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37th North Carolina
Infantry Regiment
37th Infantry Regiment, organized
by Colonel C. C. Lee, was assembled at High Point, North Carolina, in November 1861. The men were recruited in the counties
of Buncombe, Watauga, Mecklenburg, Wake, Ashe, Alexander, and Gaston. The unit fought at New Bern and then moved to Virginia in the spring of 1862. It was assigned
to General Branch's and Lane's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. The 37th North Carolina engaged at Hanover Court House and Mechanicsville, and participated in many campaigns of the army from the Seven Days Battles to Cold Harbor. It continued the fight in the Petersburg trenches and around Appomattox. This regiment reported 125 casualties during the Seven Days' Battles,
15 at Cedar Mountain, 81 at Second Manassas, 93 at Fredericksburg, and 235 at Chancellorsville. Of the 379 engaged at Gettysburg, more than thirty percent were disabled. It surrendered 10 officers and
98 men at Appomattox. The field officers were Colonels William M. Barbour and Charles C. Lee; Lieutenant Colonel John B. Ashcraft, Charles N.
Hickerson, and William G. Morris; and Majors Jackson L. Bost, Owen N. Brown, John G. Bryan, Rufus M. Rankin, and William R.
Rankin. (Also see: Lane's Brigade, General Lane's Account of the Battle of Gettysburg, 37th North Carolina Infantry Regiment, Battle of Hanover Courthouse (Raleigh Standard), and Soldier's Letter from the 37th Regiment).
Letter, William Barber to Lane Requesting
Recommendation for Promotion,
Nov.
1863
Camp of 37th N.C.T.
Nov 3rd '63 AD
General
From the intimate relations which have long existed between us, I
thought I might approach you without indelicacy on a subject of interest to myself [primarily]. I think you will sustain
me in the assertion that I have never once approached you, directly or indirectly on the subject of promotion, while many
officers within your knowledge have been crazy on the subject who have not done 1/3 the service I have. Gen Jordan &
some officer friends of mine some time ago told me that they believe I could secure promotion if I would make the effort as
they had heard Gen Hill speak of me in very high terms - in one conversation with another friend of mine Gen Hill expressed
the opinion that "I was worthy of promotion and that he would like to see me promoted." Learning this fact, Gen Jordan
wrote [Page 2]
a letter to Gen Hill in my behalf which I sent to Gen Hill a day
or two since. I have heard it stated that Gen Lee (I know not with what truth) has intimated that his divisions &
Brigades were too large. If this be true, it is probable that some more Brigadiers will be made. I believe, Gen,
a private letter from you to Gen Hill would go far to aid me as you know something of my character as a gentleman & officer.
I do not desire an official communication for reasons which you will [ ] appreciate.
Englehard, you are aware, is an arduous advocate of officers & were a communication to go thru that channel, his influence
would be against me. I know that Gen Hill is a friend to me & if he can do anything will gladly do it & a letter
from my own Brigadier would be a good reason for him taking action. This matter I communicate in writing & ask that
you consider it personal so that if it fails it may not be a matter of comment [Page 3]
among others. If you think proper to write to Gen Hill, I will
be obliged to you - But I do not desire you to do any thing against your judgment in this matter. If you do not think
me competent, I do not wish your personal friendship to lead you to recommend me against the dictates of your judgement.
You know that 2 officers here rank me & if you were promoted or killed the probabilities are very strong that one of them
would be promoted. Please consider this matter & act as your judgement dictates.
Your friend
William Barber
--Transcribed by Terri Stout-Stevens of Pffaftown, NC, August 2, 1999. Edited and Posted by Marty Olliff, Assistant
Archivist, Auburn University, who takes full responsibility for any errors
Sources:
Official Records
of the Union and Confederate Armies; Walter Clark, Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in
the Great War 1861-1865; National Park Service: American Civil War; National Park Service: Soldiers and Sailors System; Weymouth
T. Jordan and Louis H. Manarin, North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865; D. H. Hill, Confederate Military History Of North Carolina:
North Carolina In The Civil War, 1861-1865; Auburn University Archives & Manuscripts Department.
Highly
Recommended Reading:
Michael Hardy, The Thirty-seventh North Carolina Troops: Tar Heels in the Army of Northern Virginia (Hardcover)
Book
Description
North Carolina contributed more of her sons to the Confederate cause than any other state. The 37th
North Carolina, made up of men from the western part of the state, served in the famous battles of Chancellorsville
and Gettysburg as well as in lesser known engagements at Hanover Courthouse and New Bern.
This is the detailed account of the unit’s four years’ service, told largely in
the soldiers’ own words. Drawn from letters, diaries, and postwar articles and interviews, this history of the 37th
North Carolina follows the unit from its organization in November 1861 until its surrender at Appomattox. The book includes
photographs of the key players in the 37th’s story as well as maps illustrating the unit’s position at several
engagements. Appendices include a complete roster of the unit and a listing of individuals buried in large sites such as prison
cemeteries. A bibliography and index are also included.
Meet the Author
American Civil War historian Michael C. Hardy has also written
for respected publications North & South and America’s Civil War. Mr. Hardy frequently
presents lectures and interpretive programs on Appalachia’s role in the Civil War. He resides in historic western
North Carolina.
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