Paying a High Price: Casualties for the 36th USCI at the Battle of New Market Heights

 

During the fighting at the Battle of New Market Heights, as Corporal Miles James of Company B, 36^th 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 36^th 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

1^st Lt. Edwin Gaskill, 20, joined 36^th as 2^nd 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”

*2^nd Lt. Isaac Thurlow, 20, appointed 5-31-1864, previously served with 32^nd 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

1^st Lt. Francis Bicknell, 20, Weymouth, MA; joined 36^th 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

1^st 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

1^st Lt. James B. Backup, 20, Roxbury, MA; appointed to position on 8-13-1863, formerly of 39^th 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 36^th!