John Preston Arthur in his "History of Western North Carolina" (circa 1913) related that Riley Powers of Buncombe County was a crewmember of the CSS Virginia during its battles with the USS Monitor in Hampton Roads. If memory serves he may have been detailed from an infantry unit.

Colonel David Coleman of the 39th NC was an Annapolis graduate and former officer of the US Navy. He was awaiting a Confederate naval command at the outset of the war but grew impatient and accepted command of a battalion, to which companies were added and which became the 39th NC.