The 34th North Carolina Infantry spent the winter of 1861/62 drilling at High Point and
Raleigh. Many men suffered the
childhood diseases they had been spared as youths. Come
spring, the regiment was transferred to
Fort Branch, near
Hamilton, on duty against Union
gunboats on the
Roanoke River. At the beginning of the
summer of 1862, it was transferred to
Pender's Brigade,
A. P. Hill's Light Division,
Army of Northern Virginia. The regiment was soon engaged in the
Seven Days Battles, fighting in the battles of
Mechanicsville,
Gaines's Mill, and
Frayser's Farm. Although not directly engaged at
Malvern Hill, it came under heavy
artillery fire for several hours. In August 1862, the Light Division was transferred to
Stonewall Jackson's command; the 34th North Carolina participating in the battles of
Cedar Mountain,
Second Manassas,
Ox Hill,
Harpers Ferry. After the last battle, the regiment was in charge of the
pontoon bridge, and participated in the
paroling of the large number of
prisoners of war. After a speedy march, it reached
Sharpsburg, Maryland in time to participate in the
battle. During the withdrawal to
Virginia, the regiment participated in the defeat of the pursuing Union army at the
battle of Shepherdstown. After Shepherdstown, the 34th North Carolina could enjoy quite a long period of rest, until engaged at the
battle of Fredericksburg in the middle of December. The winter of 1862/63 was spent in winter quarters at
Moss Neck. The winter was severe, the
supply faltering, the
provisions low, yet the
morale of the regiment remained high. During the
battle of Chancellorsville, it participated in the
flanking movement of Stonewall Jackson's command. The regiment then returned to Moss Neck, where it remained until the army in early June broke camp for the
Gettysburg campaign. At the
battle of Gettysburg, the 34th Regiment suffered heavily, both during the first and during the third day. The total loss of the 34th North Carolina Infantry at Gettysburg was 104 of its 311 men. General Pender had been promoted to command the Light Division, so the regiment fought under General
Scales as brigade commander. He was wounded during the battle, and the brigade command was taken over by Colonel Lowrance of the 34th North Carolina. During the retreat to Virginia, the regiment fought at the
Battle of Williamsport; many men were captured by the pontoon bridge. The 34th North Carolina was present at the
battle of Bristoe Station, but it was not actively engaged. It fought at the
battle of Mine Run, enduring the cold weather with great pain. The regiment spent the winter of 1863/64 at
Orange Court House, where they received new recruits. They were mostly between 40 and 45 years of age, and not very able or willing soldiers. Come spring, and the campaign season, the regiment fought at the battles of the
Wilderness;
Spotsylvania Court House, where its losses were few, fighting as they did behind
breastworks;
Hanover Junction, where it suffered heavy casualties, losing three
color bearers. At the
battle of Cold Harbor it was not actively engaged, but came under rapid Union fire for a long time. During the
siege of Petersburg, the 34th North Carolina fought at the
battle of Jerusalem Plank Road, later participating in the first assault wave at
Ream's Station, being repulsed with heavy casualties. During the winter of 1864/65, the 34th North Carolina was in winter quarters at Battery No. 45, near
Petersburg. This was a winter of great afflictions; lack of food and clothing made many men
desert to the Union lines. On April 1, the regiment learned that the Confederate lines at Petersburg had been broken. A last desperate fight was fought at
Sutherland's Station, inflicting severe losses on the Union attackers. Falling back the regiment reached
Amelia Court House, joining the main army, and being provisioned. On the morning of April 9, the 34th North Carolina moved into line, where they were ordered to
cease fire. ==Disbandment==