A lot of people that live on this island, at one time or another, has found a civil war relic. When the wind pushes the water out of the Roanoke Sound, you can find old bottles and maybe a canon ball. You never know. My nephew has a collection of bullets and arrowheads that his dad found. Hubby Bliven of Manteo has a large collection and even has a civil war museum next to his house. Mike Tames has created a very informative website that I found about 5 years ago and enjoyed reading. He has maps, photos and photos of his personal collection online. Here is his website: [URL]Click to follow link...[/URL] The 1905 postcard is from my collection.

I was amazed to learn about 20 years ago about not only the Civil War History but the World War II happenings down on the Outer Banks and Ocracoke. Amazing how this was never really publicized, especially the WWII stuff.

During the Civil War, one of my ancestors, Benjamin Briggs, from NY spent a good bit of time fighting in the area till he was captured during in battle near Plymouth, NC. He spent the rest of the war in Andersonville, probably the most horrible Civil War POW camp. He survived the camp and was released at the end of the war. I have his discharge papers framed in my living room, frayed around the edges, with every crease and fold he put in them on his way home. This info is from a NPS website [B]Side [/B]Union [B]Unit Name [/B]12 New York Cavalry [B]Regiment [/B]12 [B]State [/B]New York [B]Function [/B]Cavalry [B]Company [/B]E [B]Rank [/B]Private [B]Type [/B]Held at Andersonville and survived [B]Capture Date [/B]04/20/1864 [B]Capture Site [/B]Plymouth, NC

That is really cool ish!

I have an ancestor that was held prisoner there, too. He was a captured courier for J.E.B. Stuart and got caught. I have a small leather covered box that held letters, stationary, etc.

I love reading about the WWII history of the involvement of the island. I have read several books, both fiction and non-fiction which were set during that time.

Renee, you have probably read Torpedo Junction by Homer Hickman then along with Kevin Duffus' book. It is very surprising how involved the coast of Dare County was. Folks here certainly saw more action on the home-front then many people realize. Mr. Hickman comes to the beach from time to time and does book signings. He signed my DVD copy of Rocket Boys. :smiley16: Love that movie! Have you seen this video by Duffus? I haven't but I bet it is good. [URL="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/1888285176/sr=1-2/qid=1211310354/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=404272&s=video&qid=1211310354&sr=1-2"][/URL] Kevin's newest book and booksigning at Manteo Booksellers: Saturday, May 24th · 1:00-3:00 p.m. [B]KEVIN DUFFUS[/B] [URL="http://manteobooksellers.com/cgi-local/shopmanteo.pl/page=manteo-shop.html/SID=1211310092.52662391/buy=1/item=283"][/URL] [URL="http://manteobooksellers.com/cgi-local/shopmanteo.pl/page=manteo-shop.html/SID=1211310092.52662391/buy=1/item=283"][B][I][COLOR=#800080]The Last Days of Black Beard the Pirate: Within Every Legend Lies a Grain of Truth[/COLOR][/I][/B][/URL] Looking Glass Productions, Inc. $30.00 Hardback ·Over 75 photographs & a dozen meticuously researched and crafted maps Signing Author of 2 previous books, [I]Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks and The Lost Light: The Mystery of the Missing Cape Hatteras Fresnel Lens[/I], as well four award-winning documentary films concerning Outer Banks history, Kevin Duffus is a busy researcher and investigative journalist of historical events. Kevin promises that [I]The Last Days of Black Beard the Pirate[/I] will substantially change the story of Black Beard and the history surrounding him. In [I]The Last Days of Black Beard the Pirate[/I], Kevin exposes the truth behind many of the enduring Black Beard myths: his Bristol, England birthplace, his 14 wives, the burning of fuses in his hair to frighten his victims, and the countless tall tales of buried treasure, secret tunnels, and the shocking origins of the legend of his silver-plated skull being used as a drinking cup by a secret society. [I]The Last Days of Black Beard the Pirate[/I] is a carefully researched and controversial book. Kevin has spent over 35 years following the Black Beard legend while researching facts, legends and history that took him throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and even across the Atlantic to archives in Great Britain. Don't miss meeting Kevin and getting copies of this groundbreaking, new pirate history.

I love reading about the WWII history of the involvement of the island. I have read several books, both fiction and non-fiction which were set during that time.

[I] "Hubby Bliven of Manteo has a large collection and even has a civil war museum next to his house. "[/I] I found his home a few years ago thanks to Mike. He has one of the best collections I have ever seen. It is well worth a trip over to see it. He has one of the few "Quaker" guns still in existince. In addition he is a great artist. My interest lies in the 48th PA, recruited in our area, who traveled to the OBX in the beginning of "that" War and trained there before heading into New Berne. Although I have no known relative that fought in it (they were just getting over being starved out in Ireland at the time) it is interesting to see how both sides of the conflict dealt with the problems and issues.

Love the books by Homer Hickam! Have been trying for several years to get to the October Sky Festival in Coalwood, Homer is there everyyear. Something always seems to come up though to keep us from going:sad: Here's a link to the festival... [URL]Click to follow link...[/URL] Never heard of Kevin Duffas will have to check his books/video out.

I just finished The Far Reaches by Hickman. It was great. I'm ready for some further adventures of Josh Thurlow