Burgaw in Pender County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Antebellum Railroad Station
—Confederate Lifeline —
The Burgaw Station was built about 1850 as part of an improvement project on what was then called the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad (Wilmington and Weldon Railroad in 1855). William Shepperd Ashe, president of the railroad early in the war, was killed in a train accident while en route from Wilmington to his home four miles south of here. Col. Sewell L. Fremont, for whom Fremont Street in Burgaw was named, served as superintendent of the railroad by 1863.
Federal cavalry raiders burned part of the depot in 1862-1863. After the Confederates evacuated Wilmington late in February 1865, Union prisoners of war were temporarily held here before being paroled on the rail line near the Northeast Cape Fear River as part of a general exchange program. During negotiations, the Burgaw depot telegraph connected Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg, headquartered
(lower left) Prisoners awaiting exchange from Prison Life in the South (1866)
(lower center) Lt. Henry H. Willis, 40th New York Infantry, a Union prisoner held at Burgaw Station until paroled at Northeast Station 10 miles south of here. — Courtesy Chris E. Fonvielle, Jr.
(upper right) William Shepperd Ashe, from Biographical History of North Carolina (1905); Col. Sewell L. Fremont Courtesy Robert J. Cooke
Erected by North Carolina Civil War Trails.
Marker series. This marker is included in the North Carolina Civil War Trails marker series.
Location. 34° 33.022′ N, 77° 55.691′ W. Marker is in Burgaw, North Carolina, in Pender County. Marker is at the intersection of South Dickerson Street (County Route 1412) and West Wilmington Street (North Carolina Highway 53), on the right when traveling south on South Dickerson Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 115 South Dickerson Street, Burgaw NC 28425, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker Our Heroes (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); S. S. Satchwell (approx. ¼ mile away); George Burrington (approx. 1½ miles away); Stag Park (approx. 1½ miles away); Hinton James (approx. 4.7 miles away); William S. Ashe (approx. 5½ miles away); Samuel Ashe (approx. 5½ miles away); Edward Moseley (approx. 5.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Burgaw.
Categories. • Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil •
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on September 18, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 400 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on September 18, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.