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I Am Proud Of My Confederate Ancestors, Hamlet, NC (2026)

06/25/2026

The Children of Confederate President Jefferson Davis
This family photograph captures four of the Davis children in happier postwar years: (from left to right) Jefferson Jr., Margaret, Varina Anne (“Winnie”), and William.

Jefferson Davis and his wife, Varina Howell Davis, cherished their children deeply. Despite the immense pressures of leading the Confederacy during the Civil War and the hardships that followed, their family remained a source of profound love and strength.

The couple endured the pain of losing several children but poured affection into those who survived.

• Jefferson Jr. (1857–1878) served as his father’s secretary at their home, Beauvoir, in 1877. He later moved to Memphis and worked as a bank clerk but tragically died at age 21 during the yellow fever epidemic that swept the city on October 16, 1878.

• Margaret (“Maggie”) (1855–1909), the eldest and a great favorite of her father, was the only Davis child to marry, have children, and outlive both parents. She passed away at age 54 on July 18, 1909.

• Varina Anne (“Winnie”) (1864–1898), the youngest, was born in the final year of the war. Never married, she was idolized by Confederate veterans and became known as “The Daughter of the Confederacy,” an icon whose popularity sometimes surpassed even her father’s. She died at age 34 on September 18, 1898.

• William (“Billy”) (1861–1872), born in the Confederate White House in Richmond, bore a strong resemblance to his father. Plagued by illnesses throughout his short life, he died of diphtheria at age 11 on October 16, 1872.

Joseph Evan (“Little Joe”) Davis (1859–1864), not pictured here, was their bright and well-behaved son who tragically died during the war. On April 30, 1864, at just five years old, he fell from a balcony of the Confederate White House in Richmond, Virginia. His death devastated the family. Jefferson Davis refused visitors and could be heard pacing alone in his room throughout the night. Varina was equally heartbroken by the loss of their favorite child in the midst of national turmoil.

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06/25/2026

"It's Time To Be Going: The Last Words Of James Johnson Pettigrew.

Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. The son of Ebenezer and Ann Shepard Pettigrew, he began life in Tyrrell County North Carolina at "Bonarva", the family's prosperous plantation on the shore of present day Lake Phelps. Born James Johnston Pettigrew, he was known throughout his life by family and friends as "Johnston". From his formative years, his mental capacities were described as a "gift from god" and well-advanced of other boys his age. Contemporaries predicted that he would "become an extraordinary man." Indeed, at the age of 15 years old, he enrolled in the University of North Carolina and would graduate at the front his class in 1847. Upon graduation, he accepted an offer from Matthew Fontaine Maury to become an Astronomer at the National Observatory. From the time he resigned this position to the outbreak of war in 1861, he traveled the world learning some five languages; authored the book "Notes on Spain and the Spaniards in the Summer of 1859, with a Glance at Sardinia"; became a South Carolina Statehouse Legislator and a distinguished leading attorney in Charleston. With South Carolina leaning toward secession from the Union in 1860, he became Colonel of the 1st Regiment of Rifles of South Carolina, regardless of the fact that he had no military experience. Soon thereafter, SC Governor Francis Pickens appointed him a military aide. The negotiations with Major Robert Anderson after that officer had moved his forces to Fort Sumter and the forceful possession of Castle Pinckney would become his first services to what would become the new Confederacy. He declined the appointment of Adjutant General of South Carolina and commissions of Major and Captain in the "Hampton Legion" and eventually entered the ranks as a Private. His desire to serve his native state of North Carolina was realized on July 11, 1861 when he received word that he was elected Colonel of the 22nd North Carolina Infantry Regiment (he had declined an offer to become a General in the SC forces in lieu of this). Likewise, in February 1862, he once again would decline a promotion to Brigadier General because he had not led soldiers into battle and was "not conscious of having earned so flattering a position". Soon thereafter however, he accepted the commission after he was urged to reconsider his refusal for it. His first action would be at the battle of Seven Pines, Virginia on May 31, 1862. During the battle's fierce chaos, a minnie ball struck him in the throat passing through his shoulder severing a blood artery. He resigned himself that it was mortal and refused to go to the rear. He eventually passed out from the loss of blood and would have died if not for the actions of a Georgian Colonel. Retreating Confederates saw him motionless and reported that he had been killed which led to him being officially listed as killed in action. In reality, he fell into federal hands the day after and remained a prisoner until being exchanged in August, 1862. During the Confederate's 1863 offensive campaign, his brigade made first contact with federal cavalry on June 30, 1863 outside of a small town in Pennsylvania. Unbeknownst him, the encounter would be the prelude to the bloodiest conflict of the war, the battle of Gettysburg. His Brigade suffered a great deal in the dislodgement of the federals on McPherson's Ridge on July 1, 1863. With the wounding of his Division commander, General Henry Heth, Pettigrew as senior brigadier was placed in command. On July 3, 1863, he gave the order "forward" and personally led his division's attack on the federals' center on Cemetery Ridge. The ill advised assault, known in history as "Pickett's Charge", was made over open ground and under withering enemy fire. Pleading his men forward, the attack reached within feet of the stone wall before the survivors of the charge were repulsed and forced to staggered back to their lines. Defeated, he was one of the last to leave the field and upon returning to the Confederate lines; Robert E. Lee told him "General Pettigrew, it is all my fault". He was assigned to the rearguard of the Confederate Army as it made the trek back to Virginia. At Falling Waters, Maryland on July 14, 1863, he and a group of officers were standing in the front yard of a farmhouse when they were surprised by a small force of Federal cavalrymen. Taking aim at a blue horseman, his revolver misfired, giving his intended target a chance to fire. Pettigrew was shot in the stomach. Confederate surgeons told him that the wound appeared to be mortal and his only chance at survival were to be left behind for the impending federal army to care for him. Not wanting to become captured again, he disregarded these concerns and was transferred to present day Bunker Hill, Virginia. In the early morning hours of July 17, 1863, his life ended after telling a staff officer; "It's time to be going". His body was returned to North Carolina where it lay in state at the capital in Raleigh. Upon reading his last will and testament and learning his wishes were to be buried in the Pettigrew Family Cemetery at "Bonarva", his remains were removed from a Raleigh cemetery and re-interred there in November 1865.

