Fort Randall Historical Marker

From The Historical Marker database.

Near North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the Home of Carolina Beach Music.  Get your history and do a little dancing too at Fat Harold's and HOTO's.

INSCRIPTION:

Locaterd  about 5 miles east of here, this Confederate fort included a blockhouse pierced for muskets and earthworks surrounded by a ditch about 10 foot broad and five feet deep.

The fort was captured Jan 1863 by U.S. Navy  Lt. Wm. B. Casuhing and twenty-five men while looking for blockade-runner pilots.  Cushing held the fort briefly until his supply of ammunition was  exhausted.

Erected 1976 by the Horry County Historic Preservation Commission.  (Marker  Number 26-4)

--Old B-Runner

Joseph Ryder Lewis Jr. Park--Part 6: How the Park Came to Be

Chris Fonvielle  led the research into the site, documenting its history  on six informational panels that have been placed throughout the park. Daniel Ray Norris of Slapdash Publishing  worked with Fonvielle to design and develop the panels.

Henson said Lewis Jr. considered giving the land directly to the Federal Point Historical Society, but knew it was clear  the by-the-bootstraps society didn't have the financial resources to make the park happen.

Instead, the town took on  the responsibility of Lewis Jr's vision with the society's assistance.  In total, Pierce said, the town contributed $120,000 to construct the wooden bridge and complete grading and land clearing.

"I'm so excited to have this open green space in the middle of all the town's development," she said.  "Not many towns own their own park.  Other than the boardwalk, this is something we can own and it's beautiful."

Although some will likely take issue with the designation of the park as a Civil War site in today's hyper-vigilance of that era's history, Henson said the park's purpose-- and Lewis Jr.'s intention -- is to preserve history so it survives for others to tell  the stories today and tomorrow.

"This is a very long time coming  for us and for him," she said.    "This was the way he wanted the land used."

--Old B-R'er

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

Confederate Civil War Markers in Wilmington, N.C. Area Are Down

From the August 20, 2020, Wilmington (NC) Star-News  Photos:  Wilmington-area   historic markers in need of repair.

At least eight area state highway markers  have been damaged, stolen or knocked down and are waiting to be replaced.  Some by the recent hurricane.  None of these have been done in by BLM.  Thanks, BLM.

These are North Carolina's "History On a Stick" markers.

**  The now vacant post where W.H.C. Whiting  highway historical marker by Fort Fisher was before it was blown down by Hurricane Isaias in August 2020.

It read:  "D 104 /  W.H.C. WHITING /  1824-1865 /  Confederate major general and engineer.  He devised the Cape Fear defense system.  Wounded nearby in fall of fort.  Died in Union hospital."

**  The Fort Fisher state highway historical marker was blown down during Hurricane Isaias and is still missing.  It was located in Fort Fisher.

It read:  "D 12 /  FORT FISHER /  Built by Confederacy.  Its fall Jan. 15, 1865, closed Wilmington., last important  southern port for blockade running."

**  Fort Caswell state highway historical marker was knocked down after Hurricane Florence in 2018 and remains missing.

It read:  "D 8  /  FORT CASWELL  /  Named for Gov. Caswell.  Begun by U.S. in 18226; seized by N.C. troops, 1861; abandoned by Confederates , 1865.  Stands five miles southeast.

Let's Get Those Markers Back Up Again.  You Must Know Your History.  --Old B-Runner

Union Commander of USS Kearsarge Born in Wilmington, North Carolina

While going through my RoadDog's RoadLog  Blog the other day, I found an entry on John Ancrum Winslow, a famous Civil War naval officer dated October 26, 2007.  Back in 2007 it was my early days of blogging and I only had four blogs at the end of the year.  I wouldn't have placed this there now.

But, it was interesting.  The Waymarkers find and write about history markers, and there is a History On a Stick in Wilmington, N.C., referring to him being born there in 1811.  As the commander of the USS Kearsarge, his ship battled the famed commerce raider CSS Alabama off the coast of France in 1864 and was victorious, sinking the other ship, commanded by Raphael Semmes.

