These pages are dedicated to the memory of all the men from North Carolina that fought in the Civil War.

This is a map of the battle at Hanover Court House





HANOVER COURT HOUSE
OR
Lebanon Church
May 27, 1862
(Part of the Peninsular Campaign)

North Carolina Standard
Raleigh
June 4, 1862

The Fight at Hanover Court House
Richmond, Virginia, May 30, 1862

I give you an account of the fight at Lebanon Church in Hanover County 
on the 27th inst.

About 11:30 a.m., a captain of the Virginia cavalry informed Colonel 
Charles Lee of the 37th N.C.T. that the enemy was advancing but that 
he believed it would be a mere marauding party which might be captured 
by prompt action.

General Branch was at his headquarters more than a mile distant and as 
no time could be lost, Colonel Lee at once sent three of his companies 
under Lt. Col. Barber to meet them and notified General Branch of the same.  
Colonel Lee soon learned that the enemy was advancing in considerable 
force; he, therefore, sent forward the remainder of his regiment and placed 
it in line of battle across the road and sent back for Captain Latham’s artillery 
to reply to the battery which had opened upon his regiment.  He also asked 
Colonel Wade of the 12th N.C.T. to place his regiment in the woods on the 
right to prevent flank movements.  He then deployed Company A of the 37th 
as skirmishers to protect the left flank.

Captain Latham with two guns of his battery came forward and replied 
vigorously for a short time until a shell was thrown into his caisson which 
caused it to explode killing two men and two horses and wounding seven 
men.  Our guns ceased to fire while moving back the disabled section.  
Company F of the 37th now opened fire with Enfield Rifles upon the advancing 
enemy and put him to flight, killing a lieutenant and two of his men.  The 
enemy now retired from view having engaged us for two hours.

General Branch about this time came upon the field and ordered the 18th 
and 37th forward to support Colonel Lane’s 28th N.C.T., which had been 
sent early in the morning to support two companies of the 37th on picket 
some four miles distant.  These two regiments commenced to advance in 
charge of Colonel Lee, the respective regiments being commanded by Col. 
Cowen of the 18th and Col. Barber of the 37th.  

Colonel Lee soon ascertained that the enemy had planted a battery of artillery 
on a hill in front of him with strong infantry support.  This was reported to 
General Branch.  General Branch ordered Colonel Lee to charge the battery 
with the 18th and 37th.  Colonel Lee sent to the General, asking him to 
cause Latham to engage the battery and to send up other infantry support 
for the 18th and 37th.

The 18th and 37th commenced the charge—the 18th sweeping gallantly 
through an open field in the face of a terrible fire with good effect.  At the 
same time the 37th advanced with rapidity and steadiness through a dense 
forest in which the undergrowth was so thick that a man could not see more 
than 30 steps.  

The 37th rushed forward with enthusiasm until it encountered Yankees who 
were concealed behind logs, trees, and in the cut of a roadway which was 
bordered by a fence of cedar brush.  Here the enemy had every advantage 
of position while his force was vastly superior but Colonel Lee’s men stood 
like veterans.  Officers and men stood as firm as rocks within fifteen to twenty 
paces of the Yankee line.  Volley after volley of grape from the cannon and of 
minie balls from their infantry mowed down our men, still the 37th moved 
forward, driving the enemy before them.  Unable to withstand the well directed 
fire of the 18th and 37th, the enemy fled from their battery, leaving their flag 
in the field.  

While these two regiments were fighting as only brave men can fight, and were 
driving from their position the enemy of six regiments of infantry and one battery 
of artillery, strange to say, no assistance was sent to them though General 
Branch had at his side a battery of artillery and four regiments of infantry.

At last when no more able to stand alone against such heavy odds, the two 
regiments fell back stubbornly, contesting the ground as they retired.  They 
had fought long, especially the 37th which had been under fire nearly six hours.  
Their loss was very heavy.  The 37th had only seven companies on the field 
(Companies D and E being on picket and Company B being detailed to 
guard the wagon train), yet it lost 160 in killed, wounded and missing, 
more than one out of every three men.  The loss of the 18th was quite 
severe they leaving 160 of their men on the field.

Colonel Campbell’s 7th and Colonel Wade’s 12th N.C.T. now covered the 
retreat, holding the enemy in fine style.  None of our other troops were in the 
action except Capt. Saunders’ Company of the 33rd N.C.T. which, while 
deployed as skirmishers, captured a Yankee hospital and with it a surgeon, 
four men and ten horses.  The hospital contained 49 wounded Yankees.  
Their loss was quite severe—greater, perhaps, then our own, including 
field officers.

