Tarheels During the Civil War

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Battle of Goldsboro Bridge

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of Goldsboro Bridge, NC, December 17, 1862.

Clingman's Brigade
8th North Carolina
31st North Carolina
52d North Carolina
61st North Carolina

Battle of Murfreesboro

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of Murfreesboro, TN, Dec. 31, 1862-Jan. 2, 1863.

Polk's Corps

Wither's Division

J.P. Anderson's Brigade
39th North Carolina

Hardee's Corps

Breckenridge's Division

Preston's Brigade
60th North Carolina

McCown's Division

Rains' Brigade
29th North Carolina

Battle of Fredericksburg

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of Fredericksburg, Va. Dec. 13th, 1862.

Longstreet's First Corps

McLaws's Division

Artillery
Manly's North Carolina Artillery

Hood's Division

Law's Brigade
6th North Carolina
54th North Carolina
57th North Carolina

Division Artillery
Reilly's (Rowan) North Carolina Battery

Ransom's Division

Ransom's Brigade
24th North Carolina
25th North Carolina
35th North Carolina
49th North Carolina

Cooke's Brigade
15th North Carolina
27th North Carolina
46th North Carolina
48th North Carolina

Jackson's Second Corps

D.H. Hill's Division

Ripley's Brigade
1st North Carolina
3rd North Carolina

Iverson's Brigade
5th North Carolina
12th North Carolina
20th North Carolina
23rd North Carolina

Ramseur's Brigade (Grimes)
2d North Carolina
4th North Carolina
14th North Carolina
30th North Carolina

A.P. Hill's Division

Lane's Brigade
7th North Carolina
18th North Carolina
28th North Carolina
33rd North Carolina
37th North Carolina

Pender's Brigade
13th North Carolina
16th North Carolina
22d North Carolina
34th North Carolina
38th North Carolina

Division Artillery

(Branch) North Carolina Artillery

Ewell's Division (Early)

Trimble's Brigade
21st North Carolina
1st North Carolina Battalion

Stuart's Cavalry Division

Hampton's Brigade
1st North Carolina Cavalry

(Rooney) Lee's Brigade
2d North Carolina Cavalry

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Yet Another Preservation Opportunity

Wow! what a busy year for battlefield preservation. If all of these deals can come to fruition, 2009 might be said to be the greatest year of battlefield preservation to date. Up for purchase is an 11 acre tract at Glendale battlefield. Please donate to Civil War Preservation Trust, and help preserve these important places for the future. Here is the link to the Glendale opportunity.

Monday, December 21, 2009

4th North Carolina at South Mountain

Report of Col. Bryan Grimes, Fourth North Carolina Infantry, of the battle of Boonsborough.
October 13, 1862.
In compliance with your order of this morning, I submit the following report as to the part taken by the Fourth Regiment North Carolina State Troops in the engagement on Sunday, September 14:
At 3.30 a.m. were ordered to march down the turnpike toward Boonsborough, and, upon approaching that town, were drawn up on the hills adjacent in line of battle, in which position we remained an hour or two, when we were ordered to continue our advance by the flank down the turnpike. Upon arriving at the summit of the mountain, were filed on a left-hand road, which overlooked the enemy’s approach. The Fourth Regiment, together with the Second, was here detached, under command of Colonel Tew, to go to the support of General Garland, then engaging the enemy on the right of the turnpike. Upon joining on to General Garland’s left wing, Colonel Tew saw the necessity for re-enforcements to our left, and requested Captain Grimes to return and report the fact to General Anderson or General Hill. Captain Grimes has never been heard from since. Whether he delivered the message or not I have been unable to learn. After remaining in this position for perhaps half an hour, the enemy in front, from 100 to 200 yards distant, and my best marksmen shooting them whenever they appeared, I have reasons to believe they killed several, when an order was received to flank to the left, which was done. After remaining in our new position nearly an hour, we were ordered to move more to our left, which order was complied with, joining on to the right of the regiments of our own brigade, leaving an interval of from 300 to 400 yards unoccupied between our right and General Garland’s left wing, which fact was reported immediately. Our two regiments, together with the Thirteenth North Carolina, were flanked for some distance to the right and formed in line of battle at right angles with our former position, and advanced for some distance up the side of the mountain, but, not finding the enemy, were recalled and carried still farther to the right, and, forming in line of battle, moved up the mountain, and upon reaching the summit discovered a battery of the enemy in a corn-field and supported by infantry. We made a charge upon the battery, but were repulsed. Falling back and reforming, when, now too dark to proceed, were ordered down for the night.
I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant,
Bryan Grimes,
Colonel Fourth North Carolina State Troops.
Lieut. V.E. Turner,

Series I. Vol. XIV (Part I) Ch. XXXI. Pgs. 1048-1049

4th North Carolina at Seven Pines

Report of Maj. Bryan Grimes, Fourth North Carolina Infantry.

