TWENTY-FOURTH BATTALION.

(RENCHER’S BATTALION. )

By THE EDITOR.

The men “on detail” in North Carolina were reported by
General Holmes to be 3,117 in number. In November, 1864,
he was ordered by the Richmond authorities to organize them
into regiments. They doubtless embraced all those on details
of any kind frem 17 to 50 years of age. These were organ-
ized into three regiments, Highty-first, Eighty-second and
Kighty-+third North Carolina (First, Second and Third Reg-
iments of Detailed Men) commanded by Colonels W. J. Hoke
(or L. M. MeCorkle), Colonel A. G. Brenizer and Colonel
Bouchelle and one battalion commanded by Lieutenant Wm.
C. Rencher, a disabled officer who was enrolling officer at Fay-
etteville where, upon the organization of the battalion, he
was elected Major. Soon after its organization it was as-
signed to the division commanded by General H. R. Jackson,
of Georgia, and aided to cover the removal of the Confederate
war material from the Fayetteville arsenal and the burning
of the bridge at that place, for efficiency in the discharge of
which duty the command was complimented by General Jack-
son. The order books of General Holmes show that the bat-
talion was ordered to Raleigh, but the nature of its services
thereafter are not known. The three regiments of “De-
tailed Men” were brigaded under Colonel W. J. Hoke
and were marched to confront Sherman, when it was thought
he was heading for Charlotte. One company of the Eighty-
second was captured by Stoneman at Salisbury, and was kept
in prison at Camp Chase, Ohio, for three months after the
war as is related by Colonel A. G. Brenizer in his history of

that regiment.

TWENTY-FIFTH BATTALION.

(BINGHAM’S BATTALION. )

By THE EDITOR.

This was a battalion of three companies which was organ-
ized in the winter of 186465 in Watauga and adjacent
counties for their protection from Kirk and similar charac-
ters. Harvey H. Bingham was elected Major. As men-
tioned by Judge Avery in his history of Avery’s Battalion
(Seventeenth Battalion ante) Bingham and his battalion
were captured by a force sent out from Franklin’s Division,
then at Bristol, Va., in February or March, 1865.

UNATTACHED COMPANIES.

By THE EDITOR.

Gradually unattached companies were absorbed by neigh-
boring battalions and regiments, but many companies re-
mained wnattached to the very last. We have no means of
ascertaining exactly how many. On 10 June, 1864, the fol-
lowing are mentioned: Two companies State cavalry, two of
infantry and Captain Jno. W. Galloway’s Coast Guard, 69
Off. Rec. Union and Confed. Armies, 892, 893. Spencer's
and Pitts’ unattached companies were reported at Plymouth
September, 1864. 88 Off. Rec. Union and Confed. Armies,
1226. Two such companies commanded by Captains H. P.
Allen and E. D. Sneed were ordered to Wilmington 28 Octo-
ber, 1864, 89 Off. Rec. Union and Confed. Armies, 1181.

26 401