As early as 1862, Union forces held a sizeable portion of eastern North Carolina's northern coastal region. While blockade runners dashed in and out of the port at Wilmington, safe from Yankee interference thanks to the mighty guns of Fort Fisher, it was a different story just ninety miles to the north. In New Bern, it was the Union army that was in control. Confederate military leaders and civilians kept a wary eye on what was going on behind the Yankee lines occupied by Ambrose Burnside's Billy Yanks, wondering what mischief the enemy might be up to, and when they might strike into the countryside. Their fears were realized when Union cavalry under the command of Brigadier General Edward Potter cut a swath through eastern North Carolina in what would be the war's largest Union raid in the eastern part of the state. From Kinston and Goldsboro, to Greenville, Rocky Mount, and Tarboro, Federal and Confederate troops clashed on foot and horseback while civilians suffered and slaves took advantage of the confusion to make a dash for freedom. In this book, historian David A. Norris brings all of the suspense and drama of Potter's raid to life with a narrative that will have you on the edge of your seat. For the Civil War buff, this book is a top-notch story about a little known episode of North Carolina's wartime past. For the casual reader, it is a tale full of the drama, heroism, and tragedy that is the hallmark of a gripping story - one that happens to be true.
