The 51st NC Regiment could well be called a Cape Fear Regiment, as the ten (10) companies composing the command came from the counties of Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin New Hanover, Robeson, and Sampson.

The regiment was organized at Wilmington, NC, on April 13, 1862, with the following officers, viz.:

John L. Cantwell, Colonel.
William A. Allen, Lieutenant Colonel.
Hector McA. McKethan, Major.
John R. Latta, Adjutant.
George W. Stanford, Sergeant Major.
Henry C. Rockwell, Captain and Quartermaster.
William M. McKenzie, Quartermaster Sergeant.
Dr. Samuel B. Morrisey, Surgeon.
Dr. James W. McGee, Assistant Surgeon.
Albert T. Robeson, Hospital Steward.
H.C. Brooks, Chaplain.

The regiment went into camp near Wilmington, spending the Summer at various camps near that city and at Smithville (now Southport), excepting companies D and K, which were detached and employed in building the iron-clad fort on the river a few miles below Wilmington. From Wilmington we were ordered in August to Kinston, NC, part of the command being employed on picket duty at Core Creek, about eighteen (18) miles distant.

On October 1st, the 8th, 31st, 51st, and 61st NC Regiments were organized into a brigade with Thomas L. Clingman as Brigadier General. About this time Col. John L. Cantwell resigned, and Lt. Col. William A. Allen assumed command, and we were employed doing picket duty, and on various scouting expeditions to points near New Bern.

About December 1st, we returned to Wilmington, but soon afterwards were ordered to Goldsborough, and were under fire for the first time near that place (Neuse River Bridge - aka Goldsborough Bridge), as we engaged the enemy on December 17th, the regiment taking an active part. Our men behaved with conspicuous gallantry and forced the enemy to retire before them. The regiment suffered a loss of about fifty (50) in killed and wounded in this engagement, 2nd Lt. Solomon Boykin, of Company K, being among the killed. After this engagement we returned to Wilmington for winter quarters.

Lt. Col. William A. Allen resigned and the following changes were made in our officers: Hector McA. McKethan, Colonel; Captain Caleb B. Hobson, of Company B, Lieutenant Colonel; Captain James R. McDonald, of Company D, Major; Chaplain, Colin Shaw, vice H.C. Brooks, resigned.

About February 18, 1863, we were ordered to Charleston, SC, and thence to Savannah, GA, spending only a few days at the latter point when we were again ordered to Charleston and camped on James Island. At this place we suffered greatly from sickness and scanty and unwholesome rations. On May 1st, we returned to Wilmington, going into camp at Topsail Sound. A few days later Companies B, D, E, and H were detached and sent to Magnolia [Duplin County] under the command of Maj. James R. McDonald.

On July 1st, a raiding party of the enemy from New Bern tapped the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad at Warsaw and this detail hurried to that point, causing a hasty retreat of the enemy in the direction of New Bern, and capturing some of their stragglers.

FORT WAGNER.

About this time the enemy began active operations against Charleston, SC, and on July 10th, Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Clingman's (NC) Brigade was ordered to that point, and on July 12th the 51st NC Regiment was sent to Morris' Island as a garrison for Fort Wagner, where we were almost continuously exposed to the sharpshooting and cannonading of the enemy until July 18th, suffering almost beyond endurance from heat and great scarcity of water and rations, to say nothing of the inferior quality of the same, and from the terrible shelling which was only equaled later during the war at Fort Fisher, the average being twenty-eight (28) shells per minute by actual count from sunrise to 7 p.m. Fort Wagner was a field work of sand, turf, and palmetto logs, built across Morris' Island, extending from the beach on the east to Vincent Creek on the west, about 200 yards. From north to south it varied from 20 to 75 yards. On the space to the west were built wooden quarters for officers and men, and bomb-proofs capable of holding from 800 to 1,000 men. There were also bomb-proof magazines and heavy traverses.

