Philmer Bangs Heptinstall

Son of prosperous Methodist Episcopal preacher, businessman, and planter John Wesley Heptinstall (1812-1888), in 1860 "Bangs" was a 20 year old divinity student living with his parents, 5 siblings, and at least 14 slaves on their plantation at Pittands (?) near the Virginia line in Halifax County, NC. He enlisted on 15 May 1862 in Garysburg, NC and mustered as a Private in Company D of the 24th North Carolina Infantry.

He was sent to a hospital in Frederick, MD, sick, by 12 September 1862, left behind, and captured there.

He was in US Army General Hospital #1 in Frederick, MD to 19 September and afterward was a prisoner at Fort Delaware to 2 October, then sent to Aikens' Landing, VA for exchange. He was in a Richmond, VA hospital by 11 October and was formally exchanged about 10 November 1862.

He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 1 August 1864. He was on furlough for 18 days in January 1865 and was admitted to a hospital in Richmond, VA on 6 March 1865 with chronic diarrhea. He was granted a furlough of 60 days on 20 March, with no later military record.

It's not clear if he left for home, or could have reached it, as he died on or about 25 March 1865. Family and local lore says he was killed in action at Fort Stedman near Petersburg, VA on that date - this is not found in his military records.

His service from his Compiled Military Service Records,1 via fold3. He's also on the Confederates In Frederick List.2 Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860.

More about his family's home, Heptinsall House, is online from the current owners, source also of the poor photograph of Philmer.

c. 1840; Halifax County, NC

03/25/1865