During the fighting at the Battle of New
Market Heights, as Corporal Miles James of Company B, 36th United
States Colored Infantry (USCI) maneuvered through abatis defenses and
approached the Confederate earthworks, he received a grievous wound to the left
upper arm. Somehow, James was able to gather up enough physical strength and
determined courage to stand his ground and continue to load and fire his rifle
with only the use of his right arm, all while cheering his charging comrades.
Corp. James endured a field amputation, and after recovering, he was able to
receive special permission to remain with his regiment until he received a
disability discharge on October 13, 1865—over a year after his wounding.
Unfortunately, James died in 1871 due to complications from his New Market
Heights wound.
The 36th USCI paid a high
price at the Battle of New Market Heights. Combing through the soldiers’ service
records for the regiment, and with help from the roster appendix to James K.
Bryant II’s fine history of the regiment, I was able to gather a list of the
men killed in action, fatally wounded, and those wounded who survived. I have
included their rank, name, company, age at enlistment, place of birth, place of
enlistment, and any additional information provided in their service records.
I have placed an asterisk by the names of
those soldiers Bryant lists in his roster as wounded at New Market Heights but who I was
unable to corroborate with the information in their compiled service records. Mr.
Bryant may have had access to additional sources such as pension records that I
did not.
Killed
in Action:
Pvt. Abraham Blango, Co. H, 34, Beaufort
Co., NC; Portsmouth, VA
Pvt. John Bunyan, Co. C, 18, Plymouth,
NC; Plymouth, NC
Pvt. Jonas Capps, Co F, 22, Princess
Anne Co., VA; Norfolk, VA
Corp.
Glasgow Carr, Co. D, 24, Greene Co., NC; New Bern, NC
Pvt. Miles Crickman, Co. G, 41, Norfolk
Co., VA; Portsmouth, VA
Sgt. William Etheridge, Co. H, 24,
Roanoke Island, NC; Roanoke Island, NC; “being struck by a shell”
Pvt. Simon Gaylord, Co. F, 23,
Washington, NC; Washington, NC
Pvt. Samuel Gregory, Co. F, 22, Perquimans
Co., NC; Norfolk, VA
Pvt. Charles Lauringhouse, Co. E, 29,
Edgecombe, NC; Washington, NC
Pvt. Roderick McCoy, Co. F, 21, Westmoreland
Co., Point Lookout, MD
Pvt. Claiborne Miller, Co. A, 21,
Hertford Co., NC; New Bern, NC
Pvt. Edward M. Montague, Co. K, 21 Gloucester Co., VA; Yorktown, VA
Pvt. Quince Odin, Co. H, 21, Martin Co.,
NC; Plymouth, NC; “being hit by a minie ball”
Corp. Isaac Overton, Co. F, 22,
Pasquotank, NC; Roanoke Island, NC
Pvt. William H. Parker, Co. C, 25, Norfolk,
VA; Portsmouth, VA
Corp. Grey Peyton (aka Paton), Co. D,
27, Pitt Co., NC; New Bern, NC
Pvt. William Redding, Co. H, 18, Martin
Co., NC; Plymouth, NC; “being hit by a minie ball”
Pvt. James Roberts, Co. K, 20, [King
and] Queen Co. VA; Portsmouth, VA
Pvt. William Sharpless, Co. H, 20,
Craven Co., NC; Plymouth, NC
Pvt. John Simmons, Co. D, 20, Princess
Ann Co., VA; Portsmouth, VA; “gun shot wound”
Pvt. Spencer Whitehouse, Co. D, 19, Princess
Ann Co., Va; Portsmouth, VA; “gun shot wound”
Pvt. John Young, Co. B, 19, Norfolk Co.,
VA; Portsmouth, VA
Fatally
Wounded:
Pvt. Henry Bell, Co. I, 20, Northampton,
VA; Hampton, VA; died 9-30-1864 from wounds
Pvt. Elijah Cherry, Co. G, 30, Bertie
Co., NC; Plymouth, NC; died 10-27-1864 from wounds
Pvt. Richard Cherry, Co. C, 40,
Edgecombe Co., NC; Washington, NC; died 10-10-1864 from wounds
Corp. Aaron Mitchell, Co. F, 29,
Pasquotank Co., NC; Washington, NC; died 10-17-1864 from wounds
Pvt. Hamilton Pitman, Co. B, 27,
Edgecombe Co., NC; Washington, NC; died 11-15-64 from wounds
Pvt. Frank Satchen, Co. H, 18, Beaufort,
NC; Washington, NC; died 12-21-1864 from wounds
Corp. Cudjoe Woodhouse, Co. G, 29,
Currituck Co., NC; Roanoke Island, NC; died 10-6-1864 from wounds
Wounded
Survived – Adjutant
Adj. Richard F. Andrews, 27, Lynn, MA;
Promoted to captain of Co. D 10-21-1864
Wounded
Survived – Co. A
*Pvt. London Brockett, 38, Currituck
Co., NC; Norfolk, VA
Pvt. Romulous Cooper, 25, Hertford Co.,
NC; Plymouth, NC
*Pvt. Charles Mullen, 20, Hertford Co.,
NC; New Bern, NC
Pvt. Julius (Jule) Taylor, 19, Bertie
Co., NC; Plymouth, NC
Pvt. Alexander Wiggins, 42, Martin Co.,
NC; Plymouth, NC; disability discharge on 12-1-1865 for bone resection of left
upper arm. “The arm is nearly useless.”