On July 18th, the armament consisted of one 10-inch Columbiad, one 32-pound rifle, one 42-pounder, two 32-pound Carronades, two Naval Shell guns, one 8-inch sea-coast Howitzer, four smooth-bore 32-pounders, one 10-inch sea-coast Mortar, making in all thirteen (13) pieces. Of these only one was of much effect against the monitors, and the Federal land batteries were beyond the reach of the other guns, so that we had little to do but submit to the hail of iron sent upon us by the superior and longer range guns of the enemy from sunrise until sunset.

The garrison at this time consisted of part of the 31st NC Regiment, Lt. Col. Charles W. Knight commanding, which had been sent over on July 17th; the 51st NC Regiment, Col. Hector McA. McKethan; a Charleston battalion, under the command of Lt. Col. Peter C. Gaillard, with Tatum's and Adams' companies of the 1st SC Infantry, acting as artillery; Buckner's and Dixon's companies of the 63rd GA Heavy Artillery, and DePass' Battery, in all about 1,700 men.

The Charleston Battalion and the 51st NC Regiment were assigned to the defense of the parapets in the order named, from the right along the south front. The four (4) companies of the 31st NC Regiment extended along the seaface from the 51st NC Regiment; the balance of the 31st NC Regiment was held in reserve at Battery Gregg. Two (2) companies of the Charleston Battalion were outside of the works, guarding the left gorge and sallyport. Two of Captain DePass' field pieces were also outside.

During the bombardment we had concentrated upon our little band forty-four (44) guns and mortars from the land batteries of the enemy, distant from 1,200 to 2,000 yards, and the heavy guns from the iron-sides, five (5) monitors and five (5) gunboats, say about fifty (50) guns, making a total of ninety-four (94) guns. The sand being our only protection, fortunately one shell would fill up the hole made by the last, or we would have been annihilated. Our only guns that could reach the enemy had been dismounted by their fire, and our smaller ones we had been compelled to dismount in order to protect, so that we might use when the assault should be made. During the day the garrison was protected as much as possible by the bomb-proofs, only those necessary to guard and work the guns being required to remain exposed. This accounts for the small loss sustained during the day, but at a given signal each man was expected to report at his station in the works, the fire being so rapid and deadly that it would have been impossible to attempt anything like military formation. About dusk on July 18, 1863, the long expected signal was given and the 51st NC Regiment as one man, sprang to its post, encouraged and led by the officers.

The advancing column of the enemy consisted of the First Brigade led by Brig. Gen. George C. Strong, made up of six (6) regiments and one (1) battalion, supported by Col. Haldimand S. Putnam's Brigade of four (4) regiments, with Brig. Gen. Thomas G. Stevenson's Brigade, of four (4) regiments, held as a reserve.

The enemy advanced in column of regiments, led by Col. Robert G. Shaw's 54th Massachusetts, a picked negro regiment, between sunset and dusk with empty guns and orders to use their bayonets. Time had not been given us to mount our guns, which as before stated, we had dismounted for protection, so that the assault was met solely by our infantry, not a cannon being fired; but so murderous was our fire that the advancing columns broke and rushed to the rear through the ranks of their own support, causing confusion and delay, Col. Shaw, who was hardly more than a boy, fell dead on the top of our breastworks, in advance of his men, struck with three (3) mortal wounds. His followers broke and fled in wild terror. A most handsome monument has been erected in Boston to perpetuate his memory.

About an hour later a second assault was made. By this time we had mounted our guns which we opened on them at short range, and our infantry again poured their deadly fire into their ranks, causing a second break with even greater loss than the first. A third and final assault was made about 10 o'clock, and notwithstanding a crossfire was concentrated upon them, a lodgment was made behind the bomb-proof and magazine manned by the four (4) companies of the 31st NC Regiment, but to hold only for a short time. Their commander was killed, and the 32nd GA Regiment arriving at this time was sent along the parapet, and to the top of the magazine. In this way their rear was reached, and the assailants of a few minutes before found themselves assailed and throwing down their arms, surrendered and put an end to the day's fighting.

