North Carolina had planned for a Militia since the original Charter of 1629 (not settled at that time) and the second Charter of 1663. When each new county was created, a new regiment of Militia was also established. During the American Revolution, North Carolina also created brigades of Militia for each Judicial District. Militia laws were created and updated as time moved on, and the most significant change came in 1837 - until the American Civil War. At the very beginning of the American Civil War, North Carolina continued using the Militia numbering schema as defined in the 1837 Militia Law, with updates as new counties were established up to 1861.

On September 20, 1861, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a new Militia Bill - 94 sections that included 28 newly-defined brigades and 116 newly-defined regiments (soon expanded to 121), along with appropriate rules and regulations. The North Carolina Militia Organization shows all the known General Officers of the Militia, each of the new 28 Brigades (many seem to have been "on paper only"), with all new 121 Regiments identified with all known Field Officers, and Company names with dates established. Other Militia Laws were passed during the war. The Confederate Conscription Act of April 16, 1862 significantly depleted the ranks of the North Carolina Militia, and in early 1863, the North Carolina Supreme Court severely limited how the Militia could cooperate with Confederate (CSA) forces.

At the very beginning of the American Civil War, a few of the older NC Militia units took it upon themselves to seize Federal forts and posts, and these older units are described in the appropriate seizures included in this website. However, almost all other references to NC Militia herein employ the post-September 1861 NC Militia law and numbering schema. This Author has only found useful lists of officers based solely on the September 1861 numbering schema - names prior to that date are rarely found.

On August 29, 1861, Union forces captured the Hatteras Inlet Batteries, a strategic location from which to launch operations against the North Carolina coastline. On February 8, 1862, Union forces captured Roanoke Island, another significant foothold. On March 14, 1862, New Bern was taken and by April 26th, Fort Macon in Carteret County was under Union control. The North Carolina Militia participated in the state's attempt to keep New Bern, but they had little impact. As the Civil War continued, the role of the North Carolina Militia soon evolved into three primary functions: assist in recruiting conscripts for the Confederate Army, rounding up deserters, and putting down local flare-ups of anti-Confederates, aka Unionists (also known as Buffaloes).

As the war dragged on, many citizens complained of Militia wrong-doings and other malfeasance. In early 1863, the North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice - Richmond M. Pearson - ruled that the Militia had no authority to act on behalf of the Confederate government in rounding up deserters. The Militia now focused mostly on recruiting conscripts and putting down minor local disturbances. By mid-1863, the Militia ranks were so depleted - most were now serving in Confederate units - and morale was so low, the North Carolina General Assembly was forced to pass new laws. On July 7, 1863, An Act in Relation to the Militia, and a Guard for Home Defense - along with three (3) other Acts - was passed by the General Assembly. The new Home Guard was fully under the control of the governor and it was now legal for them to go after Confederate deserters.

Although the North Carolina Militia was not abolished, it had very few responsibilities other than recruiting new soldiers for the Confederate Army and suppressing the few local flare-ups. Many officers of the Militia joined the Home Guard as Privates or Non-Commissioned Officers. Other Militia officers secured commissions as officers in the Home Guard. The two groups - Militia and Home Guard - were inexorably intertwined, therefore all key officers of both are identified in the links below. This Author has chosen to only identify the six (6) officer ranks shown below since these are the ranks that provided leadership - and - most enlisted men and Non-Commissioned Officers could name their Company Officers (Captains) and Field Officers/Generals.