This section of the website is a formal apology on my part for the struggles that face every African American held in bondage by my ancestors. If you are a Quinn descendant from Duplin County during slavery. I have extracted the names of all the people they held as slaves and see them in the Estate & Probate Documents and present them only for the sake of helping their descendants in knowing just a little bit more about their ancestors.  

I want to note that the institution of Slavery only arises after the American Revolution and these men, women and children had already been enslaved and then gifted to Quarter-Master Sergeant Caleb Quin(1745c-1833) and his wife Virginia Jane " Jenny" Quin (1761-1840), the daughter of Col. Amos Johnston Born circa 1727 (possibly in Isle of Wight, VA) to Captain Jacob Johnston Sr., he settled in what became Johnston County, NC, by 1762, where he purchased land crazycrow.com+15genealogy.com+15revwarapps.org+15.

The first enslaved Africans arrived to our dominion from the following individual. Col. Amos Johnston when Caleb married his daughter on 6 Nov 1787. Col. Johnston GIFT DEEDED the new couple with Fanny in "April Fools" day, 1 Apr 1798.

• He fathered several children, including a son His namesake Amos Jr. and a daughter named Virginia Jane "Jenny" Johnston and others.  
• Johnston served as a magistrate in Johnston (later Edgecombe) County and held various local offices between 1757–1778, including roles on tax, militia, and provincial committees.
• By May 1771, he was entrusted with a militia commission; by November 1778, he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the county's regiment, reflecting his rising military stature.
• Johnston commanded my ancestor; Caleb Quin, Quartermaster Sergeant who formed with the Wilmington District Militia directly reporting to Col. Johnston. The both fought at Moore’s Creek Bridge (Feb 27, 1776) against Loyalist forces near Wilmington, earning acclaim for his leadership and bravery.
• He later led militia operations during campaigns across South Carolina, including at Stono Ferry (June 1779), where he distinguished himself before his death from illness later that year.
• Represented his county in the North Carolina Provincial Congress (Nov 1776) and served in the General Assembly through 1778—a trusted civic leader during wartime.
• Held administrative trust as a county-level entry taker, ensuring proper land records during tumultuous years were protected .

Here is what I have been able to extract from my family's old wills and probate records.

34 Transactions for 49 Individuals

1. Fanny – Gift from Amos Johnston to Virginia Quin (1 Apr 1798)
2. Tanna – Sale from Caleb Quin to William Johnston (1 Oct 1802)
3. Venus – Sale from Jesse Harris to Caleb Quinn (1 Oct 1803)
4. Rachel – Sale from Nathan Waller to Caleb Quin (1 Apr 1805)
5. Cain – Sale from William Beck Jr. to Samuel Quinn (1 Apr 1814)
6. Arthur – Sale from John F. Rhodes to Thomas Quin (1 Apr 1816)
7. Darcass – Sale from Jesse Brown to Jesse Quinn (1 Apr 1820)
8. Rachel – Sale from John Jones to Thomas Quinn (1 Jan 1821)
9. Arthur – Sale from Joshua Thigpen to Thomas Quinn (1 Jul 1822)
10. Toney – Sale from Estate of John Farrier to Loflin Quinn (1 Jul 1823)
11. Jim and Tanner – Sale from Caleb Quinn to Isom Lanier (1 Apr 1825)
12. Isaac – Sale from Loftin Quinn to Gregory Thomas (1 Nov 1827)
13. Chaney – Sale from George J. Hodam to Jesse Quinn (1 Aug 1828)
14. London – Sale from Abraham Best to Jesse Quinn (1 Nov 1830)
15. Chelly – Gift from Alexander Carter to Winifred Quinn (1 Feb 1831)
16. Mariah & Matilda – Gift from Caleb Quinn to Jane Turner (1 May 1832)
17. Lise (Lizzie) – Sale from Caleb Quinn to Jesse Quinn (1 Feb 1833)
18. Tom & Leevy (wife) – Sale from Caleb Quinn to Jesse Quinn (1 Feb 1833)
19. Jim & Kilvey (wife) – Gift from Caleb Quinn to John W. Quinn (1 Feb 1834)
20. Pharaoh Sam & Grace (wife) – Sale from Linton U. Sheffield to David Quinn (1 Feb 1834)
21. Mary & Jerry (husband) – Sale from Caleb, Jane & Jenney Quinn to Elizabeth Woodward (1 Jul 1835) the daughter in-law of Caleb and Jenny Quinn.
22. Venus & Kenan (husband) – Sale from Jane Quinn to Henry W. Houston (1 Apr 1837)
23. Owen – Sale from Jane Quinn to Elender Miller (1 Apr 1837)
24. Dil & Francis – Gift from Caleb & W(J)innie Quinn to Ellinor Miller (1 Oct 1837)
25. Toney (slave) – Sale including cart/livestock to David W. Boyette (23 Nov 1841)
26. Phebe – Sale from Nathan Murray to Sarah Quinn (1 Jan 1842)
27. Venus & Kenan – Sale from John E. Hussey to Jesse Quinn (1 Apr 1844)
28. Unnamed Slaves – From Enoch Quinn's estate to John Daves by James M. Quinn (1 Jan 1845)
29. Penny – Sale from estate to Smith Jones (1 Jan 1845)
30. Henry – Sale from Jesse Quinn to John H. Nethercut (1 Jan 1849)
31. Alsey, Rachel, Caroline – Sale from Thomas Hall to Brantly Quinn (1 Jul 1852)
32. Jorden & Lucy – Gift from Gregory Thomas to Sarah Quinn (1 Apr 1855)
33. Peter – Sale from Jesse Quinn to Eliza Anderson (1 Jul 1856)
34. Surterah & Mary (wife) – Sale from William H. Best to Jesse Quinn (1 Apr 1858)

