To Governor Ellis's call to arms in 1861 the Guilford Grays at once responded. Of these, fifty men went into the Battle of Bristow Station, in the fall of 1863, seven men came out alive, and only three of these were unhurt. (Per Mr. Wm. Rankin.)

From the Roster of North Carolina troops in the war between the States during the years 1861 and 1865 it is learned that the following commanding officers and companies were from Guilford County and there were other soldiers besides these from Guilford County:

Twenty-Seventh Regiment, Company B. - Officers

John Sloan, Captain; Commissioned April 20, 1861; Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel September 28, 1861.
William Adams, Captain; Commissioned September 28, 1861; Promoted from 1st Lieutenant; killed at Sharpsburg.
John A. Gilmer, Captain; Commissioned April 1, 1862, Promoted from 2nd Lieutenant.
J. A. Sloan, Captain.
Wm. Adams, 1st Lieutenant, Commissioned April 20, 1861.
J. T. Morehead, 1st Lieutenant, Commissioned October 5, 1861; Promoted Captain 45th Cal. 53rd.
John A. Gilmer, 1st Lieutenant, Commissioned January 6, 1862.
Rufus B. Gibson, 1st Lieutenant.
Rufus B. Gibson, 2nd Lieutenant, Promoted.
James T. Morehead, Jr., 2nd Lieutenant, April 20, 1861, Promoted
John A. Gilmer, 2nd Lieutenant, April 20, 1861, Promoted

Twenty-Second Regiment, Company E

Columbus C. Cole, Captain, Commissioned May 23, 1861, Promoted Major June 13, 1862.
Charles E. Harper, Captain, Commissioned May 23, 1861, k June 30, 1862 at Frazier's Farm; Promoted from 1st Lieutenant.
Joseph A. Hooper, Captain, Commissioned, __, w __ at Seven Pines; Retired April 20 1863; Promoted from 2nd Lieutenant.
M. M. Wolf, Captain, Commissioned June 30, 1862, wounded August 30, 1862, at Manassas; Retired Sept. 15, 1863; Promoted from 1st Lieutenant.
R. W. Cole, Captain, Commissioned Sept. 15, 1863, wounded at Chancellorsville. Charles D. Harper, 1st Lieut., Commissioned May 23, 1861, wounded and killed.
Martin M. Wolf, 1st Lieut., Commissioned, Promoted and wounded.
A. J. Busick, 1st Lieut., Commissioned Sept. 15, 1863, Promoted from Sergeant
R. W. Cole, 1st Lieut, Commissioned, Promoted and wounded.
W. H. Faucett, 2nd Lieut, May 23, 1861, detailed to Comm.
James M. Hanner, 2nd Lieut., Commissioned May 23, 1861; Retired July 21, 1861.
John N. Nelson, 2nd Lieut., Commissioned July 30, 1861, died November, 1861; Promoted from Sergeant
Joseph A. Hooper, 2nd Lieut
R. W. Cole, 2nd Lieut, Commissioned June 3.
O. C. Wheeler, 2nd Lieut, Commissioned ____; Retired Jan. 26, 1864.

Twenty-First Regiment, Company M

William L. Scott, Captain, Commissioned June 4, 1861; Promoted Lieut-Colonel Feb. 1, 1862.
William S. Rankin, Captain, Commissioned April 26, 1862; Promoted Major, August 28, 1862.
John E. Gilmer, Captain, Commissioned August 28, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg.
William S. Rankin, 1st Lieut, Commissioned June 4, 1861.
Wilson S. Hill, 1st Lieut, Commissioned
John E. Gilmer, 1st Lieut, Commissioned April 26, 1862.
John S. Dick, 1st Lieut, Commissioned Aug. 25, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg.
John Doggett, 2nd Lieut., Commissioned June 4, 1861.
Andrew Summers, 2nd Lieut, w June 4, 1861.
J. A. Cobb., 2nd Lieut, wounded at Winchester and Gettysburg.
S. F. Stewart, 2nd Lieut., Commissioned.