Hdqrs. Fourth North Carolina State Troops
June 5, 1862.
Colonel: In accordance with General Orders, No.--, I have the honor most respectfully to submit the following report as embracing the action of the regiment under my command during the battle of May 31.
After marching to the field agreeably to orders, when near the Williamsburg road the enemy commenced an enfilading fire from a battery stationed in the road, concealed by the woods. I then filed my regiment to the left and brought it into line of battle, and ordered it to lie down until the other regiments of the brigade moved up. Just as the next regiment reached us a courier arrived from the front calling for re-enforcements, and you ordered me forward. The woods were very thick and water deep in ponds from recent rains, in places waist-deep. The enemy, during our advance through the woods, playing upon us with canister and shell, it was impossible to keep an accurate alignment; halted at the edge of the woods, rectified the alignment as near as possible before uncovering my men, and then ordered them to advance, which was through a thick and entangled abates, formed by felling the trees in opposite directions, which was difficult and tedious to march through. At this time I first saw the redoubt of the enemy about half a mile in front, and somewhat to the right, of my center, which caused me to right-oblique my command. The enemy also had a section of a battery (two pieces) which was dealing destruction to my left wing, while my center and right wing were being mowed down by grape and canister from the redoubt; but the men steadily advanced in admirable order. The enemy fled from the field pieces on my left, and we then concentrated our whole attention to the redoubt. Between this entangled brush-wood and the redoubt was a plowed field, rendered very miry by the late rains, in which the men would mire ankle deep at every step; through this we continued our way. Other regiments at this time were emerging from the thicket both on my right and left, when I gave the order to charge upon the redoubt, which was done by my men in gallant style. When within about 100 yards of the redoubt my horse was killed, catching me under him in his fall. Assisstance came and I was extricated uninjured, when we rushed on. When within 30 or 40 yards of the redoubt I saw that we were 200 yards in advance of any other regiment and thought best to fall back to a ditch midway between the redoubt and entangled woods, which I ordered, and the regiment retired in good order; but the color-bearer misunderstanding the order, fell back beyond the ditch to this entangled brush. Those who had taken cover in the ditch then followed the colors, which were then halted, and all ordered to lie down, being still within 250 yards of the redoubt.
About this time our battery arrived and commenced playing upon the enemy. As an evidence of the severity of the fire of the enemy while in front of the battery 46 of my men were found killed within an area of one acre. After allowing my men time to recover from their fatigue, just then I saw my third color-bearer shot down. Captain Simonton and myself rushed up to raise the colors. Captain Simonton, reaching them first, placed them in my hands, raising them aloft, calling upon my men to rally around their standard. It was done with alacrity, and, together with several other regiments, we reached the redoubt, the enemy fleeing.
About 300 yards distant to the left I saw two regiments of the enemy drawn up in line of battle, protected and partially concealed by woods. I faced my men to the left and double-quicked them through an open field to reach a cover of the same woods, but before reaching it I saw breastworks to my right thrown up, which the enemy were leaving, and ordered my men to move by the right flank and get behind their breastworks, firing upon them during the while, which was continued until I saw a regiment of ours marching to the left to attack them. I ordered them to cease firing for fear of shooting our friends. In a short time we were ordered forward to support a regiment in front and to our right, which was done. While at this spot, of my four officers who had followed the flag through the day two were shot--Captain Simonton killed instantly and Captain Wood very seriously wounded. From here we were ordered to fall back from the breastworks, and in a short time it became dark, and orders arrived for me to retire to the road. Just before doing so I ordered them to count the number then present, which was 54, whose names should be most honorably mentioned.
Particularly conspicuous among them for coolness and deeds of daring were Lee A. Steel, of Company B; Robert Peel, of Company D, and Robert Gibbons, of Company E. It is impossible for me to obtain the names of those who acted with more than common gallantry in the first and hottest part of the engagement, as the company officers, who had better opportunity of noticing them, are absent wounded, consequently many deserving of honorable mention would be left out. My situation during the action was particularly called to the daring and gallant conduct of the adjutant (Thomas L. Perry), whose services were invaluable to me; since died of his wounds.
No braver men died that day than Captain Barnes of Company F, and Lieutenant White, of Company C, who were killed while leading their men up to the breastworks; but where all acted so well, with perhaps one or two exceptions, who failed to keep up, it is almost impossible to say who behaved with most gallantry, as reference to the list of casualties will show, leaving the encampment with 29 officers, 23 of them being killed and wounded.
All else occurred under your own eye, which it is unnecessary for me to mention.
I am, colonel, most respectfully, your obedient servant,
Bryan Grimes,
Major, Commanding Fourth Regiment N.C. State Troops.

