The
Arsenal
It may be well to give a brief sketch of the Fayetteville arsenal and armory as a matter of historical record, touching the construction of the various buildings, as there is not a vestige of them left, having been totally destroyed by General Sherman on his famous march through the Carolinas.
The Fayetteville arsenal and armory were located on what is known as “Haymount,” which overlooks the historic old city of Fayetteville. They were constructed by the United States Government previous to the war, under the immediate supervision of Mr. William Bell as architect, but in charge of various army officers of high distinction as commandants of the post. It was one of the loveliest spots anywhere in the South, and was very often visited by strangers from various States and greatly admired. 
Conspicuous octagonal high brick and stone towers were located at the four corners of the enclosure, while symmetrical walls and massive iron railing and heavy iron gates surrounded the premises. Handsome tow-story brick and stone buildings for officers’ quarters and the accommodation of the troops adorned the front and sides, while in the centre, rear and both sides were large, commodious buildings used for the storing of small arms, fixed ammunition, commissary and quartermaster supplies.
In the centre of the enclosure were the gun carriage and machine shops – the former with Mr. T. S. Barrett as superintendent, who had served the United States Government formerly at “Old Point Comfort” for a number of years before the war, while in the rear part of this enclosure was a large rifle factory, containing all of the rifle works brought from Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, and handsome frame dwellings for various officers’ quarters. With the exception of these last, all the buildings were constructed of brick, trimmed with stone. Mr. Bell continued during the entire war as architect of all buildings, and was a Scotchman of national reputation.
Some one hundred yards from the rifle factory, were two large brick magazines for storage of powder and fixed ammunition.
Confederate Maj. Matthew P. Taylor wrote the above description of the Fayetteville Arsenal as part of the unit’s history in 1901. To read Maj. Taylor’s unit history in its entirety obtain a copy of Walter Clark’s, “Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina, in the Great War 1861-’65, Volume IV.