcon Class steamers built on the Clyde River in Glasgow, Scotland specifically to run the blockade.  On its maiden voyage, it ran aground and was lost on the night of October 1, 1864, in front of Fort Fisher.

Noted Confederate spy Rose O'Neal Greenhow was on board and returning from England where she had been raising funds for the Confederacy.  She feared she'd be captured and executed and insisted she be rowed to shore despite being advised not to do so by the ship's captain and officers.

A volunteer crew attempted to get her ashore, but waves capsized the boat and she drowned.  She was buried in Wilmington's Oakdale Cemetery.  Her grave is often marked with flowers and a Confederate flag in homage to "The Wild Rose of the Confederacy."

The rest of the Condor's crew rowed ashore the following day, including a Newfoundland puppy belonging to the ship's pilot, Thomas Brinkman.

--Old B-Runner

The Blockade-Runner Condor-- Part 2: Rose O'Neal Greenhow Drowned

More famous than the ship herself was one of her passengers,famous Confederate spy and supporter Rose O'Neal Greenhow, who died in the surf when her small boat overturned while making her escape from the vessel.

Tradition maintains that she was weighed down with vital dispatches to Confederate President Jefferson Davis and $2,000 in gold.

There is a diorama of her death from the old Blockade Runner Museum at the Carolina Beach Town Hall on US-421.  She was buried in Wilmington's Oakdale Cemetery.

--Old B-R'er

A Walking Tour of Wilmington Features the Civil War Past-- Part 2

CASSIDEY SHIPYARD on Church Street by the Cape Fear River.  This is where the Confederate ironclad CSS Raleigh was constructed.  In April 1864 it scattered the Union blockading fleet off Fort fisher, but ran aground returning from the action and had to be destroyed.

The ironclad CSS Wilmington was under construction at the shipyard when the Union forces captured the city and was destroyed by Confederates while still on the stocks as they evacuated.

ROSE GREENHOW, famed Confederate spy, drowned off Fort Fisher when the blockade-runner she was on, the Condor, ran aground and her boat capsized while heading for the shore.  Her funeral was held at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church on Dock Street between Second and Third streets.  She is buried at Oakdale Cemetery.

--Old B-R'er

A Baby Named P.G.T. Walker?

With the surrender of Fort Sumter, Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard became quite the hero in the South.  I am sure that more than a few boys born in the months following were given parts of the general's name.

I remember seeing such a one either at Wilmington, North Carolina's Oakdale Cemetery or Goldsboro, North Carolina's Willowdale Cemetery named P.G.T. Walker.

Well, maybe the last name is not correct.

Others received the name Beauregard.

--Old B-Runner

Something Else to Do in Wilmington Next Month

From the July 23, 2015, Wilmington (NC) Star-News "Friends of Oakdale Cemetery."

The Friends of Oakdale Cemetery will hold a flashlight tour of Oakdale Cemetery 7:30-9:30 p.m. August 15 at 520 N. 15th Street.

The tour will be led by Chris E. Fonvielle Jr., Ed Gibson and superintendent Eric Kozen.  They will speak about the history of Oakdale, Civil War veterans, funerary art and prominent people buried there.

Gen. W.H.C. Whiting, Captain John Newland Maffitt, Rose O'Neal Greenhow and Major James O'Reilly are among the Confederates buried there.

The cost is $15 a person and you must bring a flashlight.

The summer walking tour series continues 10 a.m.-noon September 19 at the cemetery.  The cost for this one is $10 for non-members and free for members.

The tours are canceled in the event of inclement weather.

I'll Be Missing These, However.  --Old B-R'er

Confederate Wilmington Defenses: Green's Millpond-- Part 1

From the March 1, 2010, Wilmington (N.C.) Star-News "My Reporter: What is the story behind a Confederate encampment by Burnt Mill Creek during the Civil War?"

Answer given by Wilmington during the Civil War expert, UNCW history professor Chris Fonvielle.

Today's Burnt Mill Creek was originally called Green's Millpond during the Civil War.  The real Burnt Mill Creek runs along the west and north borders of Oakdale Cemetery.