Series I. Vol. XI. (Part I.) Ch. XXIII. Pgs. 955-957

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Battle of Antietam

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg), MD., September 17, 1862.

Longstreet's Wing

McLaws Division

Cobb's Brigade
15th North Carolina

Manly's North Carolina Battery

Walker's Division

Walker's Brigade (Manning)
27th North Carolina
46th North Carolina
48th North Carolina

Ransom's Brigade
24th North Carolina
25th North Carolina
35th North Carolina
49th North Carolina

Hood's Division

Law's Brigade
6th North Carolina

Reilly's (Rowan) North Carolina Artillery

Jackson's Wing

Ewell's (Lawton) Division

Trimble's (Walker) Brigade
21st North Carolina
1st North Carolina Battalion

A.P. Hill's Division

Branch's Brigade
7th North Carolina
18th North Carolina
28th North Carolina
33rd North Carolina
37th North Carolina

Pender's Brigade
16th North Carolina
22nd North Carolina
34th North Carolina
38th North Carolina

D.H. Hill's Division
G.B. Anderson's Brigade
2d North Carolina
4th North Carolina
14th North Carolina
30th North Carolina

Ripley's Brigade
1st North Carolina
3rd North Carolina

Garland's (McRae) Brigade
5th North Carolina
12th North Carolina
13th North Carolina
20th North Carolina
23rd North Carolina

Stuart's Cavalry

Hampton's Brigade
1st North Carolina Cavalry

Reserve Artillery

Cutt's Battalion
Lloyd's North Carolina Battery

Friday, December 18, 2009

23rd North Carolina at Seven Pines

Report of Col. Daniel H. Christie, Twenty-third North Carolina Infantry.
Hdqrs. Twenty-third North Carolina Troops,
June 2, 1862.
I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my regiment (the Twenty-third North Carolina) in the battle of Seven Pines, on the 31st ultimo:
The regiment was formed in line of battle, occupying the center of the brigade, at about 1.30 p.m., and moved at the command by right of battalions to the front, endeavoring to preserve regimental distance on our right for the Thirty-eighth Virginia. Owing to the change of direction of the road to the left, along which the right of the brigade was ordered to move and the thickly wooded ground through which we passed, I soon found that my command and the Twenty-fourth Virginia were moving on converging instead of parallel lines. I notified Major Maury immediately, but a heavy firing in front indicating the skirmishers would soon be overpowered, I was obliged to bring my command rapidly into line of battle before he had time to gain distance for me. This caused some disorder, which embarrassed me no little, but through the energy of Majors Maury and Christian the line was completed. We were now suffering from a heavy skirmishers’ fire, but pressed on through swamp and thicket, officers and men exerting themselves to the utmost to overcome the obstacles in their line of march and obeying strictly the order to reserve their fire. As we neared the edge of the abates a terrific fire from the opposite side opened [on] us, which we returned with effect. The fight here for some minutes was stubborn in the extreme. The felled timber was an almost insuperable obstacle to a successful charge against a firm line, and I waited the auspicious moment when they should waver. At this juncture a regiment on my right was ordered to fall back and reform. The order reaching the ears of my company commanders on the right wing, they mistook it for mine, and commenced putting it into execution. That moment I felt to be pregnant with the most disastrous consequences to my command, but by the quick, intelligent co-operation of Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston the movement was stopped, and we again pressed forward, drove the enemy from his strong position, and were entering the abates when General Garland rode up and ordered me to move by the left flank. In the execution of this order the three right companies became detached, but were gallantly led by Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston across the Williamsburg road, and co-operating with the Fourth North Carolina, charged in the direction of the battery in the redoubt, officers and men acting nobly but suffering terribly.
Having passed the opening and the abates with what was left of my command, with a part of the Twenty-fourth Virginia I again pressed forward, the enemy fighting but giving way. The swampy earth and thick undergrowth continued to check the rapid movement. The Second Florida, on my left, was hard pressed. When the Forty-ninth Virginia came up cheering upon our right the enemy began again to give way and our line went forward. About this time my horse was shot, and in falling with him I was so much injured as to be incompetent for further service.
All the field officers and two-thirds of the company officers were now hors de combat, but several officers and many of the men joined other commands and fought on until night closed the engagement.
[Danl. H. Christie,
Colonel Twenty-third North Carolina Regiment.]
Series I. Vol. XI (Part I) Ch. XXIII. Pgs. 967-968

Battle of South Mountain

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of South Mountain, MD., September 14, 1862.

