The 28th North Carolina: A Civil War History and Roster
By Frances H. Casstevens

Illustrated, maps, roster, appendices, index. 303 pp., 2008. McFarland, Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640, $55 plus shipping.

Reviewer: Michael A. Cavanaugh
Michael A. Cavanaugh is the former editor and publisher of the Civil War Book Exchange. He has authored and co-authored five books on the war and is writing a biography on Maj. Gen. William Mahone, CSA

Review:
The state of North Carolina was vital to the Confederate war effort. It supplied the South with much-needed supplies and equipment coming mostly through and out of the seaport and railhead at Wilmington. Although reluctant to leave the Union at first, when Lincoln called for troops to put down the revolt of seceding Southern states, North Carolina moved quickly to secession.

The most valuable North Carolina resource to the Confederacy, however, was manpower. Robert E. Lee was reported to have said, “Thank God for North Carolina.” Although not supplying the most men, North Carolina had the highest per capita casualties of any Confederate state.

The 28th North Carolina Infantry companies were raised during the months of June, July and August 1861 in several North Carolina counties. Ten companies were formed into the 28th North Carolina Infantry Regiment on Sept. 21, 1861.

Spending the winter in camp near Wilmington the regiment saw their first combat at Hanover Court House on May 26-27, 1862. The casualties were light, but they did lose nearly 400 men captured. The 28th would go on to fight in most of the Army of Northern Virginia’s battles.

They took their heaviest casualties from December 1862 at Fredericksburg to Gettysburg. But they did lose 289 men in the Overland Campaign in May and June 1864. At Appomattox Court House 230 men surrendered arms to Grant’s army.

The 28th North Carolina by Frances Casstevens is a complete regimental history built on letters written by her ancestors, the Hardings. One of them, Samuel Speer Harding, was killed in action at the battle of Ream’s Station on Aug. 25, 1864.

The roster — some 70 pages—is extensive with many good size paragraphs on each man. Most of the entries come from North Carolina Troops, A Roster, but there is also much information from county and cemetery records.

The strength of this book is the appendices. Starting with a chronology, there are extensive casualty records of officers and enlisted men and a complete listing of the officers and men who surrendered at Appomattox on April 9, 1865. Appendix IX reproduces all the Harding family letters.

If you like trivia, Appendix IV lists the height of the soldiers in Co. F. The chapter entitled “Life in the Confederate Army” is excellent. Items like living quarters, clothing, rations, daily duties, health and death are covered in detail.

The 28th North Carolina is a must for anyone who has a strong interest in the 28th or North Carolina Troops in general. The narrative is well written, but there are annoying mistakes in grammar that careful editing should have corrected.

The maps are basic, detailing positions of the 28th North Carolina in the major battles. The photo reproduction is very good, but the price, like most McFarland books, is well above average.

All in all, Casstevens has produced a fine regimental history which honors her family and the state of North Carolina.