Oral Histories & Recollections

In 2011, I interviewed an elder known to me as "Granny Quinn" née Jones" in Smith Township, Craven County. She confirmed oral accounts that many African American families associated with the Quinns that lived in Wolfscrape and were descendants of those enslaved by Frank Quinn. 

According to her, Kinsey Jones, who married Narcissa "Nursey" Quinn (Frank’s 1/2 sister), had both a white and a Black and White  family and was raising children in both households. Granny Quinn’s memories included names such as Zilphia “Zip” Quinn and details about Red Hill Road, Herring’s Marsh, and Kinsey’s Mill. She expressed anger toward the Jones family for erasing this past, but has great pride in her connection to the legacy of survival. Her story adds critical nuance to this reconstruction of enslaved communities.  She reported to me that Kinsey Jones was buried in the Slave Graveyard in Duplin County as his family hated him emphatically.

Kinsey was interviewed shortly after the US Civil War and here is a little bit more information on him.. There is a surviving account attributed to Kinsey Jones.  "There is a worrying observation that so many local “Fire-Eaters” (militant secessionists) dominated public life that “it was not safe for a man to open his mouth,” suggesting he supported the Union or opposed Confederate excess.

“Fire-Eaters” were radical pro-slavery Southern politicians and agitators who, before and during the Civil War, aggressively pushed for secession and defended slavery against all opposition. Characteristics included:

• Extremist rhetoric: Calling openly for Southern independence and often using violent threats against abolitionists.
• Political influence: They dominated many local governments in the Deep South and parts of North Carolina, enforcing loyalty and suppressing dissenting voices.
• Intimidation tactics: Known to harass or threaten Union sympathizers or moderate voices, sometimes using violence or social ostracism .

Grannie Quinn further recollected that there was great love for my ancestor Frank Quinn because she said he was kind and always brought them food and sweets.  Frank would provide his half-sister Narcissa with all her provisions beginning when Frank was very you until he left for the Civil War as a Confederate.  Kinsey had an African American Family and a White family through Narcissa. The last little bit was about her last name or surname Quinn.  I was told that the only reason that all his slaves took the last name Quinn was due to Frank. There are two Frank Quinn men in the records of Duplin County. One an African American and the other White.  She said as we were growing up that Frank's reason for fighting for slavery was not talked about, she only knew that all the slaves he held when the war started, all lived in houses with only their families and that everyone knew of the two families supported by Frank. Here is more detail on the oddity.

On the 1860 United States Census for Duplin County we have 2 parts Slave Schedule Part A (Right)  and then part B transcribed by me as it was not readable as an image due to a poor scan by the archivist.. On the 1860 Slave Schedule - W.F. Quinn “owned” 14 people.

According to the 1860 Schedule 2: Slave Inhabitants of Duplin County, North Carolina (July 12, 1860), W.F. Quinn reported owning multiple enslaved individuals, housed in five separate buildings:

Building 1:

• One 55-year-old woman (Matriarch)

Building 2:

• One 35-year-old woman
• Four children (not named)

Building 3:

• One 24-year-old man
• One 24-year-old woman
• Two children (not named)

Building 4:

• One 24-year-old widowed woman
• Three children (not named)

Building 5: A three-part barn with tack room, loft, and stable, housing enslaved individuals connected to livestock and labor. Despite the seemingly organized housing, no justification can excuse the cruelty of bondage. The count is not described.  

