William R. Best
Residence was not listed; a 30 year-old Farmer.
Enlisted on 4/24/1861 at Columbus County, NC as a Private.
On 4/24/1861 he mustered into "C" Co. NC 18th Infantry
He was Retired on 1/18/1865
(Disability)
He was listed as:
* POW 5/27/1862 Hanover Court House, VA
* Confined 5/29/1862 Fort Columbus, NY (And paroled)
* Transferred 8/5/1862 Aiken's Landing, VA (For exchange)
* Wounded 5/12/1864 Spotsylvania Court House, VA (Left eye, shot out)
* Absent wounded 11/30/1864 (place not stated)
* Returned 11/30/1864 (place not stated)
Other Information:
born in Columbus County
......
Daniel R. Best
Residence was not listed; a 19 year-old Laborer.
Enlisted on 4/24/1861 at Columbus County, NC as a Private.
On 4/24/1861 he mustered into "C" Co. NC 18th Infantry
(date and method of discharge not given)
He was listed as:
* Wounded 12/13/1862 Fredericksburg, VA
* On rolls 2/28/1865 (place not stated)
Other Information:
born in Columbus County
......
Matthew J. Best
Residence was not listed; a 35 year-old Farmer.
Enlisted on 4/24/1861 at Columbus County, NC as a Private.
On 4/24/1861 he mustered into "C" Co. NC 18th Infantry
He was discharged on 7/16/1862
(Over age)
He also had service in:
"E" Co. NC 36th Infantry
Other Information:
born in Columbus County
......
William Best
Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 4/24/1861 at Columbus County, NC as a Private.
On 4/24/1861 he mustered into "C" Co. NC 18th Infantry
He was Killed on 12/13/1862 at Fredericksburg, VA
Other Information:
born in Columbus County
Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
- North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster
........................................................................................
William R. Best, age 30, Private, Company C, 18th Regiment North Carolina Infantry (State Troops)*, enlisted April 24, 1861 at Big Hill by Capt. George for 12 months, enrolled in Capt. Forney George's Company State Volunteers,** May 1, 1861 at Whiteville, N. C., traveled 100 miles to place of rendezvous, signed his Oath of Allegiance to the State of North Carolina with an 'X' "his mark," absent on Surgeon's Certificate October 31, 1861, captured at the battle of Hanover Court House, Va. May 27, 1862, and sent to Fort Monroe, Va., age 31, 5' 11'/6' 0-1/2" dark hair, dark eyes, florid complexion, born in Columbus, N. C., Farmer, forwarded to Fort Columbus, New York Harbor prison, exchanged August 5, 1862 at Aiken's Landing, Va., recorded on the Jan. & Feb.& Mar. & April, 1863 muster rolls as absent, at home on sick furlough, returned prior to next muster, recorded on the Jan. & Feb., 1864 muster roll as absent, wounded severely in face, Minie ball, at Spottsylvania C. H. May 8-14, 1864, admitted to the Receiving and Wayside Hospital, Richmond, Va. May 16, 1864, gunshot wound, transferred to Winder hospital May 17, on furlough, furloughed June 7, 1864 for 60 days, and on the May & Jun., 1864 at absent, at home on wounded furlough, Medical Examining Board, Gen. Hospitals Nos. 4 & 5, Wilmington, N. C. noted "Gunshot wound of left eye, not yet healed. Extension of furlough recommended for thirty (30) days," recorded on October 31, 1864 as absent, wounded, present on the end of year muster, retired for disability January 18, 1865, " gunshot wound of the face entirely destroying the sight of the left eye and greatly impairing that of the right"
* The designation of this regiment was changed from the 8th Regiment North Carolina Infantry (State Troops) November 14, 1861
** This company subsequently became Company D, 18th Regiment North Carolina Infantry (State Troops)
M270: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of North Carolina
..............................................................
18th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
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.
http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/regiments.cfm
......
Chancellorsville, VA after battle report:
No. 355.
Report of Lieut. Col. Forney George, Eighteenth North Carolina Infantry.
CAMP GREGG, VA., May 9, 1863.
SIR: I beg leave to submit the following report of the part taken by the
Eighteenth Regt. North Carolina troops in the late battle of
Chancellorsville:
Early on the morning of the 2d instant, we were drawn up in line of
battle about three-fourths of a mile to the right of the Plank road leading
from Fredericksburg to Chancellorsville, and about 1 1/2 or 2 miles
from the latter place. We were then ordered forward to support one of
our batteries, which was engaging the enemy. Very soon the battery was
disabled and withdrawn, and we lost 1 man killed and another mortally
wounded by the shelling of the enemy.
Between 8 and 9 o'clock we took up our line of march across and to the
left of the Plank road, and by the way of Welford's Iron Forge, the
enemy shelling us as we passed; thence, by a circuitous route of some
8 or 10 miles, we reached the Turnpike road leading from Orange
Court-House to Fredericksburg, and about dark of the 2d instant came
upon the right flank and to the rear of the enemy, and for a short time
were exposed to very severe shelling, by which we lost several killed
and wounded. We were then drawn up in line of battle on the left of the
turnpike, our right resting on the road, and ordered to charge the
enemy's battery, some distance in our front. We had not advanced far
(being informed that there was no one but the enemy in front of us)
before Gen. A. P. Hill and staff, who had been fired upon by the
enemy, rushed upon our line in order to effect their escape, when our
men, thinking it was a cavalry charge from the enemy, fired several
rounds at them, doing some damage before the mistake was discovered.
Very soon the enemy opened fire upon us, killing and wounding several
of our men. We were then ordered across and to the right of the
turnpike, and formed about 300 yards from and perpendicular to the
road.
During the night the enemy advanced upon us twice, and each time he
was repulsed in handsome style. We captured 3 prisoners, one a
lieutenant and aide to Gen. [A. S.] Williams.
Early on the morning of the 3d instant, we were ordered forward to
charge the enemy's breastworks and a battery mounting twenty-eight
guns. The men moved forward in good order. The first line of works
was carried without hinderance or damage; then we advanced to within
a few yards of the second line of works, and about 200 yards of the
battery mounting twenty-eight guns, when the enemy opened upon us a
most terrific and galling fire of grape, shell, and Minie balls. We held
our ground, suffering very severely, for about half an hour, when the
enemy, being heavily re-enforced, turned the right of our line, leaving
our right flank exposed. We were then ordered to fall back, and just
then our gallant colonel (T. J. Purdie), encouraging his men both by
word and example, was killed instantly by a Minie ball passing directly
through his forehead. We were then taken back and formed on the left
of the turnpike, and the regiment acted as skirmishers for most of the
time until the battle was ended. Both officers and men behaved well
throughout the entire engagement.
Our casualties during the whole time were 34 killed, 99 wounded, and
21 missing.*
All of which is respectfully submitted.
F. GEORGE,
Lieut. Col., Cmdg. 18th Regt. North Carolina Troops.
Brig. Gen. JAMES H. LANE.
Source: Official Records Series I. Vol. 25. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 39