General Thomas Lanier Clingman's Brigade

During the American Civil War, Thomas Lanier Clingman commanded a North Carolina infantry brigade. Clingman's Brigade consisted of the 8th, 31st, 51st and 61st North Carolina Infantry Regiments. During the war, Clingman's Brigade fought at Goldsboro, Battery Wagner (aka Fort Wagner), Drewry’s Bluff, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Globe Tavern, Fort Fisher and Bentonville.

The famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw in a failed assault on Fort Wagner. During that assault, it had engaged Clingman's Brigade.

On June 1, 1862, "A tall and uncommonly fine looking officer in the front rank of the enemy's column, looking me directly in the face, took off his cap and cheered his men with words I could not catch." General Clingman referring to Colonel Elisha S. Kellogg of the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery during the Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia (Kellogg was about ten paces directly in front of Clingman. And within moments of exclaiming those words, Kellogg received two bullets to the head and immediately fell dead)

Clingman initially commanded the 25th North Carolina Infantry Regiment and afterwards Clingman's Brigade. General Robert E. Lee's trust and esteem for Clingman were vividly reflected when Lee ordered Clingman to defend Richmond, Virginia. Later, at Lee's request, General Clingman and his "Bonnie Blue Boys" greatly assisted in routing the Union forces at the Battle of Cold Harbor. General Ulysses S. Grant was a West Point graduate and veteran of the Mexican-American War, and he wrote of Cold Harbor, "I regret this assault more than any one I ever ordered." General Grant was elected the Eighteenth President of the United States.

History of the 8th, 31st, 51st and 61st North Carolina Infantry Regiments:

8th Infantry Regiment State Troops completed its organization at Camp Macon, near Warrenton, North Carolina, in September 1861. Its members were from the counties of Pasquotank, Perquimans, Camden, Currituck, Edgecombe, New Hanover, Franklin, Granville, Cumberland, Chatham, Harnett, Warren, Rowan, Greene, and Alamance. Sent to the coast, it was captured in the Battle of Roanoke Island. After being exchanged, it was assigned to General Clingman's Brigade and then transferred to General Hoke's Brigade. And it was subsequently assigned to Clingman's Brigade. The 8th fought at Goldsboro, relocated to Wilmington, and on February 16, 1863, was ordered to Charleston, South Carolina. At Charleston it took an active part in various conflicts, including the fight at Battery Wagner. It also participated in the engagements at Plymouth, Drewry's Bluff, and Cold Harbor, and endured the long Petersburg siege south and north of the James River. During December 1864, the unit was ordered to North Carolina and in March 1865 saw action at Bentonville. It had 568 officers and men at Roanoke Island, sustained 9 casualties at Goldsboro, and during the Charleston siege had 4 killed and 43 wounded of the 393 engaged. The regiment lost 26 killed and 101 wounded at Plymouth, and eighty-five percent of the 175 in action at Fort Harrison were disabled. On April 26, 1865, the unit surrendered. The field officers were Colonels Henry M. Shaw and James M. Witson; Lieutenant Colonels Rufus A. Barrier, James W. Hinton, John R. Murchison, William J. Price, and George Williamson; and Majors Henry McRae, Andrew J. Rogers, and Edward C. Yellowley.

31st Infantry Regiment organized at Wilmington, North Carolina, in September 1861. It contained men from Anson, Edgecombe, Brunswick, Beaufort, Craven, and Harnett counties. While stationed at Roanoke Island, the unit was captured in February 1862. After being exchanged, it was assigned to General Clingman's Brigade and remained under his command for the duration of the war. The 31st fought at White Hall, then moved to the Charleston area where it was engaged in various conflicts including the fight at Battery Wagner. Ordered north, it took an active part in the battles at Drewry's Bluff and Cold Harbor, and later endured the hardships of the Petersburg siege north and south of the James River. In 1865 it fought its last battle at Bentonville. The unit had 456 effectives at Roanoke Island and lost 7 killed, 31 wounded, and 1 missing defending Battery Wagner on July 18, 1863. Few surrendered with the Army of Tennessee. Its commanders were Colonel John V. Jordan; Lieutenant Colonels Daniel G. Fowle, Charles W. Knight, and Edward R. Liles; and Majors John A. D. McKay and Jesse J. Yeates.

