The North Carolina 61st Infantry Regiment was organized at Wilmington, North Carolina, in August, 1862. Men of this unit were recruited in the counties of Sampson, New Hanover, Beaufort, Craven, Chatham, Lenoir, Wilson, Martin, Ashe, Alleghany, and Jones. Assigned to General Clingman's Brigade, it marched to the Kinston area and saw its first action. The unit was then sent to Charleston, served on James, Morris, and Sullivan's Islands, and took an active part in the fight at Battery Wagner. Later it was ordered to Virginia and here fought at Drewy's Bluff and Cold Harbor, then endured the hardships of the Petersburg siege south and north of the James River. Companies Company A - Sampson county. Enlisted men, 104. Company B - Beaufort county. Enlisted men, 82. Company C - Craven county. Enlisted men, 122. Company D - Chatham county. Enlisted men, 184. Company E - Lenoir county. Enlisted men 119. Company F -Wilson County. Enlisted men, 63. Company G -New Hanover county. Enlisted men, 94. Company H - Martin county. Enlisted men, 133. Company I - Alleghany county. Enlisted men, 127. Company K - Onslow county; Lenoir county; Jones county; Enlisted men, 106.