Our officers all behaved well. Colonel Lee and Major Dickerson were both 
knocked from their horses by shells.  Lt. Col. Barber’s horse was killed 
under him and he was slightly wounded in the neck.  Adjutant William F. 
Nicholson’s horse was killed and then very nearly killed him.

Colonel Lane’s regiment was entirely cut off and had to take care of itself.  
Colonel Lane has cause to be proud of his men.  They encountered the 
advance regiment of the enemy and killed some eighty or more and captured 
some 68 prisoners who were sent to Richmond.

Colonel Lane was then opposed by a superior force which almost entirely 
surrounded him yet he conducted his command off and reached Richmond 
yesterday.  His loss, however, is great and as many of his men broke down 
and it is believed were captured by the Yankee cavalry.

Captain Ashcraft and Farthing of the 37th with some 140 men were on picket 
and started to Colonel Lane when they heard the firing.  Captain Ashcraft with 
44 of his men and 15 of Captain Farthing’s escaped; the rest, it is feared, 
were captured.
Hanover

North Carolina Standard
Raleigh
June 18, 1862

(Transcriber’s note, very faded, some were illegible)

Killed, wounded and missing, Battle of Lebanon Church, May 27

Company A

Killed:  J.P. Sh – brood, John El - - - - n
Wounded:  George Bryant, several flesh wounds in hip, (first name illegible) 
Marsh, shot through body and both hips flesh wounds, A. Gentry, face, 
probably mortal, Jonathan Perry, elbow, W.J. Davis, arm, George Craven, 
both legs, Reuben Sexton, shoulder, missing, John Ward, heel shot off by 
ball, L. Cox, John Weaver, shot in legs, missing, Lowry Miller, side, missing, 
H.H. He - - - trin, cheek, severe, missing, Sgt. Reuben Darby, leg, missing
Missing:  H. Blevins, David Eldreath, Jacob Eldreath, Eli Calloway, J.H. 
Vannoy, Robert Gentry, W.A. Walker, Robert McCormack, John A. 
Henderson(?), C.R. Carter, John Wyatt, William Walsh, Joshua S - - - - 
per, M.V. Mullins, W. Cox, Jr., W. Cox, Sr., R.R. M. Lane, George Black, 
Lt. W.A. Stuart

Company B

Missing:  L.H. Carlton, C.C. Miller, S. Grier

Company C

Wounded:  Frank Warsham, slightly in hip and finger, J.L. Reid, slightly in 
finger, R.r. Warsham, slightly in finger
Missing:  Samuel L. Hucks, Thomas A. Sloan

Company F

Killed:  James L. Caldwell, Daniel L. (last name illegible, starts with a ‘D’, 
maybe Davis?), R.M. H - - key, William Willes(?)
Wounded:  Lt. George R. - - - - ath, mortally wounded, shot in the head; 
A.L. Bell, slightly wounded in thumb, Thomas P - - - - - -, finger shot off, 
William J. Martin, breast injured, Jno Wallace in shoulder, Sgt. P.(?) M. 
Sales, arm, L. Bu - - -  in arm, A.S. Hannah in thigh, one name totally illegible
Missing:  A. Anderson, W. Anderson, J.B. Barlow, J.A. Botnigarm(?), L. 
Dala(?) or Dale(?), J.C. Howell, B.H. Kelley, Moses Treadway

Company G

Killed:  Jas. Robinette, W.P. Robinette, J.B. Robinette, Anderson Reid, 
John N. Austin
Wounded:  H.P.(or F.?) Echart(?), shot through jaw and half of tongue cut 
off; Lawson Crench(?), slightly in jaw, A. Brown, severely, V.S Teague, 
flesh wound left arm, Sgt. T.H. Chapman, shot through jaw passing out 
through the mouth, Corp. W.C. Walker, hip severe, H.C. Puishel(?) hand, 
A.E. Robinette
Missing:  Corp. William D. McCracken, John Hennington, N.G. Fox, 
William Fox, G.w. Barnes, Lt. R.L. Steele, David Austin, Hiram Kirby, 
John C. Robinette, Thomas Winkler, Noah De – ler(?) A.A. Gryder, W.W. 
Gryder, George Barnes, wounded and missing

