Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - James Boggan

2^nd NORTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY
Organized: Late 1861 / Early 1862 Cape Fear District, NC
Mustered In:  5/1862 Ft. Caswell Cape Fear District, NC
Redesignated: 11/4/1863
 

3^rd NORTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY
Organized: 11/4/1863 Ft. Holmes, NC
Mustered In: 12/1/1863 Ft. Holmes, NC
Surrendered:  4/26/1865 near Greensborough, NC

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:  (2^nd)

NOTE: The following unit history was pieced together as accurately as possible utilizing various North Carolina (NC) and Confederate States of America (CSA) sources:

The 2^nd North Carolina Artillery – a.k.a. 36^th Regiment (State) Volunteers and/or “The Cape Fear Regiment” – first came together during 1861. In 5/1862 at Ft. Caswell, NC the unit’s organization was completed and placed under the command of the Confederate States of America (CSA) - Batteries/Companies were then assigned to various posts defending the Cape Fear region of North Carolina. During 1862/’63 batteries/companies of the 2^nd were engaged at Ft. Fisher, Ft. Campbell (an “outwork” of Ft. Caswell and at Wilmington.

The first incarnation of what was to become the 2^nd’s Co. /Batt. “I” appeared on 10/16/1861.An independent organization, it was known as Capt. William A. Herring’s Artillery. On 5/14/1862 it was assigned to the 36^th North Carolina under the mustering auspices of the Confederate States of America (CSA). When,   on 11/4/1863 this unit was transferred to the 40^th North Carolina Regiment (a.k.a. 3^rd North Carolina Artillery) as Co. /Batt. “G”, a new co. /batt. “I” was created for the 2^nd.

During 1862/’63 companies/batteries of the 2^nd were engaged at Ft. Fisher, Ft. Campbell (an “outwork” of Ft. Caswell) and at Wilmington, all being in North Carolina. In 12/1864 one company/battery assisted in the defense of Savannah, GA when that city was set upon by Federal troops under the command of Union Gen. W.T. Sherman.

1865. After the fall of Ft. Fisher (1/13 – 15) members of the unit fought as infantry during the battle of Bentonville, NC (3/19 – 21). Surviving members surrendered with the Army Of Tennessee.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Loss Numbers Not Available.

REGIMENTAL HISTORY (3^rd)

NOTE: The following unit history was pieced together as accurately as possible utilizing various North Carolina (NC) and Confederate States of America (CSA) sources.:

Organization of the 3^rd  North Carolina Artillery (CSA) -  (also known as the 40^th North Carolina regiment of state troops – traced its origins to 1/1862 . At that time unattached companies/batteries that had been serving (independently) in the Cape Fear District of North Carolina were assigned to the regiment. Between 1/1862 and 11/1863 a total of fourteen companies/batteries moved through the unit.

On 11/4/1863 all of the 3^rd’s light artillery companies/batteries were transferred elsewhere. They were replaced by heavy companies/batteries that were assigned to various river and coastal fortifications throughout North Carolina.
 

Unlike most infantry or cavalry organizations whose companies generally operated as a cohesive whole, artillery companies, or “batteries” seldom, if ever, came together as an entire regiment. Instead, they were individually assigned “where needed.” As a result of the above noted policy, herein we are focusing not on the 3^rd in its entirety, but on Co. /Batt. “G”.

Transferred from the 36^th/2^nd North Carolina, Co. /Batt. “G” was actually the third so-named “G” organization to serve in the 40^th/3^rd during The War.

The 40^th/3^rd surrendered 4/26/1865 near Greensborough, NC.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Loss Numbers Not Available

SOLDIER: (2^nd)
Residence: Wadesboro Anson County, NC   Age: 18.2 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 8/20/1863 Ft. Branch Hamilton County, NC (Brunswick County, NC)   Rank:  Pvt.
Mustered In: Inf. Not Avail. To 2^nd/36^th NC
Mustered/Transferred Out: 11/4/1863 from Co. /Batt. “I” 2^nd/36^th NC to Co. /Batt. “G” 3^rd/40^th NC
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Transfer: Pvt.

SOLDIER: (3^rd)
Residence: Wadesboro Anson County, NC   Age: 18.5 yrs.
Mustered/Transferred In: 11/4/1863 from Co. /Batt. “I” 2^nd/36^th NC to Co. /Batt.  “G”. 3^rd/40^th NC   Rank: Pvt.
Captured: 1/15/1865 Ft. Fisher Wilmington, NC
Highest Rank:  Pvt.
Rank At Capture: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

James Norfleet Boggan was born on 6/4/1845. His place of birth was within Anson County, NC. Although not specifically documented, it is surmised his Anson community of birth was Wadesboro as that is where the U.S. Census found the Boggans in 1850 and 1860.

