Central North Carolina

Last Update: 03/APRIL/2017

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2017 American Forts Network

Fort Branch (2)
(1862 - 1865), Hamilton
A Confederate fort on the Roanoke River at Rainbow Banks, which may be one of the best preserved star-shaped earthworks east of the Mississippi River. It kept Union gunboats from continuing up the river to the CSA shipyards at Edward's Ferry (north of Scotland Neck) and at Halifax during July 1862. It was evacuated at the end of the war. The restoration efforts hope to make this the only earthwork fort in the South to have all original guns in place (10 were found in the river - only one is missing). Earthworks (still remain) were built nearby several months prior to the fort's construction, but were deemed inadequate. State marker located on NC 125 south of town at Fort Branch Road.

CSA Camp Baker (2), Camp Pender, and Camp Vance (6) were located nearby.

Camp McCulloch
(1862), Jackson
A CSA camp.

Boone's Mill Earthworks
(1863), Jackson
A CSA two-gun battery was here. Earthworks may still remain near Boone's Millpond.

Garysburg Civil War Camps
(1861 - 1865), near Garysburg
Confederate training camps located in the area were:
Camp Anderson (2)
Camp Clarendon
Camp Ferebee (1), a cavalry camp.
Camp Hill (1) (1861)
Camp Leventhorpe (1)
Camp Long (1862)
Camp Vance (5) (1862 - 1865)
Camp Winslow (1), originally located across the Roanoke River near Halifax.

Weldon Civil War Camps
(1861 - 1865), Weldon
CSA camps included:
Camp Floyd (1864)
Camp Holmes (2) (1861)
Camp Pettigrew (1) (1861)
Camp Ransom (1) (1861)
Camp Robinson (1861)

Camp Macon
(1861), Macon
A CSA camp.

Camp Beauregard
(1861), Ridgeway
A CSA camp.

Camp Vance (7)
(1862), Kittrell
A CSA camp.

Camp Clark
(1861), Granville County
A CSA fortified cavalry camp located at Kittrell's Springs (location ?).

Civil War Defenses of Raleigh
(1861 - 1865), Raleigh
CSA training camps included:
Camp Badger (1) (1861 - 1865)
Camp Boylan (1861)
Camp Crabtree (1861), located on the Crabtree Plantation three miles west of town.
Camp Ellis (1861), located at the State Fairgrounds.
Camp Holmes (1)
Camp Mangum, located at Method, three miles west of downtown along the railroad.
Camp Dan Russell (1), originally CSA General Hospital 13 (Pettigrew Hospital). It became the Confederate Soldiers Home after Union occupation during Reconstruction. Located on US 64.
Camp Vance (8) (1863)
Camp Winslow (2)
Camp Wyatt (2)

Confederate earthworks were once located around the city in 1863. None remain, although a marker says that some do. There is a Battery Drive in the city.

Raleigh Arsenal
(1827 - 1907), Raleigh
A state arsenal was located at the southwest corner of Union (Capitol) Square. Used by the Confederate government as an Ordnance Depot after 1862. No remains.
(thanks to Jonathan Harris for additional info)

Camp Bryan Grimes
(1898), Raleigh
A Spanish-American War state assembly and muster camp located just east of the state fairgrounds, along both sides of Hillsborough Street south to the railroad and present-day Pullen Park. State marker on site.
Camp Dan Russell (2) was located at the fairgrounds. The fairgrounds were then located at what is now a residential and business district across from the North Carolina State University campus. The Raleigh Little Theater at 301 Pogue Street now occupies part of the site.

Camp Polk
(1918 - 1919), Raleigh
An Army training camp for the Tank Corps, including a Tank School. Located at the state fairgrounds (1873-1925). There was no state fair held here in 1918. The garrison was quartered in barracks located alongside Hillsborough Street near the NC State University campus. In 1920 the state started operation of the Camp Polk Prison Farm. The Polk Youth Detention Center was built here in 1963, closed in 1998 and was demolished in 2003.

Civil War Defenses of Goldsboro
(1862), Goldsboro
CSA camps included:
Camp Clingman (2)
Camp Collier
Camp McIntosh
Camp McLean
Camp Mason (1)
Camp Vance (2)

Confederate earthworks (1863) are preserved at Mulberry and Claiborne Streets. Private property. They were once part of a four-mile line. Preserved CSA earthworks (1863) are also located three miles south of town on Old Mount Olive Highway at the Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield (December 1862).