Brig. Gen. William B. Taliaferro (VA) was in immediate command of Morris' Island during the day. The position of the 51st NC Regiment was such that it bore the brunt of the assault, and its members were therefore the most active participants. The Confederate loss during the day was 175, of which the 51st NC Regiment suffered 34 killed and 40 wounded, the following officers being among the number: 1st Lt. Giles W. Thompson of Company E, killed; 1st Lt. Edward Southerland and 3rd Lt. William H. Littlejohn of Company A, and 1st Lt. John D. Malloy of Company D, wounded. The enemy is said to have lost 2,000 men, 800 of whom were buried in front of the fort next morning. This great slaughter shows how desperately our men, maddened and infuriated at the sight of negro troops, fought. The next morning we were relieved and sent to Sullivan's Island, the officers and men being complimented by General Pierre G.T. Beauregard for the manner in which they had behaved. A writer from another State referring to this engagement, used the following language: "The Fifty-first North Carolina brilliantly sustained the honor of their State and were highly commended, especially the field officers, Colonel Hector McKethan, Lieutenant Colonel C. B. Hobson, and Major J. R. McDonald."

The following incident is vouched for by 1st Lt. Joseph A. McArthur, of Company I, 51st NC Regiment, now a resident of Cumberland County: The day of the assault Lt. McArthur was the officer of the day, and as such, had a guard of sixty-five (65) men detailed from the different commands on the island. In the third and last assault when the enemy secured a lodgment near the bomb-proof, he was ordered by Brig. Gen. William B. Taliaferro (VA), in command of the post, to go with his guard to the relief of that part of the line. As Lt. McArthur, led by one of the men with a torch ascended the bomb-proof, the enemy began to fire upon them, and the fire was promptly returned as they advanced, but as they neared the enemy an Irishman from one of the Charleston companies in Lt. McArthur's detail, appealed to him to have the firing cease, as he had recognized the voice of his brother in the ranks of the enemy, which turned out to be true, for when they surrendered a few minutes afterwards the brother was found to be among the prisoners. Next morning the prisoners were formed to be sent to Charleston, when our Irishman appeared the second time begging that his brother should not be sent to prison, and when told that it could not be helped, as he had been captured with the others, he then proposed that his brother be permitted to enter the ranks by his side, and in this way the prisoner was transformed to a Confederate soldier.

The enemy now concluded that the only way to capture Fort Wagner was by slow siege, we doing our share of the garrisoning while this was going on. On November 24th, we returned to North Carolina, going to Tarborough by rail, and marching to Williamston, were assigned to duty at Foster's Mill, in Martin County. On December 13th, we returned to Tarborough, where we remained till January 5, 1864, going thence to Petersburg, VA, and occupied Camp Hill near that place. Later in January of 1864, we returned to North Carolina, marching on New Bern and engaging in a sharp skirmish at Bachelor's Creek, driving the enemy from their position and pushing them into New Bern. We then returned to Petersburg, VA, and about April 1st, we were ordered to Ivor Station and marched on Suffolk, driving the enemy's pickets to a point beyond that town. About May 1st, Federal Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler landed a strong force at City Point, VA, and we returned to Petersburg and marched to Dunlop's Farm, about four (4) miles distant in the direction of Richmond. Here we met and skirmished with the enemy for several days.

PETERSBURG.

On May 12th, we marched to Drewrys Bluff and occupied the works previously built. Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler followed us towards Richmond, the plan being to draw him from his base and attack him from front and rear. On May 16th, having been reinforced, we were ordered by General Pierre G.T. Beauregard to mount the works and charge the enemy. This we did over ground strewn with fallen trees, the limbs of which had been sharpened as an additional protection for the works, but we pressed forward carrying line after line of the enemy until we had them in full retreat, and had the forces from Petersburg cooperated in the same manner we would have captured Maj. Gen. Butler's entire command. Our loss in this engagement was very heavy, amounting to ten (10) officers and 150 men: Capt. Willis H. Pope, of Company E, and 2nd Lt. James B. McCallum, of Company D, being killed; 3rd Lt. William J. Southerland, of Company A, 2nd Lt. Hector McEachern of Company D, 1st Lt. Jacob A. Evans of Company G, 1st Lt. James A. McArthur of Company I, and Capt. Samuel W. Maultsby of Company H, being among the wounded; Capt. William F. Murphy of Company K, 1st Lt. John D. Malloy of Company D [promoted to Captain while imprisoned], and 1st Lt. Joseph A. McArthur of Company I, were captured.

