Beginning Monday, May 11th, historian and re-enactor, Philip Brown will be walking 166 miles from New Bern to Durham.
When the Civil War came to an end 150 years ago, Union and Confederate soldiers alike found themselves stationed hundreds of miles from their home. For many the only option was to walk, as was the case for Washington Duke of Orange County. Philip’s journey commemorates not only the walk Washington Duke made home, but is representative of all soldiers who made a journey home after the war.
Philip’s walk through Johnston County will take him from Princeton to Smithfield to Clayton from May 16 to May 19. At each town there will be events open to the public to greet Philip and discuss the symbolic nature of the walk. On May 16 at 4:00 p.m. there will be a wreath laying ceremony at the Veterans Memorial in Princeton. On May 17 at 6:00 p.m. there will be a Reception and Tour of the Confederate Monument and the Hastings House in the town commons in Smithfield. On May 18 at 7:00 p.m. there will be an event at the Clayton Town Square with instrumental performances and speakers.
Philip will be making the journey in period clothing and will be accompanied along the way by fellow re-enactors, veterans, a support team, and any others who wish to join him for this symbolic walk. Philip will travel along a route similar to that which Washington Duke himself would have taken 150 years before and will be making 11 distinct stops along the way – including the three stops in Johnston County.
Philip is scheduled to arrive in Durham on May 23 at Duke Homestead State Historic Site, as a part of the Memorial Day weekend commemorations. To follow Philip’s journey go to http://www.asoldierswalkhome.com.
