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Collection: John L[ucas] Cantwell Papers
Wilmington, North Carolina
1855-1896
Physical Description: 85 items in 1 mounted volume, 9 loose items, and 1 vol¬
ume; including correspondence, telegrams, commissions, special orders, mil¬
itary pass, accounts, newspaper clipping, memorandums, biography, and mem¬
orandum book.
Acquisition: prom Biennial Report, 191ii-19l6, from the family of the late
Colonel John L. Cantwell of Wilmington we received a collection of 79 pieces
relating chiefly to military operations around Wilmington in the spring
and summer of 1861; December 3, 1958, addition, 1 folder, miscellaneous
correspondence including envelopes, 1887-1889; 1961 i, addition, 1 item, mem¬
orandum of military papers loaned by Cantwell to an agent of the War Depart¬
ment, transferred from War for Southern Independence Papers.
Description: John Lucas Cantwell, born in Charleston, S. C., on December
29, 1828, moved to Wilmington, N. C., in l85l. As colonel of militia he
obtained the evacuation of Fort Caswell in January, 1861, and in April
he seized Forts Caswell and Johnston in the name of North Carolina. He
was colonel of the 5lst Regiment N. C. Troops from May until October of
1862. . He later served in Virginia as captain in Co. F, 3rd Regt., N. C. S. T.
being captured at Spotsylvania Courthouse in 186L and imprisoned at Fort Del¬
aware, Morris Island, and Fort Pulaski, Georgia. Allegedly a veteran of
the Mexican, Civil, and Spanish-American Wars, he held several public offices
in Wilmington between 1851 and his death on December 21, 1909.
‘ :
«
The John L. Cantwell Papers primarily consist of material relating to
the Civil War activities of Cantwell as colonel of the 30th Regiment, N. C.
Militia. Commissions, and correspondence reflect Cantwell's movements in
January, 1861, in forcing the return of Fort Caswell to I). S. authority
after its premature seizure by local militia; his capture of 'Forts Johnston
and Caswell in April, 1861, under orders from Governor Ellis; and, his petty
feud with the commander of Fort Johnston while he was commanding at Fort
Caswell.
Special orders relieving Cantwell from duty and four days later from
actual service (July 20, 2h, 1861) end the Cape Fear phase of his Civil
War papers. Scattered items show him as a member of the 5lst Regiment in
1862, captain of the railroad guards in 1863, and captain in the 3rd Reg¬
iment, N. C. S. T. in 1863-1 86U. There are several accounts for goods sent
to Cantwell as a prisoner at Morris Island (S.. C. ), and a newspaper clip¬
ping telling of a -citizens meeting in Wilmington supporting a return to the
Union (March 21, 1865). "...
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