North Carolina is Where You Can Get Your Civil War Navy Fix in Early 2014

2014.  A new year for the sesquicentennial.  For the Civil War in 1864, it was the crucial linchpin between Confederate collapse and surrender.  With the Mississippi River closed and much of the South still reeling from the effects of the Vicksburg campaign, final preparations were underway for the Union Army's last "push to victory:"  the Overland Campaign and Sherman's March to the Sea/Petersburg.

It is a landmark year for the Civil War navies.  Legends are made (Farragut at Mobile Bay) and taken down (Raphael Semmes and the Alabama).  Events, activities, and programs will undoubtedly crop out throughout the year.  Yet, if you REALLY want to get your Civil War Navy fix for the new year, the place to do it is North Carolina.  Here is a brief run down of some events going on in the first few months of 2014:

“Always near the front, with instruments and tourniquets:  The Medical Service at Fort Fisher”
January 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fort Fisher State Historic Site, Kure Beach

"The attack during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher was the largest assault by the U.S. Army and Navy until World War II, and followed a smaller attack in December. Union forces had to stop the supply line to Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia that fed through Fort Fisher. Combined Federal casualties are believed to have exceeded 1,500; Confederates are believed to have been greater than 3,800. Care of the injured among the casualties will be examined during the program."

Underwriter Expedition Symposium and Living History

February 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center, Kinston

The CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center will host the USS Underwriter Expedition Symposium and Navy Living History on Saturday, February 1, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The program will commemorate the 150^th anniversary of the Underwriter Expedition.  It was likely the most exciting thing in which many of the crew of the CSS Neuse were involved.

The Symposium will feature a talk by speaker Jeff Bockert about the larger campaign of which the USS Underwriter Expedition was a part at 10 a.m.  Andrew Duppstadt will speak about the naval attack and involvement of crewmembers from the CSS Neuse at 1 p.m. At 2:30 Matthew Young will address the attack on the USS Water Witch, a similar operation to the Underwriter Expedition that took place in Georgia.  Pre-registration is required for the symposium. A boxed lunch from Our Picnic Basket will be included in the $10 registration fee.  Please call 252-522-2107 or email cssneuse@ncdcr.gov to register by January 24, 2014.

The Carolina Living History Guild will provide Civil War naval displays, living history, and costumed interpretation.  The living history is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

At the CSS Neuse Interpretive Center, learn about the ironclad gunboat and watch as a new museum takes shape.  The Confederate Navy launched the ill-fated CSS Neuse in an attempt to regain control of the lower Neuse River and the city of New Bern.

The CSS Neuse Interpretive Center is located at 100 N. Queen St., Kinston, N.C.  Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Gov. Caswell Center is located at 2612 W. Vernon Ave., Kinston, N.C., 28504. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. 4 p.m. The sites are closed Sunday and Monday, and most major holidays.

For information contact Holly Brown at 252-526-9600 ex. 222 or email cssneuse@ncdcr.gov.  Visit the site on Facebook at “CSS Neuse” or “Gov. Richard Caswell Memorial State Historic Site” pages.  The sites are administered by the Division of State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.

"The Navy Way" Program
February 15-16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site, Winnabow 

"The outmanned and outgunned Confederates first used torpedoes during the Civil War. The first marine torpedoes were fixed water mines, not the self-propelled explosives of today. There will be torpedo demonstrations at the fort, and re-enactors of artillery and cavalry soldiers also will participate in the program. Brunswick Town has one of the most extensive exhibits of Civil War torpedoes in the southeast."

Some program descriptions taken from Beach Carolina Magazine