Compiled by Lee Hadden, Regimental Historian
April 5, 1862 to May 6, 1862
YORKTOWN and WILLIAMSBURG -- B&L, vol 2, list p201, map p188, p193 & 204
4th NC -- Col. George B. Anderson
Featherston’s brigade -- Brig. Gen. Winfield S. Featherston
4th Division -- Maj. Gen. Daniel H. Hill
Delaying actions during McClellan’s Peninsular Campaign. Hill’s Division had been hurriedly transported by train from the Army of Northern Virginia to reenforce Gen. Magruder at Yorktown. Possibly only Early’s Brigade of Hill’s Division was engaged (p205).
May 30, 1862 to June 1, 1862
SEVEN PINES -- B&L, vol 2, p212, list p219
FAIR OAKS -- B&L, vol 2, p220, map p240
4th NC -- Maj. Bryan Grimes
Featherston’s Brigade -- Col. George B. Anderson
Hill’s Division -- Maj. Gen. Daniel H. Hill
Col. Anderson’s Brigade, leading the attack across an open field under heavy fire, helped to drive the Federal troops from their entrenchments toward Seven Pines on May 31. There was fighting along the entire line on June 1 and Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was wounded, with command temporarily given to Maj. Gen. Gustavus W. Smith until Gen. Robert E. Lee could be located.
June 25, 1862 to July 1, 1862
SEVEN DAYS BATTLES -- B&L, vol 2, list p316
4th NC -- Col. E. A. Osborne
2nd Brigade -- Brig. Gen. George B. Anderson
Hill’s Division -- Maj. Gen. Daniel H. Hill
Jackson’s Command -- Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson
BEAVER DAM CREEK, June 26, 1862 (p328, 351): Hill’s Division attached in support of A. P. Hill’s left flank.
GAINES’ MILL, June 27, 1862 (p334, 356): Hill’s Division was engaged on Ewell’s left flank. Gen. Anderson’s Brigade participated in an attack that broke the Union right flank.
FRAYSER’S FARM, June 30, 1862 (p397): Hill’s Division was positioned on the extreme left flank with only his artillery engaged.
MALVERN HILL, July 1, 1862 (p412, 416): Gen. Anderson’s Brigade led the attack against Berdan’s Sharpshooters, driving them back within the Federal positions at Malvern Hill. The 2nd Brigade repeatedly attacked the hill but were repulsed by artillery firing shrapnel, grape, and canister at point blank range.
August 29, 1862
SECOND MANASSAS
Hill’s Division not involved.
September 14, 1862
SOUTH MOUNTAIN or BOONESBORO -- B&L, vol 2, p559, list p602, map p568
4th NC -- Col. Bryan Grimes
Anderson’s Brigade -- Brig. Gen. George B. Anderson
Hill’s Division -- Maj. Gen. Daniel H. Hill
Gen. Anderson’s Brigade arrived at Fox’s Gap after the fighting had begun and immediately counterattacked the Union advance, forcing them to withdraw from the ridge. Skirmishers from the 4th NC were sent out under the command of Capt. E. A. Osborne for reconnaissance and found a Federal brigade still in the vicinity of the ridge. It was immediately reported to Col. Bryan Grimes who attacked their flank and drove them from the field (p567). Having delayed McClellan’s army by a day, Hill’s Division marched to Sharpsburg to link up with Jackson.
September 17, 1862
SHARPSBURG or ANTIETAM -- B&L, vol 2, list p602, map p636
4th NC -- Col. Bryan Grimes
Anderson’s Brigade -- Brig. Gen. George B. Anderson
Hill’s Division -- Maj. Gen. Daniel H. Hill
Jackson’s Command -- Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson
Anderson’s Brigade had been kept in the general area of the town of Sharpsburg until about 0830 when it was moved to a narrow sunken road between the Piper and Roulette farms. At 0930, French’s Division was marching south toward the road in parade ground fashion until a murderous fire hit them from the two brigades in the road. The men in the road held their position against numerous attacks and had even counterattacked. By 1200, Anderson’s Brigade was so decimated by the repeated attacks that the line broke when the 61st NY finally flanked it. Anderson’s Brigade did not fight as an organized unit for the remainder of the day. Gen. Anderson was mortally wounded, Capt. W. T. Marsh and Capt. D. P. Lantham of the 4th NC were killed during the fight at "Bloody Lane".*
*The Gleam of Bayonets by James V. Murphin, maps p234 & p243
November 21, 1862 to December 16, 1862
FREDERICKSBURG CAMPAIGN -- B&L, vol 3, p70, list p146, map p74
4th NC -- commander not listed
5th Brigade -- Col. Bryan Grimes
Hill’s Division -- Maj. Gen. Daniel H. Hill
2nd Army Corps -- Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson
Hill’s Division had been at Port Royal (18 miles from Fredericksburg) to prevent the Federals from crossing the Rappahannock River and did not arrive in Fredericksburg until the morning of the main assault, December 13. Hill was placed on the extreme right flank as a reserve behind Early’s infantry and Stuart’s cavalry and horse artillery. No evidence of Hill’s Division taking an active part in the battle.