Torhunta
(1711 - 1712), near Saulston
A Tuscarora Indian fort, the largest of nine such forts spaced about a mile apart protecting an open village made up of a network of farms scattered over several miles. Attacked by the SC colonial militia under Capt. John Barnwell in March 1712. Contemporary accounts refer to the fort as Narhantes. State marker located on US 13 at Saulston Road.

Fort Nooherooka
(1711 - 1713), Snow Hill
A Tuscarora Indian palisaded stronghold that was taken by troops under Col. James Moore from South Carolina in March 1713, after a two year struggle. After the war the Tuscarora relocated to New York State to join the Iroquois Five Nations Confederacy. A state marker on Contentnea Creek is one mile south of the site. Also spelled Nohoroco, Neoheroka. See also 2006 Tuscarora Protest at Fort Neoheroka Site from Indian Country News

Snow Hill Civil War Camps
(1862 - 1863), near Snow Hill
Camp Ferebee (2) (1862 - 1863), a CSA cavalry camp located four miles from town.
Camp Robertson (1862 - 1863), a CSA cavalry camp located four miles from town, probably near Rainbow Creek southeast of town.
Camp Williams, a CSA camp.

Camp Baker (1)
(1860's), Greenville
A CSA camp. Attacked by the Union in November 1863.

Camp Gordon
(1862), near Simpson
A CSA cavalry camp located about six miles east of Greenville along the Tar River.

King Hancock's Fort
(1711 - 1712), near Grifton
A Tuscarora Indian stonghold built by chief King Hancock, located just above the fortified village of Catechna on the west bank of the Contentnea (Cotechney) Creek, above the Neuse River. Attacked by the SC colonial militia under Capt. John Barnwell in April 1712. State marker located on NC 118 (Queen Street) at Highland Boulevard.

Fort Barnwell
(1712), Fort Barnwell FORT WIKI
Built by the South Carolina colonial militia during a campaign against the Tuscarora Indians. The site (with possible trace remnants) is located two miles northwest of town on Contentnea (Cotechney) Creek at the Neuse River, about 30 miles above New Bern. See also The Tuscarora War from NC Archives and History

Civil War Defenses of Kinston
(1861 - 1865), Kinston area
CSA camps included:
Camp Blackjack (1862 - 1865), located five miles east of town near Graingers.
Camp Campbell (1861)
Camp Daniel
Camp Hamilton
Camp Hilton
Camp Hoke
Camp Johnston, located near Hardison Crossroads on Falling Creek.
Camp Martin
Camp Nethercutt
Camp Pool (1862), located on Tower Hill Road near Georgetown. Earthworks consisting of a 50-yard semi-circular work with a 50-yard infantry trench, and several gun emplacements still exist along the north bank of the Neuse River. Seven guns were abandoned here when the Union attacked the town in December 1862.
Camp Ransom (2) (1863), located at Wyse Fork. Union trenchworks (March 1865) still exist here.
Sandy Ridge Camp (1863), located near Dover on Old Dover Road.
Gum Swamp Fort (1863), located one mile west of Dover. A battle was fought here in January 1863.
Camp Southwest (1862 - 1865), CSA earthworks are well-preserved along the north bank of Southwest Creek near Woodington, with two batteries on each end of the line. Site of battle March 1865. The 56-acre site, purchased in 2004 by the Historical Preservation Group, is not yet open for public access.

CSA earthworks also were once located along Southwest Creek in Caswell, and in South Kinston guarding the old railroad bridge across the Neuse river.

Bentonville Battleground (State Historic Site)
(1865), Bentonville
Union earthworks are still located here. There are also recreated Confederate earthworks here. Scene of battle in March 1865.

Averasboro Earthworks
(1865), near Averasboro
Confederate earthworks were once located about three miles south of town, about one-half mile east of marker on NC 82. Scene of battle in March 1865. Site is private property. Exhibits and history at the Averasboro Civil War Museum on NC 82.

North Carolina Arsenal
(Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex)
(1836 - 1865), Fayetteville FORT WIKI
Also known as Fayetteville Arsenal. Captured by the CSA in April 1861. Destroyed by General Sherman in March 1865. Ruins remain at Arsenal Park. The Fayetteville and Harpers Ferry (WV) Arsenals were the only southern Federal ordnance facilities not continued after the war due to heavy damage to the equipment and machinery.