List 17 Slaves belonging to W.F. Quinn.

Frank Quinn was involved in a few NC Regiments as follows:

December 28, 1861 

Gatlin Dragoons
Edward W. Ward’s Company of Calvary July 21, 1862

Transfer 

July 21, 1862 

North Carolina 1st Cavalry 9th Regiment, Company I February 22, 1863 Discharge | Disability 

2nd Enlistment

July 11, 1863 

North Carolina 2nd Regiment of Artillery,
36th Regiment, First Company I (Herring Artillery) 

Herring’s Artillery was a Confederate artillery unit from Duplin County, North Carolina, formally known as Company G, 3rd Battalion North Carolina Light Artillery. Here's a historical overview:

• Organized: Early in the Civil War, likely in 1862.
• County of Origin: Duplin County, North Carolina.
• Nickname: Commonly referred to as Herring’s Artillery, after its commanding officer, Captain James W. Herring.
• The unit formed part of the 3rd Battalion, North Carolina Light Artillery, sometimes also called the 40th Regiment North Carolina Troops (State Troops).

Each artillery company in the battalion was designated a letter (A through G), with Company G being Herring’s unit.

• Herring’s Artillery was primarily assigned to coastal defense duties in Eastern North Carolina. Their deployments included:
  
  • Wilmington
  • Fort Fisher
  • Other defensive positions along the Cape Fear River and coastal fortifications
• The artillery units served under the command of:
  
  • Department of North Carolina
  • Later under the District of Cape Fear, protecting key ports and supply lines critical to the Confederate war effort.

While Herring’s Artillery did not operate as a mobile field battery like some others, it participated in:

• Defensive operations around Wilmington
• Fort Fisher (First and Second Battles) – While some batteries of the 3rd Battalion were directly engaged, it is unclear if Company G specifically manned batteries during these battles or remained in reserve.

Their primary function was manning fixed artillery positions—cannon placements in earthworks and coastal forts, fending off Union advances via land and sea.

Many men from Duplin County served in this unit, and muster rolls show that they were often farmers, blacksmiths, and tradesmen conscripted or volunteering to defend local territories.

• Herring’s Mill and Herring’s Marsh, both landmarks in Duplin County, are believed to be associated with the same family.
• Several descendants and local oral histories preserve the name "Herring’s Artillery" as a point of Duplin County pride and Confederate heritage, though this history is now rightly weighed against the broader implications of the war and slavery.

Footnote: Frank would in December 1865 after repatriation marry the daughter of Lt. Herring's sister Julia Ann Garner née Herring..  Julia at the start of the war was sent to St. Mary's School in Raleigh where she met with Robert E. Lee's family that had arrived a few days earlier.

November 4, 1863
Unit Re-Designated November 4, 1863 to the North Carolina 3rd Regiment of Artlllery 40th Regiment, Third Company G 

January 15, 1865
Wounded - Battery Buchanan

Captured at Surrender of Fort Fisher

Battery Buchanan – January 15, 1865
The Final Stand at Fort Fisher, North Carolina

Battery Buchanan was a key Confederate fortification located at the southern tip of New Hanover County, North Carolina, on Federal Point, just southwest of Fort Fisher. It was named after Confederate Admiral Franklin Buchanan and was designed to:

• Protect the Cape Fear River entrance
• Serve as the last fallback defense if Fort Fisher fell
• Guard against Union naval flanking maneuvers

It housed heavy seacoast artillery and overlooked the waterway approach, making it a vital part of Wilmington’s defensive system—the last major Confederate port open to blockade runners by late 1864.

• Union forces under Maj. Gen. Alfred H. Terry and Rear Adm. David D. Porter launched a massive amphibious assault starting January 13.
• After two days of bombardment and coordinated landings, Union infantry and sailors attacked Fort Fisher’s land face on January 15, 1865.
• By the late afternoon, Union forces had successfully breached Fort Fisher's defenses, engaging in brutal, close-quarters combat.
• As Fort Fisher collapsed, remaining Confederate forces retreated to Battery Buchanan.
• Gen. William H.C. Whiting, Fort Fisher’s commander, was wounded and captured.
• Col. William Lamb, second-in-command, was also severely wounded.

Around 9:30 p.m., Confederate Major James Reilly, the battery’s commanding officer, surrendered Battery Buchanan to the Union, marking the end of Confederate control over Fort Fisher and effectively sealing the fate of Wilmington.