Wounded
Survived – Co. B
Pvt. John W. Butt, 44, Norfolk Co., NC;
Portsmouth, VA
*Pvt. Lucius Graves, 19, James City Co.,
VA; Norfolk, VA
Pvt. Miles Grimes, 24, Pitt Co., NC;
Washington, NC
Pvt. George James, 18, Norfolk, VA;
Portsmouth, VA
Corp. Miles James, 34, Princess Anne
Co., VA; Norfolk, VA; amputation of left arm, disability discharge 10-13-1865;
Medal of Honor and Butler Medal recipient
Pvt. James T. Johnson, 23, Suffolk Co.,
VA; Norfolk, VA
*Pvt. Peter Jones, 33, Halifax Co., NC;
New Bern, NC
Pvt. William Taylor, 19, Caroline Co.,
VA; Norfolk, VA
Wounded
Survived – Co. C
Pvt. Henry Clay, 20, Whitford, NC;
Portsmouth, VA
Pvt. Willis Dempsey, 22, Elizabeth City,
NC; Portsmouth, VA; disability discharge on 6—1865 from effects of gunshot
wound to right elbow
Pvt. Peter Downing, 41, Lee’s Mills, NC;
Plymouth, NC; disability discharge on 2-10-1865 due to amputation of right arm
*Pvt. Abner Farnshaw, 21, Princess Anne
Co., VA; Portsmouth, VA
1st Lt. Edwin Gaskill, 20, joined
36th as 2nd Lt. on 5-17-1864
Corp. Rufus Mayo, 29, Plymouth, NC;
Plymouth, NC
Pvt. Calvin McClenney, 32, Nansemond
Co., VA; Washington, NC; “gunshot wound both thighs;” returned to duty
2-10-1865
Pvt. Edward Phelps, 19, Washington, NC;
Plymouth, NC; disability discharge on 6-18-1865, “loss of use of right hand the
result of a gun shot wound”
Pvt. Thomas Wilkinson, 18, Washington,
NC; New Bern, NC; hospitalized in Philadelphia, deserted from hospital on
1-15-1865
Pvt. Alexander Wilson, 32, Plymouth, NC;
Plymouth, NC
Wounded
Survived – Co. D
Pvt. Amos Franks, 19, New Bern, NC; New
Bern, NC; disability discharge on 6-17-1865 for “gunshot wound of right
shoulder and shell wound of right leg”
Pvt. James Jenkins, 22, Nashville, NC;
New Bern, NC
Pvt. Saunders Norfleet, 30, Bertie Co.,
NC; Norfolk, VA
Pvt. Otis Oliver, 18, Norfolk, VA;
Norfolk, VA
Pvt. William Parker, 22, Gates Co., NC;
Norfolk, VA
Pvt. Isaac Pritchett, 22, Camden Co.,
NC; Portsmouth, VA
Pvt. Jacob Whitfield, 25, Whitehall, NC;
Plymouth, NC
Pvt. Allen Wiggins, 20, New Bern, NC;
New Bern, NC
Wounded
Survived – Co. E
Pvt. Thomas Adams, 23, Essex Co., VA;
Point Lookout, MD
Pvt. William Almstead, 18, Gloucester,
VA; Norfolk, VA
*Pvt. Solomon Atwood, 18, Princess Anne
Co., VA; Norfolk, VA
Pvt. Anthony Collins, 33, Norfolk, VA;
Norfolk, VA; disability discharge on 6-1-1865 due to “amputation of left thigh
the result of gunshot wound”
Pvt. Peter Cornick, 22, Princess Anne
Co.; Norfolk, VA
Pvt. Solomon Edwards, 46, Isle of Wight,
VA; Norfolk, VA
*Pvt. Byron Gowns, 22, Greeneville, NC;
Washington, NC
Pvt. Madison Grimes, 19, Fount Hill, VA,
Point Lookout, MD; disability discharge on 4-18-1865 for injury to “right wrist
and of fingers of right hand form gunshot wound”
Pvt. Samuel Hall, 21, Duplin Co, NC; New
Bern, NC
Pvt. Shadrick Land, 21, Princess Anne
Co., VA; Portsmouth, VA
Pvt. Richard Robb, 21, Essex Co., VA;
Point Lookout, MD
Pvt. William Simpson, 23, Baltimore, MD,
Norfolk, VA; disability discharge on 10-25-1865 for “complete anchyloses of
right elbow joint caused by gunshot wound”
Pvt. Rhone Smithedge, 20, Plymouth, NC;
New Bern, NC
Pvt. Peter Thomas, 20, Portsmouth, VA;
Norfolk, VA; disability discharge on 3-15-1865 for “wounded in the shoulder . .