Confederate engineers built strong earthen defenses along the west bank of Green's Millpond to defend against a Union attack from the east by way of Market Street.

--Old B-Runner

Civil War "Reverberations" Took Place In Wilmington, NC

From the May 22, 2014, Wilmington (NC) Star- News "Local Civil War sites plan commemoration Saturday" by Ben Steelman.

"Reverberations" took place Saturday, May 24, at three New Hanover County sites.

Ranger Emmanuel Dabney of the Petersburg National Battlefield spoke at the Fort Fisher site focusing on the increasingly supply link between Fort Fisher and Wilmington and Lee's Army at Petersburg, Virginia in 1864.  This took place at 11 AM.  As General Grant's Overland Campaign and later Petersburg Siege took place, military supplies coming to Lee's Army from Wilmington played a much increasing role of importance.

At 3 PM, there was a special program at the Confederate Mound at Oakdale Cemetery in Wilmington to honor Confederate soldiers who served at Petersburg.

Then, at 8 PM, a candlelight program was held at the Wilmington National Cemetery to honor Union troops who served at Petersburg and were later transferred South for the Fort Fisher expedition.

This free event was sponsored by the National Park Service in honor of the Civil War Sesquicentennial.

Wish I Had Been There.  --Old B-R'er

The Yellow Fever Panic in Wilmington

From the Sept. 28, 2012, WECT 6 NBC TV, Wilmington, NC by Bob Townsend.

It was wet this summer and there is the threat of West Nile virus and there was another threat to Wilmington 150 years ago  An alarming number of Wilmington's 10,000 population were getting sick and dying from yellow fever with there possible explanations as to how it arrived in town: on the blockade-runner Kate, it had already been in town before the Kate, and perhaps it was a Yankee-induced plot.

Some 6,000 fled the city and over 600 died.

In Oakdale Cemetery, there is a Yellow Fever section where many no longer have tombstones., but records indicate that 343 are buried in the plot.  before the war, the section was known as the public burying ground and was set aside for people of lesser means, were indigent, or died while passing through the town.

Others were buried in family plots.

There will be a Yellow Fever walking tour of Oakdale Cemetery October 20th and a luminary event October 28th.

Not a Pleasant Thing to Live Through.  --Old B-Runner

Yellow Fever Strikes Wilmington 150 Years Ago-- Part 2: "Wagon-loads of Corpses"

On September 13th, the Wilmington Daily Journal noted that the weather was warm and mosquitoes numerous (of course, people didn't know the mosquito connection until 900 when Major Walter Reed discovered the connection).

Also, on the 13th, Wilmington physicians met and determined there indeed was a yellow fever epidemic.  Dozens of cases were reported that same day.  Many families began leaving town.  Soon, some 6,000 of the city's 10,000 residents were gone.

Dr. James H. Dickson was the first physician to report the disease:  "Since Tuesday the 9th I have seen five cases of the disease.  Of those two have died, one is discharged as convalescent and two are still under treatment with doubtful prospects."  His letter was printed in the September 16th Daily Journal.

The wealthy Bellamy family left town under advice of Dr. Dickson, who came down with the disease himself on September 24th.

John H. Bellamy later wrote, "I recollect well, having stood at our home on Market and Fifth Streets, watching wagon-loads of corpses go by to Oakdale Cemetery,of those who had died of the malignant disease."

More to Come.  --Old B-Runner

My Great Summer at Fort Fisher-- Part 7

I had always wanted to spend some extended time at Fort Fisher, and, in 1983, I got the chance when my folks rented a cottage at Carolina Beach for two weeks.  I took full advantage of it.  Now, my mom has a place at Topsail Beach, but that is about fifty miles away, and then there is that horrendous Wilmington traffic to deal with, so I don't get to the fort too often.

Continued from my journal, JULY 29TH, 1982 (30 years ago):

"We then went to the battleship USS North Carolina and bought a Confederate flag which I put on the grave of Whiting on the way out of Wilmington.  He is my favorite general on the Confederate side.