SECOND COLD HARBOR.

On May 18th and 19th we again skirmished with the enemy, sustaining considerable loss. We then marched to Cold Harbor and skirmished with the enemy on May 31st. On 1 June 1st, the battle of Cold Harbor was fought. Here we were charged by line after line of the enemy, each line coming within a few yards of us, but our fire was so murderous they could not live under it; but notwithstanding we killed thousands of them, fresh lines were thrown at us until finally a lodgment was secured in a branch supposed to be impassable, and we were flanked and compelled to retire. Having driven the enemy from our front, the order to retire was not understood by part of our men and they were cut off, but not willing to give up, they, together with Lt. Col. John R. Murchison and part of his, the 8th NC Regiment, continued the fight till entirely surrounded, not only with live, but also dead yankees. Our losses during the two days were 194 (11 officers and 183 men), Capt. Robert J. McEachern, of Company D, and 3rd Lt. Alexander Elliott, of Company K, being mortally wounded; Capt. George Sloan, of Company I, 2nd Lt. Gilbert P. Higley, of Company F, wounded; and Maj. James R. McDonald, together with the two (2) wounded officers, were captured. We remained at Cold Harbor for several days and then marched to Malvern Hill, thence to Drewry's Bluff, and then to Petersburg, reaching the latter point in time to prevent Federal Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler from occupying the city.

17 JUNE, 1864.

On June 16-17, the enemy charged our line and we repulsed them, inflicting considerable loss, but on June 17th, they succeeded in breaking through the line at a point held by Brig. Gen. Henry A. Wise's (VA) Brigade, and at once began to pour a deadly fire on our flank. Promptly five (5) companies of the 51st NC Regiment, under the command of Col. Hector McA. McKethan, filed to the rear. Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Ransom's (NC) Brigade, under command of Col. William J. Clarke, of the 24th NC Regiment, being hastily thrown in the same position on the right of the break, and at the signal these two (2) commands changed front and rushed forward with fixed bayonets and soon recaptured the lost ground, but at a fearful loss, Col. McKethan being among the seriously wounded. In this contest the bayonet and butts of guns were freely used, as there was not time to load and fire. The position was such that the five (5) companies of the 51st and the 35th NC Regiments of Brig. Gen. Ransom's Brigade occupying the center and being the assailants, suffered the greatest losses. But for the prompt action of these commands the enemy would certainly have marched into Petersburg on June 17, 1864.

We remained in the works in front of Petersburg for months under fire every day, and it has been established by actual measurements since the close of the war that at times there was but sixty-three (63) yards between our line of works and that of the enemy, while only thirty-five (35) yards separated our pickets, which should give a pretty accurate idea of the danger and hardships under which we passed the Summer of 1864. On August 19th, we were called upon to meet a raiding party operating on the Weldon Railroad south of Petersburg. Here we met the enemy and after a running fight of many miles forced them into their lines. This was a regular woods scramble, it being impossible to preserve anything like a line of battle on account of the density of the woods; the result was that we captured a large number of prisoners, and suffered considerable loss ourselves, some of our men being captured and recaptured several times. Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Clingman (NC) was badly wounded in this engagement, and the brigade lost the services of this gallant soldier till near the close of the war, the command of the brigade devolving on Col. Hector McA. McKethan of the 51st NC Regiment.

FORT HARRISON.

