As a former 3rd Lieutenant then 1st Lieutenant in Company I of the 35th NC Regiment, William R. Bass was not re-elected when the regiment re-organized on April 21, 1862. On January 30, 1863, he telegraphed Governor Zebulon B. Vance from Goldsborough, informing the governor "I have fifty-three (53) Men & Can get the balance if the conscript officer will allow me to have them. I mean east of the W & W RR (Wilmington & Weldon Railroad) for state defence let me hear whether I can hold them or not."

Bass's Company was soon assigned to the 8th NC Battalion-Partisan Rangers before the end of April 1863. This battalion re-organized in May of 1863 and Bass's Company became Company D. This battalion was considered cavalry, but it is doubtful that all men were mounted. By August of 1863, it was reported as an infantry unit.

On October 2, 1863, the Confederate Adjutant & Inspector General's Office issued Special Order No. 234, which authorized the 66th NC Regiment. The 8th NC Battalion-Partisan Rangers, the 13th NC Battalion-Infantry, and Capt. Elon G. Blackmer's Company of NC Prison Guards were merged to create the 66th NC Regiment, and was assigned to Brig. Gen. James G. Martin's (NC) brigade. Capt. William R. Bass telegraphed Gov. Vance from Kinston protesting these orders: "By authority from you I raised the company I now command for state defence. I am now ordered off tomorrow by Genl Martin. I and my company are willing to do any service you may think proper in the state service but are unwilling to be subject to other orders, as we believe without your consent. Will you please give this your immediate attention and have the orders counter-manded?" Gov. Vance poked around to Brig. Gen. Richard C. Gatlin (NC Adjutant General at that time), then messaged Maj. Gen. William H.C. Whiting (VA) (commander of Wilmington's Third Military District), but Maj. Gen. Whiting never responded.

No matter, Capt. Bass's Company became Company L in the newly-created 66th NC Regiment, and had 62 officers and men. However, by November 30, 1863, this unit was again an "Independent Company" and was stationed at Camp McRae near Wilmington. It was assigned to the Batteries, or Fort Lee, Fort Davis, Fort Campbell, and Fort Meares. It served as heavy artillerists and infantry, training guards on the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad, the Wilmington & Manchester Railroad, and the river steamers on the Cape Fear River betweeen Wilmington and Fayetteville, and from Wilmington to Smithville (now Southport).

With Capt. Bass and three (3) lieutenants, there were 102 Privates in April of 1864. A December 30, 1864 letter from Maj. Gen. William H.C. Whiting (VA) to Lt. Col. Archer Anderson on General Braxton Bragg's (LA) staff, Bass's Company was the only unit available for the Wilmington garrison besides Maj. Franz J. Hahr's Battalion NC Light Duty Men. Maj. Gen. Whiting was urging additional troops be sent to protect Wilmington and Fort Fisher.

Many years after the war, former Sgt. William T. Caho asserted that Bass's Company was assigned to the 68th NC Regiment in the Fall of 1864 and became Company C. According to Sgt. Caho, the company joined the regiment at Fort Branch on the Roanoke River, near Hamilton, NC. There are no official records of this. However, it is known that Company C of the 68th NC Regiment had been so reduced that it is clear that replacements were needed. The 68th NC Regiment was at Fort Branch in late December of 1864, but when Sgt. Caho asserts Bass's Company joined, the 68th NC Regiment was at Goldsborough, NC. By mid-February of 1865, it was at Williamston, NC, then to Tarborough, then by early March of 1865 it was at Kinston, and Sgt. Caho asserts Bass's Company followed to all locations.

Bass's Company participated in the Battle of Wyse's Fork - part of the overall battle of 2nd Kinston on March 6-10, 1865 - and many served as sharpshooters. The company joined Col. John N. Whitford's Brigade and was ordered to Cox's Bridge, west of Goldsborough on March 18th. Arriving the next day, the brigade held off the Federals. Sgt. Caho provided a short write-up as an "Additional Sketch" for the 68th NC Regiment.

Col. John N. Whitford's brigade moved eastward after Cox's Bridge, and Col. Whitford negotiated a surrender agreement with Federal Brig. Gen. Innis N. Palmer on April 26, 1865, ostensibly for his entire brigade, including Capt. William R. Bass's Company, whether it was officially part of the 68th NC Regiment or still an Independent Company. Each unit of the brigade simply disbanded on its own and the men made their way home. Some of Bass's Company were captured on their way home and reported as prisoners of war. Some were considered "deserters" even though the war was essentially over. Seventeen (17) men were actually paroled at Goldsborough between May 4th and May 15th.