May, 1861 — Onslow County, NC
3rd Infantry Regiment State Troops completed its organization at Garysburg, North Carolina, in May, 1861. The men were from Wilmington and the counties of Green, Duplin, Cumberland, Onslow, Bladen, New Hanover, and Beaufort. During July part of the regiment moved to Richmond, Virginia, then was joined by the remaining companies some weeks later. After serving in the Department of Northern Virginia and the Department of North Carolina, it was attached to General Ripley’s, Colston’s, Steuart’s, and Cox’s Brigade. The 3rd fought on many battlefields of the army from the Seven Days’ Battles to Cold Harbor, marched with Early to the Shenandoah Valley, and saw action around Appomattox. It reported 46 casualties at Beaver Dam Creek , 80 at Malvern Hill, 253 at Sharpsburg, 3 at Fredericksburg, and 179 at Chancellorsville. The unit lost 4 killed and 10 wounded at Second Winchester, forty percent of the 548 engaged at Gettysburg , and 7 killed and 65 wounded during the Mine Run Campaign. It surrendered with 4 officers and 53 men in April, 1865. The field officers were Colonels William L. DeRosset, Gaston Meares, and Stephen D. Thruston; Lieutenant Colonels Robert H. Cowan, William M. Parsley, and Edward Savage; and Major William T. Ennett.