• Battery Buchanan was the last Confederate position to fall during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher.
• Its surrender marked the final Confederate loss in the Cape Fear defense network.
• Without Fort Fisher or Battery Buchanan, Wilmington was no longer defensible and fell to Union forces less than two months later, in February 1865.
• The fall of Battery Buchanan and Fort Fisher closed the last major Confederate supply line via the Atlantic.
• 9,000 Union troops and over 600 sailors and marines had overwhelmed the fort’s 1,900 defenders.
• Confederate resistance in the eastern Carolinas was effectively crippled.

January 15, 1865 

Transported to POW Camp to Hammond General Hospital
Point Lookout, St. Mary’s County, Maryland March, 1865
Prisoner of War 

March, 1865 

Transferred from Hammond General Hospital to Point Lookout POW Camp, St. Mary’s County, Maryland assigned 3rd Division, Company E.  Treated for a light canon wound to left leg.  Did not receive the standard of the Civil War in an amputation.

Records indicate he received his full allowance of clothing, bedding cold weather materials per prison records.  

.
June 17, 1865
Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America 

Footnote:

After the Second Battle of Fort Fisher (January 13–15, 1865), Union forces captured 1,154 Confederate soldiers. The De Molay was one of four steamers  alongside the California, General Lyon, and North Point all were used to transport these prisoners northward. 

warfarehistorynetwork.com+2nccivilwarcenter.org+2americanhistorycentral.com+2.

Frank was transported via the De Molay according to Union records in my hands, obtained from the Library of Congress along with Muster Sheets, Material Isse Sheets along with Frank's Medical Record.  He was 5' 11" as I am, had dark hair as I did, and a dark complexion as I once did.  I have a sympathy wound on my left thigh. Genetics Hard at Work.

He was later repatriated on June 17, 1865, and married JuliaAnn Garner on December 20, 1865 as afore mentioned.

Company E, 4th U.S. Colored Infantry

Formed post-Emancipation Proclamation, Company E was stationed at Fort Lincoln, tasked with defending Washington, D.C., and operating Camp Hoffman and Point Lookout POW Camp. Comprised entirely of former slaves from eastern North Carolina, they received Fort Fisher prisoners after its fall on January 15, 1865. These men had escaped during the Union advance on New Bern in 1862 and resettled in towns like Cove City and Dover.

Legacy of Slaves - Short Narrative

Princeville, Cove City, and Africatown stand as enduring reminders of Black resilience. These towns were either founded or populated largely by formerly enslaved people, and despite natural disasters and systemic challenges, they endure. Princeville, notably, was incorporated in 1885 and is the oldest town in the U.S. chartered by African Americans.

Though the names and facts shared here are pieced together through documents, interviews, and memory, they represent a mosaic of lives—real people whose suffering and strength define the American story. This work is for them.

Princeville, North Carolina, holds a profound place in American history—it’s the first town in the U.S. chartered and governed by African Americans. Here's its remarkable story:

Princeville, NC - Origins: From Slavery to Freedom Hill (1865)

• 1865 – As the Civil War ended, formerly enslaved people flocked to a Union encampment south of Tarboro along the Tar River. Staying after Union troops moved on, they formed a community on a small rise where freedom was first proclaimed—calling it Freedom Hill pulitzercenter.org+11zinnedproject.org+11townofprinceville.com+11.
• The land, owned by white planters but overlooked because it flooded often, became a haven for self-determination en.wikipedia.org.

Incorporation & Growth (1885)

• By 1880, Freedom Hill had about 379 people working as craftsmen, laundresses, carpenters, and blacksmiths. One key figure was Turner Prince, a carpenter who helped establish the townfacebook.com+6en.wikipedia.org+6townofprinceville.com+6.
• In February 1885, the community was formally incorporated as Princeville, in Turner Prince’s honor—making it the oldest chartered African American town in America zinnedproject.org+12dncr.nc.gov+12tclf.org+12.

Challenges: Racism, Economy, & Politics

• Princeville faced threats common to Black communities of the Reconstruction era—white supremacist violence, Jim Crow laws, and suppression of political rights—even while sending legislators to Raleigh in the 1870scms5.revize.com+12townofprinceville.com+12tclf.org+12.
• Despite these struggles, the town cultivated institutions like churches, a school (built in the 1930s), and businesses, anchoring a resilient Black community .

The Tar River: Blessing & Curse

• The town was built on flood-prone land that white settlers had shunned. It endured repeated flooding in 1887, 1919, 1924, 1928, 1940, and 1958 parks.berkeley.edu.
• In 1967, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built a levee that protected it until 1999, when Hurricane Floyd caused catastrophic flooding, submerging Princeville and drawing national attention—including visits by Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and former President Clinton. The musician Prince even donated to relief effortstownofprinceville.com+2parks.berkeley.edu+2tclf.org+2.
• Another devastating flood came in 2016 after Hurricane Matthew water.ecu.edu+5parks.berkeley.edu+5tclf.org+5.

