2nd North Carolina Cavalry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * North Carolina

19th North Carolina State Troops

The 2nd North Carolina Cavalry Regiment commissioned or enlisted 1,439 men during the Civil War. Sixty-three were killed or  mortally wounded and 151 died of disease. Two hundred fifty-six became prisoners of war, of whom 17 died in captivity. Seventy-one were disabled, and 30 deserted.

1861
August 30 The 2nd North Carolina Cavalry Regiment was organized at Kittrell’s Springs at Camp Clark under the command of Colonel Samuel B. Spruill, Lieutenant Colonel William G. Robinson, and Major John W. Woodfin. The regiment enlisted for the duration of the war. Regimental officers were appointed by the governor until 1862, when a law was passed allowing troops to elect their company officers.

Company A – Cherokee County – Captain George W. Hayes
Company B – Iredell County – Captain C. M. Andrews
Company C – Gates and Hertford Counties – Captain John G. Boothe
Company D — Cumberland County – Captain James W. Strange
Company E – Nash,  Wilson and Franklin Counties – Captain Columbus A. Thomas
Company F – Guilford County – Captain Barzillai F. Cole
Company G – Beaufort County – Captain Louis F. Satterthwaite
Company H – Bertie and Northampton Counties – Captain, John Randolph
Company I – Moore County – Captain Jesse L. Bryan
Company K – Orange County – Captain Josiah Turner, Jr.

The state also provided mounts to the privates of the regiment.
October The regiment was posted in three commands:
Companies D, E, F, I &, K with Colonel Spruill and Major Woodfin to Hertford, then Edenton.
Companies B & G (Second Squadron) under Lieutenant Colonel Robinson to Washington, N.C.
Companies C & H (Third Squadron) under Captain Boothe to the Neuse River below New Bern.
Company A at Asheville.
December All of the regiment except Companies B & G came together at New Bern. Assigned to District of the Pamlico, Department of North Carolina. Companies F & K received their horses so that the whole regiment was mounted. But they were not armed, the men finding whatever weapons they could.
1862
March Assigned to French’s Brigade, District of the Pamlico, Department of North Carolina. Governor Clark complained to the Confederate Government that the regiment had never been provided with weapons despite having been in service for six months. It would eventually equip itself with captured weapons in Virginia.
March 15
Battle of New Bern
Late March Went into Camp at Wise’s Fork. The regiment’s companies were all together for the first time.
April-September Assigned to Ransom’s Brigade, Department of North Carolina

The regiment picketed Burnside’s troops through the summer. Lieutenant Colonel Robinson was wounded and captured. Captain Turner of Company K was badly wounded and disabled.
April 13
Gillett’s Farm
April Colonel Spruill resigned.
April
Tuscarora Depot
May 15
Foscue’s Farm

Men from Company A and K skirmished were attacked by strong Federal forces, losing 1 man killed, 6 men wounded, and 2 men captured.
May 16
Pollocksville
June 5 Colonel Solomon Williams (West Point Class of 1858) transferred from the 12th North Carolina Infantry to take command of the regiment.
July 28
French’s
August 31
Plymouth

Company K
September 6
Washington

Companies C & K. One man was killed. Captain Boothe was badly wounded and disabled from service.
September Assigned to Chambliss’ Command, Department of North Carolina and Southern VirginiaMajor Woodfin resigned. Captain C. M. Andrews of Company B was promoted to major.
October Moved to Virginia and assigned to W.H.F. Lee’s Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of Northern Virginia
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg
December 14 Colonel Williams was temporarily detached to preside over a court-martial. Major Andrews would command the regiment until May 8.
December 27-29
Raid on Dumfries and Fairfax Station

One man was captured.
1863
April-May
Stoneman’s Raid
May 1-4
Battle of Chancellorsville

Six men were captured.
May 8 Major Andrews left on sick furlough. Lieutenant Colonel Payne of the 4th Virginia Cavalry temporarily took command of the regiment.
June 1 The regiment’s roster was:Colonel Solomon Williams
No lieutenant colonel, as William G. Robinson was still a Federal prisoner.
Major Clinton M. Andrews

