The NEW BERN
\\
^'HED WEEKLY
r^EART OP
NORTH
^EAR1
I. ^^NOi
5^ h>
VOLUME 4
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1961
NUMBER 22
€H pin-ups are nothing new, if
we can believe the signed state
ments of Union soldiers who drool
ed at the sight of Lizzie Green’s
photograph.
In fact, it’s not unreasonable to
assume that General Robert E. Lee
might have won the War Between
the States with a few thousand
carefully planted prints of this
dharming New Bern belle. Certain
ly victory became a secondary
thing to the boys in blue when
they got a look at the likes of Liz
zie.
Unfortunately, perhaps, these
Yankee yeamers never got to meet
the young lady personally. She left
our city in great haste shortly be
fore their arrival on March 14,
1862. But for the speed of her forc
ed exit from New Bern, you would
n’t be reading these lines about
luscious Lizzie today.
When she flew the coop, so to
speak, she failed to include her
photograph and an album of ultra-
sentimental poetry in the assort
ment of treasured belongings that
were carted off. Until her dying
day she never knew what had be
come of the two overlooked items.
There’s still no trace of the pho
tograph. Maybe it was buried with
one of the hundreds of Union sol
diers who sleep the last sleep of
the gallant in New Bern’s National
cemetery. Or, unbelievable though
it may seem, some attic above the
Mason-Diixon line could, at this
very moinjent, be the forgOitten and
I'orsa'ken -pla(» of^ 'itff' obwtihtiw
existence.
Before you discount the attic an
gle, it might be well to consider
the fate of the poetry album. After
you hear what happened to it, and
how it gdt back home, you’ll be
in no mood to doubt the improb
able.
On January 14, 1953, Mrs. Lans
ing Lewis of Hamden, Conn., mail
ed a letter addressed to “Post Mas
ter, New Berne, North Ciarolina.”
When Postmaster Raymond Eagle
opened the letter, he found this
message: “Dear Sir, Would it be
passible for you to tell me if any
one in New Berne would be de
scended from Elizabeth (Lizzie)
Green, who would have been a
young woman in 1862? My mother
has recently died, and in looking
over some old papers and books
my sister and I found a little book
which we would like some of the
Green family to have if any of
them can be located. Thank you
for any help you may be able to
give. I am enclosing a stamped
envelope for your reply.”
P 0 s t m a s f e r Eagle proved
thoroughly capable of handling the
request. Minutes after the missive
reached his desk it was in the post-
office box of Albert R. Bell, the
City Engineer.
Less than 48 hours after Mrs.
Lewis mailed her letter from Con
necticut, this reply from Albert
was headed in her direction: “My
dear Mrs. Lewis, your kind letter
has been referred to me. Mrs.
Elizabeth Green was my great
grandmother on my mother’s side.
There are now no surviving mem
bers on the paternal Green side.
“Elizabeth’s husband was a cap
tain in the Confederate cavalry,
' and the book probably came into
the possession of your family as
legitimate spoils of war when New
Bern was occupied in 1862 by Gen
eral Burnside’s troops of the Union
Army. It is kind of you to wish to
return it, and if there is no senti
mental attachment I would be very
happy to have it.
“I would appreciate knowing the
name of the member of your
family serving the Burnside’s
troops at that time, in order that a
little history of the travels of the
book could be inserted inside the
cpver. It is certainly strange how
, ' (Continued on Page 8)
HAPPY CHAMPIONS-^Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle
aren’t the only baseballers who are beaming with pride
this season. Just as thrilled over outstanding performances
are the members of a Centenary Methodist team that de
feated Temple Baptist for New Bern’s Church League
crown. First row, left to right, are Bobby Nicholas, Greg
Jones, Earl Del Mastro, Donald Adams, Ray Hardman, Jr.,
Frank Crayton and Guy Boyd, Jr. Second row, Zoot Saun
ders, Gray Gaskins, Steve Mitchell, Louie .Lynch, III, Bill
Lineberger, Gregory Hamilton, Billy Albritton and Jay
Jones. Back row. Coaches Tom Lineberger and Louie
Lynch, Jr.—Photo by Billy Pierce.
lilillllPIlii
"1
’•'T \
-r i'
ARE YOU INCLUDED?—Time has dimmed this photo
graph of a long-ago class taught by Miss Ruth Berry at
New Bern’s Central School. Marcus Block is in the center
of the first row. Put on your spectacles and pick out the
others.
-23L