Sokolosky to Examine Importance of Wyse Forks
The Western North Carolina Civil War Round Table will present Col. Wade Sokolosky (Ret.) to address the organization and its guests at the HFR Auditorium on the campus of Western Carolina University, Monday, November 9 at 7 pm. Admission is free. The traditional meet n’ greet with the speaker at Bogarts in Sylva will be at 5 pm and the casual social, 6:30 at the WCU location. Members, their guests and the interested public are encouraged to come.
The Battle of Wyse Fork fought on March 8-10 in 1865 is sometimes known as the Second Battle of Kinston involved Union troops (three divisions) of Maj. Gen. Jacob Cox under Maj. Gen. John Schofield faced off against a division of North Carolina Reserves commanded by Maj. Gen. Robert Hoke along with elements (approximately 29 regiments) of a shattered Army of Tennessee, Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill commanding, with overall command under Gen. Braxton Bragg. Fighting aside the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad and in front of the Neuse River the Confederates would have to withdraw across the Neuse after three days of hard fighting and seeing any initiatives slip away with poor communications and against superior numbers.
Col. Sokolosky’s most recent book, co-authored with Smith, "To Prepare for Sherman's Coming": The Battle of Wise's Forks, March 1865 is from where the research and thesis of the presentation is created. He will attempt to erase the misconception that the battle was little more than an insignificant skirmish and elevates this combat action and its related operations to the historical status it deserves.
Sokolosky, a 25-year U.S. Army veteran and native North Carolinian (Beaufort), has co-authored two books regarding the Sherman’s Carolinas Campaign with Mark A. Smith, the aforementioned To Prepare … and Such Army Since the Days of Julius Caesar: Sherman's Carolinas Campaign from Fayetteville to Averasboro being the other. He is the sole author of Final Roll Call: Confederate Losses during the Carolinas Campaign. With these book credits and current the Vice-President of Friend of Bentonville Battlefield, Skolosky has become regarded as one of the leading authorities of Sherman’s Carolinas Campaign.He is a graduate of East Carolina University. During his time in the service, Wade served in a variety of leadership and staff positions, both in the United States and overseas, most notably in Afghanistan. Upon relinquishing command of the 23rd Quartermaster Brigade in 2011, Wade returned home to Beaufort. He has lectured throughout the Carolinas, speaking to roundtables, various societies and organizations, and at historical sites.