. and has been unfit for any duty as a soldier ever since”
*2nd Lt. Isaac Thurlow, 20,
appointed 5-31-1864, previously served with 32nd Massachusetts
*Pvt. Turner White, 19, Pasquotank Co., NC;
Norfolk, VA
Wounded
Survived – Co. F
*Pvt. Albert Banks, 27, Southampton, VA;
Plymouth, NC
Pvt. Samuel Gregory, 18, Perquimans Co.,
NC; Roanoke Island, NC; disability discharge on 5-17-1865 for “paralysis of
left arm from injury to brachial nerve by a [gunshot] wound of neck”
Pvt. Owen Harris, 28, Princess Anne Co.,
VA; Norfolk, VA
Pvt. Riley Midget, 18, Currituck Co.,
NC; Roanoke Island, NC
Wounded
Survived – Co. G
*Pvt. Henry Augustus, 18, Pasquotank
Co., NC; Portsmouth, VA
1st Lt. Francis Bicknell, 20,
Weymouth, MA; joined 36th on 6-24-1864, promoted to captain on
10-22-1864
*Pvt. Joseph Diggs, 24, James City Co.
VA; Yorktown, VA
Corp. James Gallop, 32. Currituck Co.,
NC; Roanoke Island, NC
*Pvt. Thomas Hawkins, 21, Richmond Co.,
VA; Fort Monroe, VA
Pvt. John Horne, 20, Richmond Co., VA;
Point Lookout, MD
1st Sgt. Anthony Pool, 20,
Surry Co. VA; Yorktown, VA
Corp. Wilson Stogley, 20, Perquimans
Co., NC; Portsmouth, VA
*Pvt. [Drummer] Henry F. Willis, 15,
Norfolk, VA; Portsmouth, VA
Wounded
Survived – Co. H
Corp. George Baysmore, 28, Bertie Co.,
NC; Plymouth, NC; disability discharge on 1-17-1866 for “gunshot wound of right
forearm, injuring the ulna, and also of the right hip injuring the femur”
Pvt. John Brown, 21, New Bern, NC; New
Bern; disability discharge on 5-4-1865 for “Disability caused by gun shot
wound. ‘Minie” Ball entered inner side of middle portion of left thigh, passing
through course of sciatic nerve posterior to femur and emerged on opposite and
outer side of thigh. All muscles of leg . . . paralyzed.
Pvt. Edward Brumser, 22, Currituck Co.,
NC; Plymouth, NC
Pvt. James Edwards, 36, Pitt Co., NC;
Plymouth, NC; disability discharge on 3-20-1865 for “gunshot wound of right shoulder
fracturing head of humerus (which was resected) causing partial auclylesis of
shoulder joint”
Corp. Shadrack Keys, 37, Martin Co., NC;
Plymouth, NC
Pvt. Katon Perry, 26, Pasquotank Co.,
NC; Plymouth, NC
Pvt. Joseph Swan, 23, Martin Co., NC;
Washington, NC; gunshot wound both thighs but returned to duty and mustered out
the with regiment
Pvt. James Tankard, 19, Beaufort, NC;
Washington, NC
Pvt. Joseph Walford, 37, Plymouth, NC;
Plymouth, NC
Wounded
Survived – Co. I
1st Lt. James B. Backup, 20,
Roxbury, MA; appointed to position on 8-13-1863, formerly of 39th
Massachusetts, disability discharge on 1-23-1865 for “gunshot wound through
left chest . . . also partial paralysis of right leg”
*Pvt. Frank Land, 32, Norfolk, VA;
Portsmouth, VA
Pvt. Edmund Price, 35, Gates Co., NC;
Portsmouth, VA
*Pvt. Wilson Reed, 23, Currituck Co.,
NC; Portsmouth, VA
Pvt. William Smith, 29, Norfolk, VA;
Portsmouth, VA
Pvt. Joseph Wright, 22, Petersburg, VA;
Hampton, VA
Wounded
Survived – Co. K
Pvt. Frank Cornick, 21, Princess Anne
Co., VA; Portsmouth, VA; disability discharge on 3-27-1866 for “wounded in
action in right arm” and “right arm amputation at shoulder joint.”
Corp. Samuel Crofts, 18, Petersburg, VA;
Hampton, VA
*Pvt. Isaac Kellen, 26, Norfolk Co., VA;
Portsmouth, VA
Sgt. Andrew Nelson, 18, King William
Co., VA; Yorktown, VA
*Pvt. Jefferson Valentine, 19, Beaufort
Co., NC; New Bern, NC
Twenty-two killed in action, seven fatally
wounded, and eighty-one wounded. This list was not produced in attempt to
sensationalize the pain these men suffered, but rather to acknowledge the sacrifices
they were willing to endure to ensure the death of slavery, show themselves men
and worthy of citizenship and thus the guarantees of the Constitution, and to maintain
the Union of the states. It is also hoped that this enumeration helps descendants make connections with their ancestors. Courageously done 36th!