Jackson's Corps

D.H. Hill's Division

Garland's Brigade (Col. D.K. McRae)
5th North Carolina
12th North Carolina
13th North Carolina
20th North Carolina
23rd North Carolina

G.B. Anderson's Brigade
2nd North Carolina
4th North Carolina
14th North Carolina
30th North Carolina

Ripley's Brigade
1st North Carolina
3rd North Carolina

Longstreet's Corps

McLaws's Division
Cobb's Brigade
15th North Carolina

Hood's Division

Law's Brigade
6th North Carolina

Battle of Second Manassas

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of Second Manassas, August 28-30, 1862.

Jackson's Wing

Ewell's Division
Trimble's Brigade
21st North Carolina
1st North Carolina Battalion

A.P. Hill's Division

Branch's Brigade
7th North Carolina
18th North Carolina
28th North Carolina
33rd North Carolina
37th North Carolina

Pender's Brigade
16th North Carolina
22d North Carolina
34th North Carolina
38th North Carolina

Latham's (Branch) North Carolina Artillery

Longstreet's Wing

Hood's Division

Whiting's (Law's) Brigade
6th North Carolina

Battle of Cedar Mountain

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of Cedar Mountain, Va., August 9, 1862.

Jackson's Command
Ewell's Division

Trimble's Brigade
21st North Carolina

A.P. Hill's Division

Branch's Brigade
7th North Carolina
18th North Carolina
28th North Carolina
33rd North Carolina
37th North Carolina

Pender's Brigade
16th North Carolina
22d North Carolina
34th North Carolina
38th North Carolina

Latham's (NC) Battery

Friday, December 11, 2009

Battle of Malvern Hill

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of Malvern Hill, VA., July 1, 1862.

Ewell's Division

Trimble's Brigade
1st North Carolina Battalion
21st North Carolina

Whiting's Division

Law's Brigade
6th North Carolina

D.H. Hill's Division

Tew's (G.B. Anderson) Brigade
2nd North Carolina
4th North Carolina
14th North Carolina
30th North Carolina

Ripley's Brigade
1st North Carolina
3rd North Carolina

Garland's Brigade
5th North Carolina
12th North Carolina
13th North Carolina
20th North Carolina
23rd North Carolina

Magruder's Division

Cobb's Brigade
15th North Carolina

Holmes' Division

Ransom's Brigade
24th North Carolina
25th North Carolina
26th North Carolina
35th North Carolina
48th North Carolina
49th North Carolina

Battle of Glendale

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of Glendale, June 30, 1862.

A.P. Hill's Division

Branch's Brigade
7th North Carolina
18th North Carolina
28th North Carolina
33rd North Carolina
37th North Carolina

Pender's Brigade
16th North Carolina
22nd North Carolina
34th North Carolina
38th North Carolina

Battle of Gaines's Mill

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of Gaines's Mill, June 27, 1862.

Ewell's Division

Trimble's Brigade
1st North Carolina Battalion Sharpshooters
21st North Carolina

D.H. Hill's Division

G.B. Anderson's Brigade
2nd North Carolina
4th North Carolina
14th North Carolina
30th North Carolina

Garland's Brigade
5th North Carolina
12th North Carolina
13th North Carolina
20th North Carolina
23rd North Carolina

Ripley's Brigade
1st North Carolina
3rd North Carolina

A.P. Hill's Division

Branch's Brigade
7th North Carolina
18th North Carolina
28th North Carolina
33rd North Carolina
37th North Carolina

Pender's Brigade
16th North Carolina
22nd North Carolina
34th North Carolina
38th North Carolina

Battle of Williamsburg

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of Williamsburg, VA., May 5, 1862.

Longstreet's Division

Colston's Brigade
13th North Carolina
14th North Carolina

D.H. Hill's Division

Early's Brigade
5th North Carolina
23rd North Carolina

Battle of Mechanicsville

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of Mechanicsville (Beaver Dam Creek), June 26, 1862.

