[Walter Clark, editor of the source cited below, gave this regiment the nomenclature of 74th NC Regiment, but it was never known as this contemporaneously. There were no legitimate NC Regiments numbered past the 69th NC Regiment (7th Cavalry). Later regiments were created for Reserves and for Detailed Men, which had their own numbering schema.]

David Jackson Corpening, Colonel.
George C. Stowe, Lieutenant Colonel.
Joseph K. Burke, Major.

All these were doubtless officers who had seen previous service and had been retired or had resigned on account of wounds. The only company officer whose name is accessible (till we get copies of the captured rolls filed at Washington) is Capt. John M. Nicholson, of Company A. The companies composing the regiment either separately or organized in a battalion, had been in service several months. Except detachments guarding prisoners and on local service against deserters, the regiment was at Salisbury guarding prisoners till March, 1865, when being no longer needed for that service, they were sent to the 6th Congressional District to arrest deserters and patrol and protect the country districts with regimental headquarters at Greensborough, NC.

Upon Genreal Joseph E. Johnston's (VA) surrender some of them were paroled, but the bulk of them probably returned quietly to their homes.

This regiment began as Lt. Col. George C. Stowe's Battalion - Senior Reserves in mid-August of 1864, with six (6) companies. A seventh company was added on September 27, 1864. On December 5, 1864, three (3) Independent Companies of Senior Reserves were added to Stowe's Battalion, and it was re-designated as the 5th NC Regiment Senior Reserves.

On March 4, 1865, Lt. Gen. Theophilus H. Holmes (NC) ordered the 5th NC Regiment Senior Reserves to Greensborough in the 6th NC Congressional District. "These officers are charged with the apprehension of deserters in their respective Districts, & will take immediate command and assume the direction of all Troops employed in that duty." Two (2) companies of the 4th NC Regiment Senior Reserves were sent to assist the 5th NC Regiment Senior Reserves.

In early April of 1865, the 5th NC Regiment Senior Reserves was in Statesville, NC, rounding up deserters. In April of 1865, Federal Maj. Gen. George Stoneman raided western North Carolina. Lt. Col. George C. Stowe sent a telegram from Jonesville, in Yadkin County, to Col. John F. Hoke in Salisbury, reporting the progress of Maj. Gen. Stoneman's advance. When Maj. Gen. Stoneman attacked Salisbury on April 12, 1865, it is apparent that only a handful of men from the 5th NC Regiment Senior Reserves were actually involved in this attack - most were out on duty rounding up deserters in Yadkin County.

Few men are recorded as receiving paroles or taking the Oath of Allegiance in May of 1865, and those who did were reported at scattered locations such as Charlotte, Statesville, and Salisbury. Most likely, the men simply melted away as the Confederate forces surrendered.