The North Carolina 70th Infantry Regiment (1st Junior Reserves): Five Young Confederate Cousins from the "Seedcorn of the Confederacy"

What remains of the North Carolina 3rd Junior Reserves Flag

The North Carolina 70th Infantry Refiment a/ka/ the1st Junior Reserves was formed in July of 1864, at Weldon, North Carolina.  As the the Civil War raged on, the Confederacy began to run out of viable men to serve in the Confederate Army.  The only option the south was to extend the age of conscripted sercive to 17 - 50 years of age.  Known as the "seedcorn of the Confederacy", the Regiment was formed by consolidating the 1st and 6th Junior Reserves Battalions which had recently been organized.  It contained men between the ages of fifteen and eighteen, and were drawn from the counties of Warren, Franklin, Nash, Granville, Wake, Orange, Caswell, Randolph, Chatham, Martin, Northampton, and Chowan.  The Regiment was assigned to the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.  The unit skirmished with Federals in the Roanoke River and Kinston areas.  Later it served in Laurence Simmons Baker's Brigade and saw action at Bentonville, North Carolina.  The Unit surrendered with the Army of Tennessee.

Map of troop engagement at Bentonville, NC

The Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina was the last major engagement in the Civil War.  This battle featured the Army of Tennessee commanded by General Joseph E. Johnston and the Army of the Cumberland commanded by General William Tecumseh Sherman.  Johnston's Army had moved out of the Western Theater and was desperately trying to link up with the Army of Northern Virginia commanded by Robert E. Lee.  Sherman's troops had originally been ordered to move north and support Grant in Virgina.   Sherman knew this wouldn't work logistically.  His orders were amended to march through the Carolinas.  Here he would be able to aid Grant by continuing to destroy Confederate supply lines.  The Army of the Cumberland slashed and burned its way through South Carolina sparing little devastation.  By March of 1865, Sherman and his troops had made it all the way to a little town in North Carolina called Four Oaks.  Here they would face opposition in the form of the Army of Tennessee. 

At 3:00pm. the Confederate forces mounted an attack.  The attack initially drove back the Union left in confusion. 

".. It looked like a picture and at our distance was truly beautiful ... But it was a painful sight to see how close their battle flags were together, regiments being scarcely larger than companies and a division not much larger than a regiment should be."  Col. Charles W. Broadfoot, 1st North Carolina Junior Reserves, describing the attack by the Army of Tennessee

These Confederate attacks were uncoordinated and therefore unsuccessful in driving the Federals from their positions.  Union reinforcements arrived and checked the Confederate assault.  By midnight, the Confederates withdrew.


Below are brief biographies of my family members who served in the North Carolina 70th Infantry Regiment aka 1st Junior Reserves. 

Private Benjamin Isaac Breedlove

Benjamin Isaac Breedlove was born in Granville County, North Carolina on October 4, 1846.  He is my 2nd cousin 5x removed.  Benjamin enlisted as a Private in Company B, North Carolina 70th Infantry Regiment/1st Junior Reserves at Camp Holmes on May 21, 1864 at the age of 17. 

1st Muster for Benjamin

Benjamin was present and accounted for through April of 1865, when he was issued parole in accordance with General Joseph E. Johnston's surrender to General William T. Sherman at Bennett Place in Durham, North Carolina. 

Parole for Benjamin

Benjamin Issac Breedlove lived an additional 61 years following the end of the Civil War.  He returned home to Granville County, North Carolina where he died on March 18, 1926 at the age of 79.   He is buried in the Salem United Methodist Church Cemetery near Oxford, North Carolina.

Grave of Benjamin Isaac Breedlove

Here's my relation to Benjamin:

Benjamin Isaac Breedlove (1846 - 1926)

is your 2nd cousin 5x removed

Martha Patsy Crews (1806 - 1876)

mother of Benjamin Isaac Breedlove

Gideon Crews Jr. (1779 - 1859)

father of Martha Patsy Crews

Gideon Crews (1730 - 1815)

father of Gideon Crews Jr.

Abigail Crews (1775 - 1822)

daughter of Gideon Crews

L. Chesley Daniel (1806 - 1882)

son of Abigail Crews

William Henry "Buck" Daniel (1827 - 1896)

son of L. Chesley Daniel

Phebe Lucy Daniel (1862 - 1946)

daughter of William Henry "Buck" Daniel

Valeria Lee Moss (1890 - 1968)

daughter of Phebe Lucy Daniel

Phebe Teresa Wheeler Lewis (1918 - 1977)

daughter of Valeria Lee Moss

Joyce Elaine Lewis (1948 - )

daughter of Phebe Teresa Wheeler Lewis

Chip Stokes

You are the son of Joyce

Richard Currin was born in Granville County, North Carolina on January 12, 1849.  He is my 1st cousin 5x removed.  Richard enlisted as a Corporal in Company B, North Carolina 70th Infantry Regiment/1st Junior Reserves in Weldon, North Carolina on June 10, 1864 at the age of 16.  Confederate records indicate that Richard was a Camp Guard at Camp Holmes.

