If you'd like to submit a short biography of your Civil War Ancestor, please email it to Myrtle Bridges Please mention your source(s) for the material!

If you have other (non-copyrighted) Civil War-related material (troop rosters, etc.) please let me know!

August 20, 2004

Harrison Gales Enlisted in the War on June 14, 
1862, as a Private and substitute for Donald McIver. 
 
Reported absent in November-December 1862.
Returned to duty in January-February 1863. Discharged on April 3, 1863, by reasons of 
disability. Discharge gives his age of 70.
 
He served in the NC 54th Infantry organized on May 16, 1862. He fought in a battle in 
October 28, 1862,
 
He and wife Mary had 7 children, 3 sons and 4 daughters. 
 
He also had 3 sons that fought in the War, 2 from Harnett County (Stephen and Henry both 
of the NC 8th Infantry) and a son Solomon also from Cumberland County in the NC 2nd Battalion. 
 
The last place I can find Harrison is in the NC 1870 Census in Harnett County. I would love 
to know where he is buried. 
 
sources: North Carolina Troops 1861-1865 A Roster 53rd-56th Regiments pg 273.
North Carolina Troops 1861-1865 A Roster Vol IV pg 566.
North Carolina Troops 1861-1865 A Roster Vol III pg 355.
Submitted by: Windy Gales Leach

Charles Robert Banks was born on 23 December 1837 in Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland and sailed for the United States with his family when he was just eleven years of age.

Charles married Martha M. Allis on 22 August 1860 in Fayetteville. They had one daughter. Charles enlisted as a Musician in Company F, 11 Regiment, North Caorlina Troops, Old Bethel Regiment. This regiment became the 1st Regiment, North Carolina Volunteers. Company F was also known as the Lafayette Light Infantry, commanded by Captain Joseph B. Starr and a total of 102 men. On 22 April 1861 Company F was ordered to occupy the arsenal at Fayetteville. On 2 May 1861 Company F was ordered to Raleigh. The company was mustered into state service on 13 May 1861 for six months and sent to Sharp Point, Virginia and served under the command of Colonel D. H. Hill. The company took part in the Battle of Big Bethel, Virginia on 10 June 1861. On 31 August Company F was officially mustered in Confederate States service. Charles Banks was present and accounted for until he mustered out on 12 November 1861 when the company was disbanded and returned to North Carolina.

Charles Banks enlisted once again on 2 September 1862 in Cumberland County in Company C, 2nd Battalion, Local Defense Troops. The company was organised at Fayetteville and mustered into service in September 1863. The company was made up entirely of employees of the Fayetteville Arsenal and Armory and organised for local defense and special service. Charles Banks was appointed 1st Lieutenant and was present and accounted for through December 1864. No records exist after this date for the company.

Fearing for his family's safety when Sherman was approaching Fayetteville in early April of 1865, Charles decided to send his wife, daughter and younger sisiter to New York where his wife's parents lived. Taking passage on the USS Steamer "General Lyon", which was loaded with cotton and Union troops, they headed for New York. Just a few miles from shore off the coast of Cape Hattersas, on 2 April 1865, a latern was accidentally knocked over into a barrel of Kerosene below decks and the steamer was immediately engulfed in flames. Over 500 lives were lost, including Charles Banks' wife, daughter and his sister, Mary Jane Banks. If only they would have known the War would be over in a few days!

After the war, Charles married Louisa L. Smith, daughter of Elizabeth Noble Smith of Fayetteville. They were married on 16 January 1868 in Cumberland County. Charles and Louise had two children. Charles died in 1877 and is buried in Cross Creek Cemetery #1 in Fayetteville.

Sources: The Story of Fayetteville; Compiled Service Records of the Confederate States; North Carolina Troops 1861-1865; Confederate Pensions of North Carolina; North Carolina Marriage Bonds; Herald of the Union Newspaper, Wilmington; United States Census, Cumberland County and Cross Creek Cemetery Records.
Submitted by: Robert S. Orrell

Corporal James Breece James Breece served in the Confederate Army as a Corporal, Company E, and 8th North Carolina Troopers. James Breece was transferred from the 3rd North Carolina Regiment to the 8th North Carolina Troopers on March 21, 1862. His conscription date is recorded as July 15, 1862. He was sworn into the Confederate Army at Camp Holmes on July 14, 1862 (Records of the 8th North Carolina Infantry, National Archives, Washington, D.C., pg. 1). On February 29, 1864, the Quarter Master issued James Breece one Confederate Garment. The type of garment is unspecified and identified only as clothing. On March 25, Breece was issued another one garment, again specified only as clothing. He signed for this garment with an X. March 30, 1864, his name again appears on a Receipt Roll for one garment of clothing. He signed with an X (Records of the 8th North Carolina Infantry, National Archives, Washington, D.C., pg. 2).

Captured on May 1 by Union forces at the Battle of Cold Harbor in 1864, James Breece spent the rest of the war in a Federal Prisoner of War Camp in White House, Virginia on June 8, 1864. His name appears on page 56 of the Point Lookout, Maryland Register of Prisoners o War, Register No. 1. He was later transferred to Elmira, New York on July 8, 1864 (Records of the 8th North Carolina Infantry, National Archives, Washington, D.C., pg. 4). Muster Rolls confirm his absence after May 31, 1864. His name appears on the Prisoner of War Rolls kept at Elmira, New York, July 11, 1864, Register No. 1, pages 17. He was released on June 12, 1865 after signing a loyalty oath to the United States (Records of the 8th North Carolina Infantry, National Archives, Washington, D.C., pg. 4).

