7th North Carolina Infantry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * North Carolina

 

1861
August 17

The 7th North Carolina Infantry Regiment was organized near Graham at Camp Mason in Almance County.

Company A – Iredell and Alexander Counties
Company B – Cabarrus County
Company C – New Hanover County
Company D – Mecklenburg County, Captain William L. Davidson
Company E – Nash County
Company F – Rowan County
Company G – Wake County
Company H – Cabarrus County
Company I – Iredell County
Company K – Alexander County
August 21 Mustered into state service under the command of Colonel Reuben P. Campbell and Lieutenant Colonel Edward G. Haywood, Jr. Assigned to Department of North Carolina.
September Assigned to District of the Pamlico, Department of North Carolina.
1862
March Assigned to French’s Brigade, District of the Pamlico, Department of North Carolina.
March 14
New Bern

The regiment lost 51 casualties.
April Assigned to Branch’s Brigade, Department of North Carolina.
May Branch’s Brigade was moved to the Virginia peninsula to join the Army of Northern Virginia.
May-June Assigned to Branch’s Brigade, A.P. Hill’s Division, Army of Northern Virginia.
May 27
Hanover Court House
June-July Assigned to Branch’s Brigade, A.P. Hill’s Division, Longstreet’s Command, Army of Northern Virginia.
June 25-July 1
Seven Days Battles

The regiment lost 253 casualties out of the 450 men who were engaged.
June 26
Bever Dam Creek
June 27
Gaines’ Mill

Colonel Campbell was killed and Lieutenant Colonel Haywood was promoted to colonel.
June 30
Frayser’s Farm
July 1
Malvern Hill
July Assigned to Branch’s-Lane’s Brigade, A.P. Hill’s Division, Jackson’s Command, Army of Northern Virginia.
August 9
Cedar Mountain
August 28-30
Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)

Colonel Hayward was wounded. The regiment lost 69 casualties at Second Manassas and Ox Hill.
September 1
Battle of Chantilly (Ox Hill)
September 12-15
Capture of Harpers Ferry
September 17
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Edward G. Haywood. It lost 52 casualties in Hill’s late afternoon attack on Burnside’s flank southeast of town.

There are two War Department markers at Antietam that tell the story of Branch’s Brigade.

From the first marker on Branch Avenue:

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.

From the second marker at the intersection of Branch Avenue and Harpers Ferry Road:

Branch’s Brigade formed line at this point about 3 P.M. and supported Archer’s Brigade in its advance and encounter at the stonewall about 600 yards distant.

Toward the close of the engagement General Branch was killed and the command fell to Colonel James H. Lane of the 28th North Carolina, who formed the Brigade on Archer’s left, where it remained until the morning of the 19th, when it recrossed the Potomac at Blacksford’s Ford.
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment was comanded by Lieutenant Colonel Junius Hill. It lost 86 men.
1863
May 1-4
Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment lost 37 men killed and 127 wounded. Colonel Hayward was again wounded, being partially blinded. Lieutenant Colonel Junius Hill was killed and Major William L. Davidson was wounded. Captain N.A. Pool took command as senior officer.
May Assigned to Lane’s Brigade, Pender’s-Wilcox’s Division, 3rd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The 7th North Carolina was commanded at Gettysburg by Captain John M. Turner. He was wounded and captured on July 3, and Captain James G. Harris took command. The regiment brought 29 men to the field and lost 90 casualties.

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
November-December
Mine Run Campaign
December Colonel Hayward was relieved of command for drunkeness. He would continue to serve in the Invalid Corps. 
1864
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness

The regiment lost 5 killed, 62 wounded, and 37 missing. Lieutenant Colonel William L. Davidson was wounded and captured. Lieutenant William H. Hayward of Company K (brother to Colonel Hayward) was killed.
May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

The regiment lost 11 killed and 28 wounded.
May 22-26
Battle of North Anna
June 1-3
Battle of Cold Harbor

Lieutenant Duncan Cameron Hayward of Company E (brother to Colonel Hayward) was killed.
June
Siege of Petersburg
July 28
Gravel Hill
August 3

Lieutenant Colonel Davidson was exchanged and returned to the regiment. He was promoted to colonel.
August 16
Fussel’s Mill
August 25
Reames’ Station
September 30
Squirrel Level Road and Jones’ Farm
October 1
Pegram’s Farm
1865
February 5-7
Hatcher’s Run
February 28 Sent to North Carolina on detached duty rounding up deserters in Chatham, Moore and Randolph Counties. A detachment remained with the Army of Northern Virginia.
April 9

Appomattox Court House

One officer and 18 enlisted men of the detachment that had remained with General Lee’s army surrendered.
April 26 Thirteen officers and 139 enlisted men surrendered under the command of Colonel Davidson with Johnson’s army at Durham Station.

The field officers were Reuben P. Campbell, William L. Davidson, and Edward G. Haywood; Lieutenant Colonel Junius L. Hill; and Majors Edward D. Hall, James G. Harris, Robert B. McRae, John M. Turner, and Robert S. Young.