Company H

Killed:  Andrew Summey, Robert Turner, H.A. Wright, George F. McGinnis
Wounded:  Capt. William G. Morris, slightly in neck, Lt. H.C. Fite in arm, 
H.M. Rhine in arm badly, John W. Weathers shoulder, Jas. A. Cannon arm, 
Robert F. Ragan face, ------- Ford, face, W.G. Ford shoulder, Jas. P. 
Briomer(?) side, John Thomason slightly in arm, George W. McKee head, 
Jas. Fite, hand, Emmanuel Clortiger hand, W.R.D. Abernathy, arm, 
missing, George Ball shoulder, missing, Oliver Brown in body badly, 
missing, John Jenkins, in body badly, J.H. Pas - - - in arm badly, 
Robertus Rutledge badly in leg, P.S. Rhyne, missing, Jas. A. Stowe, in 
body, missing, P.W. Watson, missing
Missing: Rufus Armstrong, L.J. Clemmer, L. Canedy, Jessie Elmore, 
Robert Ferguson, T.A. Wilson, L.W. Lyriah, G.N. Ferguson, James Neal, 
David Morrison

Company I
Killed:  Sgt. E.B. Wolf, Abram Clouts, J.J. Spears, David Stinson
Wounded:  Joseph Black, supposed killed and left, Jas. Montgomery, 
supposed killed and left, A.P. Young, supposed killed and left, Jacob 
Shor (Shar?) badly wounded and left, Stirling Russell, supposed killed, 
Robert Walker, supposed killed, Corp. Wilson, flesh wound in arm, J.P. 
Gordon, slight in hip, G.W. Williamson, arm and shoulder, Lowry Adams 
in foot, William Kisiah, in foot, J.S. Tagert in thigh, W.D. Conlay in leg, 
Thomas A. Sharp in hand, Eli Patterson in hand slightly, B.G. Henry in 
hand.
Missing:  L.A. Barnes, John Higginson, James Phillips

Company K

Killed:  William R. Muller, G. Douglas, W.D. Jones
Wounded:  Capt. J.B. Johnson slight in foot, John Price, right forefinger 
shot off, J. M. Halsay, right forefinger shot off, D.K. Evans, severe in shoulder
Missing:  J.K. Bingham, mortally wounded, Corp. F. Lory, mortal in side, 
M.D. L. Parsons, flesh wound in thigh, Abram Evans, Corp. W.R. Jones, 
John Gurbb(?), James Richardson, and Isham Jones

Company D and E were on picket duty and surrounded by the enemy, but 
Company D escaped with 50 men and 15 of Company e.

The 37th Regiment was during the engagement proper under the direction 
of Lt. Col. Barber as I had charge of a larger force.  The North Carolinians 
will have cause to remember the Battle of Lebanon Church as the bloodiest 
battle they were ever in.

C.C. Lee
Colonel, 37th Regiment


Losses Company A, Capt. E.F. Lovell, Surry, 28th (?) N.C. Regiment in the 
late Battle at Hanover Court House, Virginia

Killed:  P.H. Roberts, J.R. Key
Wounded:  Hugh Puckett
Missing:  Corp. W.C. Key, S. Axum, Jas. Ashburn, C.H. Atkinson, J.T. 
Blackwood, R. Brown, E.W. Bray, L.H. Burris, J.W. Cockerham, J.H. 
Childress, D. Edwards, W.A. Gregg, M. Glascoe, John Harris, William Morris, 
H.G. Pool, W.C. Parks, Albert Parsons, H. Patterson, James Puckett, John 
Reid, Oliver Stanley(?), John Hyatt


North Carolina Standard
Raleigh
June 18, 1862

Headquarters, 18th N.C.T
Casualties in the fight at Hanover Court House

Company A, from New Hanover—German volunteers
Capt. T.W. Brown, Jr., missing; 1st Lt. G.A. Johnson, mortally wounded (since dead); 
Sgt. John Bonsold, missing; Corps. A. Simmons, Wm. Hall, wounded; Ptes. A. 
Slobohn, John Hoerner, G.D. Hackerman, H.R. Kyhl, Ernest Ortman, Henry Steller(?), 
wounded

