The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-05-05
War Relic Setting Out Story of
Confederate Soldier From
This State
LATE THOMAS S. HENAN
Among Relics are Bible, Pocket
book Made BY a Sweetheart,
Several Pictures and Pay
Money; Records During Pris-
on Life of Deceased Are On
Exhibit

In case No. 10 in the North Caro-
line Hall Of History in the new State
Administration Building there is set
out a story of the life of a Confeder-
ate soldier from start to finish. 1t
represents the Alpha and Omega OF
the war. The case is entirely hlled
with relics Of the late Thomas ).
kenan. The first object shown is a
picture of his company, the Duplln
Rifles, made from a daguerrotype
taken at Kenansville in April, 1861.
This company, commanded by capt.
Kenan later became Company {. OF
the End Regiment, n. {. volunteers
and later the 43rd Regiment State
Troops, commanded by Col. kenan.
Next is a commission issued to Capt.
kenan as the captain of a volunteer
company under the name and style OF
the Duplin Rifles dated April IN
1861, signed by Gov. John w. Ellis
and his private secretary, Maj. era
ham Dawes. Three days later, April
IS. Adj. Gen. John +. Hoke issued the
first war orders to Capt. Kenan, these
saving: You are ordered to repair
with your company at Raleigh as
soon as in your power and report TO
Col. d. H. Hill at the camp of in
struction. You will march without
your uniforms and can either have
lneil - loiioW yOA vi
made here"
There is a dagu,rrotype of Capt.
Kenan taken in April a little before
bis departure for Raleigh and below
il is one of him as the colonel Of the
43rd.
There is a tobacco bag made by
Mrs. Isaac Kelly, of kenansville. with
the inscription, "Duplin Rifles, I: 5.
A a pocket looking glass, a pocket
book made by a sweetheart of Col.
Kenan and containing some Of his
Confederate pay money: also a Bible
which was presented to him by 1t.
w. Il. Hardy, G. S. A, who was a
prisoner of war with hin. at John
sons Island. Ohio. where Col. Kenan
was paroled in March, 1865.
There is a photograph Of the
Colonel taken directly after his re-
lease from prison at JOhnSon'S Island
a receipt for his salary as officer from
June /, 1868. to March %, 1865
S2,340, paid by the q~uartermaster's
dep lrtment.
\ remarkable souvenir of the stir
I'M wal days is the following invita-
ton signed by 1t. William r. Bond
aide TO Gen. Junius Daniel, and date
October !, 1862, at the headquarters
Of Daniels brigade; Il am directed
by Gen. Daniel to say that Ma
Drewry requests that you, field an,
staff and such other officers as -,
may choose to invite will attend
picnic to be given at his barn to
morrow at , p. M
The officers of the 2nd Regimen
~. G.. Volunteers, to which Cap
Kenan was first assigned. signed
recommendation urging that he b
promoted, speaking of him as 81.
gentleman of military ability an
high social position and we'll uualifie
10 fill any position to which he ma
aspire" Among the signers are CO
Solomon Williams, Lit. Col. Edwar
Cantwell and all the other officers
the regiment.
Wounded in Thigh.
At Gettysburg Col. Kenan WI
wounded in the thigh and capture
and was sent to Johnscn's Islan
prison, which was exclusively for O
ficers. After all it is the story of h
prison life which has the create
human interest. There are program
of the plays put on by two con
panies of players from among II
confederate prisoners there, the
taking the title of the RE bellonian,
the the Rebel Thespians." CO
kenan played a violin in the orche
ira and some very noted men we
III the companies. There are tickle
of admission to the plays, most
which were original.
= The commandant Of Fort Johnso
Cal. Charles w. Hill. L. S. A., seer
to have been very popular. T
prisoners of war there rendered hi
their ervices and on the 23rd
February. 1855, he wrote a please
letter to Col. Kenan for their off
OF assistance in the clerical wor
says. II will gratefully accept SUI
assistance whenever the proper d
patch of business requires that
should do So" There is pris
money. used in making purcha:
F.. 49, y.+- -
and authorization to prisoners to ha
such money, the letter being in