Nineteenth Regiment, Company F

Barzillai F. Cole, Captain, Commissioned June 4, 1861.
P. A. Tatum, Captain, Promoted from 1st Lieut; Commissioned June 4, 1861.
N. C. Tucker, 1st Lieut, Commissioned June 4, 1861; Promoted from 2nd Lieut; wounded.
J. A. Hooper, 2nd Lieut; Commissioned June 4, 1861.

Forty-Fifth Regiment Infantry- Field and Staff

John Henry Morehead, Colonel, Commissioned Sept. 2, 1862; Promoted from Lieutenant-Colonel; died at Martinsburg, Virginia, June 25, 1863; Promoted from Captain of Company E, Second Regiment
Charles E. Shober, Major, Commissioned June 26, 1862; Promoted from Captain of Company B; Promoted Lieut-Colonel of Second Battalion.

Forty-Fifth Regiment, Company B

Charles E. Shober, Captain, Commissioned Feb. 15, 1862; Promoted Major Sept 1, 1862; Lieut-Colonel of Second Battalion.
Samuel C. Rankin, Captain, Commissioned September 1, 1862; Promoted from 1st Lieut.; wounded July, 1865, at Gettysburg.
S. C. Rankin, 1st Lieut, Commissioned Feb. 15, 1862; Promoted and w.
James M. Wharton, 1st Lieut, (Commissioned Feb. 15, 1862), Commissioned Sept. 1, Promoted from 2nd Lieut.
Charles W. Woolen, 2nd Lieut, Commissioned Feb. 15, 1862.
Henry C. Willis, 2nd Lieut, Commissioned June 29, 1862, wounded.
R. R. Sanders, 2nd Lieut.

Forty-Fifth Regiment, Company C

James F. Morehead, Promoted Captain, Commissioned Feb. 15, 1862, Promoted Lieut-Colonel of 53rd Regiment, Promoted Colonel.
Peter P. Scales, Captain, Commissioned May 8, 1862, Virginia; died of wounds received at Gettysburg.
Robert C. Donnell, Captain, Commissioned Sept 1, 1862.
Robert L. Morehead, 1st Lieut., Commissioned May 8, 1862; Retired Sept 1863; Promoted from 2nd Lieut
Joseph Henry Scales, 1st Lieut, Commissioned Sept 1, 1863; Promoted from 3rd Lieut, Virginia.

Fifty-Third Regiment, Infantry - Field And Staff

James T. Morehead, Jr., Lieut.-Colonel, Commissioned May 6, 1862, Promoted from Captain of Company D, Promoted Colonel.

Fifty-Third Regiment, Company D

David Scott, Jr., Captain, Commissioned March 1, 1862.
Peter F. Daub, 2nd Lieut, Commissioned March 1, 1862. (This Company from Forsyth, Stokes, Surry and Guilford.)

Fifty-Fourth Regiment, Company F

Rufus L. Hooper, Captain, Commissioned Feb. 14, 1863.
Joseph S. Ragsdale, 1st Lieut, Commissioned Feb. 14, 1863.
Charles W. Ogburn, 2nd Lieut, Commissioned Dec. 1, 1862.
Wm. H. Young, 2nd. Lieut, Commissioned Aug. 13, 1863, Promoted 1863.

(The above from Vols. H and HL of N. C. Roster.)

Johnson and his army for days and days poured in one steady stream into Greensboro, where he surrendered. Wheeler's Cavalry, Dibble's Division, was in Guilford also. The last meeting of the Cabinet of Jefferson Davis was held in Greensboro.

NOTE: Wars of mediaeval Europe were fought along the lines of race or religion: Wars of modern history are industrial problems wrought out under restraint and compulsion. The Civil War was fought along the lines of Southern institutions. That was the great problem of institutionalism versus individualism. The verdict of the western world is that the individual is above and better than all sorts of institutions. But the lives of men like Morehead, Gen. Scales, Col. J. I. Scales, Gilmer, Gorrell, Vance, Maflatt, Lee and Jackson, and many another, will forever give the Southern cause and the Southern army glory and dignity in the world. It is sweet and beautiful to die for one's country.



Source: History of Guilford County, North Carolina, By Sallie W. Stockard, Knoxville, Tennessee, Gaut-Ogden Co., Printers and Book Binders, 1902