Kerri:

From November 1861 to June 1862 the 16 N.C. was brigaded in Hampton's Infantry brigade, Whiting's infantry division, first holding the line of the lower Occoquan River from the neighborhood of Brentsville to the mouth of the river near present day Quantico, Virginia. Along with other units, they fell back on ca. 5 Mar 62 to the line of the Rappahoannock, camping on the south bank of the river about five miles upriver from Fredericksburg.

On ca 8 April the brigade, along with other troops in Whiting's division, made a march from Fredericksburg south in a heavy rainstorm, which turned to snow and sleet. After bivouacking in the elements for two nights, they reached Ashland, again camping in the open without tents, which had been left at Frederciksburg. After a few days they marched overland through Williamsburg to Johnston's line, being held in reserve on the Confederate left on the old Yorktown Battle Field from 1781. I don't believe they got replacement tents until after the battle of Seven Pines; the men simply bivouacked in the woods in their blankets.

On 3 May Hampton's brigade fell back from Yorktown, forming the infantry rear guard of the army, but on reaching Willaimsburg, they marched on, and were not engaged in the battle at Williamsburg. However, Wing Commander G. W. Smith ordered part of Whiting's division to counter a Federal landing on the south bank of the York/Pamunkey River across from West Point, and on May 8 the three Texas regiments of Hood's Brigade and the Hampton Legion of Hampton's brigade were engaged with the Federals near Barhamsville/Eltham's Landing. The 16 N. C. and 14 Georgia of Hampton's brigade were held in brigade reserve.

The army continued its retreat up the Peninsula, and crossed the Chickahominy, unaggressively pursued by McClellan. McClellan allowed his army to get divided on both banks of the Chickahominy, which was high from spring rains, and with inadequate bridges to connect the two wings of his army. Johnston chose May 31 to attack the semi-isolated Federal forces on the south bank of the river, and was fortitutously aided by a tremendous rainstorm on the night of May 30-31, which made the Chickahominy all but impassable at most points. But poor staff work and poor coordination among the Confederate units robbed the Confederates of much of their advantage, and although the Confederate attacks at Seven Pines were initially successful, G. W. Smith was very late in coming up on Longstreet and Holmes's left, and as his forces belatedly double-quicked down the Nine Mile Road, he felt threatened by a stray and small Federal force under Gorman east of the road and just north of Fair Oaks Station on the Richmond and York River Railroad. This force however was reinforced by Federal troops which managed to cross the swollen Chickahominy, and Whiting's attacks were piecemeal and virtually uncoordinated. Pettigre, commanding one brigade, was wounded and cpatured; Robert Hatto, commanding another, was killed, and Hampton was wounded in the foot near the end of the engagement. Whiting sent Hood to fruitlessly wander off to the left, and the Federals held this part of the field. Joe Johnston was hit by a shell fragment and forced to relinquish command to G. W. Smith, who was apparently overwhelmed by the responsibility. Desultory fighting continued on June 1, but Hampton's brigade was not engaged. Robert E. Lee was then assigned to command of the army. The Confederates called this action Seven Pines, for the part of the field where they ahd success, and the Federals termed it Fair Oaks, for the part where they were successful.

The 16 N. C. suffered moderate casualties and its colonel was killed. Following the battle, Hampton was transferred to the cavalry and the infantry brigade was broken up.