Thomas Legion
Timothy N. Osment History, M.A. WCU 2008 William Holland Thomas, state legislator and “white chief” of the Cherokee, was 56 years old when the Civil War began. From the beginning of the war, he openly promoted the idea of North Carolina Cherokee fighting for the...
Shelton Laurel Massacre
audio moment Shelton Laurel Massacre https://dh.wcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/SheltonLaurel60Mx.mp3 The Shelton Laurel Massacre Essay by Timothy N. Osment, History M.A., WCU 2008 The Civil War took a tremendous toll on the South. Though somewhat isolated,...
Battle of Asheville
On April 6, 1865, the Battle of Asheville was fought in the closing days of the Civil War. Only three days before Lee surrendered to Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse, Union Colonel Issac Curby, based in Greenville, Tennessee joined up with Stoneman’s Raiders to secure the Confederate town of Asheville.
Outlaws
Outlaw heroes in the tradition of Robin Hood have been an expression of Appalachian folklore since the pioneer period. Illegal actions to avenge a wrong or defend the honor of family or community have long been celebrated in songs and stories.
Kirk’s Raiders
In late 1862, a rag-tag group of Union sympathizers and Confederate deserters spent several days terrorizing the citizens of Madison County, NC. They stole provisions and created such chaos that eventually several deaths were blamed on their activities. In response,...
Tonya Carroll (B.A., 2007 M.A., 2009) with Bruce Frazier (Carol Grotnes Belk Endowed Professor in Commercial & Electronic Music) in the recording studio.