296 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River

recognized in both armies as without a superior as an engineer
was entrusted with its defense. General Whiting entered the
army with the highest record ever made by any graduate at
West Point. Having been before the war in charge of the
improvements of the harbor and the lower part of the river, he
was entirely familiar with the topography of the country, and
he exerted every energy for a successful defense. Later, he was

assigned to the command of a division in Virginia, but in the
summer of 1864 he returned to the Cape Fear.

General Whiting was mortally wounded in the second attack
on Fort Fisher, when he exposed himself with unsurpassed
heroism. He died a prisoner at Fort Columbus, New York
Harbor, March 10, 1865. His remains were brought home,
and now rest in Oakdale Cemetery beside those of his most
estimable wife, who after some years followed him.

Col. Gaston Meares was appointed colonel of the Third Regi-
ment on its first organization, with Robert H. Cowan, lieutenant
colonel, and William L. DeRosset, major.

Mr. Meares, when quite a young man, moved to the West
from Wilmington, and engaged in the Mexican War, attaining
the rank of colonel. On the secession of North Carolina, he
reported to the Governor for duty, and was at once commis-
sioned as colonel and given command of the Third Regiment,
then just organized. Colonel Meares was a man of marked in-
dividuality, respected by his superior officers, beloved by his
subordinates, and commanded the admiration and confidence
of the men of his regiment, for he was always intrepid, and in
him they recognized a leader who would lead.

At Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862, while on foot in front of the

line and from a slight elevation surveying the enemy through
his field glasses, he was instantly killed by a slug from a shrap-

nel fired from a battery directly in front and not over seventy-
five yards distant.

Major DeRosset succeeded his brother-in-law, Colonel Meares,
in command of the regiment; Lieutenant Colonel Cowan having

been promoted before that to the coloneley of the Eighteenth
Regiment.

William Lord DeRosset was a member of one of the oldest
and most prominent families of Wilmington, being the eldest
of six sons of Dr. Armand J. DeRosset, all of whom served in
the Confederate Army except one, who, being physically in-

The War Between the States 297

Capacitated for active duty, was detailed to the Ordnance and
Quartermaster’s Departments. In 1861 William L. DeRosset
was captain of the Wilmington Light Infantry. When Fort
Sumter was bombarded, several volunteer companies were or-
dered to occupy Fort Caswell, the Light Infantry being among
them. Later, when the Constitutional Convention authorized
the organization of ten regiments, enlisted for the war and
known as State Troops, he was commissioned major of the
Third Regiment. Succeeding Colonel Meares in command
when the latter fell at Malvern Hill, he led the regiment into
the Battle of Sharpsburg in September, 1862. He was seri-
ously wounded; and, finding himself permanently disabled, he
resigned, and was enrolled in another branch of the service.

When Fort Caswell was first occupied, January 10, 1861,
the Smithville Guards, a volunteer company, of which Stephen
D. Thurston was captain, joined the men enrolled in Wilming-
ton, and took part in occupying Forts Johnston and Caswell.
Captain Thurston was a few months later appointed captain of
Company B. of the Third Regiment, and before Sharpsburg
he had risen to the rank of lieutenant colonel. At Sharpsburg
when Colonel DeRosset fell wounded, Lieut. Col. Stephen D.
Thurston took immediate command of the regiment, and proved
a brave and valiant soldier, leading the Third in gallant style
during the rest of the battle, where they “were in the vortex of
the fire, and proved their endurance, tenacity, and valor.’’ Of
the twenty-seven officers who went into action on that memor-
able morning all save three were disabled, seven being killed.

Colonel Thurston was disabled for several months, but returned:

to his command in September, 1864. He was again seriously
wounded on the 19th of September, at Second Winchester.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Parsley was in command dur-
ing the absence of Colonel Thurston.

William Murdock Parsley, in April, 1861, was commissioned
Captain of a company he organized and which was composed
chiefly of the young men of Wilmington. They had formed a
company in the fall of 1860, under. the name of “Cape Fear
Riflemen,” and were among those who occupied Fort Caswell.
After North Carolina seceded, the Cape Fear Riflemen returned
to Wilmington and disbanded. They were almost immediately
reorganized under Captain Parsley and completely uniformed
by his father, Mr. O. G. Parsley, sr. The captain was just

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