Company B, from Bladen
Captain W.J. Sykes, killed; Sgt. H. Edwards, missing; Corp. J.N. Wilson, killed
Killed:  Ptes. J. Guyton, D.(or O.) Hammond, T.N. Metichee(?), D.P. Shaw(?)
Wounded:  D.J. Jordan, R.S. Cheshire, L. Blackwell, C.L. Hilburn, H.W. Singletary, 
N. Edwards, J.E. Nance, Edward Pate, R. Roberts, H. Weeks
Missing:  Wm. Lovett, D. Pate, J.F. Rackley, A. Regan, M.B. Singletary, Drummer 
F. Tilley

Company C from Columbus County
2nd Lt. Samuel A. Long, wounded but fought the battle out; Sgt. E.V. Latta, wounded 
severely
Killed:  Moses Williams, Jas. M. Long, W.W. Long, J.L. Ward, J.E. Bellamy, J.M. Jones
Wounded:  Sgt. W.J. Lay, Corps. James M. Bennett, Charles Jones, Ptes. E. Meares, 
W.R. Ward, S.P. Wilkins, D.M. Williamson, William Best, B. Strickland, E. Tait, 
W.D. Rhodes
Missing:  W.R. Best, E.K. Vance, S.A. Vance, Robert Wilson, Daniel Green, Burwell 
Williamson

Company D from Robeson County
2nd Lt. Neill Townsend, Sgt. Needham Thompson, wounded
Killed:  Corps. Elias Woodell, Guilford W. Edwards, Pte. Bunyan Stancil, (first name illegible)
Edwards T.F. Gilbert, Jno Barnes, E.J. Britt, Thomas Capps(?), K. Lovitt, James M. 
Sherrell
Missing:  John Brett, Alva Lawsen

Company E, from New Hamover
Killed:  Quincey Williams, B.F. Bridgen, Owen Kinion(?)
Wounded:  Corp. A. Pridgen, D.J. Corbett(?), T.D. Malpass, A. Flanagen, A.B. 
Roche(?), G.W. Malpass, Henry Moore, J.L. Pigford, H.L. Peterson, J. F. Pridgen, 
W.T. Stringfield, W.F. Brown, G.F. D – l - - se (Deluise?), W.R. Garriss
Missing:  Sgt. D.P. Stringfield, Corp. D. J. Stringfield, Ptes. C.(?) M. Taylor, G.A. Hariss

Company F, from Richmond County
Killed:  Ptes. A.J. Clark, A.B. McLauchlin, Alex Jones
Wounded:  Corp. M. Calhoun, N. Brown, William Buchanen, H.P. Graham, John A. 
Henderson, A.H. McNeill(?), H.L. Patterson, A.W. Roper, A.A. Huckabee, John M. 
McLauchlin, John F. McLean, W.H. McNeill, Samuel Wright
Missing:  Corps. John F. McNair(?), N. McN Smith, H.C. Calhoun, John Hughes, M. 
McCormick, D. McKinnen, A.L. McRae, L.C Palma(?), D.M. Gibson, John G. Martin, 
M. McDuff, W.H. Murphy, W.H. Nelson, E. Norton, C.N. Tintower(?), William Wallace

Company G, New Hanover Light Infantry
Killed:  Pte. Sam D - - r
Wounded:  Corp. S.J. King, J.B. Morrison, T.F. Mills
Missing:  Corp. C. F - - nner, J.M.K. W - - ted, (first name illegible) Mills, Ellis Bright

Company H, Columbus County
Wounded:  Corp. G.R. Polly(?) Kelly(?), Melvin Hinson(?), Pte. Bryant A. Young(?), 
A.M. Watkins, John J. Edwards, L.(?) Newman, William Lemore Frisk(?), W.M. Harper(?), 
Henry B - - - - - - , William J. Hinson, John J. Siddett(?), John W. Telder(?)
Missing:  Corp. Major(?) McKee, Daniel Sutherland, Joseph Fisher, John Proctor(?)

Company I, New Hanover—None

Company K, Bladen
Killed:  1st Sgt. A. Rinaldi, 1st Corp. J.N. A - - - ers, Ptes. C.W. Bryan, A. King
Wounded:  S.B. P - - - - , W.E. Atkinson, A.S. Wells, J. Crommaire(?)
Missing:  C. Swindell, J. McKetchen(?), C. (last name illegible), Lewis Farr(?), Corp. 
W.J. Maltsby(?), T.F. Bridgen, Henry McA- - ,  J.R. Dinnan(?), W.S. McDuffie, James 
Davis, D. Ferguson, W.J. McMilan, W.H. Si - - - , M.V. Sutton

The above includes all the missing up to this date, June 3.  Many missing on the day 
of battle have come in.  Those reported wounded and left on the field were for the most 
part carried to the field hospital which afterwards fell into the hands of the enemy.  We 
had no ambulances and no means of bringing them off.  There can be no doubt some 
of those left on the field are dead.  It is possible some of the missing may come in—
some of them are doubtless wounded—the most of them prisoners.