Of interest, Semmes and Winslow had shared a cabin during the Mexican War.

--Old B-Runner

Camp Fisher, N.C.,-- Part 2: High Point, N.C.

From highway marker:  "Located 3/4 mile east.  Camp Fisher was a camp of instruction for North Carolina troops 1861-1862.  Camp Fisher was named for Col. Charles Fisher of Salisbury, after his death at the Battle of First Manassas."

dedicated 1990 by the Colonel John Sloan Camp, 1290 SCV on Main Street, Highway 311.

This sign is located in High Point.

--Old B-R'er

Six Reasons To Visit Fort Fisher This Weekend-- Part 2: New Interpretive Signs and Civil War Photography

2.  SEE THE SIGNS:

The event will also mark the debut of five new historical interpretive markers along the trail encircling the remaining mounds of the earthen structure.

3.  PICTURE PERFECT:

Wilmington photographer Harry taylor will be on the site documenting the faces of visitors with period-appropriate wet plate technology similar to that of famed Civil War photographer Matthew Brady.

Look Like It, Feel Like It. Poise for the Picture.  --Old B-Runner

And, Speaking of the USS Monitor: Greenpoint Trail Marker Stolen

From the October 6, 2016, Brooklyn Daily Eagle "Greenpoint's USS Monitor Trail marker stolen."

This was reported by the Greenpoint Monitor Museum in Brooklyn.  The marker was unveiled May 29, 2015, in big ceremony.

It gave information on the Monitor's inventor and designer John Ericsson, its designer, Thomas Fitch Rowland and the men who worked on it.

Now, who would steal a marker?

--Old B-R'er

Civil War History Signs in Wilmington, N.C.-- Part 1

From the Jan. 13, 2015, Wilmington (N.C.) Star News "9 local signs of Civil War history" by Ben Steelman.

Here is a list of nine Civil War-related North Carolina Historical highway markers around town.

1.  WILMINGTON & WELDON RR  (3rd and Brunswick)  Once longest stretch of railroad in the world.  "Lifeline of the Confederacy" linked port of Wilmington to Confederate capital Richmond.

2.  STATE SALT WORKS  (S. College Rd. and Mohican Trail)  To combat a salt shrtage, N.C.'s state government operated a large salt works- evaporating salt from sea water- using a furnace-- along Myrtle Grove Sound.  The tradition inspired the name of The Salt Works restaurant.

--Old B-R'er

Confederate Navy Yard Marker Missing

From July 1, 2014, Shreveport (La.) Times.

The marker read: "Confederate Navy Yard: One block west near the mouth of Cross Bayou at Red River the ironclad Missouri and ram Webb built.  Missouri armored with railroad iron.   In 1863 the Webb fought USS Indianola near Vicksburg.  Missouri was surrendered here May 1865."

The state purchased the aluminum sign and placed it on a traffic island.  It is now gone and no one knows what happened to it.

Also, a few years ago, a bronze marker detailing where Confederate forts and batteries were located on Marshall Street was stolen.

The missing marker was placed in 1975 at a cost of $325.  Estimates show a replacement one will cost $1,900 to $2,200.

--Old B-Runner

Farragut Marker Removed in Tennessee

From the September 22, 2011, KnoxNews.com (Tn) by Hugh G. Willett.

Lylan Fitzgerald owns the Stony Point property on Northshore Drive, has removed the marker because of problems with vandals and trespassers.  The monument/marker is 111-years-old and honors the site believed to be Union Admiral David G. Farragut's birthplace.

It was installed by the DAR in 1900.

Rumors say a history collector has it, perhaps living in Texas.

Farragut's father Jorge Farragut, a Spanish immigrant and Revolutionary War veteran was deeded the property in 1796.

David Farragut died in1870 and is buried in Bronx, New York.

I Have to Doubt That History Folks Would Be the Ones Trespassing or Vandalizing.  --Old B-R'er