Most Americans are unaware of the numerous Civil War “firsts” that occurred on Hatteras Island in late August 1861. These include the first union victory of the war, the first African Americans to see action, the first “safe haven” for runaway slaves in North Carolina, the first amphibious assault of the Civil War, and the first combined military operation of the Civil War. Civil War historians acknowledge that the battle of Hatteras inlet was the largest naval bombardment known to mankind up until that time. Three of the nation’s premier civil war historians will be the featured speakers at Flags Over Hatteras, sesquicentennial event scheduled on Hatteras Island for August 25th- 27th 2011. These three featured historians are Pulitzer Prize winning historian, Dr. James McPherson, Ed Bearss, Chief historian emeritus of the national park service, and Craig Simonds, professor emeritus of the US Naval Academy. An additional feature will be an exceptional artifact collection directly relate…
