A Civil War artifact is back in North Carolina to help commemorate the battle of New Bern.
Jeff Tiberii: On March 14th, 1862 nearly 500 soliders were wounded at the Battle of New Bern. A Massachusetts made cannon began that day in confederate hands. It had been used in the early part of the Civil War in Eastern North Carolina. However, the Amherst Cannon was seized by it’s original Union owners in the fight. Dr. Jeanne Marie Warzeski is curator at the North Carolina Museum of History.
Dr. Jeanne Marie Warzeski: Obviously has more romantic symbolism for the Union Army, since the town of Amherst saw the Battle of New Bern as symbolic of the heroism of their victorious 21st regiment.
Amherst College has loaned the bronze cannon to the Museum for a civil war exhibit. The cannon tube features an elaborate inscription that describes its capture at New Bern. It also lists 20 men of the Massachusetts 21st Regiment who were killed in the battle.