North Carolina Standard
Raleigh
July 2, 1862

North Carolina Wounded and Captured
Correspondent of the Petersburg Express
Near Richmond, Virginia, June 22, 1862

Mr. Editor:

Permit me to communicate through your columns the following list of wounded 
belonging to the “Branch Brigade” who were in the engagement at Hanover Court 
House on May 27 and are still prisoners with the enemy.

Teph Burgess, Latham’s N.C. Battery, wounded in left temple and eye
Martin Messer, Company B, 7th N.C.R., compound fracture of left thigh
Thomas T. Robeson, Company E, 12th N.C.R., wounded left side
Lewis Hedgpeth, Company I, 12th N.C.R., flesh wound right thigh

The following are from the 18th N.C., Colonel Cowan:
Lt. George A Johnston, Co. A, perforating wound of chest, considered mortal
George D. Hackerman, Co. A, flesh would right leg
Moses Williams, Co. C, flesh wound right leg
Wallace Long, Co. C, flesh wound right thigh
William D. Rhodes, Co. C, wounded in abdomen, June 9
J.M. Pherrell, Co. D, compound fracture of right leg, amputated below knee when 
last seen June 17, was in a dying condition
Thomas Cape(?), Co. D, perforating chest wound last seen June 17 in a dying condition
Bunyan Stan - - - , Co. D, compound fracture of right leg, amputated below knee
Archibald B. Brooks, Co. E, penetrating wound of the chest
George W. Malpass, Co. B, right shoulder and breast, died June 15
Enos Tart, Co. E, flesh wound left thigh
William H. McNeal, Co. F, flesh wound foot
Samuel Wright, Co. F, flesh wound in back
Lewis Cassilun, Co. E, wounded in left knee joint, thigh amputated, died June 14
Corp. Samuel King, Co. G, compound fracture right leg, amputated below knee, died June 11
John William Tedder, Co. H, flesh would left thigh
Albert R - - - li, Co. K, flesh wound left thigh
Pte. --------- Brown, flesh wound in back

The following belongs to the 33rd Regiment N.C.T., Colonel Robert Hoke:
John Guy, Co. A, finger of right hand shot off and afterwards amputated

The following belong to the 37th Regiment N.C.T.:
L.A. Cox, Company A, compound fracture right thigh
Benjamin C. Coldron, Co. A, perforating wound of the brain through the right eye, died June 11
Sgt. William Hurley, Co. A, wounded in the right knee joint
George Craven, Co. A, right knee joint, thigh amputated, died June 12
Robert Gentry, Co. A, perforating chest wound
M.V. Mullins, Co. A, left thigh and testicle, died of tetanus June 9
Jas. Cardell, Co. F, flesh wound right thigh
Peyton Rhyne, Co. H, wound in left cheek, tongue and fracture of inferior maxilla
E.P. Clemmer, Co. B, perforating chest wound, died June 16
R.D. Rutledge, Co. B, flesh wound left leg
John B. Nicholson, Co. I, wound in left side
M.D. Parsin, Co. K, flesh wound right thigh
Corp. William Walker, perforating wound in abdomen, died June 2

These wounded are partially in my charge within the enemy lines.  They have been 
removed to Fortress Monroe.

It may be encouraging to the relatives of the wounded and it is due the enemy to state  
that all the Confederate wounded are kindly treated and well cared for all receiving like 
accommodations and attention.  No preference is shown to the Federal wounded.  
In this respect, at least, our foe conforms to the usages of civil warfare.

J.F. Shaffner
Surgeon, C.S.A.
33rd Regiment N.C.T.



Fayetteville Observer

The Fighting in Hanover County, Va.

We gave in our last the accounts published by the Richmond papers of the brilliant 
engagement between Col. Jas. H. Lane’s 28th N.C. Regiment and the Yankees at Hanover 
C.H., near Richmond. They added that the engagement had been renewed lat in the day 
but particulars had not been received of the result.  

