From Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
North Carolina Collection, UNC Library at Chapel Hill

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This Week's Story

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Beaufort
January 30, 1864

To: Abigail Pierce, Petty Shore, Chowan River:

Dear sister Abigail:

We're here by the sea, and this is a beautiful place.

But that is not the big news. The good Lord just keeps heaping His blessings down on us until I am not sure any more that we are all that deserving. He has sent another miracle. Cincinnatus was already here in Beaufort when me and Isaac marched in. We were waving our Stars and Stripes and the beautiful little town was waving theirs, and there was Cit right in the middle of the welcoming crowd. You might find all this hard to believe. I know I do, because things are happening now like the good Lord is just sitting up there writing a play for us to act in, and He has taken to smiling on characters like us.

Cit has been here since before Thanksgiving. And he has been in the 2nd NC Infty US ever since then. He beat me and Isaac both in getting to wear a blue jacket. That's how he got word to Milly, through New Bern and Plymouth, and that's why she was so sure they would be all right if they left Petty Shore. He is in Company C, too, with me and Isaac. Ain't that another peck of peas? All three of us marching side by side, and on the right side! Isaac outrates Cit, though. Cit is still a private, like me.

Milly and the younguns are not here yet, but Cit says he's not bothered about that. He says he's been told that they are not going to have to come here by wagon train, that they are going to get a boat ride all the way from Elizabeth City, where he said they were taken from Plymouth. That is the greatest news, because even if the winds are cold on the water, the younguns will be better off even on the open deck than they would be rattling around in a wagon. I know the US Navy will keep them fed and wrapped to the nines. And they won't have any worries about running across any Rebs or bushwhackers. The CSA does not have one single boat. I have to keep thanking the good Lord up above because it seems like He is putting an end to just about all our big worries. Cit has a place all fixed up for them when they get here. He has rented a little croppers' house just out of town on the North River road, with a big place for planting vegetables and the like come spring. The younguns are going to be so happy here, because this place is so much like Petty Shore, except there is less swamp and there is a whole lot more open water. It is a purely beautiful place.

We couldn't get here by railroad, so I still am looking forward to my first train ride. I've had a big boat ride, and I was hoping for a ride on a train. Me and Isaac saw some train cars and locomotives at the yards in New Bern, but we never did get close enough to check any of them out. The reason we couldn't ride the train down here was that the Rebs got their backs up this month and tried to hit New Bern from three or four directions. They didn't have much luck around to the west and north, but they did put up a right stiff thumping from the southwest, and there was a lot of bad fighting around a USA place called Newport Barracks, near the railroad that goes from New Bern to Carolina City – that the folks around here are calling Morehead.

That little scrape kept us off the railroad tracks and sent some of our companies back toward Beaufort hospital, hurting bad, but it's all over now and from the licking they finally took, we don't think the CSA will be messing around this way much any more.

The way we finally got here was a mixture of boat ride and walking. We loaded on big boats at New Bern and floated down the mighty Noose, oh, I guess, around 25 miles or so. The Noose out of New Bern is a whole lot like the Chowan down around Colerain. It is ever more big. We boated past a big curve at a place called Great Neck Point, and then went up Adams Rock Creek – wider and straighter than the Wiccacon – for five miles or so and then we hit the docks. From there we marched in formation down the North River Road and came up on Beaufort from the north. I still am not carrying a gun. I guess that little hike was about 10 or 12 miles. Anyway, we're here now, and I don't think we are going to get many more of those long walks any time soon. This place is full of boats, and it looks to me now like most of our travel from now on, if we do any, will be on the water.

I wish you could see this little town. The main street goes right by the water. The land around here is high enough not to get your feet wet all the time, but it's not like Petty Shore. They don't have any bluffs down here against the water. The land is flat and the open water is everywhere around. The water is not the same as home, though, it's got the taste and smell of salt. I like it. A lot of the officers and sergeants are living in the town in houses, but troops like me are sleeping in tents at the camp. I don't know how Cit manages to get everything in line. I guess having a wife and a lot of kids teaches you how to wiggle through, and also I guess people are more likely to look with favor on a man that's taking care of his own. I hope it is not going to be too much longer before things happen for me like that. I would like to have a wife and younguns, and live in my own house.

