You Have to Wonder About This

Reading through the Official Records volumes set in North Carolina is an interesting and rewarding pastime. One of my favorite little discoveries concerns a possible sequel to the famous "Three Cigars" story of the Maryland Campaign.

During the Maryland Campaign of 1862, Union soldiers poking around an abandoned Confederate camp found a piece of paper wrapped around three cigars. The paper was a complete outline of General Robert E. Lee's plans, with the locations of his scattered forces.

Union commander George B. McClellan for once acted swiftly, and moved to destroy the Southern army and end the war. This led to the Battle of Sharpsburg (aka Antietam) on September 17, 1862, the end of the Maryland Campaign, and the narrow escape of Lee's army after one of the hardest-fought battles in its history.

Just who lost the copy of Lee's plans is not known for certain, but a frequent candidate fingered for blame is the brilliant but cranky Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill. In light of this suspicion, a quote from page 1023, Volume 18 of the Official Records becomes very interesting reading.

In early 1863, during the winter lull in the fighting in Virginia, Hill besieged the Union garrison of Washington, North Carolina while Confederate troops gathered badly needed corn and pork from eastern North Carolina. Confederate guns at Hill's Point and elsewhere threatened the Washington garrison and swept the Pamlico River. Hill broke off the siege on April 23, in light of Union reinforcements reaching Washington by gunboat, and because his troops would soon be needed in Virginia.

From his headquarters in Kinston on April 26, Hill wrote Maj. John N. Whitford (at left) of the 1st North Carolina Local Defense Troops ("Whitford's Battalion", the nucleus of the later 67th North Carolina). After discussing several matters, Hill closed with this little bombshell:

"The note of mine found at Hill's Point was not important, at least I think not."

I would sure like to know what was in that note!

And, if it was wrapped around three more cigars...