NC: General Robert F. Hoke at Duplin Roads, March 1865: A Living History

           In observance of North Carolina’s War Between the States Sesquicentennial:

               “General Robert F. Hoke at Duplin Roads, March 1865:  A Living History”

Tuesday, 25 March 2014, 6:30PM, Wallace Women’s Club, 216 NE Railroad Street, Wallace, NC (Admission free)

(A midday performance will be held for history students at Wallace-Rose Hill High School)

After his fighting withdrawal from Wilmington on 22 February 1865, General Robert F. Hoke’s veteran 4,500-man division entrenched on the north bank of Rockfish Creek, just below the town of Duplin Roads, present-day Wallace.  There his force resupplyed and remained until 5 March when he was ordered to Kinston to oppose an enemy advance toward the railroad  center at Goldsboro from New Bern.  Duplin merchant and planter Gabriel Boney visits Hoke just before his departure.          

Experience this unique conversation between General Hoke and Gabriel Boney as the latter enquires of the campaign to date from Hoke’s arrival at Fort Fisher in late December when enemy attack threatened, through the Fort Anderson and Forks Roads battles, and culminating with the retreat through Wilmington, encampment at Rockfish Creek, and Hoke’s exchange of nearly 10,000 Northern prisoners in his hands.  Hoke and Boney will be visited by Mrs. Eliza Nutt Parsley of Wilmington who is refugeeing in Robeson County and relates the plight of women and children on the homefront.  She pleads with Hoke for food, medicine and protection from invading enemy soldiers.  Plan to be with us to experience this North Carolina “living history.”

Gen. Robert F. Hoke of North Carolina is portrayed by veteran living history reenactor Wayne Newnam of Beaufort; Mr. Gabriel Boney is depicted by Bernhard Thuersam of Wilmington (below), Chairman of the North Carolina War Between the States Sesquicentennial Commission. Kelly Atkins Hinson of Jackson Springs (below) portrays Mrs. Eliza Nutt Parsley of Wilmington. Kelly has appeared often in the character of Anna Morrison Jackson of Charlotte, grieving widow of Gen. Stonewall Jackson.

This living history program is jointly presented by the Cape Fear Historical Institute and the North Carolina War Between the States Sesquicentennial Commission.

For more information, email bernhard1848@gmail.com