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06/25/2026

"It's Time To Be Going: The Last Words Of James Johnson Pettigrew.

Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. The son of Ebenezer and Ann Shepard Pettigrew, he began life in Tyrrell County North Carolina at "Bonarva", the family's prosperous plantation on the shore of present day Lake Phelps. Born James Johnston Pettigrew, he was known throughout his life by family and friends as "Johnston". From his formative years, his mental capacities were described as a "gift from god" and well-advanced of other boys his age. Contemporaries predicted that he would "become an extraordinary man." Indeed, at the age of 15 years old, he enrolled in the University of North Carolina and would graduate at the front his class in 1847. Upon graduation, he accepted an offer from Matthew Fontaine Maury to become an Astronomer at the National Observatory. From the time he resigned this position to the outbreak of war in 1861, he traveled the world learning some five languages; authored the book "Notes on Spain and the Spaniards in the Summer of 1859, with a Glance at Sardinia"; became a South Carolina Statehouse Legislator and a distinguished leading attorney in Charleston. With South Carolina leaning toward secession from the Union in 1860, he became Colonel of the 1st Regiment of Rifles of South Carolina, regardless of the fact that he had no military experience. Soon thereafter, SC Governor Francis Pickens appointed him a military aide. The negotiations with Major Robert Anderson after that officer had moved his forces to Fort Sumter and the forceful possession of Castle Pinckney would become his first services to what would become the new Confederacy. He declined the appointment of Adjutant General of South Carolina and commissions of Major and Captain in the "Hampton Legion" and eventually entered the ranks as a Private. His desire to serve his native state of North Carolina was realized on July 11, 1861 when he received word that he was elected Colonel of the 22nd North Carolina Infantry Regiment (he had declined an offer to become a General in the SC forces in lieu of this). Likewise, in February 1862, he once again would decline a promotion to Brigadier General because he had not led soldiers into battle and was "not conscious of having earned so flattering a position". Soon thereafter however, he accepted the commission after he was urged to reconsider his refusal for it. His first action would be at the battle of Seven Pines, Virginia on May 31, 1862. During the battle's fierce chaos, a minnie ball struck him in the throat passing through his shoulder severing a blood artery. He resigned himself that it was mortal and refused to go to the rear. He eventually passed out from the loss of blood and would have died if not for the actions of a Georgian Colonel. Retreating Confederates saw him motionless and reported that he had been killed which led to him being officially listed as killed in action. In reality, he fell into federal hands the day after and remained a prisoner until being exchanged in August, 1862. During the Confederate's 1863 offensive campaign, his brigade made first contact with federal cavalry on June 30, 1863 outside of a small town in Pennsylvania. Unbeknownst him, the encounter would be the prelude to the bloodiest conflict of the war, the battle of Gettysburg. His Brigade suffered a great deal in the dislodgement of the federals on McPherson's Ridge on July 1, 1863. With the wounding of his Division commander, General Henry Heth, Pettigrew as senior brigadier was placed in command. On July 3, 1863, he gave the order "forward" and personally led his division's attack on the federals' center on Cemetery Ridge. The ill advised assault, known in history as "Pickett's Charge", was made over open ground and under withering enemy fire. Pleading his men forward, the attack reached within feet of the stone wall before the survivors of the charge were repulsed and forced to staggered back to their lines. Defeated, he was one of the last to leave the field and upon returning to the Confederate lines; Robert E. Lee told him "General Pettigrew, it is all my fault". He was assigned to the rearguard of the Confederate Army as it made the trek back to Virginia. At Falling Waters, Maryland on July 14, 1863, he and a group of officers were standing in the front yard of a farmhouse when they were surprised by a small force of Federal cavalrymen. Taking aim at a blue horseman, his revolver misfired, giving his intended target a chance to fire. Pettigrew was shot in the stomach. Confederate surgeons told him that the wound appeared to be mortal and his only chance at survival were to be left behind for the impending federal army to care for him. Not wanting to become captured again, he disregarded these concerns and was transferred to present day Bunker Hill, Virginia. In the early morning hours of July 17, 1863, his life ended after telling a staff officer; "It's time to be going". His body was returned to North Carolina where it lay in state at the capital in Raleigh. Upon reading his last will and testament and learning his wishes were to be buried in the Pettigrew Family Cemetery at "Bonarva", his remains were removed from a Raleigh cemetery and re-interred there in November 1865.

