Confederate Regiments & Batteries * North Carolina


1861
September The 33rd North Carolina Infantry Regiment was organized for state service at Raleigh under the command of Colonel Lawrence O’Bryan Branch, Lieutenant Colonel C.M. Avery and Major Robert Hoke. Assigned to the District of the Pamlico, Department of North Carolina.
Company A – Iredell County
Company B – “Clark’s Guard” – Edgecombe County
Company C – “Cabarrus Hornets” – Cabarrus County
Company D – “Wilkes Regulators” – Wilkes County
Company E – Gates County
Company F – “Dixie Invincibles” – Hyde County
Company G – “Cumberland Rangers” – Cumberland County
Company H – Hyde County
Company I – “Confederate Stars” – Forsyth County
Company K – Greene County
1862
January Mustered into Confederate service
January 17 Colonel Branch was promoted to brigadier general. Lieutenant Colonel Avery was promoted to colonel, Major Hoke was promoted to lieutenant colonel and William G. Lewis was promoted to major.
March Assigned to Branch’s Brigade, District of the Pamlico, Department of North Carolina.
March 17
New Bern

Colonel C.M. Avery was wounded and captured and Lieutenant William H. Massey of Copany G was killed.

April-May Assigned to Branch’s Brigade, Department of North Carolina.
April 25 Major William Gaston Lewis was transferred to the newly created 43rd North Carolina Infantry as lieutenant colonel. Captain Robert Cowan of Company A was promoted to major.
May-June Assigned to Branch’s Brigade, A.P. Hill’s Division, Department of Northern Virginia.
May 27
Hanover Court House
June-July Assigned to Branch’s Brigade, A.P. Hill’s Division, 1st Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
June 25-July 1
Seven Days Battles

The regiment lost 75 casualties.

June 26
Beaver Dam Creek
June 27
Gaines’ Mill

Lieutenant John W. Williams of Company H was killed.

June 30
Frayser’s Farm
July 1
Malvern Hill
July-May Assigned to Branch’s-Lane’s Brigade, A.P. Hill’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
August 5 Lieutenant Colonel Hoke was promoted to colonel of the 21st North Carolina Infantry but remained with the 33rd North Carolina until after the Battle of Sharpsburg as Colonel Avery was still a prisoner. Major Cowan was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Thomas Mayhew of Company B was promoted to major.
August 9
Cedar Mountain

The regiment lost 36 casualties. Captain William M.B. Swindell of Company H was killed.

August 28-30
Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)

The regiment lost 8 men. Captain Joseph H. Saunders of Company A was wounded.

September 1
Battle of Chantilly
September 12-15
Harpers Ferry
September 17-19
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Robert F. Hoke. Lieutenant T.A. Cowan of Company A was killed. Lieutenant Hugh Hill of Company A was mortally wounded.

From the War Department marker to Branch’s Brigade at Antietam:

In the advance of A. P. Hill’s Division from the Antietam Furnace Road, on the afternoon of September 17th, Branch’s Brigade supported the Brigades of Gregg and Archer.

It was engaged south of this point, and its commander, Brig. General Branch was killed in the southeast part of the field adjoining this on the south.

After the death of General Branch, the command devolved upon Colonel James H. Lane, of the 28th North Carolina, who relieved Toombs’ Brigade of D. R. Jones’ Division at this point.

The Brigade remained in this position until the morning of the 19th, when it recrossed the Potomac.

September 20
Shepherdstown Ford
Late fall Lieutenant Colonel Hoke left the regiment to assume command of the 21st North Carolina as colonel.
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment lost 41 men.

1863
May 2-4
Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment brought 480 men to the field. It marched to Chancellorsville on the 2nd and that evening deployed as skirmishers on both sides of the Plank Road, coming under a heavy fire from both sides. In three days of fighting they lost 4 officers and 28 enlisted men killed, 14 officers and 87 enlisted men wounded, and 2 officers and 66 enlisted men missing; a total of 201 casualties, or 42%.

Colonel Avery was wounded, Lieutenant Colonel Cowan was wounded in the right arm and Major Thomas W. Mayhew was mortally wounded and captured. Captain Saunders of Company A took command as senior officer.

Captain John Callais of Company G, Lieutenants G.M. Weaver of Company D and Lieutenants Joseph D. Boushall and William K. Babb of Company E were killed. Lieutenant Peyton Anthony of Company B was wounded.

May Assigned to Lane’s Brigade, Pender’s-Wilcox’s Division, 3rd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
June 1 Captain Joseph Saunders of Company A was promoted to major.
July 1-4
Battle of Gettysburg

The 33rd North Carolina Infantry Regiment was commanded by Colonel Clark M. Avery. He took over the brigade on the evening of July 3 after Brigadier General Pender took over the division from the mortally wounded William Pender and the wounded Isaac Trimble.

The regiment brought 368 men to Gettysburg and lost 20% casualties. Major Joseph H. Saunders was wounded and captured on July 3. Captain Henry Baker of Company A and Lieutenant John Caldwell of Company E were killed on July 3. Lieutenants Peyton Anthony of Company B and Joseph C. Mills of Company G were wounded. Lieutenant F.M. Joines of Company D was wounded and captured.

James A. Summers was promoted to captain of Company A.

From the monument to Lane’s Brigade at Gettysburg:

July 1. Crossed Willoughby Run about 3.30 P. M. and advanced on the right of the Division in the final and successful movement against the Union forces on Seminary Ridge held back Union Cavalry which threatened the flank and had a sharp conflict at the stone wall on Seminary Ridge just south of Fairfield Road.

July 2. Lay with its right in McMillan’s Woods with skirmish line advanced.

July 3. In Longstreet’s assault the Brigade supported the centre of Pettigrew’s Division advancing in good order under the storm of shot and shell and when near the Union works north of the Angle pushed forward to aid the fragments of the front line in the final struggle and was among the last to retire.

July 4. After night withdrew and began the march to Hagerstown.

July 10
Falling Waters
October-November
Bristoe Campaign
October 14
Bristoe Station
November-December
Mine Run Campaign

Captain William T. Parker of Company E died.

1864
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness

Captain Ebenezer Price of Company B and Lieutenant Isaac L. Farrow of Company H were killed.

May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

The regiment lost 4 men killed and 19 wounded. Lieutenant John N. Anderson of Company I was wounded.

May 22-26
North Anna (Jericho Mills)

The regiment lost 5 men killed, 29 wounded, and 4 missing. Captain James Weston of Company F was wounded.

May 30
Totopotomoy Creek
June 1-4
Battle of Cold Harbor

Captain James M. Hunt of Company D was mortally wounded.

June 13
Battle of Riddell’s Shop
June 15-18
Grant’s First Assault on Petersburg

Colonel Avery was mortally wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Robert V. Cowan was promoted to colonel and took command of the regiment. Major Joseph H. Sanders was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

June 22
Wells’ Farm
June 23
Weldon Railroad
July 28
Gravel Hill

Captain James A. Weston of Company B was promoted to major.

August 16
Fussell’s Mill
August 25
Reams’ Station
September 30
Jones’ Farm & Squirrel Level Road
October 1
Pegram’s Farm
1865
February 5-7
Hatcher’s Run
March 25
Fort Stedman
April 2
Final Assault on Petersburg & Battery Gregg
April 5
Amelia Court House and Jetersville
April 7
Farmville
April 9
Appomattox Court House

The regiment surrendered surrendered 11 officers and 108 enlisted men.