Wilmington in New Hanover County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Confederate Headquarters

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 26, 2025

1. Confederate Headquarters Marker

Inscription. This building was occupied as Confederate Headquarters during the Civil War, and from here operations at Fort Fisher and other military movements were directed. In this house also John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War, was entertained by Dr. A. J. DeRosset Senior, April 12, 1819.

Erected 1919 by New Hanover HIstorical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 12, 1819.

Location. 34° 14.142′ N, 77° 56.773′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is at the intersection of North 3rd Street and Market Street (Business U.S. 17), on the left when traveling north on North 3rd Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 North 3rd Street, Wilmington NC 28401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain and on the Cape Fear Coast.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western

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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: Mary Baker Glover Eddy (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles Cornwallis (within shouting distance of this marker); Gore Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); John Burgwin (within shouting distance of this marker); Burgwin-Wright House (within shouting distance of this marker); The William Allen Cobb Judicial Annex (within shouting distance of this marker); St. James Church (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Another marker is no longer nearby. George Davis (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Regarding Confederate Headquarters. The house described by the marker no longer stands. Previously, a three story building stood

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 26, 2025

2. Confederate Headquarters Marker

Marker is the stone at lower right, next to the base of the street lamp. The building at left is 1 N 3rd St.

on this corner; the DeRosset family was prominent in Wilmington and had occupied lots on 2nd Street between Market and Princess since about 1751. The three-story house that stood on the northwest corner of Market & 3rd was built for Armand DeRosset (second of his name, but not junior; the patriarch of the family was a Frenchman of the same name, and lived in a small house on the same block after arriving in the colonies from Switzerland in 1751. He had a son, Moses, whose son Armand built the house referenced in the marker) who was the Port Physician for many years. He, in turn, had a son named Armand; this is probably why he is referred to as "Senior" on the marker, despite being the second Armand DeRosset.

The DeRossets also owned a house on the northeast corner of the Market & 3rd Street Intersection, and that is where the third Armand DeRosset initially moved after leaving the property referenced on this stone. He built a house in 1841 that is still standing at 2nd and Dock. Another trace of the DeRosset family still present in Wilmington's historic landscape is Oakdale Cemetery, which was opened on DeRosset land with Armand DeRosset

Dr. A.J. DeRosset House image. Click for full size.

3. Dr. A.J. DeRosset House

This is the three-story house that stood at this corner and was used as Confederate Headquarters for the Department of Wilmington. Photo from Wilmington's Vanished Homes and Buildings by Emma Woodward MacMillan, published in 1966.

III/Jr. as president. His 6-year-old daughter Annie was the first internment.

The Wells Insurance building that stands on this corner now is of much more modern vintage. The car historic car shop attached to it was built in 1912. It is not clear when the DeRosset house was demolished, but the New Hanover County Historic Commission Stone Markers was placed in 1919 and the house is referenced in articles about the markers in 1921.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 174 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 26, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.