N.C. Book Update

The North Carolina book is moving along nicely. I recently finished making changes and corrections in response to the copy editor's review. The manuscript is now back with the University Press of Kansas for layout and will then be ready for proofreading. It looks like the final product will be over 500 pages long. I hope to pass along more updates - including the title - soon.

Visit to Franklin, Tennessee

The Federal line near the Carter House

My wife and I enjoyed a nice getaway last weekend in Nashville with some longtime friends. On our last day, we made it down to Franklin for some sightseeing. With my friend Aaron Cohen navigating, I tramped around a few of the battlefield sites there including Windham Hill, Fort Granger, and the Carter House. At the Carter House Visitor Center, I had the good fortune to chat with James Knight, author of several titles on the Civil War in Tennessee. He was nice enough to sign a copy of his book on Hood's Tennessee Campaign for me. I learned later that he has also written about Bonnie and Clyde. At Fort Granger, Amy Glover, a California transplant exploring the site with her family, kindly snapped the picture of me below. Fort Granger is an impressive work, towering over the Harpeth River and surrounding countryside. The maps don't do it justice. 
 

Author James Knight and your blogger.

Fort Granger

Another Visit to Plymouth, North Carolina

Fort Compher site, Plymouth N.C.

Recently, I had the chance to make another visit to Plymouth and explore the sites of some of the more obscure fortifications there - most of which are long gone now - and check out some other locations around the town. As I've worked on my North Carolina book, I've had the good fortune to benefit from the vast knowledge of local historian Jimmy Hardison. For decades, Hardison has examined every nook and cranny of the battlefield and made many incredible finds, some of which are on display in the Port o' Plymouth Museum. I've also received extensive assistance from the public historians at the museum, namely David Bennett (now with the Virginia War Museum) and the current curator, Elizabeth Freier. Harding, Bennett, and Freier have patiently fielded emails and phone calls from me over the last few years. I greatly appreciate all of their help.

The 1864 New Bern Expedition: Abram P. Haring's Medal of Honor Letter

Abram P. Haring's Medal of Honor File- NARA

My North Carolina book from University Press of Kansas [UPDATE- now available: The Fight for the Old North State] includes several chapters on the often overlooked Confederate expedition against New Bern in early February 1864. During the first hours of that operation, a handful of Union soldiers led by young First Lieutenant Abram Pye Haring of the 132nd New York delayed a large Confederate force along a narrow stream known today as Bachelor Creek. Decades after the war, Haring would receive the Medal of Honor for his remarkable stand that day.

As part of my research, I looked at Haring's files in the National Archives and, among other things, learned that Haring, on his own behalf, applied for the Medal of Honor ("Medal of Merit" as he called it) in an 1890 request to General Thomas Vincent in Washington. Here is a transcript of that letter.

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Abram P. Haring (Archive.org)

New York, June 13, 1890

Genl. T. M. Vincent

A. A. G., U. S. A.

Washington, D. C.

General,

I beg to call your attention to the following statement and if consistent for the award of a Medal of Merit I should be pleased to be put in the way of getting it. On February 1, 1864, I was in command of the out post picket with 11 men on the reserve at Bachelors Creek [also called Bachelor or Batchelder's Creek] near Newberne, N.C. When attacked in force by Confederates under Genl Pickett. We held the position for two hours before we was reinforced by three companies of our regiment. The attack and resistance was principally during the first two hours – we were outnumbered by thousands – finally flanked and compelled to retire.

Haring's 1890 Letter, NARA RG 94

The resistance first made, defeated the object of Genl Pickett – i.e., the capture of Newberne and is now published for the first time to my knowledge by Townsend, titled “Honors of the Empire State in the War of Rebellion“ pages 348 + 349 – also Vol 41 page 136. 

For the same action I believe Genl Innis N. Palmer who was in command of Newberne, was promoted to full Maj Genl. U.S.A. I enclose a copy of [the] order issued by colonel comdg regiment.

I may add that I was wounded Mch 8, 1865 in battle near Kinston, N.C.

Respectfully yours,

Abram P. Haring

Late 1^st lieut Co. G
132nd Regiment N.Y. Vol Infty

North Carolina Book - Off to the Press

LOC Civil War maps (2nd ed.), 508.5

Last week, I handed over my North Carolina manuscript to the staff at University Press of Kansas. It feels strange at the moment to have no pages to edit (and edit and edit). The book currently clocks in at about 190,000 words (including 1,800 footnotes), 18 maps, and 21 images. I'll be posting more details - title, release date, etc. - as things progress.