Gray Ghost

Confederate veteran Charles Frederick Hargett of New Bern, NC., ca. 1925.

By John B. Green III

The collections of the Kellenberger Room contain relatively few photographs of people compared with the hundreds of images of buildings and street scenes.  But there are a few including the above image of local Confederate veteran Charles Frederick Hargett.  Hargett was born in New Bern in 1841 and was twenty years old when the Civil War began.  Enlisting on June 3, 1861 in the Elm City Rifles (a local volunteer unit later designated as Company K, 2nd Regiment, North Carolina State Troops) he served throughout the war, surrendering at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia in April 1865.  He was wounded four times during the course of his service - in the neck, arm, leg, and side - but lived to return to his life in New Bern.   In later years Hargett was a member of New Bern Camp No. 1162, United Confederate Veterans, serving as color-bearer.  Charles Frederick Hargett died on February 4, 1928 at the age of 87.  He was buried the next day in Cedar Grove Cemetery in his war-time uniform.  Fellow veterans served as pall bearers and honor guard.

Detail of above image showing Confederate veteran's badge and ribbon.

Veterans ribbon, New Bern Camp No. 1162, U.C.V. similar to that seen above.