North Carolina 60th Infantry Regiment (Civil War)

The North Carolina 60th Infantry Regiment was organized at Greenville, Tennessee, during the summer of 1862 by adding four companies to the 6th North Carolina State Infantry Battalion. The men were recruited in Asheville and the four counties of Madison, Buncombe, and Polk, and a small number were from Tennessee. The The 60th fought at Murfreesboro , served in Mississippi, then participated in the campaigns of the Army of Tennessee from Chickamauga to Bentonville . It lost 3 killed, 65 wounded, and 11 missing at Murfreesboro, and in January, 1863, had 276 men present for duty. The unit reported 8 killed, 36 wounded , and 16 missing of the 150 engaged at Chickamauga, totalled 106 men and 59 arms in December, 1863, and mustered a force of 106 in January, 1865. Few surrendered in April. Assigned to Preston's, Stovall's, Reynolds', Brown's and Reynolds' Consolidated, and Palmer's Brigade. Officers included: Colonels Washington M. Hardy and Joseph A. McDowell; Lieutenant Colonels William H. Deaver, J.M. Ray, and James T. Weaver; and Majors James T. Huff and William W. McDowell.

The 60th was formed by the increasing of the 6th NC Infantry Battalion to a regiment in 1862. The regiment was in the Department of East Tennessee in 62 and the Army of Middle Tennessee. Latter in 62 they were with the Army of Tennessee. Breckingridge’s Division of the Department of the West and Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana and 2nd Corps of the Army of Tennessee in 63. In late 63 they served in Stevenson’s Division, 1 Corps and 2nd Corps of the Army of Tennessee until April of 65. In was in their service with Stevenson’s Division that they were consolidated with the 58th and designated as the 58th Infantry Regiment Consolidated at Smithfield, NC.

Asheville was not always known as peaceful, elegant or especially inviting. This mountain city became a vital Confederate military center during the Civil War. The first company of soldiers west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Buncombe Rifles, carried a flag made from the silk dresses of town belles when it marched on April 18, 1861. Seven of the 10 companies comprising the 60th North Carolina Regiment were Buncombe men.

"The Buncombe Farmers," Company E, 60th Regiment N.C. Troops
"The Buncombe Guards," Company F, 16th Regiment N.C. Troops (6th Regiment N.C. Volunteers)
"The Buncombe Life Guards," Company H, 29th Regiment N.C. Troops
"The Buncombe Light Artillery," Company A, 60th Regiment N.C. Troops
"The Buncombe Rangers," Company G, 9th Regiment N.C. State Troops (1st Regiment N.C. Cavalry)
"The Buncombe Riflemen," Company E, 1st Regiment N.C. Volunteers
"The Buncombe Rifles," Company E, 1st Regiment N.C. Volunteers
"The Buncombe Sharp Shooters," Company F, 16th Regiment N.C. Troops (6th Regiment N.C. Volunteers)