768 Norta Carouiina Troops, 1861-65.

There was something attractive to the younger Southerner
in the life of a bold dragoon; especially among those whose
circumstances had made them fearless horsemen, and whose
life in the open air and participation in field sports had ren-
dered them the finest recruits in the world for this form of
military duty.

Of this class, the flower of the young men of the State, were
the various “Dragoons,” “Mounted Rifles,’ and similar
bodies composed who bivouacked from the lower James to the
Cape Fear, content to serve where duty called, under their
bold captains.

The fall of Hatteras and the fate of Roanoke Island early
in the war were unavoidable events, under the circumstances.
Without ordnance to contend against a powerful fleet that
stood without range, and shelled at pleasure a garrison prac-
tically defenseless, the fate of Hatteras was sealed.

But the capture of New Bern ought not to have occurred—
at least it need not have taken place in 1862, long before the
war was twelve months old, if the authorities at Richmond
had given it help with half the troops uselessly sent down af-
terwards.

But the importance of the position was hardly apprehended
by either side. Certainly a Federal commander of the order
of Jackson, or of Sheridan would have cut the great line of
supply of Lee’s army, the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad,
and overwhelmed Wilmington from the rear.

That this was not done, must be attributed largely to the
activity and energy of the Third Cavalry, before and after its
formal organization as a regiment, and the other commands
serving in like capacity, or as partizan rangers.

The companies were somewhat unequal in size. As the
war progressed and the Confederate Congress insisted upon
measures of conscription, those arriving at military age fre-
quently volunteered in companies containing friends, or
raised in special localities. Some of these were from towns
or counties in the hands of the enemy, and recruits were not
easily available. Other companies were stationed at posts
favorable for accession to their ranks.

Moore’s Roster gives 1,158 men in the ranks of the regi-

Forty-First REGIMENT. 769

ment, but as the deficiency of that enrollment are well known,
it is probable that the number was not less than 1,200, if not
indeed considerably more.

John A. Baker, of New Hanover, serving on the staff of
Major-General French, at that time in command of the De-
partment of North Carolina, with headquarters at Wilming-
ton, was commissioned as Colonel, 3 September, 1862, of the
Third North Carolina Cavalry, officially designated as the
Forty-first North Carolina Troops.

The remaining Field Officers were not assigned until
nearly a year afterwards, Alfred M. Waddell having been
commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel on 18 August, 1863, and
Roger Moore, Major, on the same date. Previous to that A.
M. Waddell had served as Adjutant, and Captain Roger
Moore as Quartermaster. Both of these gentlemen were
from Wilmington. Upon the resignation of Colonel Wad-
dell, 10 August, 1864, Major Roger Moore was promoted to
Lieutenant-Colonel, and on 9 December, 1864, Captain C.
W. McClammy, of Company A, was promoted to the vacant
Majority. Colonel Moore became commanding officer, as
Colonel Baker, who had been taken prisoner by the enemy,
21 June, 1864, did not rejoin the regiment.

Captain Thomas J. Tunstall, of Mississippi, another of-
ficer who had been serving at headquarters of the Department
of North Carolina, was made Assistant Quartermaster, 19
November, 1862. Benjamin W. Sparks was commissioned
Assistant Surgeon 1 September, 1862, and was from Georgia,
but on 1 February, 1863, Dr. Benjamin M. Walker, of Ply-
mouth, was ordered to the regiment as full Surgeon. Lieu-
tenant John N. Smith, of Texas, served as drill master and
also as acting Assistant Commissary Sergeant. Rev. S. M.
Byrd, of Virginia, was assigned as Chaplain 3 October, 1864.

The following were the non-commissioned staff: Thos.
S. Armistead, Sergeant Major, Plymouth, Washington Coun-
ty; Calvin J. Morris, Quartermaster Sergeant, Bertie Coun-
ty; A. L. Fitzgerald, Ordnance Sergeant, Caswell County ;
Neil M. Buie, Hospital Steward, Harnett County; J. W.
Sorey, Chief Bugler, Martin County ; Levi J. Fagan, of Ply-
mouth, Color Sergeant.

49