In
1981 a handful of descendants of the 26th North Carolina Troops
embarked upon an effort to create an organization to perpetuate
the history of their ancestor’s regiment and North Carolina’s
role in the American Civil War. By 1982 these men, joined by
others with the same interests, officially formed the “Society
for the Historical Preservation of the 26th Regiment North Carolina
Troops” in Rutherfordton, North Carolina. From these humble
beginnings, the 26th NC has grown into the largest single re-enactment
unit in the state of North Carolina and one of the largest in
the nation. Our 275 Infantry members live in all regions of
the state, from the coast to the mountains and everywhere in
between. As with most Civil War re-enactment war time units.
For example, when taking part in a western theater event, where
the Army of Tennessee was present, we represent the 58th NC,
which was one of four regiments from North Carolina in that famous
army. About two to three times a year, our men portray a Federal
regiment. This is done because it is difficult to field enough
Federal troops at some re-enactments, thus we try and help out
with the numbers. Our Federal impression is based on the 24th
Michigan Volunteers, member of the famed Iron Brigade of the
Army of the Potomac and which faced the 26th NC during the first
day’s fight at Gettysburg. We feel it is our humble duty and
honor to portray all soldiers accurately and respectfully.
Many people will ask why we participate in such an activity as re-enacting and preserving the memory of men whose lives have long since ceased. Perhaps the late Bruce Catton, author of so many volumes on the War Between the States, gave the best answer:
“We are people to whom the past is forever speaking. We listen to it because we cannot help ourselves. For the past speaks with many voices. Far out of that nowhere which is the time before we were born, men who were flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone, went through a fire and a storm to break a path for our future. We are a part of the future they died for; they are a part of the past, which brought the future. What they did – the stories they told and the songs they sang, and finally the deaths they died make up a path of our experience. We cannot cut ourselves from it. It is as real to us as something that happened last week. It is a basic part of our heritage as Americans.
The re-enacting component of the 26th NC has had many accomplishments
over the years. We have participated in all of the large anniversary
events since 1986 and have just completed the 140th Anniversary
Battles in 2005. The year 2006 will mark the commencement
of the 145th Anniversary Battles of which we are already making
plans to participate. Another very important part of our re-enactment
schedule are the Living History Programs we perform for the
National Park Service, privately-owned historical sites and
the State Historic Sites of North Carolina. Some of the sites
we have visited are Sharpsburg, Gettysburg, Petersburg, Ft.
Moultrie, Appomattox Court House, Pamplin Park, Old Salem,
Zebulon Vance Birthplace, Old NC State Capital, Ft. Fisher,
Ft. Anderson, Bentonville Battleground, and Bennett Place.
Lastly, we were honored to be a part of the funeral for the
C.S.S. Hunley crewmen in Charleston, South Carolina.
Throughout its history, the 26th NC has helped to preserve and
restore many artifacts, grave markers and monuments. We feel
it is one of our most important responsibilities and one that
we take very seriously. Numerous letter collections and unpublished
images of the soldiers have been either transcribed and edited
or researched for publication in our historical magazine, Company
Front. Perhaps one of the two most important
projects undertaken by the Regiment was the restoration of
the North Carolina Memorial at Gettysburg. The 26th NC led
the effort to raise the funds needed to properly clean and
restore the monument to its 1929 grandeur. The three-year
effort was finally concluded on July 1, 1985 when the most
beautiful
monument at Gettysburg was re-dedicated. Twenty years
later, the monument still stands facing the Federal lines on
Cemetery Ridge, showing that troops from North Carolina were
in the “Front Rank” of the Confederacy. More recently, the
members of the 26th NC have raised over $ 7,500 to preserve
and restore one of the original battle flags of the 26th NC,
which is owned by the North Carolina Museum of History (NCMOH)
in Raleigh. This restoration project marks the beginning of
a partnership between the 26th NCT and the NCMOH as it is our
plan to have an on-going restoration project, where the 26th
NC will select an artifact to restore and raise the necessary
funds.
Currently, the 26th NC is working on erecting a monument to the
26th NC at the New Bern Battlefield (North Carolina). The Battle
of New Bern, which occurred on March 14, 1862, served as the
first battle for the regiment and the monument will be placed
near the remaining field works of the 26th NC. Our membership
have undertaken the process of raising close to $25,000 to place
a suitable monument to remember these brave men and boys and
it will be dedicated during the 145th Anniversary of the Battle
of New Bern in March of 2007.
Anyone interested in exploring the world of reenacting and preserving the memory of the Confederate soldier from North Carolina is invited to become a member of the 26th NC Regiment. Lest We Forget.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Society for the Historical Preservation of the 26th Regiment North Carolina Troops is to accurately, positively and publicly portray, recreate, record, commemorate and memorialize the lives of North Carolina soldiers and civilians during the period of the American Civil War; especially with respect to their environment, appearance, morals, ethics, values, conduct, actions, skills, and accomplishments. We will work and cooperate to educate ourselves, our members, and the public as to the political, religious, cultural, economic, and military values, realities, attitudes and events of that time and place. We will teach by word and example in schools, at state and national historic sites, and elsewhere. We will make every effort to support the preservation of the surviving material culture of the Civil War period as well as the lands, places and structures that played a role in that historic time.
