The History Behind Wilmington's Confederate Statues

Cape Fear Unearthed

In June 2020, the city of Wilmington removed two downtown statues to the Confederacy that had been publicly displayed for a century or more.

One was a memorial to those soldiers from New Hanover County who fought for the South, the other was a statue to Confederate Attorney General George Davis.

But what does the larger community know about the stories behind these monuments, the people they honor and the people who put them there?

This week’s episode of the Cape Fear Unearthed local history podcast attempts to shed some light on those questions by looking at the controversial life of Davis, whose accolades made the inscription of his monument but not his public support of slavery. It also examines the story of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, which sought to help the widows of fallen Southern soldiers before transitioning into more questionable influences on public education and historical record.

Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram. Additional editing by Adam Fish.

The show is sponsored by Northchase Family Dentistry, Tidewater Heating & Air Conditioning, and Cape Fear Pharmacy.

Sources:

- "George Davis, North Carolina Whig and Confederate Statesman," by Fletcher M. Green, North Carolina Historical Review, October 1946

- "Chronicles of the Cape Fear River: 1661-1916," by James Sprunt

- "Land of the Golden River, Vol. 2-3," by Lewis Phillip Hall

- The Daily Journal, March 1861 editions

- "The History of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Vol. 1894-1929," by Mary B. Poppenheim and others

- DocSouth monument entries for the Confederate Memorial and George Davis statues