Fayetteville Earthworks
(1865), Fayetteville
Confederate earthworks are located on the grounds of the V.A. Hospital near Ramsey Street. They were not used in the March 1865 battle.

Fort Bragg (U.S. Military Reservation)
(1918 - present), Spring Lake FORT WIKI
A Regular Army field artillery training camp, originally named Camp Bragg until 1922. Pope Field was established in 1919 for artillery observation aircraft, and was later known as Pope Air Force Base from 1947 until 2011. Fort Bragg became an Airborne Training Center in 1942 with the creation of the Army Airborne Command, headquartered here. Simmons Field was established on post in 1952, primarily used for helicopter operations. Located on post is the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum, the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum, and the Airborne and Special Operations Museum.

Officially renamed Fort Liberty in 2023.

Camp Mackall (1942 - present), near Southern Pines, originally named Camp Hoffman until 1943, was established for parachute and glider training for several infantry, field artillery, and anti-aircraft artillery units tasked for airborne operations. It became a subpost of Fort Bragg in 1952 and is currently used for various Special Operations training exercises.

Col. James Moore's Camp
(1776), near Hope Mills
Patriot forces under Col. Moore camped here prior to the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge (February 1776). The site is located on Rockfish Creek.

Camp Caldwell
(1871), Robeson County
Established by Federal troops from Fort Johnston during a roundup of a local criminal gang.

Town Creek Mound (State Historic Site)
(1400 - 1550), near Mount Gilead
A reconstructed Late Mississippian Period (Pee Dee Culture) palisaded ceremonial complex with two mounds and mortuary. Visitor center on site.

Colson's Supply Depot
(1781), near Mount Gilead
A fortified supply depot for the Southern Continental Army, located at Colson's Ferry on the Pee Dee River below Lake Tillery. Tories had earlier raided William Colson's place in July 1780.

Snow Camp British Encampment
(Snow Camp Historical Site)
(1781), Snow Camp
British forces under Major General Cornwallis camped here after the Battle of Guilford Courthouse (March 1781). From here the army then marched to Wilmington. Snow Camp was a Quaker settlement established before the war.

Occaneechi Indian Village
(c. 1700), Hillsborough
An ongoing reconstruction of an Occaneechi-Saponi Indian village on the banks of the Eno River downtown at the foot of South Cameron Street. Includes several huts and lodges, palisade, and gardens, interpreted to the early 1700's period.

Camp at Hillsborough
(1780 - 1782), Hillsborough
A major Patriot encampment established initially by Major General Baron DeKalb. Patriot Major General Horatio Gates retreated here after the Battle of Camden (August 1780). British Major General Cornwallis occupied the town in February 1781. Tory raiders under Col. David Fanning captured the town and Governor Thomas Burke in September 1781, precipitating the Battle of Lindley's Mill.

Camp Mason (2)
(1861), Graham
A CSA camp.

Governor Tryon's Camp
(1771), Alamance
Governor Tryon's colonial militia camped on Big Alamance Creek before and after the Battle of Alamance (May 1771) against the Regulators. See also Alamance Battleground State Historic Site

Camp Alamance
(1861 - 1865), Alamance
A CSA camp on the old Alamance Battleground.

Camp at Speedwell Ironworks
(1781), near Reidsville
The Patriot army's encampment prior to and after the Battle of Guilford Courthouse (March 1781). Defensive earthworks were constructed after the battle fearing a British counterattack which never came. Site located on Troublesome Creek southwest of town. See also Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

Tannenbaum Encampment
(Guilford Courthouse National Military Park)
(Guilford Battleground Company)
(1781), Greensboro
The British staging area during the Battle of Guilford Courthouse (March 1781), near the old New Garden Meetinghouse. This was the farmstead of Joseph Hoskins, who had earlier left his home near Valley Forge, PA because of the war. Park located at 2200 New Garden Road. Also here is the NC Colonial Heritage Center. In February 2010 the site, formerly Tannenbaum Historic Park, jointly operated by the National Park Service (Guilford Courthouse NMP) and the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department, was transferred completely to the NPS. See also Explore Southern History.com

Camp Stokes (2)
(1860's), Greensboro
A CSA camp. A monument is on Battleground Ave..

