In the Southern Appalachian Mountains, no character was more loved or
despised than George W. Kirk.
This inured Union officer led a group of deserters on numerous raids
between Tennessee and North Carolina in 1863, terrorizing Confederate
soldiers and civilians alike. At Camp Vance in Morganton, Kirk's mounted
raiders showcased guerrilla warfare penetrating deep within Confederate
territory. As Home Guards struggled to keep Western North Carolina
communities safe, Kirk's men brought fear and violence throughout the
region for their ability to strike and create havoc without warning.
Civil War historian Michael C. Hardy examines the infamous history of
George W. Kirk and the Civil War along the Blue Ridge.