Distinguished Wilmington Visitors

Bernhard Thuersam, Executive Director

Cape Fear Historical Institute

Cape Fear Historical Institute Papers

The city of Wilmington was honored by the visit of many distinguished Americans in the early days of the republic, and well into the 19th century. If one were to walk one or two blocks in any direction from the intersection of Front and Market Streets, they would find themselves walking on or near the same paths tread by Washington, Monroe, Calhoun, Henry Clay, Webster, Alexander Stephens, Jefferson Davis, Bragg, Beauregard and many more.

Washington

George Washington:
It was during George Washington’s Southern Tour on April 24, 1791 that he arrived in Wilmington from Newbern, being escorted into town by the Light Horse Guards, Wilmington’s military company. The guard joined the general’s party at the Rouse House, about fifteen miles out on the New Bern Road, which was the site of a small battle between patriots and English forces under Major Craig. All but a small boy escaped from that battle, with Craig victorious.
Washington’s visit “was a grand occasion for Wilmington. The artillery boomed forth a greeting of many guns, and great demonstrations of welcome for the general were offered by the citizens. On the next day…there was a procession about the town, and a great dinner was served in honor of the distinguished guest. In the evening the town was illuminated by bonfires, and a brilliant ball was given, at which the dames and young ladies, with the gentlemen of the town, were present in their choicest costumes.” This “brilliant ball” was given at Assembly Hall, then on Front Street between Orange and Ann Streets.

General Washington was the guest at the residence of Mrs. John Quince

on the southeast corner of Front and Dock Streets (now gone), "which

that lady put at his service, it being one of the best in the town. The next day he was entertained at a large dinner by the gentlemen of the town, during which there was more artillery firing, and at night a general illumination and a grand ball (Bellamy)."

The day after Washington departed Wilmington, escorted by the Light Horse Company for many miles, to continue his Southern Tour and on April 27th, was the guest of Mr. William Gause, Jr. at his home in Brunswick County. The Gause home was near today’s

Ocean Isle Beach bridge.

General Benjamin Smith:
Wilmington became the home of General Benjamin Smith in the early 1800’s, a Revolutionary War leader and owner of Belvedere plantation in Brunswick County, and earlier owner of Orton plantation. Smith spent much of his time in Wilmington at his home on Dock Street near the northwest corner of Second Street, later the residence of Dr. John D. Bellamy. General Smith represented Brunswick County in the General Assembly, and served as Major General of State Militia from 1794-1810, when he became governor of North Carolina.

James Monroe:
In April 1819, President James Monroe and then-Secretary of War John C. Calhoun passed through Wilmington, examining the salt works on the sound at Wrightsville, and dining with citizens at the Wilmington Hotel. President Monroe was given a grand reception which included an entertaining voyage down the Cape Fear River to Smithville aboard

the ship Prometheus.
One of the toasts drunk at dinner was “prosperity to the commerce of the Cape Fear.” Secretary of War & Mrs. Calhoun were the guests of Dr. A.J. DeRossett at their home on the corner of Third and Market Streets.

Clay

Henry Clay:
Henry Clay made a visit to Wilmington supposedly in the interest of his presidential campaign, delivering a speech from the balcony of Captain Samuel Potter’s new home at 211 Market Street on April 12th, 1844, after being introduced by Governor William Dudley. “The wide street, for a considerable distance on each hand, was one dense mass of human beings…Never was such a scene, or anything approaching it, witnessed

in Wilmington,” wrote James Sprunt.
A public banquet was later given in his honor in the front yard of John Walker’s home on Princess Street, immediately in the rear of the Potter residence. It was here that Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia, later Vice President of the American Confederacy, delivered an address to the assembly. The Potter house stood on Market Street, midway

between Front and Second Streets.
Clay was also entertained at the residence of former governor Edward Dudley at 400 South Front Street, and while here, lodged at the residence of Mrs. Joseph Hill at the corner of Front and Dock Streets,

where Washington was entertained in 1791.

Daniel Webster:
In May, 1847, Daniel Webster and his family were guests at the home of Governor Dudley. They were greeted by a large reception committee which traveled to Rocky Point to meet him and offer the courtesies of the town. Webster was reportedly very impressed with the elaborate entertainment provided by Governor Dudley, and many Wilmington

citizens called on him while here.
It is said that the governor introduced him to his favorite dish, tripe, which Webster had never eaten before, but with which he was very much pleased. A Colonel McIlhenny, a frequent guest of Governor Dudley, said he was much impressed by the great size of Webster’s head, and his fancy for the governor’s Madeira. After drinking all of the dining room supply, Mr. Webster laid an affectionate hand upon the colonel’s shoulder and said, “Young man, show me where the governor keeps that wine.”
When Webster departed Wilmington, he left by steamer for Charleston, leaving a very vivid impression upon the town and its people.

A later owner of the same home, James Sprunt, hosted

President William H. Taft on November 9, 1909.

James K. Polk:
President James K. Polk, a native North Carolinian, visited Wilmington on his way home to Tennessee, just after his retirement on March 7th, 1849. The town was decorated in his honor, and upon his arrival was greeted with the ringing of bells and firing of cannon. There was a grand public reception in the Masonic Hall on Market Street, “where ladies and gentlemen of the town were presented to him.”
Mr. Polk was also entertained at the now-famous house on the southeast corner of Front and Dock Streets, the owner at this time being Mrs. F.J. Swann. Polk left Wilmington by steamer enroute to Charleston, and less than three months later had died at his Tennessee home.

