Civil War Commemorative Hike- Dec. 1st

[Brittany Marcum]

As part of its Civil War 150th Exhibit, the Swannanoa Valley Museum will lead the Swannanoa Tunnel & Creek Hike on Saturday, December 1st.  The mostly downhill treck will route hikers through scenic Swannanoa, passing by the grave of a Civil War soldier and the ruins of an old homestead. On this hike, participants often see trains on nearby tracks and always capture great pictures of the eastern end of the Swannanoa Tunnel. You can view pictures, an elevation profile, and a GPS track of last year's hike HERE.  Hikers MUST RSPV for this event.  See below for details on registration.

DATE:   Saturday, December 1, 2012

TIME:   9:30 a.m.

WHERE:   Meet in the parking lot of Black Mountain Savings Bank

WHAT TO BRING:   Bagged lunch, drinks, snacks, ect.  Dress for vagaries of winter weather and wear sturdy hiking boots.

COST:   $20 for Museum members, $30 for non-members

DIFFICULTY RATING:   Moderate

Register by emailing [e-mail] or by calling [phone].

[terrell garren]

Swannanoa Valley Museum Hike may solve two Civil War mysteries?

For sometime it has been known that a Confederate Civil War soldier known only by the name "Carver," was killed just over the east side of Swannanoa Gap in early 1864. A 1914 newpaper article/letter by Dr. V. N. Seawell sheds astonishing new light on an old story.

A similar mystery has persisted for generations regardsing what happened to a Henderson County, NC Confederate hero by the name of John Carver. He was a member of J.E.B. Stuart's famous Confederate Cavalry. He was a soldier in Company G, 1st NC Cavalry. He was in many of the great battles of the war and suffered from many horrific wounds. He was sent home on detached service on November 30, 1863. His record indicates that he was killed while "under arrest" sometime after April 10, 1864.

I am convinced that the mysterious grave seen on the Civil War hike is the grave of Private John H. Carver of Henderson County, NC, Company G, 1st North Carolina Cavalry. An opinion is being sought from the NC Office of Archives & History. Any input on the topic is welcome.

Terrell Garren