More Curious Tales From Old Wilmington And The Lower Cape Fear

"In Curious Tales From Old Wilmington and the Lower Cape Fear: The Truth Behind the Legends, Chris E. Fonvielle Jr., Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at UNC Wilmington, explores five famous urban legends with the skills of a professional historian. The stories have been told and retold for many years, in one case more than 200 years, but what is the truth behind them? What really happened and what do the legends reveal?"--.

"In More Curious Tales From Old Wilmington and the Lower Cape Fear: The Truth Behind the Legends, Chris E. Fonvielle Jr., Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at UNC Wilmington, explores famous urban legends with the skills of a professional historian"--.

Situated on the banks of the Cape Fear River, Wilmington is awash in unusual tales and legends. A prevalent pirate hideaway, the area harbored the infamous Blackbeard and the cunning Calico Jack Rackham. Since its initial settlement, the region has witnessed an abundance of fantastical lore, including passionately fought duels, explosive train wrecks, Revolutionary and Civil War heroes and some legends that are said to take the form of apparitions. At the local Cape Fear Wine & Beer pub, the ghost of a fallen redcoat can't seem to get enough of a frothy porter brewed from yeast salvaged from an early nineteenth-century shipwreck. Wonder at these and other fascinating and strange tales as local author John Hirchak reveals the legendary history of Wilmington and Cape Fear.

As one of America's most haunted cities, Wilmington and its many ghosts make the Cape Fear region of North Carolina truly worthy of its name. With wit and style, ghostlore expert John Hirchak leads readers on a journey down Wilmington's back alleys and docksides, urging them to listen to the lingering whispers of generations long dead.

Full campaign and battle history of the largest combined operation in U.S. military history prior to World War II. By late 1864, Wilmington was the last major Confederate blockade-running seaport open to the outside world. The final battle for the port city's protector--Fort Fisher--culminated in the largest naval bombardment of the American Civil War, and one of the worst hand-to-hand engagements in four years of bloody fighting. Copious illustrations, including 54 original maps drawn by the author. Fresh new analysis on the fall of Fort Fisher, with a fascinating comparison to Russian defenses at Sebastopol during the Crimean War.

Providing coverage of both battles for Fort Fisher, this book includes a detailed examination of the attack and defence of Fort Anderson. It also features accounts of the defence of the Sugar Loaf Line and of the operations of Federal warships on the Cape Fear River.