Resilience & Rebirth

• After both major floods, residents—many descended from the original founders—declined federal buyout offers. They chose to rebuild their heritage, not abandon it cms5.revize.com.
• Today, community-focused rebuilding efforts—led by NC State professors, local leaders, and residents—are underway. They include improved flood infrastructure, historical preservation, and community revitalization .

Cultural & Historical Significance

• Princeville is more than its floods. It stands as an enduring testament to African American self-governance and resilience.
• Historic landmarks like the former Princeville School (now on the National Register of Historic Places) and Freedom Hill’s marker symbolize a legacy of hope and agencyzinnedproject.org+13townofprinceville.com+13kptv.com+13flickr.com+5chicago.suntimes.com+5abc11.com+5.
• Efforts to preserve this legacy include oral history projects, landscape restoration, and plans for heritage tourism .

In Summary

From a settlement in the swampy floodplain to the nation’s first Black-incorporated town, Princeville’s story is one of faith, failure, determination, and rebirth. It’s a living chapter of American history—facing environmental challenges but anchored in fierce cultural pride. As NC State’s professors ask: Would we give up on Jamestown after a flood? And the residents of Princeville answer: No—we’ll stay and rebuild.

Cove City - Early Origins & Name

• The area that became Cove City was first settled by European colonists in the early 1700s, part of the expansion across Craven County following Native American habitationapartments.com+15newbernnow.com+15bestplaces.net+15.
• The town's name may trace back to the Coree Indians, the local indigenous group, though some accounts mention “cove” describing the surrounding landscape kids.kiddle.co+1en.wikipedia.org+1.

Dover - Early Origins & Name

The area sits on land historically inhabited by Native Americans and was later part of a colonial migration from Virginia into what became Edgecombe, later Craven, County files.nc.gov.

Dover is tiny—just under 1 square mile—with a 2020 population of 349 olddobbers.net+1en.wikipedia.org+1.

It forms part of the New Bern metro area, aligning it with one of eastern North Carolina’s oldest colonial cities files.nc.gov+6en.wikipedia.org+6landsearch.com+6.

Dover is a small, historic railroad-era township grounded in agriculture. Once a flourishing part of the Craven County network, it now preserves its rural charm with significant historical continuity in its population and land use—even as numbers decline and farming patterns evolve.

New Bern

1861: Fortifying a Confederate Stronghold

At the war’s outset, New Bern was North Carolina’s second-largest city and a key Confederate port and railroad junction. Early on, the state government and Confederate commanders began constructing extensive earthwork defenses—forts like Fort Thompson, Fort Dixie, and a series of redans south of the city—designed to block naval attacks up the Neuse River and protect the rail corridor ncpedia.org+13civilwartraveler.blog+13ebay.com+13.

1862: Burnside’s Expedition & Fall of New Bern

Landing & Assault

In early 1862, Union forces under Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside built on Union gains at Roanoke Island and Hatteras Inlet. On March 11, they launched an amphibious raid—transporting ~11,000 troops and 13 gunboats up the Neuse River toward New Bern thomaslegioncherokee.tripod.com+3battlefields.org+3ncpedia.org+3.
Troops landed at Slocum’s Creek on March 13, marched through rain and mud, and approached the Confederate line anchored at Fort Thompson and extending to the railroad thomaslegion.net+10ncpedia.org+10newbernhistorical.org+10.

The Battle (March 14)

The assault began at dawn:

• Burnside deployed three brigades: Foster (right via road), Reno (left via railroad), and Parke in reservecivilwar.gratzpa.org+3battlefields.org+3ncpedia.org+3dncr.nc.gov+5newbernhistorical.org+5rarenewspapers.com+5.
• Confederate defenders led by Brig. Gen. Lawrence Branch held defensive earthworks with about 4,000 men, including portions of the 26th, 33rd, and 37th NC regiments ebay.com+6civilwartraveler.blog+6battlefields.org+6.
• Reno’s brigade struck first at the railroad flank, seizing a brickyard and artillery positions after fighting through militia lines thomaslegioncherokee.tripod.com+2newbernhistorical.org+2civilwartraveler.blog+2.
• Parke’s flanking attack then broke the Confederate center, forcing mass retreatcivilwartraveler.blog+1rarenewspapers.com+1.
• Foster renewed attacks on the right, while naval bombardment supported infantry thrusts .