In this second engagement, it would seem that three North Carolina Regiments of Branch’s 
Brigade, the 18th, 28th, and 33rd, participated.  We annex all of interest relating the fight 
contained in the Richmond papers of the 29th and 30th ult.

The Whig of Thursday says:

The affair at Hanover Court House, Tuesday, was of a more serious character than we supposed.  
Our information yesterday morning came down only to the engagement between North Carolina 
and the New York regiment, in which the latter was very roughly handled.  Later intelligence 
advises us that after this quite a large Yankee force came upon the ground and was met by 
three regiments from our side, who fought them until the overpowering weight of numbers 
caused us to fall back.  Accounts differ as to the casualties sustained, but we fear they were 
quite considerable.  The regiments on our side were from North Carolina.

The most plausible version of the affair that reached us was that a portion of General Branch’s 
brigade, which consists of five North Carolina Regiments and one Georgia Regiment (45th), 
engaged the enemy, Tuesday, at Peak’s turnout, about midway between Atlee’s and the 
Junction on the Central Railroad; that after the capture of sixty Federals, the 45th Ga., and 
the 33rd N.C. were sent around to “bag” a supposed small force of Yankees, while the 18th 
and 28th advanced to engage them; that the enemy proved to be in larger force than was 
expected, with two batteries between which and Latham’s battery, a sharp exchange of shot 
and shell was conducted for an hour or two; and that in charging the Federal batteries, the 
two N.C. regiments were exposed to a galling fire from infantry and artillery, and repulsed 
with considerable loss.  The same informant states that the enemy lost heavily during the fight.

No official information of this affair, we were informed, had reached the War Department, last 
night, and the reports were discredited, or regarded as gross exaggerations.  All that is 
certain known is that there was heavy firing in the direction of Atlee’s on Tuesday.

The Enquirer of Thursday says:

The skirmish of Tuesday near Hanover Court House, commenced between a regiment of 
N.C. troops attached to General Branch’s Brigade, and an advance party of the enemy.  
Our troops gallantly repulsed the foe, took 63 prisoners and pursued the Yankees back 
upon their main body.  The Confederate Regiment now found itself fighting a whole division 
of the hostile army; and consequently, in their turn, our men fell back upon their own brigade.  
Here the fight ended. The loss in killed and wounded is not believed to have been considerable 
on either side, though that of the enemy is supposed to have been the greater.

Thursday’s Examiner says:

From all we can learn of the engagement it appears that, Tuesday afternoon, our pickets 
discovered the enemy advancing, and reported that a body of cavalry, supposed to be from 
500 to 1,000 strong, was approaching our lines.  On this information, the 33rd N.C. and the 
45th Ga., were ordered to make a movement with the design of cutting off the cavalry force 
from the main body.  The 18th and 28th N.C. were ordered to the front, and bore the brunt of 
the engagement, as the terrible suffering of these two regiments testify.  We had but one field 
battery in the action—Latham’s Battery.  The enemy had several batteries on the field, certainly 
two.  It is reported that the 18th and 28th N.C. were ordered to take different batteries, and, on 
dividing, were raked by the enemy’s fire in a most terrible manner.  Nearly two thirds of the 
28th N.C. regiment are reported to have been killed or wounded or captured.  We were repulsed 
and driven back with the loss of two guns, which were abandoned on the field.

Our loss in killed and wounded is variously estimated at from 500 to 1,000.  It is impossible to 
form any intelligent estimate of our loss, so various are the accounts we hear of it.  On retiring, 
our forces fell back in the direction of Ashland, and destroyed the bridge just beyond it.

Friday’s Examiner says:

We learn that in Tuesday’s fight near Hanover Court House, Gen. Branch succeeded in 
getting off his entire command, with the exception of one regiment, which got out of position, 
but which yesterday effected a junction with the main body.  The force of the enemy was 
largely superior to that of Gen. Branch.  The retreat was conducted in good order to Ashland, 
where a panic suddenly broke out among our troops, and great confusion followed.  Ashland is 
still within our lines.

