12th North Carolina Infantry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * North Carolina

“2nd Infantry Regiment Volunteers”

1861
May 15

The 12th North Carolina Infantry Regiment was organized as the 2nd Infantry Regiment Volunteers near Garysburg under the command of Colonel Solomon Williams (West Point Class of 1858).

Company A – Catawba County
Company B – Granville County
1st Company C – Duplin County
2nd Company C – Warren County
1st Company D – Robeson County
2nd Company D – Granville County
Company E – Cleveland County
Company F – Warren County
Company G – Halifax County
Company H – Nash County
Company I – Halifax County
Company K – Warren and Franklin Counties
Company L – Tyrrell and Franklin Counties
Company M – Camden County
Company N – Northampton County
Company O – Northampton County
May 18 Mustered into Confederate service. 
May 22 Left the training camp at Garysburg by rail for Richmond, then to Norfolk, assigned to the Department of Norfolk.
Summer Drilled at Camp Carolina.
October-April Assigned to Mahone’s Brigade, Department of Norfolk.
November 14 Redesignated as 12th North Carolina Infantry Regiment when North Carolina’s “state troops” and “volunteers” were renumbered into one series.
November 18 Company C mustered out.
November 29 Companies L, M, N & O were redesignated Companies A-D, 1st North Carolina Infantry Battalion. This was expanded into the 32nd North Carolina Infantry Regiment.
December 16 Company D mustered out.
Winter Went into Winter quarters at Camp Arrington near the Seward’s Point Battery.
1862
February 25 Second Company I was assigned.
March Second Company K was assigned.
April Assigned to Mahone’s Brigade, Huger’s Division, Department of Norfolk.
May 6 Left by rail for Petersburg and then Gordonsville and assigned to Branch’s Brigade, Department of Northern Virginia
May-June Assigned to Branch’s Brigade, A.P. Hill’s Division, Army of Northern Virginia and picketed the right flank of the army.
May 11 Henry P. Coleman was promoted to colonel.
May 27
Battle of Hanover Court House

Engaged at Peake’s Crossing. The regiment lost 7 men killed and 20 wounded.
June 5 Colonel Williams transferred to command the 2nd North Carolina Cavalry Regiment.
June Transferred to Mahone’s Brigade, Huger’s Division, Army of Northern Virginia
June 17 Transferred to Garland’s Brigade, D.H. Hill’s Division, Army of Northern Virginia
June 25-July 1
Seven Days Battles

The regiment suffered 211 casualties during the Seven Days.
June 25
King’s School House
June 26
Beaver Dam Creek
June 27
Battle of Gaines’ Mill
June 30
White Oak Swamp
July 1
Battle of Malvern Hill
July 9-10

Returned to camp in Richmond.
Mid-August

Moved to Hanover Junction.
August 26-28

Rejoined D.H. Hill’s Division at Orange Court House, then marched to Manassas. It was not engaged in the Second Battle of Manassas. “After the Seven Days’ Battles the regiment scarcely numbered two hundred men.” – Lieutenant Walter Montgomery, Company F.
September 2

Hill’s Division caught up with the army at Chantilly.
September Assigned to Garland’s-Iverson’s-Johnston’s Brigade, D.H. Hill’s-Rodes’ Division, Jackson’s Command-2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. 
September 5

Crossed the Potomac into Maryland.
September 10

Moved out of Frederick, erving as Longstreet’s rearguard.
September 13

Posted at Fox’s Gap on South Mountain.
September 14
Battle of South Mountain

The remnants of the regiment were commanded by Captain Shugan Snow of Company G. The regiment numbered less 92 men in the battle, having left behind a rearguard detachment that had not yet caught up. Of these few it suffered 58 casualties. When ordered forward to support the 5th North Carolina it scattered into fragments, with one group supporting the 13th North Carolia and others leaving the field.

“Garland’s Brigade had behaved nobly until demoralized by the fall of its gallant leader and being outflanked by the Yankees.” – Colonel Duncan K. MacRae, who took command of the brigade when Garland fell.
September 17
Battle of Antietam

The regiment continued to be commanded by Captain Snow. The rearguard had rejoined, restoring a small handful of men.
November 21 Captain Snow resigned.
December 3 Moved to Port Royal to guard the crossing of the Rappahannock.
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment lost 5 casualties to artillery fire.
1863
January D.H. Hill left division command and was replaced by Major General Robert Rodes.
May 1-4
Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment took part in Jackson’s flank attack against the Federal line. It lost 118 casualties but captured three Federal colors and a Union colonel.
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William S. Davis. It brought 219 men to the field and suffered 36% casualties. The terrain prevented the regiment from suffering the near annihilation of the other regiments in its brigade during the assault on July 1. After that attack General Iverson was unfit for command, and the 12th North Carolina was temporarily part of Ramseur’s Brigade.

From the monument to Iverson’s Brigade on the Gettysburg battlefield:

July 1. The Brigade was one of the first of the Division in the battle. It advanced against the Union line posted behind stone fence east of Forney Field. Its right being assailed by 2nd Brigade First Corps and its left exposed by the repulse of O’Neal a vigorous assault by Union forces in front and on left flank almost annihilated three regiments. The 12th Regiment on the right being sheltered by the knoll suffered slight loss and the remnants of the others joined Ramseur’s Brigade and served with it throughout the battle.

July 2. Lay all day in the town. At dusk moved to aid in an attack on Cemetery Hill but two of Early’s Brigades having been repulsed the Brigade withdrew.

July 3. With other brigades in the sunken road southwest of town. At night withdrew to Seminary Ridge.

July 4. Marched at 2 P. M. as wagon train guard on road to Hagerstown.
July 6
Battle of Hagerstown
October-November
Bristoe Campaign

The regiment lost 3 men killed and 11 wounded,
October 11
Raccoon Ford and Stevensburg
November 7
Kelly’s Ford
November-December
Mine Run Campaign
1864
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness
May 8 Assigned to Johnston’s Brigade, Early’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

The regiment was advncing into the Mule Shoe salient when the Federal attack hit and pushed it back. As many as two thirds of the regiment became casualties.
May 22-26
Battle of North Anna
June 1-3
Battle of Cold Harbor
June
Lynchburg Campaign

Assigned to Johnston’s Brigade, Early’s-Ramseur’s-Pegram’s Division, Army of the Valley
July 9
Battle of Monocacy
July 20
Battle of Stephenson’s Depot
July 24
Second Battle of Kernstown
September 19
Third Battle of Winchester
September 22
Battle of Fisher’s Hill
October 19
Battle of Cedar Creek

Lieutenant Colonel Wiliam S. Davis commanded the regiment until he was wounded.
December
Siege of Petersburg

Assigned to Johnston’s Brigade, Pegram’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
1865
February 5-7
Battle of Hatcher’s Run
March 25
Battle of Fort Stedman
April 6
Battle of Sayler’s Creek
April 7
Farmville
April 9
Appomattox Court House

The 12th North Carolina surrendered 8 officers and 139 enlisted men. 

The regiment’s field officers were Colonels Henry E. Coleman, Benjamin O. Wade, and Solomon Williams; Lieutenant Colonels Edward Cantwell, William S. Davis, and Thomas L. Jones; and Majors Robert W. Alston, Augustus W. Burton, and David P. Rowe.