March 14,1862: The Union troops took New Bern after a fierce battle in which most of our Native Ocracoke soldiers took part. It was on this date that all local men with Co.H. deserted or left the 33^rd Regt with which they were serving. Their 1^st Lieutenant Wilson Tilmon Farrow, also of Ocracoke resigned on the same day. This rises the question; did he resign because all the local men deserted or did all the local men leave because he resigned?

The Outer Bankers did not feel that this was their war, and wanted very little to do with. The only damage done at Ocracoke, other than dismantling the lighthouse, (which was done by the confederates) was the burning of two schools and perhaps a few homes, by the Federal Troops who made a quick survey of Ocracoke Island after the capture of Hatteras.

By mid 1862 the Union had control of the Coastal Sound Counties and New Bern was their headquarters. North Carolina Troops began to desert in large numbers, the greatest reason being to return to the family left behind where the war was causing much hardship, some were starving, others in poor health. The troops saw their friends die at their sides leaving widows and children with no means of support. Some 40,000 North Carolina soldiers died from battle wounds or diseases contracted from the living conditions in both camp and battle field, malnutrition, and neglect. Because of this North Carolina had over 23,000 deserters, some of which returned to duty after finding it impossible to make it home or after returning home and finding the family ok. North Carolina had more deaths in battle than any other Confederate State.

The following information comes from NCST, MOORE’S ROSTWE, VOL 2. NOTE the # of enlistments on Oct. 17, 1861, and the # of desertions on March 14, 1862.

SOLDIERS FROM OCRACOKE

That served with COMPANY H. 33^RD REG

BALLANCE, HOLLOWAY, Private, Resided in Hyde County, enlisted Oct.17,1861. Present and accounted for until March 14, 1862, when he was reported absent without leave. Dropped from the rolls of Co. Re-enlisted in the Co. Sept.20,1863. Present and accounted for until Captured at or near Gravel Hill, Va. on or about July 28,1864. Confined at Point Lookout Maryland, Aug.5,1864. Transferred to Elmira, NY Aug.8,1864. Died at Elmira on Nov.7, 1864 of "Pneumonia."

BALLANCE, WILLIAM R., Private, Resided in Hyde County, enlisted Oct.17, 1861. Mustered in as private. Present or accounted for until captured at New Bern on March 14, 1864. Exchanged at Likens Landing, James River, Va. Aug.5, 1862. Returned to duty prior to Nov.1,1862. Present or accounted for until wounded in the right arm at Gettysburg, Penn. July 3,1863. Returned to duty in Sept. Oct. 1863. Promoted to Corporal on March 1,1864. Reduced to ranks on Dec.15,1864, present or accounted for until he deserted to the enemy on or about Feb.24,1865. Confined at Washington DC Feb.27,1865. Released on an unspecified date after taking the oath of Allegiance.

BRAGG, WILLIAM B. Private Resided in Hyde Co. where he enlisted Oct.17,1861. Present or accounted for until March 14, 1862, when he was reported absent without leave.

FARROW, ISAAC LITTLETON, 1^st.Lieutenant Resided in Hyde Co. where he enlisted on Oct.17,1861. Mustered in as 1^st Sergeant. Appointed 3^rd Lt. on Dec.25,1862 and transferred to Co. I of this Reg. promoted to 1^st Lt. Aug.1,1863 and transferred back to this Co. present and accounted for until killed at Wilderness, Va. on or about May 5,1864. He was "a brave and gallant Soldier." He was "Always at the Port of Duty."

FARROW, WILSON TILMON, 1^st. Lieutenant, Resided in Hyde County, appointed 1^st Lt. on Oct.16,1861 Present or accounted for until he resigned March 14, 1862 Reason he resigned not reported.

FULCHER, JOSEPHUS, Corporal Resided in Hyde County, enlisted Oct.17,1861, mustered in as Corporal. Present or accounted for until March 14, 1862, when he was reported absent without leave. Dropped from the rolls of the Co. prior to Nov.1,1862.

GARRISH, BENJAMINE J., Private Resided in Forsyth Co. and enlisted in Hyde County at age 17, Oct.17,1861. Present or accounted for until wounded in the left thigh at Grimes Mil, Va. June 27,1862. Reported absent without leave in Nov.-Dec. 1862. Failed to return to duty and was dropped from the rolls of the Co. in March-April 1864.

GASKILL, WILLIAM, Sergeant Resided in Hyde Co. where he enlisted on Oct.17,1861, Mustered in as Sergeant. Present or accounted for until killed at Cedar Mountain, Va. Aug.9,1862

GASKINS, GEORGE, Private, Resided in Forsyth Co. and enlisted in Hyde County on_Oct.17,1861. Present and accounted for until he deserted on or about Jan.22,1862.

HOWARD, AMBROSE J. Private, Resided in Hyde Co. enlisted at age 33, Oct.17,1861. Present and accounted for through April 1862. No further records. [N.C. pension records indicate that he survived the war]

HOWARD, ROBERT, Private Resided in Hyde Co. where he enlisted on Oct.17,1861. Present or accounted for until March 14, 1862, when he was reported absent without leave.

