CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NC - MILITARY - 2nd Battalion, NC Local Defense Troops Civil War ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Brown Hootman b.hootman@att.net ==================================================================== WAR BETWEEN THE STATES - CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 2nd BATTALION N. C. LOCAL DEFENSE TROOPS (History) This battalion, commonly referred to as the Arsenal Guard, was composed of employees, detailed men, and nonconscripts who worked at the Fayettville Arsenal and Armory. During the course of the war seven companies were raised at this manufactory and were organized into a battalion, which was officially designated the 2nd Battalion N.C. Local Defense Troops. In September, 1861, Captain John C. Booth, commandant of the arsenal, raised for guard duty at the aresenal a company composed entirely of men who were employed in the Ordnance Department. This company was referred to as the "Ordnance Detachment" or as "Booth's Company, Ordnance Regulars, C.S.A." A second company,, composed of nonconscripts and men unfit for duty, was raised for local defense and guard duty by an order of the Secretary of War dated June 20, 1863 With the organization of this coinpany the battalion organization was also established, and the new company became Company B of the battalion. Three additional companies were organized in September, 1863, for local defense and special service. These companies were composed exclusively of employees of the arsenal and became Companies C, D, and E of the battalion. A cavalry company was authorized in February, 1864, and cmpleted its organization in April. It was know as the "Mounted Riflemen" and became Company F of the battalion. The seventh and final company in the battalion, Company G, was organized late in 1864 and was composed of soldiers detailed for light duty. With the exception of two companies, the battaliion remained at the Fayetteville Arsenal andArmory until January, 1865. The men drilled once a week; the company officers and noncommissioned officers drilled half an hour every day. In May-June, 1864, Companies B and F were ordered to Weldon. Early in July Company B was ordered toWilmington and arrived there July 4. On July 8 it was ordered to Camp Jackson, and the next day it was moved to Camp Lamb. From there it was moved to Smithville. On November 2 the company moved to Fort Caswell, where it remained until moved to Fort Campbell on November 27. Orders were received on December 25 to proceed to Fort Fisher, then under attack On December 28, after the Federals withdrew, the company was ordered back to Fort Campbell. Company F was moved to Garysburg after its arrival at Weldon in May-June, 1864. From there it moved to Franklin, Virginia, on August 14, 1864. By the end of the year it was back at Garysburg. It remained in that area attached to the 4th Sub-District, 2nd Military District, for the balance of the war. During this time the balance of the battalion remained at Fayetteville. On January 14, 1865, Lieutenant Colonel Frederick L. Childs, commanding the battaliion and arsenal, was ordered to send "all" his "garrison" to Wilmington. When the battalion arrived on January 17, 1865, Childs was ordered to return to Fayetteville with his "operatives" and to leave the "guards". With the fall of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865, Company B was ordered to Fort Anderson. When Wilmington was evacuated February 20-21, 1865, the company was sent to obstruct the navigation of the Cape Fear River.With the area in Federal hands, the company retired to Fayetteville, where it and some men from the other companies of the battalion joined Lieutenant General William J. Hardee's command. On the approach of General William T. Sherman's army, the entire command was put to the task of dismantling and moving machinery. The Federals occupied Fayetteville on March 11, 1865. The portion of the battalion that remained behind had moved to the "Gulf in Moore County." Here it remained until the surrender of General Joseph E. Johnston's army and those in Moore County were included in the surrender. This battalion was erroneously designated the 6th Battalion-Armory Guard in Moore's Roster and in Clark's Regiments. Although it was locally referred to as the Armory Guard, it was officially designated the 2nd Battalion N.C. Local Defense Troops. FIELD AND STAFF (Transcriber's note: partial listing) LIEUTENANT COLONELS DeLAGNEL, JULIUS A. Assigned to Fayetteville Arsenal and Armory from the Ordnance Department, Richmond, Virginia, September-October, 1862, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Relieved and ordered back to field duty on April 17, 1863. CHILDS, FREDERICK L. Transferred from Charleston Arsenal, Charleston, South Carolina, April 17, 1863, under orders to relieve Lieutenant Colonel DeLagnel as commander of Fayetteville Arsenal and Armory. Transferred with rank of Major and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on November 19, 1863. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. MAJORS BOOTH, JOHN C. Transferred from Company A of the battalion upon appontment as Major to rank from August 1, 1862. Died at Fayetteville on September 6-7, 1862. TAYLOR, MATTHEW P. Transferred from Company B of this battalion upon appontment as Major to rank from November 19, 1863. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. ENSIGN HANKS, WILLIAM H. Transferred from Company C of this battalion upon appointment as Ensign, March-April, 1864. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. SURGEON ROBINSON, BENJAMIN Resided in Cumberland County and appointed Medical Officer and Acting Surgeon ---- COMPANY ???? THOMPSON, WILLIAM M., Private Enlisted in Cumberland County, February 11, 1864, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. TURNER, CICERO, Musician Enlisted in Cumberland County, December 12, 1863, for the war. Mustered in as Musician. Present and accounted for through December, 1864. TYSON, AARON, Private Born in Cumberland County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in that county at age 17, August 20, 1863, for the war. Reported on company muster rolls as absent sick from March-April, 1864, through December, 1864. USHER, EDWIN T., Sergeant Born in Duplin County and was by occupation a student prior to enlisting in Cumberland County at age 17, July 29, 1863, for the war. Mustered in as Private and appointed Sergeant on September 1, 1863. Present or accounted for until transferred to Company F of this battalion on March 1, 1864. WARD, JAMES, Private Enlisted in Cumberland County, September 5, 1863, for the war. Deserted September, 1863, and was arrested and returned October 10, 1863. Reported as :present in confinement awaiting trial on charge of desertion" from that date until March-April, 1864, when he was reported with the remark: "Deserted from Fayetteville Arsenal and Armory April 23, 1864." WATSON, DAVID MAC, Private Born in Moore County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Cumberland County at age 17, July 13, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for until transferred to Company F of this battalion on January 1, 1864. WILLIAMS, BLACKMAN, Private Born in Sampson County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Cumberland County at age 17, August 20, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for on company muster rolls