His signature, an X, appears on an Oath of Allegiance to the United States, subscribed and sworn to at Elmira, New York, on June 12, 1865. His place of residence is listed as Fayetteville, North Carolina (Roll Number 62, sheet 2) (Records of the 8th North Carolina Infantry, National Archives, Washington, D.C., pg. 4).
Submitted by Jo Grasso.

Private Joseph Breece of Cumberland County, North Carolina enlisted in the 51st Regiment of the 51st North Carolina State Troops on December 20, 1862 in Cumberland County, North Carolina. Private Breece was killed in action in September 1864 at Fort Harrison, Virginia. Read a letter he wrote to his wife and children.
Submitted by Jo Grasso.

William Daniel Butler, Pvt. CSA, was born in the Gray's Creek community, December 25, 1825, to Daniel Butler and Anna Edwards. He enlisted in Cumberland County at the age of 37, September 2, 1863. As an employee of the Fayetteville Arsenal and Armory, he was assigned to Company C of the 2nd Battalion of the N C Local Defense Troops. Company C was made of exclusively of employees of the arsenal and was assigned to defend and protect the arsenal. Butler served his entire enlistment with Company C at the Fayetteville Arsenal. He was discharged December 1864.

William Daniel Butler was married to Sarah Elizabeth Melvin. They had eleven children: Elmyra Ann, Mary Marie, John Daniel, Zelia Amanda, William Hiram, James J., Thomas Jackson, Charles Tutor, James Melvin, Joseph Kershew, and Robert Lyon Butler.

William Butler died in Fayetteville, NC, August 22, 1898. He is buried at the Cape Fear Baptist Church Cemetery in Gray's Creek, Cumberland County, NC.

Source: "North Carolina Troops 1861-1865 A Roster - Vol II" Compiled by Louis H Manarin. Death notice, "The Fayetteville Observer - August 22, 1889."
Submitted by: Robert McLemore Butler rmbnc@worldnet.att.net

Private Daniel James McLaurin (son of Duncan McLaurin and Charlotte Autry), Company K, 38th Regiment North Carolina Troops. Born in Cumberland County, resided in Cumberland County where he enlisted at age 21 on February 15, 1862. He was wounded at or near Mechanicsville, Virginia on June 26, 1862. Private McLaurin returned to duty prior to January 1, 1863. He was present and accounted for through October, 1864. He surrendered with his unit at Appomattox Court House, Virginia on April 9, 1865 (Mayo Bundy and Robert Autry, The Descendants of Cornelius Autry, 2nd Edition, 1996, pg 489). Also verified by the National Archives and in North Carolina Troops Vol. X, page 100.
Submitted by Jo Grasso.

Private John A. McLaurin (cousin of Daniel James McLaurin and son of John W. McLaurin and Sylvania Butler), Company K 38th Regiment North Carolina Troops. He resided in Cumberland County where he enlisted at age 21 on February 15, 1862. He was wounded at Mechanicsville, Virginia on June 26th, 1862. He was detailed for hospital duty on April 2, 1863. He was reported absent on detail through October, 1864. (Mayo Bundy and Robert Autry, The Descendants of Cornelius Autry, 2nd Edition, 1996, pg 489). Also verified by the National Archives and in North Carolina Troops Vol. X, page 100.
Submitted by Jo Grasso

Joel Matthews Private, son of Robert Matthews and Catherine McAlpin. Enlisted on February 26th 1862 in Cumberland County at the age of 26 in 2nd Company C, 36th Regiment (2nd North Carolina Artillery. He died on February 11, 1863 at Fort Fisher of disease. (Mayo Bundy and Robert Autry, The Descendants of Cornelius Autry, 2nd Edition, 1996, pg 489).
Submitted by Jo Grasso

Private Robert M. Orrell, Company F, 1st North Carolina Infantry. Robert was born on 22 September 1818 in Rowan County, North Carolina, the son of Daniel Black and Mary (Hutchinson) Orrell. Robert settled in Fayetteville and became a wealthy merchant, owning several steamboats plying the Cape Fear between Fayetteville and Wilmington. Robert also served the city as Commissioner and Postmaster for many years.

Robert enlisted at age 39 in Company F, 11th Regiment, North Carolina Troops, Old Bethel Regiment. This regiment became the 1st Regiment. Company F was also known as Captain Joseph B. Starr's Company or Lafayette Light Infantry. On 22 April 1861 the company was ordered to occupy the Arsenal at Fayetteville. On 2 May 1861 the company was ordered to Raleigh. The company was mustered into state service on 13 May 1861 and sent to Sharp Point, Virginia and served under the command of Colonel D. H. Hill. Company F took part in the Battle of Big Bethel, Virginia on 10 Jun 1861. On 31 August the company was officially mustered into Confederate States service on 31 August 1861. Robert was present and accounted for until he mustered out on 12 November 1816 when the company was disbanded and returned to North Carolina.

Robert married Julia Glover on 4 March 1886 in Fayetteville. She was born on 18 February 1849, the daughter of Edwin and Laura (Smith) Glover. Robert and Julia did not have any children. Robert died on 20 August 1892 in Fayetteville and is buried there in Cross Creek Cemetery #2. Julia applied for a Confederate Widow's Pension on 27 August 1926 at age 78. The pension was approved for $72.00 per year.
Submitted by: Robert S. Orrell olebob@n-jcenter.com

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