Outcome & Significance

After about 6 hours, Union forces captured Fort Thompson and broke the Confederate line. New Bern fell and remained under Union control for the rest of the war pinterest.co.uk+13battlefields.org+13newbernhistorical.org+13.
Casualties: ~1,049 Union and 471 Confederate losses.

Occupation and War’s Later Years

Once occupied, New Bern became a strategic federal base for operations in eastern North Carolina. Although Confederate forces attempted raids and skirmishes, none retook the city. The Union's presence helped control regional rail and river routes, vital for logistics and supply civilwar.gratzpa.org+5battlefields.org+5ncpedia.org+5.

1862 - Slaves Join the Union Army - March 1862

During the Union capture of New Bern in March 1862, enslaved people seized their first concrete opportunity for freedom. As Union forces landed and advanced, many enslaved individuals fled plantations and crowded into Union lines, triggering a significant shift in the war's dynamics in eastern North Carolina.

Flight to Freedom & Contraband Camps

• From late 1861, Union commanders in North Carolina enacted a "contraband" policy, refusing to return escaped enslaved people, thus gradually establishing contraband camps on the outskirts of their military encampmentsamericanyawp.com+15northcarolinahistory.org+15battlefields.org+15.
• After Burnside captured New Bern in March 1862, thousands of enslaved men, women, and children streamed in. One 1864 report noted approximately 7,500 contrabands in and around New Bern alone—part of over 17,000 in eastern North Carolina under Union control .
• These camps provided shelter, food, education, wages (though modest), and spiritual support—often run by Northern missionaries and the contrabands themselves alamy.com+15northcarolinahistory.org+15brandeis.edu+15.

Contributions to the Union War Effort

• Contrabands were vital to the Union military infrastructure:
  • Built forts (like Fort Totten), docks, and roads
  • Served as laborers, steamboat crews, scouts, guides, and spies
  • Unloaded thousands of tons of supplies, supporting operations across North Carolinafacebook.com+15northcarolinahistory.org+15americanyawp.com+15.
• Vincent Colyer, Superintendent of the Poor in New Bern, described their achievements:
  “The negroes loaded and discharged cargoes… served regularly as crews on about twenty steamers… a number of the men were good carpenters, blacksmiths… and did effective work in their trades.”facebook.com+15tryonpalace.org+15sites.rootsweb.com+15
   

From Refugees to Soldiers

• With the Emancipation Proclamation (Jan 1863) and support from Union leadership, recruitment of Black troops began.
• In May 1863, Gen. Edward A. Wild organized the “African Brigade” in New Bern, recruiting from the contraband population dncr.nc.gov+1battlefields.org+1newbernmagazine.com+4newbernhistorical.org+4dncr.nc.gov+4.
• The first regiment, the 1st North Carolina Colored Volunteers (later the 35th U.S. Colored Troops, USCT), was mustered in June 1863 and trained near the Neuse River ncgenweb.us+3dncr.nc.gov+3aahc.nc.gov+3.
• These soldiers played roles in raids, combat, and everyday military duties—helping dispel doubts about Black soldiers’ effectiveness .

Impact & Legacy

1. Undermined Confederate labor—escapees weakened plantation economies and boosted Union resources.
2. Transformed military strength—Black forces like the 35th USCT were crucial in later campaigns and changed public perception of African American soldiers alamy.com+11dncr.nc.gov+11aahc.nc.gov+11.
3. Laid groundwork for Reconstruction—former contrabands became leaders, blended into freed communities (like James City), and founded institutions—churches, schools, and civic organizations—in post-war New Bernnorthcarolinahistory.org+3dncr.nc.gov+3newbernhistorical.org+3.

Summary

• 1862–1863: New Bern became a haven where Union policy allowed enslaved people to escape bondage and provide critical labor.
• 1863 onward: They began enlisting, forming the first Black regiments in North Carolina—military pioneers in the fight for freedom.
• Legacy: Their courage reshaped the war, empowered Black communities, and paved the way for eventual citizenship and civil rights.

1863–1865: New Bern’s Role Through War’s End

• The city served as a hospital center, supply depot, and launch point for inland campaigns and coastal expeditions.
• Post-1862, major battles shifted elsewhere, but New Bern remained secure under Union control.
• By 1865, the Confederacy was collapsing; while Johnston’s surrender at Bennett Place occurred elsewhere, New Bern’s significance came from its early capture and sustained Union occupation .

