The 1st North Carolina Infantry Regiment (CSA) was organized at Raleigh, North Carolina, in May of 1861. In November of that year after six months of service, the 1st, also known as the “Bethel Regiment,” returned home, having fulfilled their tour-of-duty. Many of the veterans from this regiment would re-up in the newly formed 11th North Carolina Infantry Regiment.
The 11th Regiment was organized at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, North Carolina the following March. The regiment would spend its first year in the Department of North Carolina and subsequently, the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia. The regiment would see its first action in the Battle of White Hall on the 15th and 16th of December 1862 in Wayne County, NC when the Confederate Brig. Gen. B. H. Robertson and Union Maj. Gen. John G. Foster clashed during Foster’s attempt to capture the railroad junction at Goldsboro. Gen. Foster’s assault ultimately failed.
The regiment would see three young men meet and form a friendship they each thought would last a lifetime, should they survive this unpleasant war.
Unfortunately, all three friends would fall on that first day of fighting at the Battle of Gettysburg...
Company C: 1st Lt. Thomas Watson Cooper. Born to Joseph and Mary (Watson) Cooper in Bertie County, North Carolina in 1841. After graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1860, he would attend Harvard Law School, graduating in 1861. He was shot initially in the leg but when lying on the ground he was hit twice more, the mortal wound entering his thigh and traversing his bowels. Purportedly, his last words were to his Captain (Francis W. Bird): “Captain, I am killed.” Lt. Cooper was buried near where he fell along Willoughby Run with his friends, James Lowrie and Edward Rhodes.
Company H: 1st Lt. James Bingley Lowrie. Born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina in 1838 to Samuel M. and Mary (Johnston) Lowrie of Mecklenburg County, NC. Graduated in 1859 from Davidson College in Mecklenburg. At the outbreak of war, James was a practicing attorney. Lt. Lowrie would also fall on the 1st day of Gettysburg and was buried alongside his friends Thomas Cooper and Edward Rhodes.
His brothers would also serve the Confederacy. Captain Patrick Johnston Lowrie also served in Co. H, 11th NC as the commissary officer. He died of disease on 12 Jul 1862 in Wilmington, NC. Captain Houston B. Lowrie would serve with Co. C, 6th North Carolina Infantry and was killed at the Battle of Antietam on 17 Sep 1862. Captain Samuel Lowrie served with the 8th Texas Rangers, surrendering with his regiment near Greensboro, NC in April 1865. Samuel would be the only brother to survive the war, passing way in 1892 in DeLand, Florida.
Company C: Edward Averett Rhodes. Born at Galveston, Texas, on the 15 Jun 1841 to Col. Elisha Averitt and Mary (Kimball) Rhodes. In 1860, he entered the Virginia Military Institute. His term was cut short by the outbreak of war and Edward would report to Richmond with his corps of cadets in response to orders from Governor John Letcher. After a transfer to Raleigh, NC several months later, Edward would be commissioned a 2nd Lt. in Co. C, 11th North Carolina Infantry in January of 1862. He would serve a good deal of his time as the adjutant for the regiment and received high praise from its commander, Col. Leventhorpe.
During the regiments charge in the fields near the Seminary on the afternoon of July 1, 1863, Lt. Rhodes would seize the colors from a wounded color-bearer who had been shot in the ankle and would continue the advance while cheering on the men around him. Very soon after advancing, Edward would be hit in the head with a Minié ball, falling into the arms of his captain murmuring, “Oh God!” 2nd Lt. Rhodes was buried with his friends James Lowrie and Thomas Watson along Willoughby Run near where they fell.
On the evening of 3 July, a member of Co. B wrote home: “Awful fighting for the last three days and the battle is still undecided. Our regiment has suffered most frightfully. I understand the flag was sent to Genl. Heath this evening signifying that the regiment could fight no longer. Not more than 80 men left and they worn out so to be unfit for duty.” (sic) -Sgt. George P. Erwin, Co. B, 11th North Carolina Infantry.
Over the three days of battle at Gettysburg, the 11th North Carolina would lose over 60% of its force (300+), never regaining its full strength. The regiment surrendered on 9 Apr 1865 at Appomattox Court House, Viginia with just 8 officers and 74 men.
Having learned of her son’s death from Col. Leventhorpe, and later as well from the regimental surgeon, Edward Rhodes’ mother, Mrs. Mary Rhodes, went at soon as she was able to find her son’s grave on the now quiet fields of Gettysburg. Upon locating Edward’s grave, she also identified the graves of his friends, Thomas Cooper, and James Lowrie, their names being written on a barrel stave at the head of the graves. With the help of noted Baltimore Undertaker, John H. Weaver, Mary Rhodes would bring her son and his friends to Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore, MD the following April, where all three remain, friends for all eternity.
