The Civil War in Beaufort

· Beaufort was taken by Union forces in April of 1862, and was used as a headquarters for the Northern armies for several years. Many houses and businesses within the town were taken over for use as offices, hospitals and residences for the Union forces.

· Emeline Pigott, Beaufort's famous Civil War spy, aided scattered Confederate troops by carrying mail from the families to them, as well as food, clothing, quinine, and other supplies. One of her methods was to conceal supplies, maps, medicine, and even pairs of boots under her large hooped skirt.

· Broad St. and northward became a major center for black refugees along the NC coast. In 1864, there were nearly 2500 freed men living in Union Town out of the total state number of 17,419. By 1865, the number had grown to 3,245 making Beaufort the second largest black refugee center behind James City, which is near New Bern.

· On Broad St., between Turner and Craven, is the location of the Confederate Memorial Monument to over 40 thousand NC’s who died as a result of the war. Erected in 1926, the figure on the pedestal has his back to the North.

· During the Civil War, the town and harbor were visited by not only Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, but also Gen. W.T. Sherman and Gen. U.S. Grant.