through November-December, 1864, when he was reported sick at Smithfield hospital. WILLIAMS, JAMES D., Private Born in Cumberland County and was by Occupationa farmer prior to enliting in Cumberland County at age 17, August 26, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. WOMACK, ROMALUS M., Private Enlisted in Cumberland County, October 30, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. COMPANY C (Per transcriber, partial listing) This company was organized at Fayetteville, Cumberland County, where it was mustered into Confederate States service on September 2, 1863. Composed exclusively of employees of the Fayetteville Arsenal and Armory, the company was organized for local defense and special service and was assigned to the battalion as Company C. Since it functioned as part of the battalion, its history is recorded as part of the battalion history. The information contained in the following roster of the company was compiled pricipally from company muster rolls which covered the period from September 2, 1863 (the date of the muster-in roll), through August, 1864, and also November-December, 1864. No company muster rolls were found for September-October, 1864, or for the period after December, 1864. Although there are no Roll of Honor records for this company, useful information was obtained from receipt rolls, prisoner of war records, medical records, and other primary records, supplemented by state pension applications, United Daughters of the Confederacy records, and postwar rosters and histories. OFFICERS CAPTAIN DECKER, GEORGE W. Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 32, September 2, 1863, for the war. Appointed Captain to rank from date of enlistment. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. LIEUTENANTS BANKS, CHARLES R., 1st Lieutenant Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 26, September 2, 1863, for the war. Appointed 1st Lieutenant to rank from date of enlistment. Preseant or accounted for through December, 1864. GARRISON, ALONZO, 2nd Lieutenant Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 29, September 2, 1863, for the war. Appointed 2nd Lieutenant to rank from date of enlistment. Present or accounted for though December, 1864. ROBERTS, CHARLES E. 2nd Lieutenant Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 27, September 2, 1863, for the war. Appointed 2nd Lieutenant to rank from date of enlistment. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES ASHE WILLIAM C., Private Enlisted in cumberland County at age 17, june 21, 1864, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. BECKERDITE, AMOS F., Private Enlisted in Cumberland county at age 29, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. BOSWELL, THOMAS, Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 25, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. BOWLES, WILLIAM ALEXANDER, Private Enlisted in cumberland County at age 17, September 2, 1863, for the war. Company muster roll for September 2-October 31, 1863, reported that he was "transferred. Joined Company B, Arsenal and Army Battalion by enlistment". BRANCH, JORDAN W., Private Enlisted in Cumberland county at age 32, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. BROOKS, RICHARD, Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 28, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. BROWN, JAMES M., Laborer Enlisted April 23, 1864, for the war. Present or accounted for on company muster rolls through August, 1864. Later served in Company A of this battalion. BROWN, JOHN D., Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 18, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. BRYANT, IRVIN, Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 20, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. BURCH, ANDERSON M., Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 37, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. BURKART, JEROME D., Private Enlisted January-February, 1864, for the war, having previously served in Company E of this battalion. Preesent or accounted for through December, 1864. BUTTLER, WILLIAM, Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 37, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. CALHOUN, JAMES A.., Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 26, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. CAMPBELL, HENRY S., Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 36, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. CLASPY, GEORGE W., Sergeant Enlisted in Cumberland county at age 18, September 2, 1863, for the war. Mustered in as Corporal. Appointed Sergeant on May 7, 1864. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. CLOWE, JOHN H., Corporal Enlisted in Cumberland county at age 19, September 2, 1863, for the war. Mustered in as Private and appointed Corporal on April 27, 1864. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. CONSIDINE, MICHAEL, Sergeant Enlisted in Cumberland county at age 26, September 2, 1863, for the war. Mustered in as Corporal and appointed Sergeant on May 7, 1864. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. CORD, JOHN T., Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 26, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864, when he is reported with the remark: "Light duty conscript." CURTIS, HENDERSON W., Private Enlisted in cumberland County ate age 31, September 2, 1863, for the war. Reported as absent without leave on the company muster roll for September 2- October 31, 1863. Subsequent muster rolls state that he deserted but do not give date. DAVIS, JESSE, Private Enlisted in Cumberland County age age 18, September 2, 1863, for the war. Mustered in as Corporal and reduced to ranks on May 7, 1864. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. DENNING, GURDON S. Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 41, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. DeROSSET, THOMAS C., Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 18, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for until transferred to Company A of this battalion May 1, 1864. FAIRCLOTH., ALEX, Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 41, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through August, 1864. No further records. FERRINGTON, JOHN, Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 45, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. FOUST, GEORGE M., Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 37, October 7, 1863, for the war. Discharged on December 11, 1863. FRAZIER, ALBERT, Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 33, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. GALES, SOLOMON, Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 33, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. GIERSH, ALEX E., Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 38, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for until trasferred to company G of this battalion September-December, 1864. GRAHAM, JESSE, Private Enlisted in Cumberland County at age 38, September 2, 1863, for the war. Present or accounted for through December, 1864. Transcribed by Barbara Brown Hootman, October 26, 2000, from documentation extracted from North Carolina Troops: 1861 - 1865, published by the Division of Archives and History; North Carolina Cultural Resources, and housed at the North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC.