Topics Related to Cumberland County

Battle of Averasboro, Phase One, March 15, 16, 1865 (II-3)

Location: SR 1801 (Ross West Road) north of Godwin
County: Cumberland
Original Date Cast: 1961

(Large rectangular marker with map; full text follows)

You are standing near the center of the first phase of fighting in the Battle of Averasboro, March 15-16, 1865.

Battle of Bentonville, March 19, 20, and 21, 1865 (II-1)

Location: I-95 (northbound) at rest area near Fayetteville
County: Cumberland
Original Date Cast: 1962

(Large rectangular marker, full text follows)

At Bentonville, General William T. Sherman’s Union army, advancing from Fayetteville toward Goldsboro, met and battled the Confederate army of General Joseph E. Johnston. General Robert E. Lee had directed the Confederates to make a stand in North Carolina to prevent Sherman from joining General U. S. Grant in front of Lee’s army at Petersburg, Virginia.

Main Post School Integration (I-94)

In 1951 superintendent Mildred Poole integrated Post School 2 miles N.E. three years before U.S. Supreme Court mandate.

Rockfish Factory (I-92)

Largest textile mill in antebellum N.C. Opened 1839 by Charles Peter Mallett. Destroyed 1865 by Sherman's army. It stood 120 yards S.E.

Omar ibn Said ca. 1770-1863 (I-89)

Muslim slave & scholar. African-born, he penned autobiography in Arabic, 1831. Lived in Bladen County and worshipped with local Presbyterians.

Lewis Leary 1835-1859 (I-88)

Free black abolitionist & conspirator in 1859 with John Brown in attack on U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Killed in assault. Lived in Fayetteville.

Pope Field (I-82)

Est. 1919. Named for Lt. Harley Pope, Army aviator. Became Air Force base in 1948. Since 2011 part of Fort Bragg. 1 ½ mi. W.

David M. Williams 1900-1975 (I-81)

"Carbine" Williams, designer of short stroke piston, which made possible M-1 carbine rifle, widely used in WWII. Lived 2 mi. S.

Bank of the United States (I-80)

Second national bank opened branch in 1818 in Fayetteville. Bank operated, 1820-35, in house one block east.

John England 1786-1842 (I-79)

Bishop of Charleston. He organized Roman Catholics in N.C. at Fayetteville Convention, & consecrated St. Patrick Church, 1829. Present church 4/10 mi. E.