The War Begins, 1861

Almost immediately, everyone in North Carolina felt the impact of the war. Men volunteered for service, and some saw battle as early as July 1861, at Manassas Junction, Virginia. At home, girls sewed uniforms and blankets and made bandages from lint. On the coast, Union ships blockaded southern ports. As yet there was no fighting in North Carolina — but there soon would be. In this chapter, we'll look at the events of the war's first year and consider the early enthusiasm and contributions of North Carolinians.

Section Contents

• North and South in 1861
• Timeline of the Civil War, July 1861-July 1864
• The Civil War: from Bull Run to Appomattox
• North Carolina as a Civil War Battlefield: May 1861-April 1862
• The Union Blockade
• Rose O'Neal Greenhow Describes the Battle of Manassas
• Tar Heels Pitch In
• Girls Helping the Cause