Friday’s Dispatch says:

The heavy cannonading of Tuesday afternoon, and an uninterrupted musketry fire which 
accompanied it from the (supposed) direction of Mechanicsville, remains as yet a mystery.  
The whole of our troops in that vicinity were on the qui vive, and although feverishly excited, 
none can explain the affair satisfactorily.  It is asserted, however, that the Federals, galled 
by Branch’s successful ambuscade (by which he captured 50 odd men of the 25th New York), 
had returned to the scene near Hanover Court House (or Ashland) and with a much superior 
force, had re-opened the engagement, and cut up our forces generally.  From the number and 
variety of reports, however, we are forced to the conclusion that Branch’s Brigade was unequal 
to the task of repelling the odds against them, and though bravely contending for every inch of 
ground, were subjected to very rough treatment at the hands of the 15,000 men under McDowell, 
and that his small brigade of 8,000 suffered severely.  The train last evening brought down some 
thirty of our wounded and some dozen of disabled Yankees.  When the train left Ashland, 
McDowell was within a mile of that place.  It is true that Branch was eminently successful in 
his first attack in the morning, although defeated in the action of the afternoon.

The Wilmington Journal of Thursday has the following from the Quartermaster of the 18th 
Regiment:
Richmond, May 29:  Messrs Fulton & Price:
No Wilmington boys killed in the engagement of the 18th Regiment on Tuesday.
Captain Brown, Company A, and Charles Flanner, Company G, were reported missing 
yesterday at 12:00.  About 100 boys have been killed and wounded.  Companies 
B, C, D, E, F, H and K suffered the most.  In Companies A and G the loss is very small.  
Company I has none wounded or killed.
A.D. Cazaux

The Journal adds:
From a dispatch, not from a member of the regiment, we learn that the whole regiment, from 
Colonel Cowan down, greatly distinguished itself, taking and retaking a battery of the enemy 
three times, but being finally compelled to abandon it by an overwhelming superior force of the 
enemy.  Of our loss in killed and wounded we have not heard.

The Journal of Friday learns from “private dispatches here, that 1st Lt. George A. Johnston 
and Private Stolter of Company A, (German volunteers) are killed.  We have not heard 
anything from Capt. T.W. Brown of the same company, reported missing.”

“Private Charles Flanner of Company G (Wilmington Light Infantry) reported missing, is known 
to have been taken prisoner.”

The Petersburg Express has heard:

During the early part of the infantry fight, we obtained many advantages over the Hessians, 
and several times drove them back, but they were constantly reinforce, while we could obtain 
no reinforcements and night closed with the Confederates in full retreat, leaving Yankees in 
full possession of the field, and all our killed and wounded, save a few of the latter, whose 
injuries were so slight, that they had no difficulty in saving themselves.

During the fight we took four pieces of artillery but they were all retaken by the enemy who 
succeeded in capturing one of our pieces and still have it in their possession, for aught we 
know to the contrary.

Fayetteville Observer, Monday, June 9, 1862

Camp 2nd Brigade (Gen. Branch)
Near Richmond, Va., June 4, 1862
Messrs. E.J. Hale & Sons:
Please publish the following list for the benefit of our relatives and friends at home who are 
doubtless anxious to learn the particulars of the engagement of the 27th ult., near Hanover 
Ct. House, Va., where the 28th N.C. Regiment (Col. Lane) took part.  We are not aware of 
having lost any member of our company killed or wounded; there are twelve missing, 
supposed to be prisoners, as they became exhausted during the retreat and were left behind.  
The names of the missing are as follows:
1st Sgt. Isaac Williams
Corp. Wm. Tippet
Corp. Elisha Hall
Privates J.H. Ballard
Miles M. Ballard
Jno. W. Hall
Angus McAulay
James McCaskill
James A. Reddin
J.C. Russell
Calvin Smith
D.W. Waisner
We are destitute of clothing, save one suit each, having thrown down our knapsacks upon 
the commencement of the action.  Our troops all fought bravely
Respectfully,
W.D. Barringer
Capt, Commanding Company E, 28th Regiment N.C.T.

Fayetteville Observer, Monday, June 16, 1862

Latham’s N.C. Battery
The following was the loss at Hanover C.H.:
Killed, none; mortally wounded, Corp. Z.W. Burgess and Privates Wm. Smith and Henry 
Gaskins; severely wounded, Privates George Malpass, James Malpass, Allen Hardey and 
Wm. Hankins; slightly wounded, Privates Daniel Lee, Richard Tindle, and Islar Taylor; 
missing and left sick, eleven. The battery also lost one limber, one caisson, one brass 
howitzer and twelve horses.





Transcribed by Christine Spencer May & June 2007 & January 2008





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