The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

First Brigade, Army of the Potomac

Colonel W W Kirkland

Colonel W W Kirkland, commanding the 11th North Carolina Infantry

Eleventh North Carolina Infantry

Mustered in Confederate service on 14 July, 1861, and arrived at Manassas Junction on 17 July, 1861. Redesignated the Twenty-first North Carolina State Troops on 14 November, 1861

COLONEL W W KIRKLAND
LIEUTENANT COLONEL J M LEACH
MAJOR J M RICHARDSON

Company A Davidson Guards: CAPT. J C HEDGECOCK
The company was organised at Lexington, Davidson County, on 8 May, 1861.
Company B Yadkin Grey Eagles: CAPT. J K CONNALLY
The company organised at Yadkin County, North Carolina, and was ordered to Danville, Virginia, for sixty days training on 17 May, 1861. The company was transferred to the 9th, also known as the 1st, North Carolina Battalion Sharpshooters, Company A, at reorganisation between 16 and 18 April, 1862.
Company C Blue Ridge Riflemen: CAPT. B Y GRAVES
The company was organised at Mt Airy, Surry County, North Carolina, on 20 May, 1861.
Company D Forsyth Rifles: CAPT. A H BELO
The company was organised at Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, on 29 May, 1861.
Company E Forsyth Greys or Guards: CAPT. R W WHARTON
The company was transferred to the 9th, also known as the 1st, North Carolina Battalion Sharpshooters, Company B, between 16 and 18 April, 1862.
Company F Mountain Boys: CAPT. R K PEPPER
The company was organised at Danbury, Stokes County, North Carolina, on 29 May, 1861.
Company G Town Fork Invincibles: CAPT. S WESTMORELAND
The company was organised at Germantown, Stokes County, North Carolina, on 30 May, 1861.
Company H Mountain Tigers: CAPT. J R WAUGH
Company I Surry Marksmen: CAPT. J C GILMER
The company was organised at Mt Airy, Surry County, North Carolina, on 5 June, 1861.
Company K Forsyth Southrons: CAPT. F P MILLER
Company K Rockingham Invincibles: CAPT. J H Boyd
Company M Guilford Dixie Boys: CAPT. W L SCOTT
The company was organised at Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina, on 4 June, 1861.

Sources

"In this great battle, so signally victorious for the Confederate arms, North carolina had fewer troops engaged than it had in any other important battle of the armies in Virginia. Colonel W W Kirkland's Eleventh (afterward Twenty-first) regiment, with two companies – Captain Connally's and Captain Wharton's – attached, and the Fifth, Lieutenant Colonel J P Jones in command during the sickness of Colonel McRae, were present, but so situated that they took no part in the engagement."

Confederate military history: A library of Confederate States history, in twelve volumes, written by distinguished men of the South, edited by General Clement A Evans of Georgia

"Without further incident, the regiment arrived at Manassas early on the morning of the 18th. Immediately the regiment moved in double quick time to our position at Michell's Ford on Bull Run – this being the centre of the Confederate line of battle."

Histories of the several regiments and battalions from North Carolina, in the great war 1861–65, Volume 2, written by members of the respective commands and edited by Walter Clark, lieutenant colonel, 17th North Carolina State Troops

Roster of North Carolina troops in the War Between the States during the years 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864 and 1865, Volume 2, by John W Moore

Notes

The 11th North Carolina Infantry was organised at Camp Hill, near Danville, Virginia, on 18 June, 1861, and was ordered to Richmond, Virginia, on 13 July, 1861. The regiment arrived at Richmond, Virginia, on 14 July, 1861, and was mustered into Confederate service for twelve months the same day. The 11th North Carolina Infantry was ordered to report to Brigadier General P G T Beauregard at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, on 17 July, 1861, and while en route was invoved in a railroad accident. The regiment arrived at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, in the morning on 18 July, 1861, and was immediately ordered to the rear of Mitchell's Ford, Virginia. The regiment replaced the 1st South Carolina Infantry in the First Brigade, Army of the Potomac (See the 1st South Carolina Infantry). On 14 November, 1861, the 11th North Carolina Infantry was redesignation the 21st North Carolina State Troops and during the reorganisation in April 1862 Companies B and E were assigned to the 9th, also known as the 1st, North Carolina Battalion Sharpshooters, under the command of Major R W Wharton. Captain R E Wilson commanded Company A and Captain P D Headley Company B and the battalion remained a part of the 21st North Carolina State Troops until 25 May, 1862.

On 8 May, 1861, ten regiments of North Carolina State Troops, numbering 1st through 10th, were organised to serve during the civil war. Two days later, thirteen regiments of volunteers for twelve months service were authorised, numbering 1st through 8th and 10th through 14th. On 14 November, 1861, Special Order No.222, Adjutant & Inspector General's Office, Richmond, Virginia, authorised the original ten regiments of state troops to keep their numbering and the volunteers to be redesignated and all units were subsequently referred to as North Carolina State Troops.

On 25 July 1861, the Army of the Potomac was reorganised and the 11th North Carolina Infantry was reassigned to the Sixth Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Colonel J A Early.

Reports

OFFICIAL REPORT NO.87: Series I, Volume 2 (S# 2), Chapter IX, p. 521
Colonel W W Kirkland, 11th North Carolina Infantry