The record of the company in the service is not a bloody one. No one was killed, wounded, taken prisoner, or missing, and no one deserted. Two men died from disease in the service and six men were discharged for disability before the regiment was mustered out. The story of the regiment as a whole will be given elsewhere, and that part of the company’s history which also means the regimental history, has been omitted in this account. Company K followed the fortunes of the regiment closely. The only time that it was on detached duty, except for picket, or service of that nature, was early in its service after it arrived in Newbern and before the arms had been distributed, when it was ordered to some mythical point to build a bridge. After groping around outside the picket line, entirely unarmed, for two days, the company returned, having found the bridge nearly completed.
The members of the company had an exceptional opportunity to see the details of warfare. At the Battle of Kinston the company with the regiment was in reserve, and, while under fire, was unharmed. After the action they had an opportunity, from the view point of the victors, to examine a well-fought field with many killed, wounded and prisoners, and also to explore the captured town of Kinston.
At Whitehall the company was again under fire, and, as was reported, the inferior character of its arms saved it from a more intimate acquaintance with the enemy.
At Goldsboro the company had an opportunity of seeing a charge repelled under sensational circumstances and with severe loss to the enemy, a sight which many soldiers of longer service have never seen. The circumstances of this charge have been traditional in the company and the results have been much exaggerated, the enemy’s loss being set all the way from five hundred to fifteen hundred. The unadorned facts are that after the burning of the bridge and during the withdrawal of the Union forces, by a blunder of the enemy a charge was made by two regiments of General Clingman’s brigade against a much superior force, and it was the fortune of Company K as a part of the regiment, to act as guard to Belger’s Rhode Island battery, which with another light battery had a fair chance to destroy the attacking force as it charged up a long slope. The Third Regiment lay on the ground in front of the battery (which was firing over the regiment), and Company K had an unobstructed view of the premises, and nothing to do but look on. The writer in a letter written at the time estimated that the nearest rebel came within fifty rods of the regiment. The attacking force consisted of the Fifty-second North Carolina Regiment, Colonel Marshall, and the Fifty-first North Carolina, Colonel Allen. These regiments, with two others which did not participate in the charge, made the brigade commanded by Gen. Thomas E. Clingman. His report, printed in the “Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies,” First Series, Vol. XVIII, page 117, gives the losses as follows:
| Killed | Wounded | Missing | |||
| Marshall’s Regiment | 11 | 58 | 10 | ||
| Allen’s | “ | 6 | 43 | 8 | |
| —— | —— | —— | |||
| Total, | 17 | 101 | 18 | making | |
a total loss of 136. The writer has not succeeded in learning the total strength of the two regiments at the time of the charge.
The company’s most potent enemies during its service were the severe marches to which it was subjected and the malarious climate. The effects of both of these are still felt by many of the survivors.
On the return of the regiment a public reception was given to Company K on Saturday, June 20th, at the Agricultural Hall by citizens of Bridgewater, East and West Bridgewater. The company met at the town hall, Bridgewater, and was escorted to the Fair grounds by the Bridgewater Cornet Band under the marshalship of Dr. Asa Millett, where twelve or fifteen hundred people had assembled to receive it. For the gratification of their friends the soldiers spent about half an hour in drilling. At about half past two o’clock, after stacking arms the company was drawn up in front of the judges’ stand on the track to listen to the speech of welcome. The president of the day, James Howard, Esq., of West Bridgewater, after stating the object of the meeting, introduced Hon. B. W. Harris, of East Bridgewater, who, in an appropriate speech in behalf of the citizens, welcomed the soldiers on their return home. A procession was then formed which marched to the hall to partake of a collation which had been prepared by the ladies of the several towns. After the repast the company adjourned to the upper hall to listen to the speeches. This hall as well as the lower was tastefully decorated with flags and pendants. The soldiers occupied seats directly in front of the speakers and were here presented each with a bouquet of flowers by the school children, the presentation speech having been made by one of the young ladies. Speeches were made by Hon. John A. Shaw, Hon. Benjamin W. Harris, and others. Later in the afternoon, Major Morrissey entered the hall, and, taking his seat on the platform, was received with great applause, Company K giving him three hearty cheers. He was then introduced and addressed the soldiers. The entertainment was closed by singing “America” by the whole audience under the direction of Mr. Wilde.
After the arrival home of the company and before it was mustered out came the death of one of its members, Mr. James Henry Packard, of North Bridgewater (now Brockton). He was buried in the Marshall’s Corner Cemetery with military honors from his comrades.