We also went to the National Cemetery where we found some of the graves of the Union sailors and soldiers killed at Fort Fisher.  The superintendent was from Springfield, Illinois.  I talked with her for awhile."

Later that night, it was to the Carolina Beach boardwalk for me.

A Great Day.  --Old B-R'er

My Great Summer at Fort Fisher-- Part 6: Oakdale Cemetery

JULY 29, 1982  THURSDAY

"Came home for lunch and then dad and I went to Oakdale Cemetery.  Yesterday, I had found out that Whiting had been buried in New York City, but had been exhumed in 1900 and returned to Wilmington where he was buried alongside his wife in Oakdale.

We went to the cemetery office and inquired as to where he and several other people were buried.  They didn't know but looked it up and found the sites.  The cemetery superintendent was kind enough to give me has only walking map of the cemetery and that made it much easier to find things.

We first found the grave of John Newland Maffitt, a famous Confederate  naval captain.  It was almost overgrown as the superintendent had informed me that he never purchased the perpetual care package.  I cleared off the grave as best I could and photographed it.

next, we found W.H.C. Whiting's grave and it was in better shape.  I took a picture of it and also took pictures of  the graves of Rose  O'Neil Greenhow, a Confederate spy who drowned off Fort Fisher, and William Lord DeRosset who was the first commander of Fort Fisher."

I Wonder If Maffitt's Grave Is Now Taken Care Of?  --Old B-R'er

Major Reilly's Descendants-- Part 2

In April 1861, James Reilly sent in his resignation to the Union War Department and joined the Confederate Army where he served with distinction commanding the Rowan Artillery and eventually rose to the rank of major.

He and his battery were detached from the Army of Northern Virginia and sent to Fort Fisher.  In the final battle there, he became the senior officer (after Whiting and Lamb were wounded) and officially surrendered the fort.

In doing that, he may be the only one on either side to surrender a fort at the beginning of the war and end of the war, from one side to the other.

He was held a prisoner of war and later returned to Wilmington where he lived at 111 S. sixth Street.  Later in life, he had a small farm in the Maco community in Brunswick County.  He died in 1896 and is buried at Wilmington's Oakdale Cemetery.  If I recall, Reilly's grave is fairly close to Whiting's.

His Descendants Next.  --Old B-Runner

Reillys Buried at Wilmington's Oakdale Cemetery

I looked up the burial records of Oakdale Cemetery in Wilmington, North Carolina, and found the following Reilly's buried there.  I did not see if they were on the same lot, but they may have been according to the dates.  That is, family of James Reilly.

James Aloyisus Reilly, died December 14, 1870 at age 17 months.
James Owen Reilly, died February 6, 1936 at age 56.
Major James Reilly, died November 5, 1894 at age 71.
Martha E. Henry Reilly, wife, died December 27, 1919 at age 78.
James Gibbons Reilly, died December 13, 1975 at age 2 years.

The Major and His Family.  --Old B-R'er

Confederate Major Reilly-- Part 5

Major James Reilly was taken prisoner and sent to Fort Delaware.  While there, the commander of the Army of the Potomac's artillery, General Hunt, visited him.  Reilly had served under Hunt before the war and the general was so impressed with his abilities that he offered Reilly a commission in the U.S. Army if he'd join him.  Reilly refused.  Now, this is something I bet didn't happen very often during the war.

Reilly returned to Wilmington after the war and lived there.  He is buried in the Oakdale Cemetery, not too far from Whiting's grave.

An Interesting career and Great Talk.  Thanks Black Jack Travis.  --Old B-Runner

George Davis Statue Dedicated in Wilmington in 1911

From the April 19, 2011, Wilmington (NC) Star-News Looking Back Column.

On April 21, 1911, the unveiling and formal dedication of the statue of the Honorable George Davis, attorney general of the Confederacy took place. The statue was a gift from the local group of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

The ceremony was preceded by a parade of civic, military and allied Confederate organizations from the city which went from the Wilmington Light Artillery Armory to the site (where it remains today).

Davis died in 1896 and is buried in Wilmington's Oakdale Cemetery.

Honoring the Past. --Old B-Runner