ECW’s “Perfect Storm” at the OBX

The Outer Banks saw a “perfect storm” of Emerging Civil War contributors this week: Caity Stuart and Chris Mackowski had the chance to meet up with Drew Pullen down in Hatteras, N.C.

Drew has been instrumental in organizing the upcoming “Flags Over Hatteras” conference, April 26-29, 2012. He took time out from his preparations to give Chris and Caity a tour of the special Civil War exhibit at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. Artifacts on display include:

• the only known complete Zouave uniform from the 9th New York infantry, one of the units to participate on the assault against Fort Clark
• the pilot wheel and bell from the U.S.S. Minnesota, which took part in the bombardment of the forts (the ship’s crew included seven black sailors who manned the forward guns, making them the first black men to fire on the Confederacy during the war)
• a 34-star flag that flew over one of the forts after they fell
• a Confederate naval officer’s sword (“Rarer than hen’s teeth,” Drew says)
• the Fresnel lens of the original Cape Hatteras lighthouse, pillaged by Confederates when they had to surrender the island
• uniforms, firearms, and dozens of other artifacts related to the Civil War on the OBX

  

The exhibit will be on display until the end of July, so make the trip to the tip of Hatteras Island for some spectacular Civil War history.

There’s still room, too, to register for the conference, which features Pulitzer-winner James McPherson, Naval historian Craig Symonds, and a special videotaped presentation by Ed Bearss.