Edward B. Higgins, J. T. Edwards, H. M. Boon, Richard G. Boling, L. G. Hunt. John W. Nelson, Jas. A. Orrell, Chas. W. Westbrooks, Jos. W. Rankin, C. W. Stratford, William M. Summers and Jas. S. Scott, on the first of May. A. F. Coble, R. S. Coble, Robert L. Donnell, Mike Gretter, G. D. Hines, Robert A. Hampton, Isaac F. Lane, Walter D. McAdoo, on the 4th, Wash. D. Archer, on the 9th of June. James M. Hardin, T. M. Woodburn, on the 10th. Wilbur F. Owen, Hal Puryear, Rob't. B. McLean, Edward B. Lindsay, S. A. Hunter, W. I. L. Hunt, W. C. Clapp, Israel N. Clapp, Jas. C. Davis, David H. Edwards, W. C. Story, Andy L. Stanley, Rob't. B. Tate, on the 11th, Jas. M. Marsh on the 13th, John W. McNairy, H. Smiley Forbis, William Dennis, John W. Reid on the 15th, Thos. J. Rhodes on the 25th, and on the 19th of July, Jas. L. Wilson.
A large majority of the members of the Grays were sworn in, some two months after our arrival at the Fort, as twelve months State troops. Some few at this time returned to their homes, and others enlisted in different commands. Ensign H. C. Gorrell returned to Greensboro, raised a company for active service, was elected its captain, and assigned to the 2d North Carolina regiment. He was killed June 21st, 1862, while gallantly leading a charge against one of the enemy's strongholds on the Chickahominy. Our surgeon, Dr. John E. Logan, remained with us about four months as surgeon of the post. He was then assigned to the 4th North Carolina Regiment in active service, and, later during the war, to the 14th North Carolina, where he served as surgeon until the close of the war.
The war fever had now reached its height, and companies were forming throughout the State, and rapidly hastening to Virginia, which was soon to become the theatre of active operations. In the meanwhile, the seat of government was transferred from Montgomery, Alabama, to Richmond, Va., where, on the 20th day of July, 1861, the first Confederate Congress convened.
On our arrival at Fort Macon, on the night of the 20th of April, we found our old friends, the Orange Guards, also the Goldsboro Rifles and the Wilson Light Infantry, in quiet possession of the citadel. The United States garrison, consisting of Sergeant Alexander, supported by one six-pounder mounted on the inner parapet to herald the rising of the sun, and the going down of the same, had surrendered on the 11th, without bloodshed, to Capt. Pender, of Beaufort. The sergeant was paroled, and allowed to leave the fort with his flag and side-arms. The ordnance was retained. On the next morning we saw floating from the flagstaff over the fort the Pine Tree flag, with the rattlesnake coiled around the base. This was the State flag. About ten days afterwards for some cause, and by what authority is not known, the State flag was pulled down and a Confederate flag run up in its place. North Carolina had not yet seceded, and this was looked upon as an unwarrantable assumption of command, and some of our company left for home, but returned when the State afterwards seceded.
A few weeks afterwards our garrison was reinforced by Capt. Latham's (artillery) "Woodpeckers," from Craven. This command received its very appropriate nickname from the fact that, when they entered the fort, they wore very tight-fitting scarlet caps. (This company, with a detail from the 27th N.C. Regiment, did splendid service at the battle of Newberne.)
Some time in June we were assigned to the 9th North Carolina regiment; but, for some reason unknown to us, we were taken from this regiment, and another company substituted. On the 22d we were placed, with five other companies, in a battalion, commanded by Col. Geo. B. Singletary. Our position was retained in this battalion until some time in September, when we were assigned to the 27th North Carolina regiment, which was organized with Col. Singletary as Colonel, Capt. John Sloan (of the Grays) Lieut.-Colonel, and Lieut. Thomas C. Singletary as Major. Seven companies of this regiment were then in camp near Newberne, and the remaining three companies—one of which was the Grays, and designated in the regiment as Company "B"—were on detached service at Fort Macon, where we remained until the 28th of February, 1862.
Owing to the promotion of Capt. Sloan to the Lieut.-Colonelcy of the regiment, Lieut. William Adams was elected captain of the Grays and Sergeant William P. Wilson elected 3d Lieutenant.
Private William Cook died in Greensboro of typhoid fever, on the 5th of June, having been a member of the company about one month.
On the 31st of July, private George J. Sloan, after severe illness, died at the fort.
On the 1st of August the following new members enlisted, viz.: Jno. T. Sockwell, R. D. Brown, Frank G. Chilcutt, George W. Lemons, James H. Gant, Richard Smith, and L. L. Prather.