The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-02-16
For the Western Democrat.
HISTORY OF THE 4sTH N. C REGT-
MENT

MENT.
Mr. EDITOR: The following is brief and has
ty abstract of the history of the 48th n c. Troops
The Regiment was organized at Camp Mangum,
near Raleigh, n. c., about the 9Th April, 1862,
!. having four companies from Union county, swo
from Davidson, one from Davidson and Forsyth,
kone from 1redell, one from Moore, and one from
Chatham.
+ Company A, from Union, commanded by Capt
FL Watt, afterwards promoted to Major, July
18th, 1862, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the
death of Major B R Huske)
Company B, from Davidson county, Capt Albert
A Hill, promoted upon the resignation of Major
Watt, Sept 22d, 1862, to Major, and since the
death of Col r G Hill, to the Lieut. Colonelcy.
Company G, from Iredell, Capt A NJ Walker,
since resigned.
! Company d.. from Moore, Captain R Huske,
elected Major.9th April. 1862, and died of wounds
received Gin battle near Rchnlond) July Is, 1868
Company 3, from Union, Capt " Walden,
since resigned
Company +, from Union, Captain S H walkup,
elected April 9th, 1862, Lieutenant Colonel, and
promoted to Colonel, Dec 4th, 1868, by the death
of Col r c Hill.
Company G., from Chatham, Capt Wm Jones,
recently promoted to Major, since the death of
Col r Hil
Company H, from Davidson, Capt - Michael,
since resigned.
| Company l, from Union, Capt Or } Alex
ander since resigned
| Company K, from Davidson and Forsyth, Capt
| Jesse Atwood, since died.
The above companies were organized into the
18th Regiment n g Troops by the election, on 9th
| April 1862, of Robert Hill, of Iredell county,
as Colone Capt S Ii " alkup, of Union county,
LIEUTENANT Colonel, and Capt Benz 4 Iuske, Of
t Fayetteville, Major.
They remained about month at Camp Man
gum and removed to Godsboro, N. c., perfectng
themselves in drill The Regiment was next or
dered, on lst June, to Petersburg, Va, where the
drill was continued and the Reg iment was attached
to Gen Bobt Ransom's Brigade June 10th, tore
up the Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad from Black
water toward Petersburg June l7tA, sent down
to james River to get ice for the N G Hospital, at
| DR. Epps' house under of the enemy's gun
boats. June 18th, attacked the gunboats and the
Regiment first got under the enemy's fire from
severe sheling June Oath, ordered to Richmond
and arrived the morning of the 25th, at French s
Farm, on the Williamsburg Road, where the Regi
ment in the evening charged two brigades Of the
enemy, and got badly cut up--out of 4SO men en-
gagged, lost II killed on the field and SO wounded,
/ many Of whom have since died, including Major
Huske and Capt Clegg of Go ID. This the
beginning of the Richmond ''seven days fights"
On the 26th, heard heavy firing up the Chicka-
hominy to our left, the battle of Mechanicsville
On the 27th,' firing commenced at Gaines Mills
and Cold Harbor. On the 2Sth, We were placed
in Gen q Walkers Brigade and ordered across
I the Chickahominy to Cold Harbor-the battle was
over before we reached there and enemy in flight.
We were then marched to Aliens furm on James
River, near. Malvern Hill. June 30th, got under
terrific fire Of gunboats, and continued in line of
battle under severe shelling until the morning Of
sJuly I'd, when we were ordered to Drury's Bluff,
and thence back to Petersburg where we remained
throwing up entertainments, making excursions to
Prince George g. H. and attacking McClellans
camp, July 30th, at Harrison's Landing, in Gen
H Hills Division August Goth; ordered again
to Richmond and on the 9th to Rapdan Station.
On the lst Sept. 1862, we began the campaign
towards Maryland, passing Manassas and Leesburg,
and crossing the Potomac river into Maryland as
fa: as Fredercktown, and thence, returning,
recrossed the Potomac into Virginia, at Point Of
Rocks, and arrived at Harpers Ferry, the 18th
September, where remained under the enemy's
shells, op Loudon Heights, until the 18th, when
400 of the enemy surrendered to Gen Stonewall
Jackson. We crossed the Shenandoah and were
ordered on the night of the 18th to Sharpsburg,
crossed the Potom.c river at Shepherdstown next
day, the 10th, and formed line Of battle early
the morning of the 18th, in Gen II Hills Di-
vision. About ten O'Clock we were ordered to the
left, to support Gen T J Jackson, ard became en-:
gagged in one of bloodiest fights, at Sharpsburg
$50 men OF the Regiment engaged In this action
80 were killed and i95 wounded, many of, them
mortally, of whom Adjt Ell CASTOR, Captain
BENZ Atwood, Co K and Lie1t 8 w Witherspoon
Of Co G. The two former were captured and died
in the enemy hands. Several Of men were
here wounded and taken prisoners, and many OF
them have not since been heard from. On the
night of the 18th Sept, re crussed the Potomac
and retired to Martinsburg, and thence, after
a few days, to Winchester For about one month
We remained near Winchester aud thence removed
with Lopgstrects corps to Upperville, and thence
to Madison, e Ii, where remained few weeks
and then ordered, Nov 18th, to Hanover Junction,
and the way turned towards Fredcrcks-
burg. Gen Walker having been transferred
to the army of the West, We were placed under
command of Brig Gen John II Cooke. We ar
rived near Fredericksburg, Nov 22d, 1862, and
remained until 11th December, when We were
placed in line Of battle in of Maries Heights.
On the 18th. when the battle began, we occupied
Marie's Heights, beside the Washington Battery,
in full view of the enemy We went into the fight
about one o'clock I. NJ, with two field officers, 26
company commissioned officers and 3S7 officers
and privates, and remained exposed to most de-
structve fire from shot, shell aud small arms until
dark over four hours. Our loss was 209 in killed
and wounded, II and l officer 04ieut Peter
Plyler, of Co E. killed, and both field officers,
Lieut. Colonel Walkup, commanding the regiment,
and Major A A Hill being wounded also Is of the
company officers were wounded, three of whom