4th North Carolina Infantry

Perhaps more properly known as the 4th Regiment North Carolina State Troops, they were organized at Camp Hill (near Garysburg), NC and mustered into Confederate Service in May 1861. Their first Commanding Officer was Colonel George B. Anderson, who was later their Brigade Commander at Sharpsburg. First duty at Manassas Junction, VA in July, and first combat at Yorktown, VA in March 1862. They fought at Williamsburg, Seven Pines (Fair Oaks), Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor, and South Mountain before Sharpsburg. Colonel Grimes took command of the regiment at Cold Harbor, VA.

They were part of General D.H. Hill's Division defending the center of the Confederate line in the Sunken Road until flanked and driven from the position by parts of the Federal Second Army Corps about midday on 17 September 1862.

In his after-action report, General DH Hill said of the Regiment:

Colonel Grimes was disabled, by the kick of a horse, from being with his regiment (Fourth north Carolina) at Sharpsburg, and unfit for duty for months afterward. The Fourth thus lost his valuable services. This gallant regiment, which has never been surpassed was commanded by the heroic Captain [William T.] Marsh, and, after his fall, by the equally heroic Captain [D. P.] Latham, who shared the same fate. All the officers of this noble regiment present at Sharpsburg were killed or wounded. Their names deserve to be preserved. Captain Marsh, Latham, and [E. A.] Osborne; Lieutenants [Jesse F.] Stansill, J. C. Cotton, [T. M.] Allen, Parker, [T. J.] Brown*, [F. H.] Weaver, Crawford*, and [B. T.] Bonner; Sergts. John Troutman and J. W. Shinn; Corpls. J. A. Cowan and H. H. Barnes, and Private J. D. Barton. J. B. Stinson, of same regiment, acting as courier to General Anderson, was wounded in three places at Sharpsburg, and there, as on every other battle-field, behaved most nobly.

Initial Strength: not known; Killed in Action (KIA): 6; Wounded (WIA): 40;

Detail Map #6: French's Division Hits the Sunken Road (9-10 am)
Detail Map #9: Richardson's Division Attacks the Sunken Road (10-11 am)
Detail Map #10: Confederate Counterattacks in the Center (11 am-1 pm)

Tablet #332: D. H. Hill's Division, Jackson's Command - 14 Sep, 10 PM to 16 Sep, 9 PM
Tablet #384: D. H. Hill's Division, Jackson's Command - 14 Sep, 10 PM to 16 Sep, 9 PM
Tablet #303: Longstreet's Command - 14 Sep, 9 PM to 15 Sep, 12 PM
Tablet #325: Anderson's Brigade, D. H. Hill's Division - 15 Sep, 9 PM to 17 Sep, 8 AM
Tablet #336: Anderson's Brigade, D. H. Hill's Division - 16 Sep, 9 PM to 17 Sep, 4 PM
Tablet #333: D. H. Hill's Division, Jackson's Command - 17 Sep, 7 AM to 17 Sep, 1 PM
Tablet #304: Longstreet's Command - 17 Sep, 7 AM to 17 Sep, 3 PM
Tablet #385: D. H. Hill's Division, Jackson's Command - 17 Sep, 7 AM to 17 Sep, 5 PM

Chancellorsville: Another Confederate unit refused to charge enemy breastworks to their front and, instead, lay behind cover. The 4th charged over this unit and captured the works, holding them against several counter attacks. General Ramseur commanded and he and the brigade were commended in writing by the wounded General "Stonewall" Jackson. The next day, the 4th made a ferocious assault upon the enemy's strongpoint in view of Generals Stuart and Rodes and once again were victorious in carrying the field.

Gettysburg: Accompanying the 2nd N.C. regiment, the 4th regiment were the first troops to enter the town of Gettysburg on July 1st. During Lee's retreat from Gettysburg, the 4th held the honored position of rearguard during the entire movement.

Spottsylvania: The 4th was engaged every day of the conflict and occupied a position just to the left of the "Bloody Angle." Here they fought the enemy to a standstill in the rain from 5:30 in the morning to 2:00 the next morning.

Monocacy: General Lew Wallace's forces were driven by the 4th from Frederick to Washington. After threatening Ft. Stevens, the 4th retired south.

Retreat to Appomattox: After clearing the road to Lynchburg, General Grimes was ordered by General Gordon to retire. Confused over the order, Gen. Grimes refused to leave. He held the men in place, defying orders, until General Lee himself ordered the withdrawal. During this movement, the enemy tried to overwhelm the brigade. Yet, the brigade faced about and poured a deadly volley into the enemy thus driving them off. It was the last volley fired at Appomattox and the last ever fired by the Army of Northern Virginia.

Unit history notes from the 4th NC (Reenactors) website.