February 25, 1863
Rodes in command of Hill’s Division and in position southeast of Fredericksburg near Hamilton’s Crossing. (map p45)
April 11, 1863 to May 5, 1863
CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN -- B&L, vol 3, list p238
4th NC -- Col. Bryan Grimes
Ramseur’s Brigade -- Brig. Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur
Hill’s Division -- Brig. Gen. Robert E. Rodes
2nd Army Corps -- Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson
As of April 28, Rodes was still in position southeast of Fredericksburg and was moved to the Hamilton’s Crossing area on April 29 due to Gen. Sedgwick’s troops crossing the Rappahannock near there. Rodes started toward Chancellorsville on April 30 and arrived there on May 1. Ramseur’s Brigade immediately attacked in support of Gen. Richard H. Anderson on the Orange Plank Road during the earliest fighting of the day, and remained in position there until sunset. Jackson began his famous flanking march on the morning of May 2 with Rodes in the lead, and attacked Hooker’s right flank with Rodes still leading the attack. When Jackson was accidentally shot (9pm, May 2, by a volley from Pender’s North Carolina Brigade of A. P. Hill’s Division) command of the 2nd Corps passed to A. P. Hill but Hill was wounded a few minutes later in an artillery barrage. Command was then given to Rodes until J.E.B. Stuart could be found to take over. On May 3, Rodes’ Division held a portion of Stuart’s right flank which eventually came in contact with Lee’s left flank, causing Hooker to slowly retreat to the north. By May 5, Hooker had withdrawn back across the Rappahannock River. Ramseur was wounded during the early fighting.*
*Chancellorsville--Lee’s Greatest Battle, by Edward J. Stackpole
June 6, 1863 to July 14, 1863
GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN -- B&L, vol 3, list p438
4th NC -- Col. Bryan Grimes
Ramseur’s Brigade -- Brig. Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur
Rodes’ Division -- Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes
2nd Army Corps -- Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell
(maps: pp 262, 264, 266, 272, 282, 299, 308, 344, 381, 382)
On June 6, started moving toward Winchester from the Chancellorsville area, capturing Federal troops and supplies on June 15, and continued moving north arriving in Hagerstown on June 19. By June 25, Ewell’s Corps occupied Chambersburg and Carlisle and was threatening Harrisburg. Lee’s army started moving toward Gettysburg in force after being warned of Meade’s advance. Ramseur’s Brigade arrived at 1530 on July 1, and immediately attacked Robinson’s Division of Doubleday’s Corps along the Chambersburg Pike. On the second day of battle Ramseur moved into a position southwest of the town and remained there (near Cemetery Hill) until the end of the battle on July 3. By July 14, Lee’s army had retreated back into Virginia.*
*Gettysburg, The Long Encampment, by Jack McLaughlin
November 7, 1863
KELLY’S FORD & RAPPAHANNOCK BRIDGE
Hill’s Division was in the immediate area but have not verified if it participated.
November, 1863
Ewell’s Corps stationed near Bartell’s Mill in the Wilderness.
May 4-26, 1864
WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN
4th NC -- Col. Bryan Grimes
Ramseur’s Brigade -- Brig. Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur
Rodes’ Division -- Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes
2nd Army Corps -- Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell
(maps: pp 153, 155, 159, 167)
WILDERNESS -- May 5-7
SPOTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE -- May 8-20
NORTH ANNA RIVER -- May 23-26
Gen. Ramseur wounded at Spotsylvania on May 14.