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06/25/2026

"There were but few slave owners in the regiment (25th North Carolina), 90 percent of the men were farmers and farmer's sons, fully 80 percent homeowners, or the sons of farmers who owned their farms...

The majority of the men composing the regiment had been Union men until after President Lincoln's Proclamation (Lincoln's call for 75,000 troops), they then regarded their interests with the South and acknowledged their allegiance to the State. They had gone to war to defend their homes from invasion by an armed foe."
2nd Lieutenant Garland S. Ferguson - 25th North Carolina

Photo: Reunion of the 25th North Carolina - 1890, Buncombe County, N.C.

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06/25/2026

Private William S. Cook, Company A (the “Buncombe Light Artillery”), 60th Regiment N.C Troops.

A company known as the “Buncombe Light Artillery” mustered into state service on April 12, 1862, and in May was designated “First Company,” McDowell’s Battalion N.C. Troops. That battalion had been recruited for local defense of the French Broad Valley. In August 1862, however, it mustered into Confederate service. Three more companies were assigned to the battalion and in September it was designated 60th Regiment N.C. Troops. The “First Company” became Company A. (Presumably because no cannons were available, Company A apparently never served as anything but infantry.)

One of the first recruits for Company A was eighteen-year-old William S. Cook, who lived with his parents and four siblings on a farm in the Dry Creek area of Buncombe County. The effect of camp life on Cook’s health, as was the case with many young soldiers, was devastating. He was hospitalized with malaria (febris remittens) in December 1862-January 1863. He briefly returned to duty but was absent on sick furlough from March to November 1863, apparently suffering from chronic diarrhea. Cook was present for duty from late 1863 to May 1864, when he was detailed to teamster duty at Atlanta. Illness consumed him again, however, and he was issued a Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability on August 28, 1864. There are no further military records for Cook, but he survived the war.

William S. Cook (December 9, 1843-January 23, 1906) is buried at Weaverville Cemetery, Weaverville, Buncombe County, North Carolina.

Image: Copy of sixth-plate ambrotype, David Wynn Vaughan Collection.

Salute! 🫡

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06/25/2026

Private William S. Cook, Company A (the “Buncombe Light Artillery”), 60th Regiment N.C Troops.

A company known as the “Buncombe Light Artillery” mustered into state service on April 12, 1862, and in May was designated “First Company,” McDowell’s Battalion N.C. Troops. That battalion had been recruited for local defense of the French Broad Valley. In August 1862, however, it mustered into Confederate service. Three more companies were assigned to the battalion and in September it was designated 60th Regiment N.C. Troops. The “First Company” became Company A. (Presumably because no cannons were available, Company A apparently never served as anything but infantry.)