Calhoun

John C. Calhoun:
When John C. Calhoun died in Washington on March 31, 1850, the citizens of Wilmington were greatly stirred as that statesman was regarded as the greatest defender of the Constitution and the republic. The funeral party left Richmond April 23rd and passed through Petersburg on the way to Wilmington. On April 24th, 1850, the remains of Calhoun passed through this city on the way to his final resting place in Charleston. Wilmington "sent a committee of prominent citizens to meet the funeral train and escort the procession through the city, and businessmen were requested to close their stores, suspend all operations of business and to meet at the depot at twelve o'clock. There the procession was formed under the direction of the Chief Marshal and served as an escort for the funeral party to the foot of Market Street," to the awaiting ship Nina, which would take Calhoun to Charleston. Accompanying Calhoun’s remains to Charleston was Senator Jefferson Davis of Mississippi, later president of the Confederate States, and twenty men from Wilmington and the officials of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad.

Millard Fillmore:
President Millard Fillmore was in Wilmington on the 12th of May 1854, staying at Mr. Holmes’s hotel at the corner of Market and Front Streets.

Edward Everett:
In the spring of 1859, the great Massachusetts orator Edward Everett visited Wilmington. At Thalian Hall on April 12th, he delivered his address “The Character of Washington,” a plea for the continuation of the fraternal union of States, and to raise funds for the Ladies Mount Vernon Association. Everett had served in both the United States House of Representatives and the Senate, as governor of Massachusetts, as Secretary of State under Millard Fillmore, and president of Harvard University. He was the vice presidential candidate on the Constitutional Union ticket in 1860 with John Bell.
Mr. Everett was introduced by George Davis, noted Wilmington attorney and later Attorney General in President Jefferson Davis’s cabinet. It was said that Everett mentioned that at Wilmington alone, "he was introduced by an orator who surpassed himself." The receipts from the lecture totaled nearly $1100. Mr. Everett congratulated Wilmington for this unusual generosity, and of his visit he later wrote: "Its population...is intelligent, enterprising and rather more than harmonious among themselves."
Everett as keynote speaker delivered a two-hour address at Gettysburg in November 1863 after which Lincoln gave his short address. Though the words of Lincoln's speech are well known, Everett and William Seward "expressed their disappointment and there was no applause." John Nicolay, Lincoln's secretary said the later printed version of Lincoln's speech

"was revised" from the spoken version (Hudson).

Davis

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Jefferson Davis:
Near the end of a 2750-mile inspection tour of Southern defenses against invasion, President Davis arrived Wilmington from Charlotte on January 4, 1863. While here, he addressed citizens and assembled troops with an appeal for civilized warfare in response to reports of Northern atrocities, stating: “Soldiers, I charge you always to be kind to prisoners. Fight the enemy with all the power God has given you, but when he shall surrender remember that you are (gentlemen) and treat him with courtesy and kindness. Never be humble to he haughty, and never be haughty to the humble.” He arrived in Richmond the following day.

Davis later visited Wilmington on November 5, 1863 after being escorted to the city by a delegation of citizens who met him in Florence, South Carolina the day before. He arrived early in the morning of the 5th and was received as a guest of General William Whiting at his residence on the north side of Market Street between Front and Second Streets. Upon his reaching town, he was greeted with a salute from Southerland’s Battery. President Davis was here to inspect the defensive works for the protection of the port of Wilmington.

At nine o’clock he appeared on the balcony of General Whiting’s residence in response to the cheers of the assembled people. After an introduction by William A. Wright of the Wilmington bar, he delivered an address and complimented the town as “the ancient and honored town of Wilmington,” stating that he had given to Wilmington one of the best soldiers in the army, General Whiting. He appealed to the people to stand up for the Confederate cause and do their fullest duty, giving them assurance of ultimate and glorious success. After delivering his address, the streets were made quiet and the president retired to his quarters for some

much needed rest.

Later in the day a regiment of soldiers were marched to Front and Princess Streets where the President addressed them from the Princess Street entrance of the Bank of the State of North Carolina. The soldiers were under the command of Colonel E.D. Hall. The bands were playing, the horses of the officers were prancing, and the whole scene was inspiring

to lovers of military display.
The following day, President Davis went downriver with General Whiting to visit several fortifications which had been constructed.

He then left for Richmond.

General P.G.T. Beauregard:

In April 1864, Confederate authorities deemed it necessary to strengthen the forces defending North Carolina and General Beauregard was summoned from the defenses of Charleston. On April 21, 1864 he passed through Wilmington with a large force on the way to his

new command in Richmond.

About the Author

Bernhard Thuersam is the Executive Director of the Cape Fear Historical Institute in Wilmington. A native of Niagara Falls, New York, he has been a devoted student of world history since 1958. He

is a former Chairman of the Cape Fear Museum Board of Trustees.

Contact him at bernhard1848@att.net

Bibliography:

The Book of Wilmington, A. J. Howell, Wilmington Printing Co., 1930.
Lee and His Generals, Captain W. P. Snow, Gramercy Books, 1867/1996
Bloodstains, Volume 3, Howard Ray White, HRW Books, 2007

Chronicles of the Cape Fear, James Sprunt, Broadfoot Publ'g, 1916/1992

Two Presidents, Tom Hudson, Naylor Company, 1973

Mission Statement:

Distinguished Wilmington Visitors

Cape Fear Historical Institute Papers