Kiosk dedicated at site of Civil War battle
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on May 8, 2007 1:50 PM
Members of the Leadership Wayne Class of 2007 helped dedicate an informational kiosk at the site of the Civil War Battle of Goldsborough Monday.
Native American Dreamweaver led the ceremony to dedicate the kiosk at the battlefield site off Old Mount Olive Highway. He said the ceremony was aimed at binding the hearts of the class members together.
"These class members will be a group forever and will not split apart and go away," he said.
This year's Leadership Wayne class, sponsored by the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, built the kiosk as its community service project. The classmates decided to join the Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield Association and help further develop the site into a destination for people to learn about the historical significance of the battle, which was fought in December 1862 when Union troops tried to destroy the railroad bridge over the Neuse River.
County officials are trying to build the site into a tourist attraction.
Sheriff Carey Winders and businessman Ven Faulk said they learned a lot during the past year that the class has met. Both said the greatest thing they have brought with them from the class has been the bonding, the fellowship with the other classmates, who represented a broad spectrum of diversity in the community.
"It was a great class, an excellent opportunity," Faulk added. "It was a great learning experience. This is a top-quality program."
Class President Kim Best said all the participants have learned to become better leaders during the process.
"We've had a tremendous experience," she told the crowd attending the smudging ceremony. Dreamweaver used a white feather to fan smoke from a burning mixture of tobaccos, cedar and sages from head to toe onto each member of the class, then each member of the audience.
"I have lived in Wayne County my entire life, and I learned many wonderful things about the county because I became a member of this class," Ms. Best continued.
Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield Association Chairman Randy said nearly 15,000 soldiers on both the Confederate and Union side took part in the battle. He said the 240 men who were killed in the battle should be remembered, because they made the place truly hallowed ground.
The battlefield has about a mile of trails, with markers along the way. Living history encampments will be held several times through out the year at the 33-acre site, Sauls said. A battle re-enactment is planned for this December.
"I was excited when the class approached me wanting to create an informational kiosk," Sauls said. "This will give the public a good idea what occurred here."