7-16-19 Four Oaks & Raleigh, NC

A few of the original 13 states of the USA refused to ratify the US Constitution until the Bill of Rights was added to it.  George Washington had a copy of the Bill of Rights sent out to all the governors.  Upon receiving this document, North Carolina became the 12^th state to ratify the Constitution and simultaneously become a state on Nov. 21, 1789.  The original capitol building burned down, naturally, in 1831 and between the years 1833-40, the new capitol was completed.  When W. Tecumseh blew through Raleigh in 1865, he was begged to spare the capitol building and he did.  But the Union soldiers pilfered many treasures as “souvenirs” and one of them was NC’s copy of the Bill of Rights from George W.  The FBI finally located this document in a private collection and after years of litigation it was returned to NC in 2005.  It now resides safely in the State Archives.

Raleigh, NC capitol building

The capitol building is a fairly simple affair compared to some we have visited, quiet and stately.  The Legislative and Judicial branches of the government no longer do business in this building (the original furnishings remain) but the Governor still works here once in a while.  The “Don’t Tread On Me” flag, designed by Christopher Gadsen in 1776 and became the standard on the US naval fleet during the Revolutionary War, is on display in the rotunda.  Another is a scale model of the flag that flew over Fort McHenry in the early dawn hours when Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star Spangled Banner.”  Among the many monuments on the grounds, George W’s statue stands with dignity outside the east wing carrying a fully-intact staff.  Tecumseh’s vandals had mercy on this one.

Rob stands on the simple staircase

Revolutionary War naval fleet
standard designed by Gadsen in 1776

Replica of the 15 star spangled banner
that flew at Fort McHenry

Henry Lawson Wyatt, the first fallen
Confederate soldier of the
Civil War

George W with a fully-intact staff

Harper House built in 1850

Surgical room in the Harper House

The last major battle of the Civil War took place March 19-21, 1865 at Bentonville Battleground, 6,000 acres of land where 60,000 Union troops engaged 20,000 Confederate troops.  A fairly well-to-do farmer, John Harper and his wife Amy, owned 700 acres of land near what would become the battlefield.  John, Amy and the eight children moved upstairs and the first floor of their home became a field hospital ER.  There was really only one solution to serious wounds in those days, amputation, and the two entry parlor windows were always open and legs and arms were piled up just outside.  Of the 54 Confederate soldiers in the hospital, 20 died and are buried near the Harper family grave-sites.  On this site, also, are 360 Confederate soldiers buried in a mass grave, the location of which is only approximate.  Visitors to this battlefield are asked to remain on the paths and not to pick up any artifact or do any digging, even superficial, as this is considered to be a sacred burial site even though the locations of the graves of the fallen are not known.

Four of the 20 graves of those who
died at the Harper House

As for the conflict, Union troops were marching along minding their own business on two parallel routes about 10 miles from each other on their way to Goldsboro where railroads intersected to replenish supplies.  General Joseph Eggleston Johnston CSA had other ideas.  On March 19, he ambushed Sherman's 14^th Corps on the fields of Bentonville.  The unsuspecting Union troops on the left flank were foundering when Sherman, marching with the right flank, learned this. 

18 yr. old Capt. Joseph Foraker, the
courier who ran the news of the left flank's
troubles to Sherman. He would later
go on to become the Governor
and a Senator in his home state
 of Ohio.

He changed his troops’ route and circled around to attack from the rear.  I guess Johnston didn’t know who he was messing with.  During the night of March 21, 1865, the CSA retreated across Mill Creek Bridge and burned it behind them.  Sherman did not pursue them but shortly thereafter, with the CSA completely beleaguered, Lee surrendered at Hippopotamax and elsewhere, Johnston surrendered to Tecumseh.  It was hard for us to figure out the battle lines in the grass and trees at Bentonville Battleground these many years later;  lines, flanks and trenches every which way.  Instead, it was simply a visit to historic, sacred ground soaked with the blood of more than 4,000 youngsters who made the ultimate sacrifice, buried where they lie, forever lonely in unmarked graves.

Unknown Confederate soldier's grave

Five different locals today suggested eating at Holt Lake BBQ.  At last, we ate southern fried chicken and NC-style smoked bbq’d pulled pork.  The locals brag that their sauce (vinegar and spices) is much better than that other “tomato-y stuff.”  They make a good point!  A fine way to wrap up an information-loaded 2 days.  Now, the humidometer is pegging out.  It is time for a shower and a cold toonie.