Fayetteville Arsenal

Even before North Carolina formally seceded from the Union, Governor Ellis commissioned Warren Winslow to bring about the peaceful, if possible, surrender of the Arsenal at Fayetteville.

General Walker Draughon, then in command of the North Carolina Militia, was given the order to take possession of the Arsenal, then occupied by a Federal garrison consisting of Battery D, 2nd U.S.

After the Confederate troops had been inspected by the representative of the Federal forces, Lt. Julius de Lagnel, he decided that resistance was fruitless and surrendered the arsenal without incident.

Arms-making machinery from Harpers Ferry was installed in October 1861, and the arsenal became a major supplier of small arms to the Confederate troops.

When Sherman reached Columbia, South Carolina, Col. Childs ordered the construction of earthworks for the defense of the Fayetteville area.

Sherman entered Fayetteville on March 11, 1865, and took possession of the Arsenal (which had been stripped of its arms, munitions, and useful machinery by the retreating Confederates).

The Arsenal site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. http://www.fili1793.com The Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry website