A Brief History



Many people may ask why we do what we do. There are many reasons that we chose to reenact. First and foremost is education. We want everyone that comes to the events to learn the history of our nation's turbulent past. I have compiled a brief history of our regiment and how it came to be.

"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow to fond of it." (CSA General R.E. Lee to General James Longstreet at the battle of Fredericksburg)

How it Began



After the secession of North Carolina in 1861, the state legislature authorized the formation of ten regiments to be enlisted for a term of three years or for the duration of the war. These regiments were to be divided up into eight infantry regiments, 1 cavalry regiment, and 1 artillery regiment. The ninth of these regiments was designated North Carolina State Troopers(Cavalry).


Captain George Stanley Dewey
George Dewey lived in Craven County and enlisted at the age of 19. He rose through the ranks during the course of the war and on August 29, 1864, was promoted to the rank of Captain. Captain Dewey was killed in action at Chamberlain Run Va. in March 31, 1865.

Recruiting for the Cavalry began in May of 1861 and by June, all 10 companies were filled. The regiment was organized at Camp Beaureguard, Ridgeway, Warren County on August 12, 1861. All regimental and company officers were appointed by the governor, Governor John Ellis, and all uniforms, accouterments, and horses were provided by the state. On November 14, 1861, by Special Orders No. 222, Paragraph 9, Adjutant and Inspector General's office, the regiment was fixed as the 9th Regiment N. C. State Troopers. Because it was the first cavalry regiment from the state it was also known as the 1st Regiment N. C. Cavalry. The regiment was divided into ten seperate companies, designated companies A through I and Company K.

The Fighting Begins



The regiment remained at Camp Beauregard receiving training in cavalry tactics and the school of the soldier until October 7, 1861 when it was ordered to Richmond VA. Then on October 22, the regiment was moved to Manassas Junction and was assigned to General J. E. B. Stuart's Cavalry Brigade. In November of 1861, while on a scouting mission, 20 men from each company encountered a like number of federal troops and managed to push them back to their camp. Thus the war had begun for the 1st N. C. Cavalry.

During the remainder of the winter of 1861, the regiment served on picket duty and scouting forays. On December 20, 1861, a portion of the regiment served as flank guards during General Stuart's ill-fated forage expedition. Then on February 7, 1862, after a strong resistance, nine members of Co. H were captured while on picket duty.

After the fall of Roanoke Island, the threat of deeper penetration into eastern North Carolina by General A. E. Burnside's troops forced the dispatch of troops from the main body of the army to North Carolina to support Confederate troops under General T. H. Holmes. The 1st N. C. Cavalry was among the troops selected to return to N. C. Moving by slow marches through Virginia, the regiment set up camp in Kinston, N. C. on April 19, 1862, under the command of Colonel Laurence Baker, in General Robert Ransom's brigade.

On May 25, Companies A and B were ordered to the Roanoke River to defend against any attempt from the enemy to ascend up the river. Then on May 27, Companied E, G, and K, left for Richmond. By May 30 the remainder of the regiment left Kinston and arrived in Richmond on June 27. The reason for this movement was General George McClellan's move on Richmond which would end up in the Seven Days' Battles, June 25-July 1, 1862.

After the containment of General McClellan's army, the confederates fell back to a better position closer to Richmond. The Cavalry was assigned the duty of observing McClellan's army, and the 1st N. C. Cav. pulled it's share of picket and scouting duty during July and August.

While General Lee was shifting his forces towards Gordonsville and Fredericksburg to meet General John Pope, General Hamptons Brigade was ordered to remain in Richmond to observe McClellan's movements. Then on August 5, 1862, Companies E, F, G, H, I, and K engaged an enemy reconnaissance force, driving them back. By mid August, Companied A and B had rejoined the regiment and Hampton's brigade was ordered to rejoin the Army of Northern Virginia.

In May of 1863, after the battles of Chancellorsville, the Confederate Cavalry was ordered to assemble near Culpepper Court House. Curious as to the activities around Culpepper Court House, the Federals sent a force to observe. This movement resulted in the battle of Brandy Station on June 9, 1863. It was reported by Col. Baker that the regiment had engaged the enemy at various times during the course of the day. In the early morning hours, the regiment engaged the federal infantry and successfully drove them back. Later that afternoon, the regiment made two charges on the federal cavalry and captured the Tenth Reginemt, New York Cavalry. On October 8, 1863, General Lee began moving his troops in an effort to flank the Federal army under the command of General George Meade. The prupose of this movement was to force General Meade's army to retire so that Lee could provision his army in northern Virginia. The movement was successful and Lee managed to attain some provisions for his army. This movement lasted from October 9 to October 20 and is referred to as the Bristoe Campaign. The 1st N. C. Cav. engaged the Federals at Russell's ford and James City on October 10, Culpeper Court House on the 11th and Auburn Mills on the 14th.The last major cavalry engagement of this campaign happened on October 19 and is referred to as the Buckland Races.

On May 4, 1864, while General U. S. Grant was moving his army of the Potomac accross the Rapidan, his advance scouts encountered pickets from the 1st N. C. Cav. The pickets fell back but continued to send information about enemy movement back to camp. The information from the pickets allowed Lee to move his troops to meet Grant in the Wilderness. On May 11, at the Battle of Yellow Tavern, General Stuart is mortally wounded.

During the course of the war, the 1st North Carolina Cavalry took part in over 160 engagements, beginning with a skirmish at Vienna VA. on November 26, 1861, and ending at Appomattos Court House on April 9, 1865. During its short but bloody history, the 1st North Carolina Cavalry held a very distinguished record in battle.

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