Why It Matters

1. Strategic Victory: Capturing New Bern cut Confederate coastal defenses and linked inland communications to the Union blockade.
2. Federal Foothold: Its fall allowed the Union to maintain pressure in eastern North Carolina.
3. Boost to Burnside: The victory cemented Burnside’s wartime reputationthomaslegioncherokee.tripod.com+2ncpedia.org+2rarenewspapers.com+2.

New Bern’s transformation from Confederate bastion to Union-occupied hub was swift and decisive. From the muddy swamps of early March 1862, to a symbol of Union control in eastern North Carolina, its Civil War years showcase strategic initiative, amphibious operations, and the enduring impact of that pivotal battle.

Several United States Colored Troops (USCT) regiments served as guards at Point Lookout, Maryland’s Confederate POW camp during the Civil War. Key units included

USCT Regiments on Guard Duty at Point Lookout

4th US Colored Infantry Regiment (4th USCI)

• Served as prison guards at Camp Hoffman (Point Lookout) under Brig. Gen. Benjamin Butler’s command starting in April 1864 fold3.com+15emergingcivilwar.com+15paulawhitacre.com+15.
• Notable among them was Sgt. Christian A. Fleetwood, Medal of Honor recipientdnr.maryland.gov+1news.maryland.gov+1.
• As part of XXV Corps, took part in the failed First Fort Fisher assault (Dec), then successfully stormed the fort during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher Fort Fisher (Jan 7–15, 1865)

36th US Colored Infantry Regiment (36th USCI)

• Mustered in: Originally organized as the 2nd North Carolina Colored Infantry at New Bern, NC, and Portsmouth, VA. It was officially redesignated as the 36th USCI on February 8, 1864 under Col. Alonzo G. Draper
• Assigned garrison duty at Point Lookout through July 1864 before heading to combat in Virginia emergingcivilwar.com+15nps.gov+15nps.gov+15.

24th US Colored Infantry Regiment (24th USCI)

• Organized early 1865 at Camp William Penn, Pennsylvania.
• Stationed at Point Lookout from May until mid-July 1865, guarding Confederate prisoners before relocating south .historicsouthjersey.com+5nps.gov+5pahistoriclamott.com+5.

USCT Cavalry at Point Lookout

5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry Regiment

• After serving dismounted in Virginia, ordered to Point Lookout in late June 1864 to guard Confederate prisoners, remaining until late 1865 thereconstructionera.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15delgensoc.org+15.
• 3rd and 4th Maryland Colored Infantry Regiments, as well as the 28th USCI, periodically rotated through guard duty at Point Lookout delgensoc.org+4pahistoriclamott.com+4dnr.maryland.gov+4.

Summary of Guard Units at Point Lookout

The following USCT regiments played guard roles at Camp Hoffman/Point Lookout:

• 4th US CI – from April 1864
• 36th US CI – until July 1864
• 24th US CI – from May to July 1865
• 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry – from June 1864 into 1865
• 3rd & 4th Maryland CI, 28th US CI – various rotations thereconstructionera.com+6pahistoriclamott.com+6pointlookoutprison.com+6emergingcivilwar.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2news.maryland.gov+2

These assignments reflected a broader Union strategy: deploying Black troops in positions that symbolically reversed the power dynamic of enslavement—enslaved and formerly enslaved men now guarding Confederate captives. Want to know more about their daily experiences or how this looked in personal memoirs?

Hammond General Hospital at Point Lookout, Maryland

Hammond General Hospital at Point Lookout, Maryland was a major Union Army medical facility during the Civil War (1862–1865), and offers a compelling glimpse into wartime medicine, prison infrastructure, and community life.

Establishment & Design

• Constructed in 1862, the hospital was named after U.S. Army Surgeon General William A. Hammondspeccol.msa.maryland.gov+14loc.gov+14rarenewspapers.com+14.
• Designed around a central hub with 16 spoke-like ward buildings, it offered around 1,400 beds, plus a dining hall, chapel, library, staff housing, and administrative offices loc.gov+1chroniclingamerica.loc.gov+1.

The Hammond Gazette

• From November 17, 1862, the hospital issued a weekly newspaper—the first in a Civil War military hospital—targeted to staff and patients en.wikipedia.org+10en.wikipedia.org+10loc.gov+10.
• Inside its pages were poetry, humor, war updates, hospital news, patient rosters, and even political commentary (e.g. lampooning Copperhead Democrats) en.wikipedia.org+1loc.gov+1.
• Staffed first by Charley Greer, the paper was later published by George Everett, a white officer in the 38th USCT stationed there alexautographs.com+8loc.gov+8en.wikipedia.org+8.

