18th Infantry Regiment, formerly the 8th Volunteers, was organized at Camp Wyatt, near Carolina Beach, North Carolina, in July, 1861. Its members were from Wilmington and the counties of Robeson, New Hanover, Bladen, Columbus, and Richmond. It moved to South Carolina, returned to North Carolina, then in the spring of 1862 proceeded to Virginia. The 18th served in General Branch's and Lane's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. After fighting at Hanover Court House, it participated in various conflicts of the army from the Seven Days' Battles to Cold Harbor. It continued the fight in the trenches of Petersburg south of the James River and ended the war at Appomattox. This unit was organized with 1,100 men, lost fifty-seven percent of the 396 engaged during the Seven Days' Battles, and reported 14 casualties at Cedar Mountain and 12 at Second Manassas. There were 13 killed and 77 wounded at Fredericksburg and 30 killed and 96 wounded at Chancellorsville. Of the 346 in action at Gettysburg, about twenty-five percent were disabled. It surrendered 12 officers and 81 men. The field officers were Colonels John D. Barry, Robert H. Cowan, Thomas J. Purdie, and James D. Radcliffe; Lieutenant Colonels Forney George, John W. McGill, and Oliver P. Meares; and Majors George Tait and Thomas J. Wooten.
I do not see a reference to anyone by the name of "A. Mcplual", Co H or any other Company. The "Mc" I show in Company H are:
McCallum, A. H First Sergeant First Lieutenant
McCollum, Archibald H First Sergeant First Lieutenant --- Could this be the one???
Name: Archibald McCollum
RESIDENCE: Bladen County, North Carolina
Occupation: Carpenter
Enlistment Date: 23 Apr 1861
Enlistment Place: Columbus County, North Carolina
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: North Carolina
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 23 April 1861 at the age of 24.
Enlisted in Company H, 18th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 23 Apr 1861.
Promoted to Full 1st Sergeant on 15 Jun 1861.
Promoted to Full 2nd Lieutenant on 24 Apr 1862.
Promoted to Full 1st Lieutenant on 11 Dec 1862.
McCeil, M. H Sergeant Sergeant
McCloud, John W. H Private Ordnance Sergeant
McCoy, J. L. H Sergeant Sergeant
McDonald, Jesse H Private Private
McDonald, M.W. H Private Private
McDonald, W. H Private Private
McKay, John Lloyd H Corporal Sergeant
McKee, Major H Private Sergeant
McKeel, Major H Private Sergeant
McKell, M. H Private Private
McKill, Major H Private Sergeant
McLeod, John W. H Private Quartermaster Sergeant
McReel, Major H Sergeant Sergeant
North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2004
Name: Archibald McCollum
Gender: Male
Spouse: Sarah E Pridgen
Spouse Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 5 Oct 1865
Marriage County: Columbus
Marriage State: North Carolina
Source Vendor: North Carolina State Archives
JR