Colonel John N. Whitford was commander of the 67th Regiment N.C. Infantry, formerly Whitford's Battalion of N.C. Partisan Rangers, which served in a number of actions around New Bern and Plymouth, N.C., prior to the year 1864. Subsequent to its formation into a regiment, Whitford's command took part in General Hoke's attack on New Bern in late April 1864, and later in the evacuation of Plymouth and Washington, N.C. (October 1864). The last significant action of the 67th Regiment was at the Battle of Bentonville, 20-21 March 1865. After Bentonville, Whitford's troops staged a series of successful raids behind Federal lines. The 67th was a North Carolina regiment and thus was never mustered into Confederate service. Its officers and men were predominantly from eastern counties of the state.