Browse Items (32 total)

The presidential election of 1860 featured a four-way race between John C. Breckinridge, the southern Democratic nominee from Kentucky running on a federal slave code platform; Stephen A. Douglas, the northern Democratic nominee from Illinois running…

On November 12, 1860, secessionists held a meeting in Cleveland County.

On November 19, 1860, secessionists held a meeting in New Hanover County.

The General Assembly called for a vote on whether or not the state should hold a secession convention. The election, held on February 28, 1861, resulted in a rejection of secessionists in favor of unionists.

On January 29, 1861, the General Assembly voted to send delegates to the Peace Conference. The conference was to be held on February 4, 1861.

On January 9, 1861, an armed body of Wilmington's citizens seized Fort Johnston (eventually renamed Pender) at Smithville (present-day Southport). Considering the seizure "irregular," Governor John W. Ellis immediately ordered the fort to be returned…

On January 10, 1861, Captain Stephen D. Thruston and his Brunswick County militia company seized Fort Caswell on Oak Island. Considering the seizure "irregular," Governor John W. Ellis immediately ordered the fort to be returned to federal control.…

On February 28, 1861, North Carolinian voters decided against convening a convention to consider secession by a vote of 47,322 to 46,672. In an irrelevant vote, since the convention did not meet, North Carolinian voters also chose 50 unconditional…

On March 22 and 23, delegates from twenty-five counties assembled in Goldsboro and organized the Southern Rights Party. They urged the legislature to reconvene and demanded that North Carolina join the Confederacy.

On April 15, 1861, Governor John W. Ellis informed President Abraham Lincoln he "can get no troops from North Carolina" (following Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers to supress the brewing insurrection after the fall of Fort Sumter and the…