1st NC Union Volunteers

involved in the Battle of Plymouth, NC April 1864.

Soldiers were being recruited for this regiment at Plymouth and it is unknown how many were involved in the battle.

BASNIGHT, Hezekiah - Discharged Private, Co. L, 1st NC Union Volunteers. Born about 1817 in Tyrell Co., NC, the son of Jacob & Polly (Messer) Basnight. Married 12 June 1845 to Brittania Bateman at Washington, NC. Enrolled 20 April 63 at Plymouth, NC at age 44 from Tyrrell Co., NC. As per 1st Sgt Nehemiah Ambrose, on 22 July 1863 Hezekiah was thrown from his mount causing a double hernia and a head wound while making a charge at Tarboro, NC (Potter's Raid). Discharged 26 Feb 1864 due to disability at Washington, NC. Hezekiah went to Plymouth, NC and was operating a store as a civilian. During the Battle of Plymouth, Hezekiah was given a gun and told to guard the jail. He was seen fighting in the area of the courthouse alongside John Patrick & Hezekiah Jackson, both of whom had recently been discharged from Co. L, 1st NC Union Volunteers. All three were captured 20 April 1864 at Plymouth and held captive at Castle Thunder Prison in Richmond, VA. Admitted 11 Nov 1864 to General Hospital #13 due to Congestio Cerebrew and died 15 Nov 1864. Michael Phelps

BLYTHE, Joseph - Corporal, Co. G, 1st NC Union Volunteers. Born about 1840 in NC, son of Solomon & Susan Blythe. A Lumber Hand from Northampton Co., NC. Married 11 Jan 1860 in Northampton Co., NC to Julia A., daughter of Jesse & Rebecca Futrell. Enrolled 17 June 61 in Co. B, 1st NC Cavalry. Deserted 13 April 62. Enrolled 27 Oct 62 at New Bern, NC under alias Joseph Bly and stated he was born at Murfreesboro, NC. 6' tall. Mustered 17 Dec 62 as Private. Promoted 18 June 63 to 3rd Corporal. Absent 24 Oct 63 for 10 days on furlough at Bay River, NC. Absent with Leave April 64. Escaped 19 April 64 during the Battle of Plymouth. Rescued 23 April 64 by the Miami. Apparently during his escape or shortly thereafter he lost his waist belt, buckle, cap pouch (with cone pick) and bayonet scabbard. Married 11 April 1878 to Rhoda, dau. of Josiah & Betsy Tingle at Pamlico Co., NC. Died after 1880. Widow Rhoda Hulton applied 31 July 1897 for a pension. Widow Julia A. applied 22 Sept 1897 for a pension.

EASTMOND, Oscar - Captain Co. C, 1st NC Union Volunteers. Born Feb 1840 in Brooklyn, NY, son of Benjamin & Susan Mandeville (Forbes) Eastmond. Father Benjamin was a Police Officer in NYC. Oscar worked as a Harness Maker in Newark, NJ. Enrolled 25 Oct 61 as Orderly Sergeant, Co. C, 1st NY Marine Artillery, a 24 year old Bookkeeper. Appointed 14 April 62 as Acting Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant. Married about 1862 to Sarah Barker. Commissioned 14 Jan 63 as 2nd Lieut. with rank from 18 March 62. Mustered out 31 March 63 at New Bern, NC. Mustered 1 April 63 at New Bern, NC as Captain, Co. C, 1st NC. Absent sick on leave of absence 24 Sept 63 for 20 days due to Intermittent Fever. On detached recruiting service 15 March 64 at Plymouth, NC. Captured 20 April 64 at Plymouth, NC. POW at Macon, GA, Charleston & Columbia, SC. On the list of sick prisoners at Columbia, SC with Bronchitis. Left Camp Asylum, Columbia, SC on 9 Dec 64 and paroled 10 Dec at Charleston, SC. Arrived 14 Dec at Annapolis, MD. Left the next day for a 30 day furlough. Returned to Annapolis 16 Jan 65. Assigned for duty 12 March and sent to the regiment 31 March 65. Rejoined regiment 6 April 65. After Col. James H. Strong's resignation, Eastmond was promoted 29 May 65 to Lieut. Colonel, 1st NC at New Bern, NC. Mustered out 27 June 65. Returned to NY. Served July 1867 - Sept 1868 as an Agent for the Freedmans Bureau in Asheville, NC. Elected 1 Sept 1889 as Mayor of Asheville, NC. Resigned and moved to Washington, DC. Applied 3 June 1869 for Invalid Pension. Then moved to New York City and became a Ticket Agent for the railroad and later a Conductor. Mustered 19 March 1897 into Post No. 140, GAR, NYC. Admitted 16 Sept 1898 to the Soldiers Home in Bath, NY. Discharge 19 June 1900. Admitted 5 July 1900 to the Central Branch Soldiers Home, Dayton, OH and served as a Company Commander and Superintendent of the Home Hotel. Died 7 Aug 1909 from "Hemorhage and shock from Wound of Head received at hands of one Edward Leonard." Leonard was "crazed with jealousy because of recent appointments and promotions." See NY Times article 8 Aug 1909 and others. This attack made national news. Buried in the Dayton National Cemetery, OH. Headstone. Widow Sarah from 19 Mountain Ave, Summit, NJ applied 23 Nov 1909 for a pension. See Reconstruction's Ragged Edge by Steven E. Nash, 2016 for further details with his involvement in the Freedmans Bureau.

JACKSON, Hezekiah - Private, Co. L, 1st NC Union Volunteers. Born about 1844 in Tyrrell Co., NC, the son of Shadrack & Lavina Jackson. Enrolled & Mustered 24 April 1863 into Co. C at Plymouth, NC, an 18 year old Farmer from Washington Co., NC. Transferred 12 Aug 63 to Co. L. In Plymouth on furlough during the Battle of Plymouth. He was seen fighting in the area of the Courthouse. Captured 20 April 1864 at Plymouth, NC. Also listed as being captured 30 May 64 at Plymouth. Paroled 13 Dec 64 at Charleston, SC. Arrived 15 Dec 64 at the College Green Barracks, MD. Sent 17 Dec to Camp Parole, MD. Furloughed 25 Dec 64 for 30 days. Furlough extended 6 Feb 65 for 20 days. Mustered out 27 June 65 at New Bern, NC. Widow Elizabeth living in Scuppernog, Washington Co., NC in 1890.

PATRICK, John - Discharged Private, Co. L, 1st NC Union Volunteers. Born in Washington Co., NC. Enrolled 20 March 1863 at Plymouth, NC, a 30 year old Carpenter. Mustered in 30 June 63 at Plymouth, NC. Received a Scrotal Hernia 5 July 63 from being flung into the pommel of his saddle while drilling at New Bern, NC. Discharged for Disability 23 Feb 1864 at Washington, NC. Went to Plymouth, NC after discharge. During the Battle of Plymouth, he was seen fighting in the area of the Courthouse. Captured 20 April 1864 at Plymouth, NC. Report from 7 Sept 64 determined he did not desert from the CSA and should not be tried for treason, but be confined as a POW. Confined 21 Dec 64 at Castle Thunder, Richmond, VA. Transferred 31 Dec 1864 to Richmond Hospital #21 where he died 7 Feb 1865 from Pneumonia as a POW. Michael Phelps