I hope things are going OK at Petty Shore, and I sure hope the seceshes are still staying away. I pray that you and mama and Job are making it all right. There is one more thing I would like if the good Lord would see fit to bless me some more. I want some watermelon-rind pickle. Some of that that you all put up last summer. Have you got any to spare, and if you do, do you think you might send me a jar or two through Plymouth? I doubt it would ever get here, though, if the boys in the ranks got wind of how good it tasted. Well, the blessings of the Lord for you, and I'm thanking him every minute for the good days and the good life that he has laid out for me.

Affectionately,
Your brother James

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This Week's Verse

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We're tenting tonight on the old campground,
give us a song to cheer;
for weary hearts, a song of home,
and friends we love so dear.

Many are the hearts that are weary tonight,
wishing for the war to cease,
many are the hearts, looking for the right,
to see the dawn of peace.
Tenting tonight, tenting tonight,
tenting on the old campground.

We've been tenting tonight on the old campground,
thinking of the days gone by;
of the loved ones at home who gave us the hand,
and the tear that said "goodbye."

Many are the hearts that are weary tonight,
wishing for the war to cease,
many are the hearts, looking for the right,
to see the dawn of peace.
Tenting tonight, tenting tonight,
tenting on the old campground.
~
(Walter Kittridge, 1864)

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More About Millennium We Should Know

By Sandra Clark Outlaw

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Thanks again for writing and sending "The Poor Town News." An added treat was receiving No. 54 on Christmas Eve and finding that you had reprinted the story about my home community, Millennium. I thought, perhaps, you might find this added info on Millennium interesting. Having served as church historian at the Millennium P. H. Church, allowed me access to many historical records and documents. The following is factual based on these.

Just after the turn of the twentieth century, a sparsely populated community lay nestled against the Bertie County line. Located in the southern part of Hertford County, this community was inhabited by folks who farmed the land and lived simple lives. Just about everybody was kin. No one had bothered to give the place a name, but it later came to be known as "Talky Town." Everybody knew everybody else's business and told their neighbors about it. After all, everybody was family, one way or another, anyway! With little else to do to entertain themselves and as small communities go, "small talk" became an important pastime.

Around 1909 or 1910, two ministers traveled from the Greenville area to this little community. Rev. J. B. (Jake) Williams, uncle of Mrs. Samuel J. Farmer, and Rev. George Stanley, grandfather of Rev. Charles Stanley of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, Ga., held their church meetings in a tent that straddled the Hertford-Bertie County line. They preached a doctrine based on Acts:2 ~ one that residents here had not heard before and one that said that Christians of this time could be baptized in the Holy Spirit, that Jesus would return and set up a kingdom of a thousand years of peace. At first, very few residents accepted them, but as time went on, crowds grew and so did their enthusiasm for this message.

As these ministers moved on to other areas of the state, residents here continued to hold "cottage" meetings in their homes. It was during this time in 1911 that construction had begun to erect a church. Built of hand-hewn timber, the task was difficult due to a lack of money among the members. Mr. W. A. Peel donated the land and his wife became the first church secretary. She recorded donations such as "nails, lumber, any and everybody, eggs and cash, $1.55."

With perseverance, the church was built. It was erected on high blocks to raise the windows above eye level to deter curious onlookers. During this time, the blocks proved to be a problem along with the aid of a strong windstorm. The nearly completed church was blown off its blocks. This caused the sides to be bowed and for awhile this building was referred to as "the only church with bowed sides."

In 1912, with the church completed, Rev. J. B. Williams returned to become its first pastor. There were 28 members. It was at his suggestion that the church was named the "Millennium Holiness Church."

The first baptisms were held at the Lightwood Knot Millpond which was near the present Oak Grove Baptist Church. Although the pond has since been filled in, traces of it still can be seen. Rev. George Stanley performed the first baptisms.

Hard times were felt by the church during the Great Depression. At times, its very survival looked dim. Many times the collection plate would have to be passed twice just to get enough money to pay the $1 light bill. Also, during this time, visiting pastors were paid $6 for each visit. Again, perseverance and dedication paid off. The church withstood the trials and continued to grow.

