The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-23
BITS or WAR HISTORY.
SHORT sRETCB q TIE FaKF9-
FTRSr NORTH CAROLINA
REGIMENT.
WRITTEN BY MR.. JOSHUA B. HILL

Bars at GGm'r. craze Cavalry bf F'Ut
WI served ihsoush the " ar Ia a'e.
fence a rhe Rights of the southern
people The Capture a. Newbern oy
The rcderats-t1gh; ~ Around 2ich.
mond ana Pstersburg,
The Forty-first North Carolina
Troops was a regiment of cavalry; in
the formal enrolment it was known as
tbetThi Cavalry, but for a great por-
ton Of its honorable history it was
scattered over an extended field OF
operations and serving as detached
companies of cavalry.
1t should be understood that the
system adopted in numbering the sew
eral regiments does not represent the
order of the organization of the com
panies in behalf of the defense of the
State and the rights Of the Southern
people.
For example, ten regiments raised
under what was called the Ten Regi-
ment Bill" and enlisted for the war
as was stated were allowed to ante
number all previous volunteer organi-
cations, most of them having been en-
rolled for twelve months, although. as
a matter of fact. all finally served
throughout the struggle The only
exception to this was the First Volun-
teers (Bethel), afterwards known as
the Eleventh
Regiments like the Eighteenth and
Twentieth had been in service many
months at the forts before being
placed in regimental organizations the
latter even containing companies fully
equipped before the attack upon Sum
ter.
In like manner many of the COM
panies which were organized at Kin
ston in the fall of 1862. had already
seen large and faithful service. and it
is to be hoped that surviving members
of these gallant troops. that contribu-
ted so much to the protection of East
ern Carolina, will leave memorials Of
their valuable services and chivalrous
deeds of daring.
There was something attractive to the
young Southerner in the life of a bold
dragoon, especially among those
whose circumstances had made them
fearless horsemen, and whose life in
the open air and participation in field
sports had rendered them the finest re-
cruits in the world for this form of
military duty.
OF this class the flower Of the young
men of the State were the various
Dragons" Mounted Rifles" and
similar bodies composed who bvou-
acked from the lower James to the
Cape Fear, content to serve where duty
called, under their bold captains.
The fall of Hatteras and the fate of
Roanoke Island early i'm the war were
unavoidable events, under the circum-
stances. Without ordnance to con-
tend against a powerful feet that
stood without range, and shelled at
pleasure "A garrison practically de
fenseless the fate of Hatteras was
sealed.
But the capture of Newborn ought
not to have occurred-at least it need
not have taken place in 1862, long be-
fore the war was twelve months old, il
the authorities at Richmond had given
it help with half the troops uselessly
sent down afterwards.
But the Importance of the position
was hardly apprehended by either
side. Certainly a Federal commander
of the order of Jackson, or of Sheridan
would have cut the great line of sup
ply of Lees army, the Wilmington &
Weldon railroad and overwhelmed
Wilmington from the rear
That this was not done, must be at
fributed largely to the activity and
energy of the Third Cavalry. before
and after it's formal organization as q
regiment, and the other cayalries serv
ing in like capacity, or as partizar
rangers.
The companies were somewhat un
equal in size. AS the war progressed
and the Confederate Congress insisted
upon measures of CONSUMPTION. those
arriving at military age frequently
volunteered in companies containing
friends, or raised IN special localities
Some of these were from towns OF
counties in the hands of the enemy
and recruits were not easily available
Other companies were stationed al
ports favorable for accessions to Their
ranks
Moore's Roster gives 1853 men il
the ranks of the regiment, but as tn.
deficiency of that enrolment ar,
well known, it is probable that The
number was not less than 200 If no
more.
John A. Baker. Of New Hanover, ser,
ing on the staff OF Major-Gen1 French
at that time III command of the de
partment of North Carolina, will
headquarters at Wilmington, was
commissioned as Colonel September
s Bird, 1862, of the Third North Caroline
Cavalry, now designated as the Ais
y. G. Troops.
The remaining field officers were
not assigned until nearly year after
wards, Alfred NJ. Waddell having beer
commissioned Lieut-Colonel on Angus
18th, 1868, and Roger Moore Major OF
the same date. Previous to that A
NJ. Waddell had served as Adjutant
and Capt Roger Moore as Quarter
Master. Both of these gentlemen
were from Wilmington. Upon the res
ignation of Col. Waddell. August 10th
1864 Major Roger Moore was promoted
TO Lieutenant-C Colonel, and on Decem
Der 9th. 1864, Capt. c. w. McClammy
of Company A., was promoted to th'
vacant Majority. Col. Moore became
commanding officer as Col. Baker, who
had been taken prisoner by the enemy