Company A – Captain J. V. B. Rogers
Company B – Captain S. J. Andrews
Company C – Captain James M. Wynn
Company D – Captain James W. Strange
Company E – Captain B. W. Atkinson
Company F – Captain P. A. Tatum
Company G – Captain M. L. Eure
Company H – Captain R. H. Reese
Company I – Captain D. O. Bryan
Company K – Captain W. A. Graham, Jr.
June 8 Stuart’s Cavalry Review
June 9
Battte of Brandy Station, Beverly Ford

The regiment lost 4 men killed, 17 wounded and 9 captured. Colonel Williams was killed, shot through the head while rallying his men for a charge. Captain S. Jay Andrews of Company B lost his foot and Lieutenant J. G. Blassingame of Company F was mortally wounded.

Captain Strange of Company D took command of the regiment.
June 19 & 21
Middleburg & Upperville

Six men were killed, eight wounded, and five were captured. Lieutenant Cole of Company I was killed, and Lieutenant Bryan of Company G was wounded and captured. Lieutenant Holden of Company F had his arm broken.
June 30
Battle of Hanover, Pennsylvania

Lieutenant Colonel William H.F. Payne commanded the regiment. He was wounded and captured. Captain William A. Graham took command until he was wounded. Lieuteant Joseph Baker of Company D took command as senior officer. Four men were wounded and 18 were captured.
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment brought 145 men to the battlefield under Lieutenant Joseph Baker of Company D. Two men were wounded and four captured.

From the monument to W.H.F. Lee’s Brigade at Gettysburg:

July 3. The Brigade reached here about noon and took an active part in the fight until it ended. Some of the men serving as sharpshooters in the vicinity of the Rummel Barn but most of the Command participating in the charges made by the Cavalry during the afternoon. It left the field after nightfall.
July 12
Hagerstown

One man was captured.
July 14
Falling Waters

Four men were captured.
September Assigned to Baker’s Brigade, Hampton’s Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
October 10
Russel’s Ford and James City
October 11
Culpeper Court House
October 14
Auburn Mills

One man was captured.
October 15
Bristoe Station

One man was wounded.
October 19
Buckland
November 13 Lieutenant William P. Roberts was promoted to captain.
November 29
Parker’s Store
1864
February-March
Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid
April Assigned to Gordon’s’s Brigade, W.H.F. Lee’s Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. Captain William Roberts was promoted to major.
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness

One man was captured.
May 11
Goodall’s Tavern & Ground Squirrel Church
May 24
Wilson’s Wharf
May 27
Hanover Court House
May 30
Haw’s Shop
June 1
Ashland
June
Malvern Hill
June 24
Nantz’s Shop
June
Siege of Petersburg

Major William Roberts was promoted to colonel.
June Crenshaws
June The Rocks
June 21
Davis Farm

Two men were captured.
June 23
Black and Whites
June 28
Sappony Church
July 17
Herring Creek
July 27
New Market Road
July 27-29
Darbytown & Strawberry Plains
August 15
Deep Bottom

One man was killed, one missing and two captured.
August
White’s Tavern

One man was wounded.
August White Oak Swamp
August 22-25
Reames Station

One man was wounded.
September 16
Beef Steak Raid
September 27
McDowell’s Farm
Sepember 30 Jones’ Farm
October 2 Harman Road
October Boisseau’s Farm
October Gravelly Run
October Hargrove’s Road
October 27-28
Boydton Plank Road
December 8
Belfield
1865
February 23 Colonel Roberts was promoted to brigadier general.
March 31
Dinwiddie Court House
April 1
Battle of Five Forks

The regiment lost 1 man killed, four wounded, and ten captured.
April 3
Namozine Curch
April 4
Amelia Court House

Three men were captured.
April 9
Appomattox Court House

The regiment surrendered only 7 men.