While the mountains of western North Carolina saw no large-scale pitched battles, the area, with its caves and hollows, contained many small camps of deserters and draft dodgers. To contend with these problems, the governor of North Carolina created the Home Guard, and by 1864, there were two home guard companies in Watauga County under the command of Major Harvey Bingham. The companies spent their time chasing deserters, bushwhackers, and draft dodgers. In February 1865, the camp was captured by Unionists from Banners Elk. After the war in 1888, Major Bingham was a candidate for the State Senate. Before a Democratic convention was held at Lenoir, the late W.B. Farthing stated that Bingham was suspected of collaboration with McGuire, a Unionist, in the surrender of the troops at Camp Mast and that if he were nominated, the people of Watauga would not support him. Feelings running high against Major Bingham, he and his wife Nancy Ann Miller, daughter of John B. Miller of Wilkes, left Watauga together and rode on horseback to one of the western counties, where they taught school. He studied law and practiced in Statesville, NC. He left two children born to he and Elizabeth Winkler.
He died there, a Statesville citizen and able lawyer.
Contributor: NDE (49837740)
While the mountains of western North Carolina saw no large-scale pitched battles, the area, with its caves and hollows, contained many small camps of deserters and draft dodgers. To contend with these problems, the governor of North Carolina created the Home Guard, and by 1864, there were two home guard companies in Watauga County under the command of Major Harvey Bingham. The companies spent their time chasing deserters, bushwhackers, and draft dodgers. In February 1865, the camp was captured by Unionists from Banners Elk. After the war in 1888, Major Bingham was a candidate for the State Senate. Before a Democratic convention was held at Lenoir, the late W.B. Farthing stated that Bingham was suspected of collaboration with McGuire, a Unionist, in the surrender of the troops at Camp Mast and that if he were nominated, the people of Watauga would not support him. Feelings running high against Major Bingham, he and his wife Nancy Ann Miller, daughter of John B. Miller of Wilkes, left Watauga together and rode on horseback to one of the western counties, where they taught school. He studied law and practiced in Statesville, NC. He left two children born to he and Elizabeth Winkler.
He died there, a Statesville citizen and able lawyer.
Contributor: NDE (49837740)
Family Members
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Laura Bingham Johnston
1866–1947
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Lunda Louise Bingham Somers
1868–1937
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Endora "Dora" Bingham Sherman
1870–1949
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Lenora Viola Bingham Lewis
1874–1935
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General Jasper Winkler
1874–1963
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Mary Lillian Winkler
1876–1924
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Robert Knox Bingham Sr
1878–1949
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Martha L Bingham
1880–1881
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Myrta W Bingham
1880–1881
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Annie Bingham Harwell
1885–1971
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