Jackson's Command

D.H. Hill's Division

G.B. Anderson's Brigade
2nd North Carolina
4th North Carolina
14th North Carolina
30th North Carolina

Garland's Brigade
5th North Carolina
12th North Carolina
13th North Carolina
20th North Carolina
23rd North Carolina

Ripley's Brigade
1st North Carolina
3rd North Carolina

A.P. Hill's (Light) Division

Branch's Brigade
7th North Carolina
18th North Carolina
28th North Carolina
33rd North Carolina
37th North Carolina

Pender's Brigade
16th North Carolina
22nd North Carolina
34th North Carolina
38th North Carolina

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Battle of Tranter's Creek

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of Tranter's Creek, NC, June 5, 1862.

44th North Carolina

Battle of Seven Pines

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of Seven Pines, May 31-June 1, 1862.

Smith's Division

Hampton's Brigade
16th North Carolina

Whiting's Brigade
6th North Carolina
Reilly's (Rowan) North Carolina Battery

Pettigrew's Brigade
22nd North Carolina

A.P. Hill's Division

J.R. Anderson's Brigade
34th North Carolina
38th North Carolina

Branch's Brigade
7th North Carolina
12th North Carolina
18th North Carolina
28th North Carolina
33rd North Carolina
37th North Carolina
Branch's North Carolina Battery

Longstreet's Division

Colston's Brigade
13th North Carolina
14th North Carolina

D.H. Hill's Division

Featherston's (Anderson's) Brigade
4th North Carolina

Garland's Brigade
5th North Carolina
23rd North Carolina

McLaws' Division

Cobb's Brigade
15th North Carolina

Cabell's Artillery
Manly's North Carolina Battery

Siege of Yorktown

North Carolina order of battle, Siege of Yorktown, Va., April 5-May 4, 1862.

Left Wing (Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill)

Featherston's Brigade
4th North Carolina

Early's Brigade
5th North Carolina
23rd North Carolina

Center Division (Maj. Gen. James Longstreet)

Colston's Brigade
13th North Carolina
14th North Carolina

Right Wing (Maj. Gen. John Magruder)

Cobb's Brigade
15th North Carolina

Cabell's Artillery
Manly's North Carolina Battery

Reserve (Maj. Gen. Gustavus Smith)

Hampton's Brigade
16th North Carolina

Whiting's Brigade
6th North Carolina
Reilly's (Rowan) North Carolina Battery

Pettigrew's Brigade
22nd North Carolina

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Shenandoah Valley Campaign 1862

North Carolina order of battle, Shenandoah Valley Campaign 1862, March 23rd-June 9th, 1862.

Ewell's Division
Trimble's Brigade
21st North Carolina

Siege of Fort Macon

North Carolina Order of Battle, siege of Fort Macon, March 23-April 26, 1862.

10th North Carolina Regiment.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Battle of New Bern

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of New Bern, March 14, 1862.

Brig. Gen. Lawrence O'Bryan Branch
7th North Carolina
26th North Carolina
27th North Carolina
28th North Carolina
33rd North Carolina
35th North Carolina
37th North Carolina
2nd North Carolina Cavalry (19th State Troops)
Branch (North Carolina) Artillery (Latham's)
Charlotte (North Carolina) Artillery (Brem's)
North Carolina Militia

Big Bethel

North Carolina Order of Battle, Battle of Big Bethel, June 10, 1861.

Col. John B. Magruder
1st North Carolina Regiment (later 11th NCT).

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Battle of Roanoke Island

North Carolina Order of Battle for Battle of Roanoke Island, February 7-8, 1862.

Henry A Wise (Col. Henry M. Shaw) Brigade:
2nd North Carolina
8th North Carolina
17th North Carolina (3 companies)
31st North Carolina

Hatteras Inlet Batteries

North Carolina Order of Battle for the Battle of the Hatteras Inlet Batteries (Forts Clark and Hatteras), August 28-29, 1861.

7th North Carolina (Colonel William Martin)

New Feature

Today I'm going to start a North Carolina Order of Battle. Beginning at First Manassas and ending at Bentonville. North Carolina Troops at the Battle of First Manassas, July 21, 1861.

Army of the Shenandoah:

3rd Brigade (Brig. Gen. Barnard E. Bee)
6th North Carolina

Army of the Potomac:

1st Brigade (Brig. Gen. Milledge L. Bonham)
11th North Carolina

Does not seem like a lot of North Carolinians. I have read many accounts from members of different regiments describing their arrival to the Richmond - Manassas area as occurring right after the First Battle of Manassas.