| Summary |
The purpose of this thesis is to examine the municipality of Fayetteville during the final days of the Civil War and the immediate postwar years, 1865-1868. The citizens of the town continued to carry on their lives even while the war raged in their streets. Later they faced the realization of losing the war and various reconstruction policies that were implemented. Little has been written about North Carolina or its municipalities during this time period. Fayetteville has often been overlooked by historians, but because of its location up river from the port of Wilmington, and having an arsenal located within the town, Fayetteville played a key role in the Civil War. During and after the war the town was a trading hub for goods moving east and west in North Carolina. Because of these factors a scholarly study of Fayetteville during this time period is sorely needed. This thesis is designed to fill this particular void of scholarly writing. The days following the war were very chaotic and traumatic for the townspeople of Fayetteville. General Sherman's army along with the retreating Confederate army had destroyed much in and around the town. leaving many people destitute. After the hostilities ceased, Fayetteville was a host to northerners who came south. These northerners basically belonged to two organizations, the American Missionary Association, and the Freedmen's Bureau. The American Missionary Association was a philanthropic organization whose objective was to aid the newly freed slaves. Because of this organization, schools were established for the education of the freedmen. The Freedmen's Bureau was an organization established by the United States government to attend to lands and property confiscated by the army and to also make sure that the newly freed slaves were treated fairly. In Fayetteville there was a constant change of bureau agents. Many of these agents were palatable to the citizens of Fayetteville, but a few agents were not. Immediately after the Civil War there was much violence in Fayetteville. Violence ranged from the harassment of blacks to murder. Violence appears to have been common in settling disputes. Crime such as robberies were also commonplace. However, there were citizens who hoped for a peaceful Some of the citizens commemorated the dead Con- future. federate soldiers buried in Fayetteville with a monument. This project unified many of the citizens thus strengthening a hope and will for a better future. Business and industry were in utter disarray when the war came to an end Sherman's army had destroyed cotton mills, an arsenal, and news- . paper offices. However, all businesses did not completely cease operation. During the months following the war business and industry cleaned up and secured what they had both in physical terms and economic terms. Municipal government functioned well throughout the final days of the war and the months following the war. Throughout all the different reconstruction policies the town government, no matter who held the offices, did not waiver from carrying out its administrative duties. This thesis fills a gap in historical research and writing dealing with the traumatic transition period of Fayetteville's history. It brings to the foreground important facts that contribute to Fayetteville's history as well as the history of North Carolina. A detailed study such as this gives a clearer understanding of this important transitional period in the history of Fayetteville. |