JACKSON, GEORGE W. 1^st. Sergeant, Resided in Hyde Co. enlisted on Oct.17,1861. Mustered in as Private. Promoted to Corporal in Jan.-Feb. 1863. Promoted to Sergeant in March-April 1863. Wounded in the right thigh and captured at Chancellorsville, VA May 3,1863. Hospitalized at Washington, DC. Paroled at Old Capital Prison, Washington, June 25,1863 and transferred to City Point. Va. where he was received on June 30,1863 for exchange. Returned to duty in Sept.-Oct. 1863. Promoted to_1^st. Sergeant on Nov.1,1863. Present or accounted for until killed at Wilderness, Va. May 6, 1864.

JACKSON, HENDERSON F. Private Resided in Hyde Co. enlisted Oct.17,1861. Present or accounted for until he deserted on or about Jan.22,1862, and "joined the enemy."

O’NEAL, BENJAMINE, Private Resided in Hyde County, enlisted Oct.17,1861. Present or accounted for until captured near Greenville on Nov.24-_25,1863. Confined at Point Lookout, Md. Dec.29,1863, paroled and transferred to City Point, Va. where he was received on April 30,1864, for exchange. Returned to duty.

O’NEAL, CHRISTOPHER JR. Private Resided in Hyde County, enlisted age 44, Oct.17,1861. Present or accounted for until March 14, 1862, when he was reported absent without leave. Returned to duty in March 1863. Present or accounted for until TRANSFERRED TO CONFEDERATE STATES NAVY on or about April 3, 1864.

O’NEAL, FRANCIS W. Private, Resided in Hyde County, where he enlisted on Oct.17,1861. Present or accounted for until he was reported missing on March 14, 1862.

O’NEAL, SIMON H. Private, Resided in Hyde County where he enlisted on Oct.17,1861. Present or accounted for until March 14, 1862, when he was reported absent without leave. Returned to duty Oct.1863. Present or accounted for until he deserted to the enemy on or about Feb.24,1865. Confined at Washington, DC_Feb.27,1865. Released on an unspecified date after taking the Oath of Allegiance.

SPENCER, ANDREW S. Private, Resided in Hyde County, enlisted Dec.8,1861, present or accounted for until April 1862. Dropped from rolls prior to_Nov.l,1862 "for long absence.

STYRON, ELIJAH Private Enlisted in Hyde County age 20, Oct.17,1861. Present or accounted for until March 14, 1862, when he was reported absent without leave.

WILLIAMS, TILMOND FARROW. Private Resided in Hyde Co., enlisted at age 16, Oct.17,1861. Mustered in as Private. Captured at New Bern March 14, 1862. Received at Aikens Landing, James River, Va. July 12,1862. for exchange. Declared exchanged at Aikens Landing on_Aug.5,1862. Reported absent in hospital through Oct. 1862._Returned to duty Nov.-Dec. 1862. Present or accounted for until wounded in thigh and hip at Chancellorvlle, Va. May 3, 1863. Promoted to Sergeant Sept.-Oct. 1863. Promoted to 1^st. Sergeant July 22, 1864. Reduced in ranks on Dec.15,1864 by sentence of Court-Martial. Reason for court martial not reported. Deserted to the enemy on or about Feb.24,1865. Confined at Washington, DC Feb.27,1865. Released on an unspecified date after taking the Oath of Allegiance. [NC pension records indicate he was shot in the right thigh and left heel as a result of the explosion of a shell, he suffered a fractured skull and his left eye was "almost destroyed" at Choncellorsville.

OCRACOKE SOLDIERS OF

CO. F. 33^RD REGIMENT

O’NEAL, JOHN, Private Resided in Hyde County where he enlisted Sept.9,1861. Present or accounted for until he died in Hospital at Gordonsville, Va. May 29,1862 of pneumonia.

O’NEAL, JOHN M. Private, Resided in Hyde County, enlisted Sept.9,1861. Present or accounted for until wounded in the right thigh and right thumb at Fredericksburg, Va. Dec.13,1862. Right thumb amputated. Reported absent, wounded, through Dec.1862. Deserted Jan. 1863. Listed as a deserter through Feb.1864. Reported absent on furlough May-June 1864. Reported absent sick, during July-Oct 1864. Returned to duty in Nov.-Dec.1864_Present or accounted for until paroled at Lynchburg, Va. April 13-15, 1865.

O’NEAL, WILLIAM W. Private, Resided in Hyde County where he enlisted on Sept. 9,1861. Present or accounted for until he died at Winchester, Va. Oct.12,1862, cause of death not reported.

OCRACOKE SOLDIERS WITH

CO. B - 17^TH REG.

DAILY, FABIUS F. Private, enlisted 5/1/1862 Hyde Co.; Co. B, 17^th Reg.

GASKILL, WILLIAM B. private, enlisted 5/1/1862 Hyde Co. Co. B, 17^th Reg.

GASKINS, C.S., private, enlisted 5/1/1862 Hyde Co. Co. B. 17^th Reg.

WAHAB, JAMES H., Enlisted 5/1/1862. Promoted Corp. 6/17/1862 Co. B. 17^th Reg. Co. M, 19^th Reg.

WAHAB, DALLAS, Corp. resided Hyde Co. Enl. Fauquier Co. Va. 11/1/1862, mustered in a Private, appointed Corporal 8/1864 Present or accounted for through 9/1864. Captured on Southside Railroad, west of Newport News, Va. 4/6/1865 and confined at Newport News, Va. until released after taking the oath of Allegiance 6/30/1865. Co. H, 19^th Reg.

More information on civil war activities by other troops at Ocracoke Inlet, Beacon Island and Portsmouth Island can be found in PORTSMOUTH, THE WAY IT WAS, by ELLEN F. CLOUD.