In 1963, the men of Millennium Holiness Church met and decided that it would be beneficial for the community to have a volunteer fire department. At this meeting, Henry Irvin Shores was voted to be the Fire Chief. Secondly, it was decided that instead of incorporating as a town, the community would become a corporation, a "community of neighbors." Finally, after several unsuitable submissions for a community name, someone suggested naming the community after the church. This idea carried well with those present. Thus, "Talky Town" finally had a respectable name, "Millennium."

Today, Millennium is home to about 750 residents. Although there are no formal boundaries, it is implied that if you are serviced by the Millennium Water Association you are a resident of Millennium. At this writing, the Volunteer Fire Department has just moved into its new, modern facility directly across from Millennium P. H. Church. The new sewage system is near completion and will connect to Aulander's system. New businesses continue to be birthed here. Families and babies are born here. People die here and are buried here. Yes, we have our own community cemetery, Job's Cemetery.

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In 1953, the year I was born, my parents were living in Millennium in a house across the street from Bert and George Leonhirth and their children, Stacy, Billy, and Brenda. In 1954, when Hurricane Hazel came through, she took our housetop off. No one was injured, thankfully. When I was six years old, we moved away ...... to town ...... to Aulander! The summer before I entered the ninth grade, mama and daddy built a house on the Millennium-St. John Road. We came home ...... to Millennium!

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This Week's Mailbox

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...... Yea, Millennium! ...... I grew up in Millennium (1979-1990), but being born in New York, that always made me a Yankee. I never knew where the name (Millennium) came from or the history of the area. Thanks for sharing this ...... Having grown up there, I think Hell's Half-Acre (Poor Town News No. 54) was a more fitting name.   ;-)   ~ Kara, Raleigh, North Carolina.

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...... Thank you so much for bringing back memories of my life around Aulander and Ahoskie. I remember them well, and feel blessed in a way, that I can remember them. One never tires of hearing about home! There were several things in (Poor Town News) No. 54 that I remember very well. My husband is retired military, but from that same area. We have been on several dates to the old drive-in movie theater. As he was projectionist at the Richard and Earl theaters in Ahoskie during his younger years, that was the only place to go for entertainment. He remembers being at the theater when there was a German prison camp in Ahoskie and he has told me many stories about that time. I was a country girl and only got to go to the "big city" on Saturdays. We met in high school and have been married for 52 years. Thanks again for the memories! ~ Elizabeth H. Wiggins and Robert M. Wiggins ("Bob and Liz").

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...... This is the first time in a few weeks that I have been on the computer, and I have now caught up with your (Poor Town) news. It's been fun reading about the past ...... I know so little about my family and now of course there is no one to ask ...... We have had a marvelous holiday season ...... I hope that you and all your family are well, happy and busy. ~ Betty, New York, NY.

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...... When your card came across my desk, my first thought was the Poor Town located on the Hertford Co.-Bertie Co. line ...... west of Ahoskie where I mostly grew up. And sure enough. For such a little place so much has been written, but each one in our generation carries a "Poor Town" of sorts in our memories ...... I now know what you are doing in your retirement. Keep it up and have a Happy New Year ...... Will read the back issues later. ~ Roselind "Ronney" Holloman Steele.

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...... The old drive-in is well-remembered (photo, Poor Town News No. 54). I spent many Saturday evenings there in the late '50s. We lost the last one in El Paso a number of years ago. Too bad. Another era past. You could take your own popcorn and drinks. Now the popcorn and drinks cost more than the movie. Guess that is why I wait till most of the movies make it to DVD. If I like them I usually buy a copy. Rent them first. Much as we used to do music. Listened to it on the radio and if we liked it bought the record. Yes, I remember 78s, 45s and 33 1/3s ...... 8-tracks were something new and then the cassette. Now it's CDs & DVDs. Wonder what's next? ...... Have a Happy New Year all year long. ~ John Taylor, West Texas.

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...... One of your fans asked if Poor Town is a real town? Yes it is. If real people live there? Yes they do. My mother lived in a rest home there for two years before the family transferred her to Rich Square. I have a map of the area that shows Poor Town ...... I see in the most recent photo of you and Becky, that Becky is just as lovely as ever, but you are getting entirely too tall, You have grown right through your hair. ~ Calvin Harrell, Effingham, South Carolina.

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