Book Description

The North Carolina 42nd Infantry Regiment was organized at Salibury, North Carolina, in April, 1862. The men were recruited in the counties of Davidson, Rowan, Stanly, Davie, and Mecklenburg. The 42nd followed an unusual path through the war. They missed the early battles in Virginia and Getttysburg, then were in Virginia for the later battles of 1863 and 1864, but returned to North Carolina and surrendered with the Army of Tennessee.In June, 1862 it moved to Lynchburg, Virginia, and guarded prisoners captured in Jackson's Valley Campaign. Later the unit served in North Carolina at Tarboro, along the Chowan River, and at Wilmington. Assigned to General Martin's and Kirkland's Brigade, it fought at Cold Harbor, took its place in the Petersburg trenches, and ended the war with the Army of Tennessee.The regiment arrived at Bentonville on 18 March, and spent the night without fires and under orders to remain quiet. Company K consisted of 4 officers, the First Sergeant and 24 privates (numbers approximate) On 19 March, the 42nd NCT, as part of the brigade, covered the deployment of the Johnson's army at Bentonville. Returning to the division line of battle, near the center of the Confederate position, the brigade helped repulse the early Federal attacks, and participated in the Confederate assault on the Morgan's division of the XIV Corps. On 20 March, Kirkland's Brigade successfully defended from its hasty entrenchments on the division's right (just south of the "Devil's Racepath"), then withdrew with the army to the north on 22 March. Company K, 42nd NCT reported no losses at Bentonville. The brigade passed through Raleigh on 11 April, Durham on 13 April, marching on through Chapel Hill west toward High Point. By 26 April, the 42nd NCT was with Kirkland's Brigade at Center Church in Randolph County, three miles from High Point, where it was disbanded on 2 May.Company "A"-Capt. Jacob H. Koontz, Rowan Co.Company "B"-Capt. James R. Crawford, Rowan Co. Capt. William H. Crawford, Rowan Co.Company "C"-Capt. D.A. Underwood, Stanly Co. Capt. Jas. A. Howell, Stanly Co. Company "D"-Capt. Joseph M. Roark, Rowan Co.Capt. Robert R. Crawford, Rowan and other counties.Company "E"-Capt. Thomas A. Brown Capt. Spencer J. Hanes, Davie Co.Company "F"-Capt. Wiley A. Clement, Davie Co.Company "G"-Capt. Jas. A. Blackwelder, Rowan Co.Company "H"-Capt. Jackson M. Hartsell, Stanly Co.Company "I"- Capt. T.M. Redwine, Davidson Co.Company "K"- Capt. Sydeham B. Alexander, Meck-lenburg and other Counties