51st Infantry Regiment was organized at Wilmington, North Carolina, in April 1862. The men were recruited in the counties of Cumberland, Sampson, Duplin, Columbus, Robeson, and New Hanover. It was assigned to General Clingman's Brigade and served with him for the duration of the War. After fighting at Goldsboro, it moved to the Charleston area and was prominent in the defense of Battery Wagner. The 51st was then ordered to Virginia, participated in the battles at Drewry's Bluff and Cold Harbor, and endured the hardships of the Petersburg siege south and north of the James River. Returning to North Carolina, it saw action at Bentonville. On July 18, 1863, this regiment lost 16 killed and 52 wounded at Battery Wagner and in August contained 374 effectives. In May 1864 it contained 1,100 men and in October there were 145 present. The 51st lost 160 in killed and wounded at Drewry's Bluff, 194 at Cold Harbor, and 104 at Fort Harrison. Very few surrendered with the Army of Tennessee. The field officers were Colonels John L. Cantwell and Hector McKethan, Lieutenant Colonels William A. Allen and Caleb B. Hobson, and Major James R. McDonald.

61st Infantry Regiment was organized at Wilmington, North Carolina, in August 1862. Men of this unit were recruited in the counties of Sampson, New Hanover, Beaufort, Craven, Chatham, Lenoir, Wilson, Martin, Ashe, Alleghany, and Jones. Assigned to General Clingman's Brigade, it marched to the Kinston area and saw its first action. The unit was then sent to Charleston, served on James, Morris, and Sullivan's Islands, and took an active part in the fight at Battery Wagner. The regiment was ordered to Virginia and fought at Drewy's Bluff and Cold Harbor, and then endured the hardships of the Petersburg siege south and north of the James River. It returned to North Carolina and was prominent in the Battle of Bentonville. While in the Charleston area--July 10 to September 6, 1863--the regiment lost 6 killed, 35 wounded, and 76 missing and in September totaled 331 men. Few surrendered with the Army of Tennessee in April 1865. The field officers were Colonels William S. Davane and James D. Radcliffe, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Mallett, and Major Henry Harding.

Colonel Clingman initially commanded the 25th North Carolina Infantry Regiment:

25th North Carolina Infantry Regiment*

25th Infantry Regiment, formerly the 15th Volunteers, was assembled at Camp Patton, Asheville, North Carolina, in August 1861. The following counties furnished companies for the regiment: Henderson, Jackson, Haywood, Cherokee, Transylvania, Clay, Macon, and Buncombe. It moved to Grahamville, South Carolina, and remained there until March 1862. The unit returned to North Carolina and then arrived in Virginia on June 24. Serving in R. Ransom's and M. W. Ranson's Brigade, it fought with the army from the Seven Days Battles to Fredericksburg, served in North Carolina, and then saw action at Plymouth and Drewry's Bluff. The 25th participated in the long Petersburg siege south of the James River and the Appomattox Campaign. It reported 128 casualties during the Seven Days Battles, 15 in the Maryland Campaign, 88 at Fredericksburg, and 103 at Plymouth. Many were disabled at Sayler's Creek (also Sailor's Creek), and on April 9, 1865, only 8 officers and 69 were present. The field officers were Colonels Thomas L. Clingman and Henry M. Rutledge; Lieutenant Colonels S. C. Bryson, St. Clair Dearing, and Matthew N. Love; and Majors John W. Francis, William S. Grady, and William Y. Morgan. Colonel Thomas Clingman was later promoted to Brigadier-General and commanded Clingman's Brigade. Also see Company G ("Highland Guards") Flag, 25th North Carolina Infantry Regiment (Replica?), included: Memoirs of Second Lieutenant Garland S. Ferguson, Company F, 25th N.C. Infantry.

*The real Private W. P. Inman, portrayed by Jude Law In the movie Cold Mountain, was a member of the 25th N.C. Infantry Regiment. Also see: Current View of Cold Mountain and W. P. Inman's Original Records: National Archives.