56th North Carolina Infantry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * North Carolina

1862
July 31 The 56th North Carolina Infantry Regiment was organized near Raleigh at Camp Mangum under the command of Colonel Paul F. Faison, Lieutenant Colonel G. Gratiott Luke, and Major Henry F. Schenck.

Company A – “North Carolina Defenders” – Camden County.
Company B – “Cape Fear Guards” – Cumberland County and Johnston County
Company C – “Pasquotank Boys” – Pasquotank County
Company D – “Graham Rifles” – Orange County
Company E – “Moore Guards” – Moore County and Northampton County
Company F – “Cleveland Riflemen” – Cleveland County
Company G – “Henderson Blues” – Henderson County
Company H – “Pettigrew Guards” – Alexander County and Caswell County
Company I – “Rutherford Rifles” – Rutherford County (from 16th North Caroina Infantry)
Company K – “Confederate Boys” or “Davidson College Guards” – Mecklenburg County and Iredell County
1863
January Assigned to Ransom’s Brigade, Walker’s Division, 1st Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
January-February Assigned to Ransom’s Brigade, District of Cape Fear, Department of North Carolina.
February Assigned to Ransom’s Brigade, French’s Command, Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
March-April Assigned to Ransom’s Brigade, District of Cape Fear, Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
April-July Assigned to Ransom’s Brigade, Department of North Carolina.
May 22
Gum Swamp

The regiment lost 149 men captured.
July-September Moved to Virginia and assigned to Ransom’s Brigade, Ransom’s Division, Department of Richmond.
July 4
Bottom’s Bridge
August 14 Major Schenk resigned and Captain John Washington Graham of Company C was promoted to major.
September-May Returned to North Carolina and assigned to Ransom’s Brigade, Department of North Carolina.
1864
January 28 –
February 10
New Bern Expedition
April 17-20
Plymouth

The regiment lost lost 4 men killed and 84 wounded.
May
New Bern

Assigned to Ransom’s Brigade, Colquitt’s Division, Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
May-October Assigned to Ransom’s Brigade, Johnson’s Division, Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
May 16
Battle of Drewry’s Bluff
May 17-June 14
Bermuda Hundred

The regiment lost lost 90 casualties. Lieutenant Colonel Luke was wounded.
June
Siege of Petersburg
June 18 Major Graham was wounded and Captain Francis N. Roberts of Company B was killed and Captain F.R. Alexander of Company K was mortally wounded.
July 30
The Crater

The regiment was commanded by Captain Lawson Harrill.
August 18-21
Globe Tavern
October Assigned to Ranson’s Brigade, Johnson’s Division, 4th Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
1865
March 25
Fort Stedman

Major Graham was wounded and Captain Harrill was captured.
March 31
Dinwiddie Court House
April 1
Battle of Five Forks

Lieutenant Colonel Luke was captured.
April 6
Battle of Sayler’s Creek

Most of the survivors of the regiment were captured or scattered.
April 9
Appomattox Court House

Only 9 officers and 62 enlisted men survived to surrender with Lee’s army.
Across the Dark River: The Odyssey of the
56th N.C. Infantry in the American Civil War