A noted Civil War historian chronicles the fascinating role played by North Carolina’s Hatteras Island in the War Between the States.

Hatteras Island was home to many Civil War firsts—among them the first Confederate capture of an armed Union vessel and the first combined amphibious assault of the Confederate army and navy. With illuminating research and vivid prose, historian Lee Oxford demonstrates why these episodes make Hatteras Island vital to the story of the Civil War.

The Confederates' desire to regain control of this Outer Banks island saw the capture of the U.S. gunboat "Fanny." This in turn led to the famous Chicamacomico Affair at Live Oak encampment. The skirmish featured harrowing acts of valor by the Twentieth Indiana Regiment, as well as a path toward victory for the Confederate forces.