Bethabara (Historic Park)
(1756 - 1761), Winston-Salem
A stockaded 1753 Moravian settlement with two forts that were built during the French and Indian War to protect the settlers against the Cherokee, and serve as a base of operations for the Catawbas, who were British allies. It was never directly attacked. This was the first Moravian settlement in North Carolina. Now a city park, the village has been reconstructed, along with the palisade and one of the forts. Admission fee.

William Johnson's Fort
(Tanglewood Park)
(1757 - 1765 ?), Clemmons FORT WIKI
A settlers' log stockade. Johnson died in 1765. Monument located in Tanglewood Park at 4201 Manor House Circle.

Camp Fisher
(1862), Salisbury
A CSA training camp. Originally named Camp Hill (2).

Salisbury Military Prison
(1861 - 1865), Salisbury
A CSA stockade for Union POWs, built around the closed and recently abandoned 1836 Rowan Factory cotton mill located on Horah Street. Good conditions were present until 1864 when 10,000 new POWs arrived from Richmond, VA. Over 3000 died from disease. Captured in April 1865 during General Stoneman's Raid. On site is the so-called "Garrison House" (a former Officers' Quarters), the only above ground structure remaining. Nearby is the Salisbury National Cemetery at 202 Government Road, with an exhibit room. See also Confederate Prison from NCpedia.org

Salisbury CSA Arsenal
(1863 - 1865), Salisbury
A CSA manufacturing arsenal at the former Boyden Foundry. Destroyed by Union forces in April 1865.

Continental Laboratory
(1780 - 1781), near Salisbury
A Patriot supply depot and munitions manufactory, located on Church Creek southeast of town.

Fort Santiago
(1567 - 1568), near Salisbury ?
A Spanish stockaded log blockhouse with two earth and log bastions, built by the Juan Pardo Expedition on the Yadkin River at an Indian village known as Guatari. Exact location undetermined. A five-man mission station was established here by Pardo in January or February 1567. Pardo returned for a second expedition, and on their way back in December 1567 the five men were picked up, and about 15 - 30 men were left behind in the fort, but they probably did not survive the winter.

Camp Yadkin
(1864 - 1865), near Lakeview
A Confederate fortified encampment and two-gun battery (March 1865) on the north bank of the Yadkin River, on so-called York Hill, that protected the railroad bridge between Salisbury and Lexington. Also known as Fort Beauregard and Fort York. Attacked by Union troops on April 12, 1865, after taking Salisbury. The Confederate defenders, over 1000 men under Gen. Zebulon York, held the bridge, making this action the last Confederate victory in North Carolina. Surviving earthworks are bisected by US 29 at its junction with I-85. The 14-acre site was acquired in 2015 by the Land Trust for Central North Carolina, transferred to Davidson County in 2016. The old Wil-Cox Highway Bridge now allows pedestrian access via the Davidson County Greenway system. See also Stoneman's Raid from Trading Ford Historic District Preservation Association

Charlotte Encampment
(1780 - 1781), Charlotte
The British army under Major General Cornwallis encamped here in October 1780 and again in February 1781. The Patriot army under Major General Gates was here in November 1780, and where Major General Nathanael Greene took over command of the Southern Continental Army. Of interest here is the Hezekiah Alexander homesite (1774), operated by the Charlotte Museum of History.

Camp Sloan
(1860's), Charlotte
A CSA camp located adjacent to the North Carolina Military Institute (1858), located at Morehead Street and Independence Blvd..

Also in the area was CSA Camp Stokes (1).

Camp Greene
(1917 - 1919), Charlotte
A Federalized National Guard training encampment and demobilization center for the 3rd, 4th, and 41st (Sunset) Divisions. Located two miles west of the city. After the war, several of the buildings became private homes. The Dowd House (1879) was used as the camp headquarters, now a museum, located at 2216 Monument Street. A stone monument to the camp is located at Wilkinson Blvd. and Monument Street. Foundational ruins are located throughout Camp Greene Park.
See also Camp Greene from Charlotte Viewpoint.org || WWI Boot Camp in Charlotte from NCpedia.org
The Mystery of Camp Greene from Creative Loafing Charlotte

NEED MORE INFO:
Towns: Mud Castle near Halifax

South Coastal North Carolina - page 1 | Central Coastal North Carolina - page 2
North Coastal North Carolina - page 3 | Western North Carolina - page 5

QUESTIONS ? Please send any corrections and/or additions to this list to:
"Updates" at NorthAmericanForts.com