Wayne County, NC - Heritage Series Reprinted with permission of the Mount Olive Tribune and cannot be reproduced without permission. Major Moore Remembered "Our Heritage" By Claude Moore Major John Wheeler Moore is remembered especially for his school history of North Carolina & for his Roster of North Carolina Troops who served in the War Between the States. All these volumes have become collector's items in the state. John Wheeler Moore (not related) was born in 1833 on a plantation called Mulberry Grove in Hertford County & was the son of Dr. Godwin C. Moore (physician) & Julia M. Wheeler. His mother was a sister of John H. Wheeler, the historian who published "Historical Sketches of N.C." in 1851 & "Reminiscences & Memories of N.C." in 1878. Young Moore attended several schools in Hertford County & in 1849, he entered the University at Chapel Hill where he graduated in 1853. He studied law under other lawyers & was admitted to the bar in 1855. In 1853, John W. Moore was married to Ann James Ward of Hertford, the first graduate (1853) of Chowan Baptist Female Institute (now Chowan College). He began his vocation as an attorney in Hertford County. In politics, he was a Jeffersonian Democrat & in the election of 1860, he served as a presidential elector & voted for John C. Breckinridge for president. Moore volunteered for the Confederate army in 1861 & served for a time as a staff officer in the Second N.C. Regiment. In February 1862, he was promoted to major & was given command of the Third N.C. Battalion which was light artillery battalion consisting of three batteries. He took part in the Seven Days battles around Richmond & helped to pursue General McClellan's army until they withdrew from the Penisula of Virginia. In December 1862, Major Moore & his battalion rushed to Goldsboro to meet General Foster's threat. They took part in the Battle of White Hall & prevented the Union army from crossing the Neuse River. Major Moore was transferred to defense of the lower Cape Fear & in 1864; he took part in the attempt of General Pickett to retake New Bern. He was again sent back to the lower Cape Fear serving first at Smithville (Southport) & later at Sugar Loaf near Fort Fisher. Major Moore had a part in covering the retreat of the Confederates from Wilmington. He fought under General Joseph E. Johnston at the Battle of Bentonville & continued with him until the surrender at the Bennett House in Durham. Major Moore returned to Hertford County to the practice of law & using his literary talents. He first wrote a novel & in 1876, he wrote a school history of North Carolina, which for years was the standard school history of North Carolina. In 1880, he published a two volume history of North Carolina for library use. In the 1880s, he published a novel entitled "The Heirs of St. Hilda" which dealt with life before the War & also reconstruction. In 1881, Major Moore began his Roster of North Carolina Troops which was published in the 1890s & was the first of its kind in the South. He was aided by his daughter, Julia & his son, John W. Moore, Jr. To Major & Mrs. Moore were born twelve children, all of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Moore died in 1901 & he died in 1906. __________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Guy Potts ___________________________________________________________________