June 1-3, 1864
COLD HARBOR -- B&L, vol 4, p138, list p187, map p216
4th NC -- Col. Bryan Grimes
Ramseur’s Brigade -- Brig. Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur
Rodes’ Division -- Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes
2nd Army Corps -- Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell
June 13 to July 18, 1864
EARLY’S MARCH TO WASHINGTON -- B&L, vol 4, p522, list p499
4th NC -- commander not listed
Cox’s Brigade -- Brig. Gen. William R. Cox
Rodes’ Division -- Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes
2nd Army Corps -- Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early
Early’s Corps left the area of Cold Harbor on June 13 and marched 80 miles in four days to a railhead, arriving in Lynchburg on June 17 to reenforce the troops which had retreated from New Market. Seeing the fresh troops, the Union force under Gen. Hunter retreated from the Valley and Early began his march to threaten Washington. Early marched through Frederick on July 9 and defeated a small force under Gen. Lew Wallace a few miles south of the city (MONOCACY, map p495). On July 11, Early arrived in sight of Fort Stevens with Rodes’ Division in the lead driving in all resistance. Early was a day late and Fort Stevens had been heavily manned at the last minute. Early retreated back through Frederick and entering Virginia by White’s Ford on July 14. Rodes’ Division acted as rear guard and was engaged in a skirmish at Snicker’s Gap on July 1. Early remained in the Valley until fall and Rodes’ Division was involved in the following skirmishes:
CEDAR CREEK -- August 11, 1864, p502
WINCHESTER -- August 17, 1864, p503
SUMMIT POINT -- August 21, 1864, p504
SMITHFIELD -- August 28, 1864, p505
BUNKER HILL -- September 3, 1864, p505
September 19, 1864
WINCHESTER -- B&L, vol 4, p506, map p504
Same command as above. Early was attacked by Gen. Phil Sheridan and forced into town after very hard fighting in which Gen. Rodes was killed.
September 22, 1864
FISHER’S HILL -- B&L, vol 4, p510, map p511
After Winchester, Early retreated to Fisher’s Hill outside of Strasburg. Sheridan attacked and routed Early’s left flank causing him to retreat to Woodstock and then to Mount Jackson where he reorganized.
October 19, 1864
CEDAR CREEK -- B&L, vol 4, p516 & p526, map p517, list p532
4th NC -- commander not listed
Cox’s Brigade -- Brig. Gen. William R. Cox
Ramseur’s Division -- Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur
2nd Army Corps -- Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early
Due to a shortage in supplies, Early was forced to either retreat down the valley or attack. Early struck in the morning while the enemy were still in their tents, hitting Gen. Crook’s camps in the rear and flank, disintegrating Crook’s command in just a few minutes. Sheridan arrived on the field, reorganized the rest of his army and counter-attacked. Gen. Ramseur rallyed his men (retreating from the above attack which had rolled up Early’s left flank) and held Sheridan’s army for one hour and a half allowing the rest of the army to escape. Gen. Ramseur was wounded during this rearguard action and died a few hours after being captured. Early retreated to New Market and spent the winter remaining on the defensive.
December 31, 1864
PETERSBURG
The following is a listing taken from a roster of units at Petersburg but a date of return from the Valley has not yet been found.
4th NC -- commander not listed
Cox’s Brigade -- Brig. Gen. William R. Cox
Rodes’ Division -- commander not listed
2nd Army Corps -- Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon
March 2, 1865
WAYNESBORO -- B&L, vol 4, p521
Early’s troops were surprised and overcome by Sheridan’s army with the loss of many prisoners by Early.
April 9, 1865
APPOMATTOX -- B&L, vol 4, list p. 752
4th NC -- Capt. John B. Forcum
Cox’s Brigade -- Brig. Gen. William R. Cox
Grimes’ Division (late Rodes’) -- Maj. Gen. Bryan Grimes
2nd Army Corps -- Lt. Gen. John B. Gordon
Lee’s report to Davis of the surrender at Appomattox (p724) describes Gordon’s rearguard actions from Amelia Springs through Lynchburg to the Appomattox River when Lee contacted Grant requesting a suspension of hostilities.
Miscellaneous Notes
Brig. Gen. George B. Anderson -- killed in action at Sharpsburg, Maryland on September 17, 1862 (picture in B&L, vol 4, p242).
Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes -- killed in action at Winchester, Virginia on September 19, 1864 (picture in B&L, vol 2, p580).
Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur -- killed in action at Cedar Creek, Virginia on October 19, 1864 (picture in B&L, vol 4, p242).
Daniel Harvey Hill (1821-1889) -- West Point 1842, resigned from U.S. Army 1849, Superintendent of North Carolina Military Institute 1859, commanded the 1st NC as a colonel until promoted to Brigadier in July 1862, promoted to Maj. Gen. In March 1862, age 31 at Sharpsburg, Thomas J. Jackson’s brother-in-law.
4th NC possibly fought at Fort Stedman, Petersburg -- not confirmed.