Branch's North Carolina Brigade

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Branch

I beg you will signify to the troops of your command, which were engaged on that occasion, my hearty approval of their conduct, and hope that on future occasions they will evince a like heroism and patriotic devotion. - Robert E. Lee, complimenting General Branch on his brigade's behavior.

About the Brigade: Also sometimes known as Lane's Brigade. The all-North Carolina brigade of General Lawrence O'Bryan Branch joined the Army of Northern Virginia in 1862 and saw service in the Seven Days Campaign as part of A.P. Hill's Light Division. From its conception, the brigade consisted of the 7th, 18th, 28th, 33d, and 37th Regiments. Upon the death of General Branch at Sharpsburg, General James H. Lane took command. Lane served until the very bitter end with few interuptions. This brigade had the misfortune to accidentally wound Stonewall Jackson at the battle of Chancellorsville. It is said because of this unforunate incident, promotions were slow to come to officers of this brigade, but at least one (John D. Barry of the 18th North Carolina) became a general after Chancellorsville. In truth, there simply were few very openings in Hill's Corps for especially brigade-level generals to ever move up. The brigade served until Appomattox.

Image of General Lawrence O'Bryan Branch, first commander of the brigade

In addition to the bios listed below, And Then A.P. Hill Came Up also includes a history of the 28th Regiment. Despite its sad role in the death of Jackson, this was an elite brigade full of some of the best troops the Army of Northern Virginia could muster.


7th North Carolina

From the counties of Iredell, Alexander, Cabarrus, Rowan, New Hanover, Mecklenburg, Nash, and Wake. This regiment left Lane's brigade on February 26, 1865 and surrendered with the Army of Tennessee in North Carolina.

  • Col. Reuben P. Campbell
  • Col. William L. Davidson
  • Maj. Edward D. Hall
  • Maj. James Gilmer Harris (11/10/41-1902)
  • Cabarrus Cty farmer wounded at Jones Farm.
  • Col. Edward Haywood (1831-?)
  • Wake Cty lawyer wounded at Second Manassas & Chancellorsville
  • Lt. Col. Junius L. Hill (?-05/03/63)
  • Of Irdell Cty and killed at Chancellorsville.
  • Maj. Robert B. McRae (1832-12/28/64)
  • Of New Hanover Cty; wounded at Chantilly
  • Lt. Col. John M. Turner
  • Maj. Robert S. Young

18th North Carolina

The regiment that was probably most responsible for the accidental death of Jackson. Members mainly hailed from Wilmington and Robeson, New Hanover, Bladen, Columbus, and Richmond counties. It surrendered with Lane at Appomattox.

28th North Carolina

There is an extensive history on this site of the 28th Regiment. It was written by General James H. Lane. Members of this regiment came from Surry, Gaston, Catawba, Stanley, Montgomery, Yadkin, Orange, and Cleveland.

33d North Carolina

This regiment was from mainly the counties of Iredell, Edgecombe, Cabarrus, Wilkes, Gates, Hyde, Cumberland, Forsyth, and Greene. It saw action at New Bern prior to joining the Army of Northern Virginia.

37th North Carolina

This regiment was from the counties of Buncombe, Watauga, Mecklenburg, Wake, Ashe, Alexander, and Gaston. It saw action at New Bern before joining the Army of Northern Virginia and it served all the way to Appomattox.

  • Lt. Col. John Benjamin Ashcraft (1834-1901)
  • Union Cty teacher; buried in family cemetery Marshville
  • Col. William M. Barbour
  • Maj. Jackson L. Bost
  • Maj. Owen N. Brown (1837-07/24/63)
  • Of Fayetteville; teacher in Mecklenburg mortally wounded at Gettysburg
  • Maj. John G. Bryan (1808-?)
  • Of Alexander County
  • Lt. Col. Charles Napoleon Hickerson (1829-1915)
  • Wilkes Cty farmer
  • Col. Charles C. Lee
  • Lt. Col. William G. Morris
  • Maj. Rufus M. Rankin (?-?)
  • Present in 1865
  • Maj. William R. Rankin (1823-?)
  • Gaston farmer.

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