We were next taken to the north side of the James River and on September 30th, we assaulted Fort Harrison. This point had been taken by the enemy from our people, and being considered a point of importance, was at once strengthened and very heavily garrisoned. To have attempted its recapture under such circumstances was a mistake, and as carried out a terrible blunder on the part of someone, the assaulting parties going in, in detail and being cut down in turn by the deadly fire of the enemy. Our officers on the ground, particularly Col. McKethan, the brigade commander, seeing the impossibility of success and the heavy loss that we must sustain, protested against making the assault, but being ordered by superior officers to go forward, nobly offered themselves and their commands as sacrifices for their country. At the command the 51st NC Regiment rushed forward with the other regiments of the brigade, preserving their alignment until the stockade was reached, which they found impossible to pass.

To retreat was death, so the only chance was to throw down their guns and pull up these obstructions, which the men at once attempted, but a double line armed with repeating rifles posted in front of the works, and a deadly fire from the garrison in the fort, said to have been several lines deep, and the concentration of all the artillery upon them, made the position untenable and the task impossible, so that the few left were forced to seek shelter offered by two (2) old buildings near the works. Never was an assault made more gallantly or against greater odds. The Light Brigade at Balaclava did no more. "Some one had blundered," but it was a soldier's duty to obey. Our loss was seven (7) officers and ninety-seven (97) men, Lt. Col. Caleb B. Hobson being among the killed, 2nd Lt. Francis S. Currie, of Company D, and 1st Lt. James A. Meares, of Company H, wounded, and others, whose names cannot now be recalled. To Sergeant Major William D. McMillan (Dr. McMillan, of Wilmington), who was seriously wounded in this assault, I am indebted for the following figures, viz.:

"The brigade went into this engagement with 857 guns, and in ten or fifteen minutes lost 587." I am unable to give the strength of the 51st NC Regiment at this particular time, but as the brigade contained 857 and was composed of four (4) regiments, the 51st NC Regiment could not at this time have contained many over 200.

To give some idea how the 51st NC Regiment suffered during the four and one-half (4-1/2) months from May 15th to October 1, 1864, On May 15th, we had 1,100 officers and men, going into the charge of May 16th with 800 men ready for duty (a detail was made from the regiment on May 15th, and did not participate in this engagement). On October 1st, we had reduced to 145 men, many of the companies being without commissioned officers, and in some cases in command of a Corporal.

Our casualties aggregated over 1,000, as some were wounded several times. Companies D and I each suffered a loss of more than 100 men to the company. Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Clingman's (NC) Brigade, under the command of Col. Hector McA. McKethan, was then placed in the line of works protecting Richmond, our left resting on the Darbytown Road, where we remained until December, doing picket duty and engaging in one or two (1-2) feints against the enemy to draw their attention from Petersburg.

WILMINGTON.

On December 24th, we received marching orders and proceeded to Richmond on our way to North Carolina, having been called on account of Federal Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler's threatening Fort Fisher. On reaching Wilmington we went into camp at Camp Lamb, spending about one (1) week, when we changed our camp to a point near Green's Mill Pond, where we remained until the final attack on Fort Fisher. On January 12, 1865, our division (Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke's) was mustered at camp for division review for the benefit of a large number from the city, and after marching and counter-marching for the greater portion of the day we returned to our quarters for rest, but were not given this, as the "long roll" called us to arms during the night and we were hurried towards Fort Fisher. A march however, had been stolen on our people, as a heavy force had been landed by the enemy and cut us off from the fort.

Why we should have been stopped in Wilmington, thirty (30) miles from Fort Fisher, I have never understood. Had Maj. Gen. Hoke and his division been put in supporting distance of Fort Fisher, the enemy could not have made their landing, and without this the capture of Fort Fisher was, in my opinion, impossible.

After the fall of Fort Fisher we made a line across the peninsula and threw up works, our right resting on the Cape Fear River near Sugar Loaf, and our left on the ocean near what is now known as Carolina Beach. From this point we fell back to within a few miles of Wilmington, skirmishing with the enemy as they followed, starting on February 11th. We then evacuated Wilmington, crossing Northeast Cape Fear River and marching to Rockfish in Duplin County.

BATTLE OF SOUTHWEST CREEK.