1st Muster for Richard showing he was transferred to Camp Holmes

Following the end of the Civil War, Richard Currin returned home to Granville County, North Carolina where he lived an additional 63 years.  He died in Granville County, North Carolina on August 23, 1928 at the age of 79.  His burial location is not known at this time. 

Here's my relation to Richard:

Richard Currin (1849 - 1928)

is your 1st cousin 5x removed

Mitchell Currin (1817 - 1890)

father of Richard Currin

James Currin III (1785 - 1866)

father of Mitchell Currin

Abner Currin (1810 - 1865)

son of James Currin III

Martha Anne Currin (1834 - 1917)

daughter of Abner Currin

Phebe Lucy Daniel (1862 - 1946)

daughter of Martha Anne Currin

Valeria Lee Moss (1890 - 1968)

daughter of Phebe Lucy Daniel

Phebe Teresa Wheeler Lewis (1918 - 1977)

daughter of Valeria Lee Moss

Joyce Elaine Lewis (1948 - )

daughter of Phebe Teresa Wheeler Lewis

Chip Stokes

You are the son of Joyce

John Green Daniel was born in Caswell County, North Carolina on September 21, 1834.  He is my 2nd cousin 5x removed.  He was the second of eleven children born to James B. Daniel and Almeda Jane Stuart.  Three of his brothers also served in the Civil War. 

Tintype photo of John Green Daniel presumably on his wedding day

John's older brother Stephen W. Daniel and younger brother, James Leonard Daniel each served in Company G, North Carolina 3rd Light Artillery Battalion.  Another younger brother,  Drewry M. Daniel served in Company B, North Carolina 15th Infantry Regiment. 

John Green Daniel served in Company I, North Carolina 70th Infantry Regiment.  This regiment was better known as the 1st North Carolina Regiment Junior Reserves.  John's enlistment date is unknown.   His original parole papers still exist and are in the possession of his direct descendants. 

John Green Daniel was probably raised as an aristocrat.  His father was one of the largest land owners in Orange County and also owned land in Caswell County, where the family lived until the early 1860's.

Sketch of John Green Daniel

Following the war, John was a justice of the peace, like his father before him.  He kept a record of the people that he married and the people to whom he loaned money. He liked to make home brew and wine. Once he was questioned by the law about his wine.   He told them he made it for church communion.  This answer seemed to work as there were no further issues.

John Green on his farm. 

John Green tending sheep on his farm

Grave of John Green Daniel

John Green Daniel died in Orange County, North Carolina on May 4, 1919.  He is buried in the Wheelous Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery just over the line in Person County.

Here's my relation to John Green:

John Green Daniel (1834 - 1919)

is your 2nd cousin 5x removed

James B. Daniel (1808 - 1904)

Father of John Green

James Key Daniel (1766 - 1851)

Father of James B.

Josiah Daniel (1744 - 1811)

Father of James Key

William Ford Daniel (1774 - 1848)

Son of Josiah

L. Chesley Daniel (1806 - 1882)

Son of William Ford

William Henry "Buck" Daniel (1827 - 1896)

Son of L. Chesley

Phebe Lucy Daniel (1862 - 1946)

Daughter of William Henry "Buck"

Valeria Lee Moss (1890 - 1968)

Daughter of Phebe Lucy

Phebe Teresa Wheeler Lewis (1918 - 1977)

Daughter of Valeria Lee

Joyce Elaine Lewis (1948 - )

Daughter of Phebe Teresa

Chip Stokes

You are the son of Joyce



Samuel L. Moss was born in Granville County, North Carolina on January 2, 1846.  He is my 1st cousin 4x removed.  Samuel enlisted as a Private in Company B, North Carolina 70th Infantry Regiment/1st Junior Reserves in 1864 at the age of 17.  Following the war, Samuel returned home to Granville County, North Carolina where he lived an additional 59 years.  Samuel L. Moss died in Walnut Grove, Granville County on June 26, 1924 at the age of 78.   He is buried in the Averette Family Cemetery in Granville County, North Carolina. 