Parenting James were Norfleet Drew Boggan (b. 11/29/1805 Anson County) and Jane Gould (nee Hammond b. 7/9/1813 NC) Boggan. Although Norfleet was a farmer, he also served as a clerk in the Anson County court system.

Norfleet and Jane produced six children. Of the six James was the fifth-born. Siblings older than he were Rosa E. Boggan (b. 6/8/1835 Anson County, NC), Harriet Eleanor Boggan (b. 5/20/1837), Walter Jones Boggan (b. 3/13/1841*) and William H. Boggan (b. 6/15/1843**).  Younger than he was Lydia Jane Boggan (b. 12/12/1847 Anson County, NC).

Norfleet Boggan died on 11/8/1854. Jane, his widow, passed on 3/6/1858. Both deaths occurred in Anson County, NC. Care for the Boggan children then fell to the second oldest daughter, Harriet Eleanor Boggan/Beggan. By that time, she – Harriet - was herself, a widow.

Based upon available documentation, it appears James remained on the family farm until he enlisted in the army of the Confederate States of America (CSA) during August, 1863. It seems his initial enlistment was as a private in Captain Herring’s Company/Battery   which became Battery (Company) I of the 2^nd North Carolina Artillery (36^th NC State troops and, thereafter, Company/Battery G of the 3^rd/40^th NC Artillery/Infantry.

Perhaps because of his age, our Private Boggan was quickly moved away from combat duties to that of acting hospital steward at Ft. Anderson located in Brunswick County on North Carolina’s Cape Fear River. It appears he – and his unit – were captured by Federal Forces on 1/15/1865 near Ft. Fisher, NC.

From North Carolina, on 1/30/1865 our Private Boggan was transferred northward to New York, NY and then to a prisoner of war camp located in Elmira, NY. Once there, on 2/20 - 25/1865 he was paroled then sent to some location (perhaps City Point) on the James River in Virginia to be exchanged.as four years of bloody civil war ground towards its ugly finale.

Military life behind him, where James settled is an unknown. A specific location is not noted in any available documentation and he has not been found in the U.S. Census for 1870. All we really know about his return to civilian life is that during 1872 he married.

 James’ bride was Sarah Henrietta “Retta” Parker. Retta had been born 2/7/1853 in Independence, Jackson County, MO. When where and how the two had met are unknowns. The couple’s wedding date and location are other mysteries.

It appears that during their years together James and Retta produced nine children. They were: Hallie Boggan (b. 1872), Constance Boggan (b.  (2/9/1875 MO), Rosa G. Boggan (b.5/8/1878 WA Terr. (WT).), James Norfleet, Jr. (b. 10/10/1880 Asotin County , WT), Eula Jane Boggan (b. 6/23/1884 Asotin County, WT), Charles Voorhees Boggan (b. 1831), Hampton Beryl Boggan (b. 3/14/1890 Asotin County, WT), Wade T. Boggan (b. 5/23/1893 Asotin County, WT) and Garland William (Boggan b.6/23/1895). Of the nine, all but one were alive at the dawn of the twentieth century.

Looking at the birth states of the Boggan children, one can see that – apparently – after being wed, James and Retta settled in Missouri. By the spring of 1878, however, they had quitted the “Show Me” state and moved to the far southeastern corner of Washington Territory. What is somewhat unusual about the move is that most Civil War veterans who moved to the Pacific Northwest, did so in a series of territorial jumps, The Boggan’s however, appear to have made the westward leap in one jump. Exactly when this occurred is not known. Their community of residence in Asotin County was in or near Anatone – later Asotin, WA. There, James took up farming.

Exactly why James and family moved to Washington Territory/State is not known. However, the move may have been made in conjunction with Brother Walter who also resided in the area.

Retta passed away in Asotin Asotin County, WA on 8/31`/1922. She died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage. Dead at the age of 69+ years, she was/is buried in the Asotin Cemetery.

And James? The old soldier died in White’s Lewiston, ID hospital of a neck cancer. The date was 12/26/1928. He was/is buried with Retta in Asotin.
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* During the ACW Walter served in the 4^th / 14th North Carolina Infantry and the 43^rd North Carolina Infantry. He survived The War. He is buried in the Anatone Cemetery located in Asotin County, WA.

**During the ACW William served in the 4^th / 14^th North Carolina Infantry. He survived The War. 

Posted: 5/4/23
Updated: 

Buried at Asotin City Cemetery