From this point we were taken by rail to Kinston and engaged in three (3) days fighting, March 7-9, 1865, near that place driving the enemy several miles, capturing and killing many with but small loss to our side. The change from Rockfish to Kinston carried us through Magnolia, where the company which I then commanded was raised, and the homes of many of the men could be seen from the cars. I was given orders for that reason to put my command in an ordinary boxcar, such as was used in those days for transporting soldiers, and to get on top myself with a good man and allow none of the men to get off as we passed through the section in which they lived. We had not proceeded far when the engine stopping at a tank for water, I discovered two of my best men on the ground near the car. I spoke to them and demanded an explanation of their violation of orders, when one of them, pointing to a small house a few hundred yards distant, said that the lady standing in the door was his sister; that he was going to stop and see her, but would be on next day. To permit this was a violation of orders on my part as well as that of the soldiers, but knowing that the enemy was closing in behind us and this would perhaps be their last chance to see their loved ones, and having confidence in the men, I did not have the heart to stop them, whatever the consequences to myself might be, and in this way I lost the greater part of my company before reaching Kinston, and in the first day's fight the First Sergeant and myself represented the company; but true men as they were, all reported for duty that night. This is mentioned to illustrate the true spirit and patriotism of the southern soldier; the cause was almost lost and he knew it, and immediately before him he could picture his fields laid in waste, his home plundered and his family exposed and suffering, yet even to the last roll call, he answered to his country's summons at the post of danger and duty.

BENTONVILLE.

The advance of the enemy from Wilmington and the near approach of Federal Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's army from Fayetteville, caused our withdrawal from Kinston and rendering the evacuation of Goldsborough necessary we were, therefore, ordered to Bentonville, where we met and checked Maj. Gen. Sherman. The first day we fought facing Fayetteville and with our backs on Goldsborough, but we were soon flanked and compelled to face about. Several attempts from the direction of Goldsborough were made to dislodge us, but failed; still the vast forces under Maj. Gen. Sherman finally forced us to retire to escape being surrounded and our communications cut off. This we did in good order, marching to Smithfield, where we remained several days. The enemy however, soon began to advance and on April 10th, we began to retire before them towards Raleigh, through which city we marched April 12th, just ahead of Maj. Gen. Sherman. From Raleigh we went to Chapel Hill, finally halting at Bush Hill, NC, where we surrendered with General Joseph E. Johnston's army and were paroled on May 2, 1865, to return to our homes.

Thus ends the history of the 51st NC Regiment. The regiment was composed, rank and file, of men and officers of whom any country on earth might well be proud. Many, as was the case with our Colonel and a number of others, saw the sun of the South rise in glory at Bethel, and set in its blood-red sheen at Bentonville. In this time many a loved and chivalric comrade passed from us on his long and sad furlough. Thirty-six (36) years have passed and Time, with his cruel scythe, has cut down most of those who were left; to the memory of those that have passed before and since, officers and men, I dedicate this feeble tribute.

In closing, I desire to say that in the preparation of this very imperfect sketch, I have been compelled to do so without data, as our official papers were lost during the latter days of the war. But by the aid of Adjutant John R. Latta, of New Hanover County; Private Stephen J. Cobb, of Company D (Captain Company F, Second North Carolina Volunteers, Spanish-American War); and Sergeant Haynes L. Hall, of Company I, and others who were fortunate enough to escape the terrible struggle, I am under obligations for much information, and in particular as to the casualties. It was my wish to give a full list of the casualties of the regiment, but I found it impossible to do this even of the commissioned officers in the different engagements in which the regiment participated. I attach herewith a roster of the commissioned officers from the organization to the surrender, and with the aid of others, I have attempted to give from memory opposite each name such information as I have been able to obtain. While this roster is not perfectly correct it is as near so as can be made thirty-six (36) years after the close of the war.

I also insert statistics of enlistments in Companies D and I from organization, and of the casualties in each of said companies. The casualties in these two (2) companies fairly represent the losses in the eight (8) others, and the loss of officers as shown by the roster will convey some idea of the losses sustained by the 51st NC Regiment from December 17, 1862, to March 21, 1865.

