as the civil war ended, general atkins was in charge of the forces occupying the college town of chapel hill, north carolina. on april 17, 1865 (easter sunday), atkins paid a visit to the home of david swain, the president of the university of north carolina. both men shared a love of history. while the two were talking, president swain's daughter ella brought them a history book. atkins soon began courting ella, and the couple were married on august 23, 1865. the marriage was controversial, and ella's mother would not eat at the same table with atkins. the couple resided in freeport. atkins and ella had six children, three of whom survived to adulthood. ella died of influenza at age 38, and was buried in [historic] oakwood cemetery in raleigh, north carolina. the story is related in the book "undaunted heart: the true story of a southern belle & a yankee general" by suzy barile, published by eno publishers in 2009. barile is a great-great-granddaughter of ella swain and smith atkins.