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 famous battles like Chancellorsville and Gettysburg as well as in lesser known engagements like Hanover Courthouse and New Bern. This is the 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.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, the men of the 30th North Carolina rushed to join the regiment, proclaiming, "we will whip the Yankees, or give them a right to a small part of our soil--say 2 feet by 6 feet." Once the Tar Heels experienced combat, their attitudes changed. One rifleman recorded: "We came to a Yankee field hospital ... we moved piles of arms, feet, hands." By 1865, the unit's survivors reflected on their experiences, wondering "when and if I return home--will I be able to fit in?" Drawing on letters, journals, memoirs and personnel records, this history follows the civilian-soldiers from their mustering-in to the war's final moments at Appomattox. The 30th North Carolina had the distinction of firing at Abraham Lincoln on July 12, 1864, as the president stood upon the ramparts of Ft. Stevens outside Washington, D.C., and firing the last regimental volley before the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Company B had on its rolls, from first to last 151 names, and with the regiment took part in nearly all the great infantry battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia. Its death loss was; 17 killed in action, 15 mortally wounded, 28 died from disease and one accidentally drowned. Forty-eight were wounded and recovered, many of them maimed for life; three deserted and one enlisted in the Federal army while in prison. It surrendered May, 1, 1863, at Greensboro N. C.: Two commissioned officers and twenty-six enlisted men. For gallant conduct on the field, and heroic endurance of physical discomforts; in loyalty to country and cause, this Company was not surpassed by any from the good county of Cabarrus.

The North Carolina 37th Infantry Regiment was assembled at High Point, North Carolina, in November, 1861. The men were raised in the counties of Buncombe, Watauga, Mecklenburg, Wake, Ashe, Alexander, and Gaston. The unit fought at New Bern, then moved to Virginia in the spring of 1862. It was assigned to General Branch's and Lane's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It fought throughout the war in Virginia. It surrendered 10 officers and 98 men at Appomattox. Company A - Ashe County Company B- Watauga County Company C- Mecklenburg County Company D- Union County Company E- Watauga & Alexander County Company F- Wilkes County Company G- Alexander County Company H- Gaston County Company I- Mecklenburg County Company K- Alleghany County

The 30th North Carolina Infantry was involved in most of the major battles in Virginia from the Seven Days through the surrender at Appomattox, and saw some of the bloodiest fighting of the American Civil War. Two-thirds of these men volunteered early; the others were enlisted at the point of a bayonet. Their casualty rate was high, the rate of death from disease was higher and the desertion and AWOL rate was higher still. What was the war actually like for these men? What was their economic status? To what extent were they involved in the institution of slavery? What were their lives like in the Army? What did they believe they were fighting for and did those views change over time? This book answers those questions and depicts Civil War soldiers as they were, rather than as appendages to famous generals or symbols of myth. It focuses on the realities of the men themselves, not their battles. In addition to the author's personal collection of letters and other contemporary records, it draws upon newly discovered letters, diaries, memoirs, census records, and published works.

The North Carolina 37th Infantry Regiment was assembled at High Point, North Carolina, in November, 1861. The men were raised in the counties of Buncombe, Watauga, Mecklenburg, Wake, Ashe, Alexander, and Gaston. The unit fought at New Bern, then moved to Virginia in the spring of 1862. It was assigned to General Branch's and Lane's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It fought throughout the war in Virginia. It surrendered 10 officers and 98 men at Appomattox.Company A - Ashe County Company B- Watauga County Company C- Mecklenburg County Company D- Union County Company E- Watauga & Alexander County Company F- Wilkes County Company G- Alexander County Company H- Gaston CountyCompany I- Mecklenburg County Company K- Alleghany County