ROSTER OF THE FIFTY-FIRST NORTH CAROLINA REGIMENT.

Company A—Capt. John L. Cantwell, promoted to Colonel on organization, resigned; Captain George F. Walker. 1st Lt. Edward Southerland, promoted to Captain, wounded at Battery Wagner on July 18, 1863, again wounded in 1864; 3rd Lt. William J. Southerland severely wounded on May 16, 1864, and never returned to service; 1st Lt. William H. Littlejohn wounded at Battery Wagner on July 18, 1863; 3rd Lt. Reuben J. T. Hawes, promoted from 1st Sergeant, lost a foot at Fort Harrison, 2nd Lt. John W. McAllister, dismissed.

Company B—Capt. Caleb B. Hobson, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, killed at Fort Harrison on September 30, 1864, 1st Lt. Walter R. Bell, promoted to Captain, wounded and retired; 1st Lt. John E. Swinson, resigned in 1864; 1st Lt. Thomas J. Herring, promoted to Captain, seriously wounded at Cold Harbor; 1st Lt. Jesse T. Smith, promoted from Sergeant, captured at Cold Harbor and retained in prison till the close of the war; 2nd Lt. Charles L. Cowles, promoted from ranks to Sergeant Major then lieutenant; 3rd Lt. Augustus A. McKethan, promoted from ranks, wounded at Petersburg on June 17, 1864.

Company C—Capt. William A. Allen, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on organization, resigned. 1st Lt. Robinson C. James, wounded at Cold Harbor and retired; 1st Lt. Samuel M. Stanford, promoted to Captain, resigned in 1864; 3rd Lt. Edward L. Watson, promoted to Captain, surrendered at Bush Hill, NC; 1st Lt. Hiram V. Houston, surrendered at Bush Hill, NC; 1st Lt. James G. Branch, resigned in 1863 2nd Lt. Andrew M. Sullivan, promoted from Sergeant, wounded at Kinston in March of 1865.

Company D—Capt. James R. McDonald, promoted to Major, captured at Cold Harbor and retained in prison till the close of the war. 1st Lt. Robert J. McEachern, promoted to Captain, mortally wounded at Cold Harbor; 1st Lt. John D. Malloy, promoted to Captain, wounded at Battery Wagner on July 18, 1863, captured at Drewry's Bluff on May 16, 1864 and retained in prison till the close of the war; 2nd Lt. James B. McCallum, killed at Drewry's Bluff on May 16, 1864; 1st Lt. Hector McEachern, wounded and captured at Drewry's Bluff, later exchanged; 2nd Lt. Francis S. Currie, wounded at Fort Harrison on September 30, 1864; 3rd Lt. William R. Boone, promoted from ranks, captured at 2nd Weldon Railroad, and retained in prison till the close of the war.

Company E—Capt. Willis P. Moore, resigned in Fall of 1862. 1st Lt. Willis H. Pope, promoted to Captain, killed at Drewry's Bluff on May 16, 1864; 1st Lt. Andrew J. Ashley, promoted to Captain, died of wounds in August 1864; 3rd Lt. James P. Pitman, promoted to 1st Lieutenant, captured on September 30, 1864 and retained in prison till the close of the war; 3rd Lt. Francis F. Floyd, captured on June 16, 1864 and retained in prison till the close of the war; 3rd Lt. William A. Bullock, captured on August 19, 1864 at 2nd Weldon Railroad, unclear what happened to him; 1st Lt. Giles W. Thompson, killed at Battery Wagner on July 18, 1863.

Company F—Capt. Alfred B. Walters, resigned during Fall of 1862; Capt. William S. Norment, transferred from the 18th NC Regiment, severely wounded at Fort Harrison on September 30, 1864. 1st Lt. Andrew C. Fulmore, in hospitals several times; 2nd Lt. Golbert P. Higley, captured at Cold Harbor and retained in prison till the close of the war; 2nd Lt. Jacob W. Hartman, wounded, don't remember place or date, returned to active duty and paroled at Greensborough on May 1, 1865.