One of the first recruits for Company A was eighteen-year-old William S. Cook, who lived with his parents and four siblings on a farm in the Dry Creek area of Buncombe County. The effect of camp life on Cook’s health, as was the case with many young soldiers, was devastating. He was hospitalized with malaria (febris remittens) in December 1862-January 1863. He briefly returned to duty but was absent on sick furlough from March to November 1863, apparently suffering from chronic diarrhea. Cook was present for duty from late 1863 to May 1864, when he was detailed to teamster duty at Atlanta. Illness consumed him again, however, and he was issued a Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability on August 28, 1864. There are no further military records for Cook, but he survived the war.

William S. Cook (December 9, 1843-January 23, 1906) is buried at Weaverville Cemetery, Weaverville, Buncombe County, North Carolina.

Image: Copy of sixth-plate ambrotype, David Wynn Vaughan Collection.

Salute! 🫡

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06/25/2026

The Forrest Brothers:
Located In Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis These graves are the brothers of Confederate Gen. N. B. Forrest, the elder brother of six. There are four buried here together in the same row. Jesse is buried in another plot near by. All of the Forrest brothers served in duties both civilian and military during the war for their eldest brother to a large extent. ♥️

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06/25/2026

The Face Of True Evil:

"Years after the war Sherman wrote a letter to a friend in which he acknowledged that he knew better - that at West Point he had been taught that the pillage he brought to the South was a crime, punishable by death: 'I know that in the beginning I, too, had the old West Point notion that pillage was a capital crime, and punished it by shooting.'"

When in the Course of Human Events, Arguing the Case for Southern Secession, Charles Adams, p. 113; Letter to J.B. Fry, September 3, 1884, in Hard Hand of War, p. 193.

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06/24/2026

The majority of Southerners did not have a vested interest in slavery or secession, but rather continued their agricultural way of life out of necessity. They worked tirelessly, six days a week, to produce what they needed to survive. Upon invasion by the North, many Southerners enlisted to defend their homes and ancestral lands. From their perspective, defending their territory was a matter of necessity. These individuals epitomize the average Confederate soldier - underfed, overworked, and poorly equipped. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, they fought valiantly, achieving significant victories for three years prior to the effects of the blockade and loss of supply routes. Even in the face of adversity, they continued to inflict substantial damage on their adversaries. Ultimately, many of these soldiers received the ultimate sacrifice, with many receiving unmarked graves far from home. Rather than celebrating the politics of the era, we honor the bravery and resilience of these individuals. We remember the families who suffered losses and were often left without knowledge of their loved ones' final resting places. Monuments serve as a focal point for mourning and remembrance. In contemporary times, the human aspect of the war is often overlooked. Failing to acknowledge the entirety of history can lead to a distorted representation of those who lived through it and those who did not survive to share their stories.

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06/24/2026

The Children of Confederate President Jefferson Davis
This family photograph captures four of the Davis children in happier postwar years: (from left to right) Jefferson Jr., Margaret, Varina Anne (“Winnie”), and William.

Jefferson Davis and his wife, Varina Howell Davis, cherished their children deeply. Despite the immense pressures of leading the Confederacy during the Civil War and the hardships that followed, their family remained a source of profound love and strength.

The couple endured the pain of losing several children but poured affection into those who survived.

• Jefferson Jr. (1857–1878) served as his father’s secretary at their home, Beauvoir, in 1877. He later moved to Memphis and worked as a bank clerk but tragically died at age 21 during the yellow fever epidemic that swept the city on October 16, 1878.

• Margaret (“Maggie”) (1855–1909), the eldest and a great favorite of her father, was the only Davis child to marry, have children, and outlive both parents. She passed away at age 54 on July 18, 1909.

• Varina Anne (“Winnie”) (1864–1898), the youngest, was born in the final year of the war. Never married, she was idolized by Confederate veterans and became known as “The Daughter of the Confederacy,” an icon whose popularity sometimes surpassed even her father’s. She died at age 34 on September 18, 1898.

• William (“Billy”) (1861–1872), born in the Confederate White House in Richmond, bore a strong resemblance to his father. Plagued by illnesses throughout his short life, he died of diphtheria at age 11 on October 16, 1872.

Joseph Evan (“Little Joe”) Davis (1859–1864), not pictured here, was their bright and well-behaved son who tragically died during the war. On April 30, 1864, at just five years old, he fell from a balcony of the Confederate White House in Richmond, Virginia. His death devastated the family. Jefferson Davis refused visitors and could be heard pacing alone in his room throughout the night. Varina was equally heartbroken by the loss of their favorite child in the midst of national turmoil.

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I Am Proud Of My Confederate Ancestors

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