New from Star Route Books, are the histories of North Carolina’s 26th and 61st Infantry Regiments in the Civil War. Through spellbinding narratives and fascinating photography we follow the story of the 26th Regiment and Company A, The Jeff Davis Mountaineers, that consisted almost entirely of men from Ashe County and the 61st, including Company I, The Alleghany Rangers, which was made up of Alleghany County volunteers.
Originally published in 1901, these eyewitness accounts were compiled by the State of North Carolina and were part of The Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina, in the Great War, 1861-65.
The 26th was noted for its participation in Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg, there losing more men than any other regiment from either side in the entire war. They were part of the Army of Northern Virginia, fighting at Richmond, Petersburg and they were with Robert E. Lee at his eventual surrender at Appomattox.
The 61st fought, primarily, along the coast of North and South Carolina, defending Charleston Harbor, Savannah and Wilmington. They were at Morris Island and just barely missed the attack of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, depicted in the movie Glory. They were led by General Thomas Clingman and were with General Joseph Johnston when he surrendered at Bennett Place in Durham at the war’s end.
Along with the original text, we have added company rosters, photographs, battle descriptions and period maps obtained from the National Archives, the Library of Congress, Virginia Military Institute and many other resources.
The Regimental History of the 26th North Carolina Infantry won a Willie Parker Peace History Book Award from the North Carolina Society of Historians in 2011.
Both books are available now, print-on-demand, through The Sparta Store.