Company G—Capt. James W. Lippitt, pulled through safe, 1st Lt. Samuel R. Chinnis, resigned during the Fall of 1863; 3rd Lt. Franklin V.B. Yopp, resigned during the Fall of 1863; 1st Lt. Jacob A. Evans, wounded on May 16, 1864; 2nd Lt. Thomas B. Lippitt, pulled through safe; 3rd Lt. Benjamin A. Gowan, captured at Petersburg, died in prison; 2nd Lt. David W. Ketchum, appointed Commissary (ACS) at organization of the regiment.

Company H—Capt. John R. Kelly, resigned in Fall of 1862. 1st Lt. Samuel W. Maultsby, promoted to Captain, severely wounded on May 16, 1864; 1st Lt. John C. Lennon, resigned in Winter of 1862; 1st Lt. Jacob Bamberger, dropped from the rolls in Summer of 1864; 1st Lt. James A. Meares, wounded at Fort Harrison on September 30, 1864; 2nd Lt. William M. Thompson, pulled through safe; 3rd Lt. Jordan Hughes, dropped from the rolls; 2nd Lt. Henry C. Rockwell, appointed AQM at organization of the regiment.

Company I—Capt. Hector McA. McKethan, elected Major on organization, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and afterwards to Colonel, wounded on June 17, 1864. 1st Lt. George Sloan, promoted to Captain, slightly wounded on May 16, 1864, captured on June 1, 1864 at Cold Harbor and retained in prison till the close of the war; 1st Lt. Joseph A. McArthur, wounded and captured on May 16, 1864, exchanged, retired to Invalid Corps; 2nd Lt. Charles T. Guy, promoted from Sergeant, wounded on September 30, 1864; 2nd Lt. William W. McKenzie, resigned in Fall of 1863; 3rd Lt. James H. Taylor, promoted to Adjutant last year of the war.

Company K—Capt. Joseph B. Underwood, resigned in Fall of 1863. 1st Lt. William F. Murphy, promoted to Captain, captured on May 16, 1864 and retained in prison till the close of the war; 2nd Lt. Solomon Boykin, killed at Goldsborough Bridge on December 17, 1862; 1st Lt. Edwin T. McKethan, transferred to Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke's staff, and afterwards assigned to light duty on account of loss of health, retired to Invalid Corps; 3rd Lt. Alexander Elliott, killed at Cold Harbor on June 1, 1864; 2nd Lt. John J. Tew, wounded at Cold Harbor; 3rd Lt. Eli Dudley, wounded at Cold Harbor as a Sergeant.

I am indebted to comrades Private Stephen J. Cobb, of Company D, (Captain of Company F, Second North Carolina Volunteers Spanish-American War), and to Sergeant Daniel G. McLellan, of Company I, for the following statistics in their respective companies:

COMPANY D.

Total enlistments, 151. Killed: Officers 1, men 10, total 11. Died of wounds: Officers 1, men 10; total 11. Wounded: Officers 3, men 58; total 61. Captured: Officers 3, men 20; total 23. Total, officers 8, men 98; grand total, 106. Of the twenty (20) enlisted men reported as captured, thirteen (13) died in prison.

COMPANY I.

Killed: Officers 0, non-commissioned officers 2, men 43; total, 45. Wounded: Officers 2, non-commissioned officers 3, men 48; total, 53. Captured: Officers 2, non-commissioned officers 3, men 24; total, 29. Total, officers 4, non-commissioned officers 8, men 115; grand total, 127.

This company sustained a loss of twenty-nine (29) men in the charge at 2nd Drewry's Bluff on May 16, 1864, exclusive of the few captured who were not wounded. The enemy overan and captured our picket line just before the charge and our loss in prisoners was due to that fact. They were not lost in the assault.

A.A. McKethan,
Fayetteville, NC,
26 April, 1901.