Soldiers from across North Carolina were returning home in May 1865, exhausted at the end of the Civil War. It was a brother's war that divided families and communities, and now healing the nation would begin. "A Soldier's Walk Home" May 11 to 23 recaptures such a journey.
Returning home from the Civil War was Washington Duke, a Confederate sailor, who was a prisoner released by the Union Army and taken to New Bern. Like much of eastern North Carolina, New Bern was Union occupied. Historian and re-enactor Philip Brown will make the walk from New Bern to Durham as Duke did then, but not as Washington Duke. Brown will represent all soldiers returning home from any war.
Brown will make the 166-mile journey often along backroads, because he loves re-enacting and history, and is interested in how people interact with history. He completed a master's degree in public history at UNG-Greensboro in April, and earned a B.A. degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in peace, war, and defense and American History. Soon after the 13-day walk, the Charlotte native will start working at Gettysburg National Military Park in late May.
The ceremonial opening will be May 10, 3 p.m., at the Academy Museum of the Tryon Palace complex. Staff at Duke Homestead State Historic Site, the ancestral home of Washington Duke, is organizing the walk. It represents not only all soldiers returning from war, but also the reunification of the United States.
Mayor Dana Outlaw will be among dignitaries who will speak about New Bern and Civil War history. Others include New Bern Historical Society President Nelson McDaniel, N.C. Division of State Historic Sites Director Keith Hardison, re-enactor Bernard George and re-enactor Philip Brown. A reception will follow the opening ceremony at the Academy Museum. Admission to the museum will be free that day and visitors are invited to view the exhibit "Face to Face: Civil War Sketches and Stories."
The walk will officially start at Union Point in New Bern May 11 and reach Durham May 22 and Duke Homestead May 23, during the site's Bull Fest program. Programs at communities on the route will allow them to commemorate local history as well. The journey will progress as follows:
|
May 10 |
New Bern, 3 p.m. Ceremonial opening at Academy Museum |
|
May 11 |
New Bern, 9 a.m. Walk begins from Union Point) |
|
May 12 |
Kinston, 5 p.m. Federal check point activity, Harriet's Chapel on Battlefield Site) |
|
May 13 |
Kinston, 8:30 a.m. Breakfast at CSS Neuse with officials - closed) |
|
May 14 |
Seven Springs, 5 p.m. Cliffs of the Neuse State Park camping |
|
May 15 |
Goldsboro, 2 p.m. Goldsboro Bridge Battlefield camping |
|
May 16 |
Princeton, 4 p.m. Wreath-laying at Veteran's Memorial |
|
May 17 |
Smithfield, 6 p.m. Reception/Tour of Confederate Monument-Wreath-laying |
|
May 18 |
Clayton, 4 p.m. Arrive at Smith-Compton House. 6 p.m. Veteran's Ceremony) |
|
May 19 |
Clayton, 8:30 a.m. Wreath placement at Clayton Yellow Jackets Monument (veteran's burial site) |
|
May 20 |
Raleigh, 11 a.m. Brown, re-enactors, including USCT, meet with school groups |
|
May 21 |
Morrisville, 3:30 p.m. After School program. 6:30 p.m. Ceremonies, Ernie Dollar speaks |
|
May 22 |
Durham 6 p.m. Ceremony with dignitaries at American Tobacco Campus |
|
May 23 |
Durham, 11 a.m. Arrive at Duke Homestead for Bullfest Program. Welcome home, music, dance lessons, crafts |
This program is presented by Duke Homestead State Historic Site with support from Tryon Palace and local tourism groups and other organizations.
For additional information, please call (919) 477-5498 or visit A Soldier's Walk Home. Duke Homestead is located at 2828 Duke Homestead Road, Durham. It is within the Division of State Historic Sites of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.