Expansion to POW Operations

• After Gettysburg, the government converted surrounding land into Camp Hoffman, a Confederate POW camp attached to the hospital bidsquare.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3rarenewspapers.com+3.
• The prison rapidly grew to hold up to 20,000 Confederates, often in harsh conditions characterized by overcrowding, inadequate shelter, and severe weather. About 4,000 prisoners died by war's end en.wikipedia.org.

Shared Care & Operations

• Hammond Hospital served both Union wounded and captured Confederates, with many prisoners eventually funneled through its wards en.wikipedia.org+8archives.lib.umd.edu+8rarenewspapers.com+8.
• Patients were transported by steamboat, the hospital was built on pilings to withstand tidal changes, and infrastructure included professional nurses—among them, Abigail Hopper Gibbons, who became head matron in 1863 en.wikipedia.org+5alexautographs.com+5en.wikipedia.org+5.

Records & Archival Importance

• The Hammond Gazette ran from November 1862 through 1864, producing 95 issues, now the largest surviving collection of Civil War hospital newspapersarchives.lib.umd.edu+8en.wikipedia.org+8speccol.msa.maryland.gov+8.
• Archival collections (e.g., at the University of Maryland) include letters, diaries, photos, official documents, and Gazette copies, illuminating daily hospital and camp life archives.lib.umd.edu+1loc.gov+1.

Legacy & Closure

• The hospital wound down after the war’s end in summer 1865, and most structures were sold or demolishedalexautographs.com.
• Yet it remains historically significant for its medical innovations, its operation as both hospital and prison, and for giving voice to patients and staff through its newspaper.

In Summary

• A pioneering Civil War medical institution, Hammond General Hospital featured a distinctive multi-spoke ward layout, treated men from both sides of the conflict, and generated its own vibrant periodical.
• Overlapping its hospital duties, it hosted one of the largest POW camps in the war—marked by severe conditions—and its documentation offers scholars unparalleled insights into Civil War healthcare, journalism, and prison life.

Finally let me remind you all of Africatown, also known as Africatown USA, is a remarkable historic community located just north of Mobile, Alabama. It was founded by West Africans who were among the last known group of enslaved people brought to the United States—illegally—aboard the schooner Clotilda in 1860, over 50 years after the transatlantic slave trade was outlawed.

• In 1860, a wealthy Mobile shipbuilder and plantation owner, Timothy Meaher, made a wager that he could smuggle Africans into the U.S., defying the 1808 federal ban on the slave trade.
• He hired Captain William Foster to sail the Clotilda to Ouidah, Dahomey (present-day Benin), where Foster purchased 110 men, women, and children, mostly of Yoruba and Fon origin.
• After secretly offloading the captives in Alabama, Foster burned and sank the Clotilda to destroy evidence of the crime.

• Following emancipation in 1865, the formerly enslaved Africans—still tightly connected by language and culture—sought to return to Africa.
• Lacking the resources, they purchased land and created their own self-governed community on the outskirts of Mobile.
• The founders included notable individuals such as:
  
  • Cudjo Lewis (Kossola) – the last known survivor of the Clotilda voyage and a key community leader.
  • Pollee Allen, Kupollee, Gumpa, and others who retained African customs, language, and religious practices.

• The community established:
  
  • Churches (notably, the African Methodist Episcopal and Baptist congregations),
  • A school, and
  • A cemetery, still in use today.
• Despite the pressures of American segregation and racism, Africatown remained a culturally distinct enclave, preserving African identity for generations.
• Many residents spoke Yoruba, practiced traditional medicine, and held onto ancestral memory through oral history and community ritual.

• For over 150 years, the Clotilda’s wreck remained a legend. In 2019, marine archaeologists confirmed its remains in the Mobile River delta.
• The discovery re-energized Africatown descendants and launched efforts for preservation, education, and tourism.

• Africatown was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.
• The Africatown Heritage House, opened in 2023, displays artifacts, stories of the Clotilda, and honors the legacy of the survivors and their descendants.
• Environmental justice issues persist—Africatown borders industrial sites that have long impacted community health, sparking lawsuits and national advocacy.

FeatureDetailsFoundedPost-1865 by Clotilda survivorsKey FigureCudjo Lewis (last known Clotilda survivor)Cultural LegacyYoruba customs, language retention, self-governanceHistoric RecognitionNational Register of Historic Places (2012)Clotilda Wreck Found2019, confirmed by archaeologists in Mobile RiverModern LandmarkAfricatown Heritage House (opened 2023)

Africatown is not just a Southern curiosity—it is a living monument to survival, resistance, and cultural memory in the face of slavery’s brutal legacy. It remains one of the few places in America founded by Africans who directly experienced the Middle Passa

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