Cooke's North Carolina Brigade

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Cooke

"At one critical juncture during the battle, the 27th North Carolina, the 3rd Arkansas, and 250 men from Cobb's Brigade of McLaws's Division, under the command of the 27th's Colonel John Rogers Cooke, held their position for two-and-a-half hours without a single cartridge. At one point, Longstreet sent Moxley Sorrell to remind Cooke that his men must hold their position at all costs. Cooke replied, 'Major, thank General Longstreet for his good words, but say, by God Almighty, he needn't doubt me! We will stay here, by J.C., if we must go to hell together!'"

About the Brigade: This North Carolina brigade had first served under General Cobb in the Army of Northern Virginia (McLaw's Division). It had a distingushed history under Cobb and fought in the Seven Days battles, the Maryland Campaign, and at Fredericksburg. It fought particularly hard at Sharpsburg. The brigade was then transferred south and spent time fighting in the defense of Charleston, South Carolina.

This North Carolina brigade joined the III Corps after the Gettysburg Campaign and served attached to Heth's Division for the duration of the War. It was surrendered at Appomattox.

Image of General John R. Cooke, commander of the brigade

The main commanders of the brigade in the Third Corps included General John R. Cooke and General William MacRae. The brigade was composed of the 15th, 27th, 46th, and 48th North Carolina Regiments.


15th North Carolina

Raised from the counties of Northampton, Union, Cleveland, Franklin, Harnett, Alamance, and Edgecombe. It served at Charleston and Savannah before being returned to the Army of Northern Virginia.

  • Col. Henry Austin Dowd (01/05/33-05/12/1902)
  • Of Edgecombe Cty; wounded at Malvern Hill
  • Maj. William Furbifold Green (?-08/10/98)
  • Franklin Cty lawyer & planter
  • Lt. Col. Gray Willis Hammond (10/22/29-07/79)
  • Of Edgecombe Cty; post-war farmer in Rocky Mount
  • Lt. Col. Ross R. Ihrie
  • Maj. Robert P. Jerome (ca. 1840-?)
  • Of Union Cty
  • Col. Robert M. McKinney
  • Col. William MacRae
  • Col. William Henry Yarborough (03/01/40-08/03/1914)
  • Franklin Cty; wounded four times in War; postwar merchant

27th North Carolina

Raised from Orange, Guilford, Wayne, Pitt, Lenoir, Perquimans, and Jones counties. There is a regimental history online that is extensive (external link).

  • Col. John R. Cooke
  • Col. John A. Gilmer
  • Maj. Calvin Herring (?-?)
  • Of Lenoir Cty; wounded in chest at Reams Station but served till Appomattox
  • Col. George B. Singeltary
  • Col. Richard Williams Singeltary (02/10/37-?)
  • Of Beaufort Cty; resigned due to wounds 12/62 and later was newspaper editor
  • Lt. Col. Thomas Chappeau Singeltary (08/09/40-01/18/73)
  • Of Pitt Cty; served until end of War; younger brother of Richard W.
  • Col. John Sloan (?-?)
  • Of Guilford Cty; died sometime before 1883
  • Lt. Col. Joseph Caldwell Webb (12/04/35-?)
  • Born in Alabama; of Orange Cty NC; wounded in leg at Spotsylvania
  • Col. George Franklin Whitfield (?-1881)
  • Of Lenoir Cty NC; graduate UNC wounded at Bristoe and Cold Harbor

46th North Carolina

Served with the brigade from the beginning until Appomattox. The men came from the counties of Robeson, Rowan, Burke, Warren, Richmond, Granville, Moore, Randolph, Sampson, and Catawba.

  • Col. Edward Dudley Hall (09/27/23-1896)
  • Wilmington sheriff; post-war mayor of Wilmington
  • Lt. Col. William Alexander Jenkins (1829-1869)
  • Of Warrenton; former Attorney General of NC; resigned January 1863
  • Lt. Col. Alexander Cary McAlister (11/07/38-12/08/1916)
  • Of Cumberland Cty; post-war merchant in Asheboro
  • Maj. Neill McKay McNeill (06/10/25-12/29/1902)
  • Moore Cty farmer who served until Appomattox; postwar business in Georgia
  • Maj. Rush J. Mitchell (?-?)
  • Of Granville Cty; Mexican War captain who resigned due to disease August 1862
  • Maj. Richard M. Norment (ca. 1829-?)
  • Charlotte doctor; resigned due to disease
  • Col. William L. Saunders

48th North Carolina

Raised from Union, Davidson, Iredell, Moore, Chatham, and Forsyth counties. It served until surrendered at Appomattox.

  • Lt. Col. Albert A. Hill
  • Col. Robert Clinton Hill (08/1833-12/04/63)
  • Of Irdell Cty; USMA 1855; aide to General Branch; died of disease
  • Maj. Benjamin Robinson Huske (10/28/29-07/15/62)
  • Of Cumberland Cty; mortally wounded during the Seven Days
  • Maj. William Hogan Jones (03/04/26-08/05/65)
  • Chatham Cty lawyer; resigned due to disease August 1864
  • Col. Samuel Hoey Walkup (01/22/18-10/26/76)
  • Of Union Cty; wounded at Fredericksburg
  • Maj. Francis L. Wiatt

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