Sugar Grove in Watauga County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Camp Mast
Watauga County Home Guard
Photographed By Michael C. Wilcox, December 25, 2016
1. Camp Mast Marker
Inscription.
Camp Mast. Watauga County Home Guard. In July 1863, Gov. Zebulon B. Vance created the Home Guard to protect communities and capture deserters, Unionists, and bushwhackers. The Guard was made up of men not liable for conscription because of age, health, and other reasons. Capt. Harvey Bingham commanded Watauga County's contingent, the 11th Battalion North Carolina Home Guard. Later, Bingham was promoted to major and the unit was enlarged to include two companies: A, under Capt. George McGuire, and B, under Capt. Jordan Cook. The county's first Home Guard camp was located farther up Cove Creek, while the second, Camp Mast, was constructed just across the creek in 1864. While one company manned the camp, the men in the other unit remained at home. , In February 1865, a Federal officer traditionally identified as Capt. James Champion led 103 men from the Unionist stronghold of Banner Elk and surrounded Camp Mast at night. McGuire and the men of Company A, on duty here at the time, were caught by surprise in the morning. McGuire polled his men and found that sixty favored surrender while eleven voted to fight it out. He surrendered, and Champion destroyed the camp and marched his prisoners west through Banner Elk to Ibnnessee. Once they crossed the state line to Shell Creek, the men who had voted to surrender were paroled and set free, while the rest ,were marched to a Federal prison in Columbus, Ohio. , (inset) , Harvey Bingham enlisted in Co. E, 37th North Carolina troops in September 1861, He was promoted to lieutenant in December 1861. Bingham was wounded in the head during the Second Battle of Manassas in August 1862 and resigned soon thereafter. In mid-1863, he was appointed captain (later major), 11th Battalion North Carolina Home Guard. After the war, Bingham moved to Statesville, where he practiced law.
In July 1863, Gov. Zebulon B. Vance created the Home Guard to protect communities and capture deserters, Unionists, and bushwhackers. The Guard was made up of men not liable for conscription because of age, health, and other reasons. Capt. Harvey Bingham commanded Watauga County's contingent, the 11th Battalion North Carolina Home Guard. Later, Bingham was promoted to major and the unit was enlarged to include two companies: A, under Capt. George McGuire, and B, under Capt. Jordan Cook. The county's first Home Guard camp was located farther up Cove Creek, while the second, Camp Mast, was constructed just across the creek in 1864. While one company manned the camp, the men in the other unit remained at home.
In February 1865, a Federal officer traditionally identified as Capt. James Champion led 103 men from the Unionist stronghold of Banner Elk and surrounded Camp Mast at night. McGuire and the men of Company A, on duty here at the time, were caught by surprise in the morning. McGuire polled his men and found that sixty favored surrender while eleven voted to fight it out. He surrendered, and Champion destroyed the camp and marched his prisoners west through Banner Elk to Ibnnessee. Once they crossed the state line to Shell Creek, the men who had voted to surrender were paroled and set free, while the rest ,were marched to
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a Federal prison in Columbus, Ohio.
(inset)
Harvey Bingham enlisted in Co. E, 37th North Carolina troops in September 1861, He was promoted to lieutenant in December 1861. Bingham was wounded in the head during the Second Battle of Manassas in August 1862 and resigned soon thereafter. In mid-1863, he was appointed captain (later major), 11th Battalion North Carolina Home Guard. After the war, Bingham moved to Statesville, where he practiced law.
Erected by North Carolina Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1863.
Location. 36° 15.793′ N, 81° 47.116′ W. Marker is in Sugar Grove, North Carolina, in Watauga County. Marker is on Dale Adams Road north of Georges Gap Road (Route 1213), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sugar Grove NC 28679, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
Also see . . . Article (2012) about dedication. (Submitted on April 17, 2017, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.)
Photographed By Michael C. Wilcox, December 25, 2016
3. Bushwhackers firing-on cavalrymen in mountains
Courtesy Library of Congress
Photographed By Michael C. Wilcox, December 25, 2016
4. Harvey Bingham
Courtesy Michael C Hardy
Photographed By Michael C. Wilcox, December 25, 2016
5. Camp Mast Marker
Photographed By Michael C. Wilcox, December 25, 2016
6. vicinity of Camp Mast
Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2017. It was originally submitted on January 5, 2017, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,894 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 5, 2017, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.