Belinda's Civil War Story

On February 1, 1863 General George Kirk led 600 men into Western North Carolina. Kirk wanted to capture Waynesville.  Once Waynesville was captured, Kirk let his men loose to do as they pleased for almost a day.  Kirk's men ran through the little village like crazy stealing things they wanted, but mostly jewelry and silver.  Many citizens were terrified and more than a few were beaten, but no one was killed.  Kirk torched the home of local Revolutionary War hero, Colonel Robert Love. The town jail received the same treatment, and all of its Unionist and deserter inmates were liberated; some of them joined Kirk's unit on the spot. After Waynesville was thoroughly pillaged, Kirk left, in late afternoon, on the road to Balsam Gap.  He camped there for the night.  After dark, Haywood County militia, augmented by some irate local farmers, crept close to Kirk's position and fired a massed volley in the general direction of his camp fires, hitting few men, but making a strong impression all the same.  They shot back at the locals who retreated into the woods.  Kirk left the Waynesville area soon afterwards to ride toward Quallatown, where a force of 300 Confederates, about half of which were Cherokee, awaited them. from Bushwhackers: The Civil War in North Carolina: The Mountains by William R. Trotter.

This is a photo of Balsam Gap today.

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