Treason on the Cape Fear

Although rarely discussed by historians, events on North Carolina's southeastern coast during the months of January to April 1861 challenge the popular narrative that the Civil War began with President Abraham Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers following the attack on Fort Sumter. Treason on the Cape Fear demonstrates that hostilities were already in progress well before Lincoln's inauguration on March 4, 1861. Shortly after South Carolina's secession on December 20, 1860, President James Buch