The HATSELL HOUSE circa 1827

At sunrise on April 25, 1862, it is said that Charity Hatchel, along with her 16 year old daughter Julia, stood with Emmeline Pigott (see below), a confederate spy, on the south end of her upper porch to watch the shelling at Fort Macon. The attack began just before 6 a.m. Charity Hatchel recalled, “The noise of the explosions was terrific. Window frames shook, houses trembled and even the waters of the sound seemed to ruffle with each shock. At four o’clock in the afternoon the fire from the fort ceased, and a white flag was run up.” Her son survived the one-day skirmish.