The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-18
LEE AND OKE's: SCOUT
wood, the Daring and Famous Coniedef-
ate scout Was Killed and buried Near
wnmington-He Was Betrayed and Rid
died With Bullets

died win k1ullets
Very few persons are aware hat Wood.
the daring and famous confederate scout
who was known throughout the conIeo-
eracy during the civil war, was killed
and buried in Norwest township, Column
bus county. He was an active, caring
dashing fellow and was noted In the
Army of Northern Virginia as Lees most
trusted scout. He wore the blue as often
as he wore the gray, and was with nrst
one army and then the other getting IN
formation for his great chieftain. Among
his most daring exploits was the cap
ture of Il federal gunboat near New
Bern. His fame spread Throughout the
world in the days of the great Ameri-
can conflict, yet his name is known now
to very few.
While Bragg's army was around Will
mington in 1876, Wood was with Gen.
eral Hoke's division at Sugar Loaf,
New Hanover county. seventeen or eigh-
teen miles down the river. He was a
scout for Hoke, and was in and out of
the federal camps all around this part
of the state. After the fall Of Fort
Fisher, General Ccofeld's army occu-
pied the west side of Cape Fear
IlNeE dlu was ASN@
When he got in the vicinity of Fort
ST. Philip, at Old Brunswick, where there
was sharp fighting with the confederates
operating on that side Of the river, Gen.
eral Bragg, seeing the danger of being
cut off from retreat, broke camp and
marched to Wilmington by the county
road. The army got under way about 2
o'clock on the 21st Of February, 1865. 1t
Silver Run, about three miles south OF
Wilmington, a halt was made, as there
was considerable difficulty in passing the
extensive swamp there. The road cross
ed the swamp and creek on a narrow
causeway, and a federal force came up
on Bragg's rear there and a kirmish
took place, the federals being driven
back. Bragg then marched on to Will
mington unmolested and passed through
the city with his wager trains, infantry
and cavalry and early on the morning Of
February 22nd crossed the North East
river on a p%ontoon bridge at the old
Hilton ferry. They went into camp the
next night at the IL mile post on Niger
Head road, and remained there a day
and a half
Our distinguished townsman, Judge
0. P. Meares, who was assistant brigade
quartermaster with Hoke's. division,
gives us the above information, and he
tells US that while the army was in
camp at the II mile post, Wood, the
faithful scout, could not be heard from,
and it was rumored that he had been
killed. The story now is that he was
killed at the house Of Bill Mckay, In
Northwest township, in the vicinity of
Cronly, where he had stopped for a day
or two. He was uniformed as a federal
soldier and had one or two men with
him. At night the house was surround
ed by a considerable force Of federals,
and when Wood and his companions
saw that they had been trapped and
there was no means of escape, they de-
cided to sell their lives as dearly as pos
sible. a terrible fight ensued, and it is
said that Wood was riddled with bullets.
though he killed three men before he
fell.
Mr.. Skipper, who is a resident of the
vicinity where the killing occurred. gives
this account of the tragic fate of Wood.
and says the famous scout was buried
in a ditch near McKay's house. He be-
lieves he can now locate the spot and
find his remains.
1t is believed tina Wood was BETRAYED
by some one who knew that he was at
McKay's.
In talking about the death of Wood
Judge Meares recalled the recent pubIi-
cation Of Bragg's letter. which caused
such a stir, and said he noticed that the
letter referred to Hoke's division as a
brigade. Judge Meares says 1t was a
division, composed OF the brigades of
General Hagood, General Clingman,. Cen
eral ColQuit and General Kirkland. Gem
eral Johnson Hagood died a few DAYS
ago at his home in Barnwell, s. c., as
noted by The Messenger.