Laurinburg in Scotland County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Laurinburg

"Burning Depot"

— Carolinas Campaign —

Laurinburg Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 24, 2025

1. Laurinburg Marker

Inscription.

Laurinburg. "Burning Depot". , (preface) The Carolinas Campaign began on February 1, 1865, when Union Gen. William T. Sherman led his army north from Savannah, Georgia, after the March to the Sea. Sherman's objective was to join Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Virginia to crush Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Scattered Confederate forces consolidated in North Carolina, the Confederacy's logistical lifeline, where Sherman defeated Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's last-ditch attack at Bentonville. After Sherman was reinforced at Goldsboro late in March, Johnston saw the futility of further resistance and surrendered at Bennett Place near Durham on April 26, ending the Civil War., During the Civil War, Laurinburg was a stop on the Wilmington, Charlotte, and Rutherford Railroad. In the final days of the war, Union forces besieged Fort Fisher and moved on Wilmington with its vital port and railyards, hoping to close the last open Confederate port. Hoping to continue using the railway and the yards here, many Wilmington residents relocated to Laurinburg. Their hopes were dashed when Union Gen. William T. Sherman's army entered the state just south of here, placing Laurinburg between the Federals and their target at Fayetteville. Within hours, Sherman's forces destroyed the railyard, depot facilities, and shops here as well as several miles of track on either side of town., Hdqrs. Detachment Fifth Tennessee Cavalry , March 7 1865 , Major [Matthew P.] Taylor, Commanding Scouts: , The enemy reached Laurinburg at 3 p.m. , Are burning depot, railroad shops, &c. , Have not moved in this direction yet. , J.G.M. Montgomery , Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. , (sidebar) , When the newly formed Confederate government called for soldiers in the summer of 1861, many men from in and around Laurinburg answered the call. A company called the Scotch Boys (Co. F. 16th North Carolina Infantry) mustered here in Laurinburg and were noted for their extraordinary height, which was said to "challenge the armies of the world." Of 94 officers and men, 60 were more than 6 feet tall. The average height in the company was "6 feet 1 (and) 3/8 inches.", The Scotch Boys were on average 5.375 inches taller than their contemporaries. How do you measure up?, (captions) , Main Street, downtown Laurinburg, ca. 1917. , Seaboard Air Line Railroad depot, Laurinburg, photo ca. 1909, demolished in the 1960s. - All photograph courtesy Laurinburg Downtown Revitalization Corporation

(preface) The Carolinas Campaign began on February 1, 1865, when Union Gen. William T. Sherman led his army north from Savannah, Georgia, after the March to the Sea. Sherman's objective was to join Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Virginia to crush Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Scattered Confederate forces consolidated in North Carolina, the Confederacy's logistical lifeline, where Sherman defeated Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's last-ditch attack at Bentonville. After Sherman was reinforced at Goldsboro late in March, Johnston saw the futility of further resistance and surrendered at Bennett Place near Durham on April 26, ending the Civil War.

During the Civil War, Laurinburg was a stop on the Wilmington, Charlotte, & Rutherford Railroad. In the final days of the war, Union forces besieged Fort Fisher and moved on Wilmington with its vital port and railyards, hoping to close the last open Confederate port. Hoping to continue using the railway and the yards here, many Wilmington residents relocated to Laurinburg. Their hopes were dashed when Union Gen. William T. Sherman's army entered the state just south of here, placing Laurinburg between the Federals and their target at Fayetteville. Within hours, Sherman's forces destroyed the railyard, depot facilities, and shops here as well as several

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miles of track on either side of town.

Hdqrs. Detachment Fifth Tennessee Cavalry
March 7 1865
Major [Matthew P.] Taylor, Commanding Scouts:
The enemy reached Laurinburg at 3 p.m.
Are burning depot, railroad shops, &c.
Have not moved in this direction yet.
J.G.M. Montgomery
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding
(sidebar)
When the newly formed Confederate government called for soldiers in the summer of 1861, many men from in and around Laurinburg answered the call. A company called the Scotch Boys (Co. F. 16th North Carolina Infantry) mustered here in Laurinburg and were noted for their extraordinary height, which was said to "challenge the armies of the world." Of 94 officers and men, 60 were more than 6 feet tall. The average height in the company was "6 feet 1 (and) 3/8 inches."

The Scotch Boys were on average 5.375 inches taller than their contemporaries. How do you measure up?

(captions)
Main Street, downtown Laurinburg, ca. 1917.
Seaboard Air Line Railroad depot, Laurinburg, photo ca. 1909, demolished in the 1960s. - All photograph courtesy Laurinburg Downtown Revitalization Corporation

Erected by North Carolina Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this

Laurinburg Marker looking towards intersection of S. Main and W. Church Streets image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 24, 2025

2. Laurinburg Marker looking towards intersection of S. Main and W. Church Streets

topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 1, 1865.

Location. 34° 46.463′ N, 79° 27.77′ W. Marker is in Laurinburg, North Carolina, in Scotland County. It is at the intersection of West Church Street (Business U.S. 74) and Main Street (Business U.S. 501), on the right when traveling west on West Church Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 329 S Main St, Laurinburg NC 28352, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Edwin Gill (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Terry Sanford (about 500 feet away); Scotland County Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Quackenbush (approx. 0.2 miles away); Our Confederate Heroes (approx. 0.2 miles away); 09.11.2001 (approx. 0.2 miles away); J. Dickson Phillips, Jr. (approx. 0.2 miles away); Vietnam Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Laurinburg.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Laurinburg (has been replaced with this marker).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old CWT Marker At This Location also titled "Laurinburg"

Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 184 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 19, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.