Grave of Samuel L. Moss

Here's my relation to Samuel:

Samuel L Moss (1846 - 1924)

is your 1st cousin 4x removed

Richard Sell A. Moss (1815 - 1861)

father of Samuel L Moss

Benjamin Lucious Moss (1792 - 1847)

father of Richard Sell A. Moss

James C. Moss (1824 - 1891)

son of Benjamin Lucious Moss

William Allen Moss (1859 - 1931)

son of James C. Moss

Valeria Lee Moss (1890 - 1968)

daughter of William Allen Moss

Phebe Teresa Wheeler Lewis (1918 - 1977)

daughter of Valeria Lee Moss

Joyce Elaine Lewis (1948 - )

daughter of Phebe Teresa Wheeler Lewis

Chip Stokes

You are the son of Joyce

William Franklin Paschall was born in Caswell County, North Carolina on May 30, 1845.  He is my 3rd cousin 4x removed.  William enlisted as a Private in Company I, North Carolina 70th Infantry Regiment/1st Junior Reserves at Camp Holmes on May 18, 1864 at the age of 17. 

1st Muster for William

Following the end of Civil War, William relocated to Rockingham County, North Carolina where he lived an additional 59 years.  William Franklin Paschall died in Rockingham County, North Carolina on February 3, 1924 at the age of 78.  His burial location is not known at this time.

Here's my relation to William:

William Franklin Paschall (1845 - 1924)

is your 3rd cousin 4x removed

William Paschall (1814 - 1872)

father of William Franklin Paschall

Ward Edmund Paschall (1784 - 1828)

father of William Paschall

John Seth Paschall (1756 - 1816)

father of Ward Edmund Paschall

Samuel Paschall (1727 - 1805)

father of John Seth Paschall

Mary Paschall (1752 - 1805)

daughter of Samuel Paschall

Mary "Polly" Chadwick (1790 - 1860)

daughter of Mary Paschall

Annie Tyson "Fanny" Adcock (1835 - 1912)

daughter of Mary "Polly" Chadwick

William Allen Moss (1859 - 1931)

son of Annie Tyson "Fanny" Adcock

Valeria Lee Moss (1890 - 1968)

daughter of William Allen Moss

Phebe Teresa Wheeler Lewis (1918 - 1977)

daughter of Valeria Lee Moss

Joyce Elaine Lewis (1948 - )

daughter of Phebe Teresa Wheeler Lewis

Chip Stokes

You are the son of Joyce



George Pegram Gooch was born in Granville County, North Carolina on June 26, 1846.  He is my 3rd cousin, 3x removed.   George enlisted as a Private in Company B, North Carolina 70th Infantry Regiment/1st NC Junior Reserves on May 22, 1864 at the age of  17 years, 10 months and 10 days.  The description on his first muster roll lists him as being 5'11" with a fair complexion, light hair and blue eyes.  Prior to the war, George was a farmer by trade.

1st Muster Roll for George

On July 6, 1864, George was transferred to Camp Holmes near Raleigh, North Carolina for guard duty.

Muster roll showing George was transferred to Camp Holmes

George may have spent the duration of the war at Camp Holmes as there are no further Confederate Records to be found for him.  Following the end of the Civil War, George returned home to Granville County, North Carolina where he lived for an additional 43 years.  George Pegram Gooch died in Granville County, North Carolina on March 26, 1908 at the age of 61.  He is buried in the Bullock-Gooch Cemetery near Stem, Granville County, North Carolina.

Grave of George Pegram Gooch

Here's my relation to George:

George Pegram Gooch (1846 - 1908)

is your 3rd cousin 3x removed

Your 3rd cousin 3x removed

Emmett Gooch (1821 - 1900)

father of George Pegram Gooch

Elizabeth F. "Betsy" Wheeler (1798 - 1870)

mother of Emmett Gooch

Martin Wheeler (1775 - 1822)

father of Elizabeth F. "Betsy" Wheeler

William Wheeler (1725 - 1780)

father of Martin Wheeler

Benjamin Wheeler (1755 - 1830)

son of William Wheeler

Benjamin Franklin Wheeler (1803 - 1883)

son of Benjamin Wheeler

Christopher Columbus Wheeler (1842 - 1912)

son of Benjamin Franklin Wheeler

Benjamin Elliott Wheeler (1883 - 1951)

son of Christopher Columbus Wheeler

Phebe Teresa Wheeler Lewis (1918 - 1977)

daughter of Benjamin Elliott Wheeler

Joyce Elaine Lewis (1948 - )

daughter of Phebe Teresa Wheeler Lewis

Chip Stokes

You are the son of Joyce