Red Banks Church

Red Banks Church. "Hand-to-hand conflict". , Red Banks Church attracted worshipers in peaceful times, but in 1863, it attracted Union troops as an assembly point for raids. A Federal attack launched from here on December 17, 1863, devastated the camp of Co. H., 3rd North Carolina Cavalry, and captured thirty-five Tar Heels., Union Col. Joseph M. McChesney, commander of the 1st North Carolina Volunteers (US), with detachments from his regiment as well as the 12th New York Cavalry and the 23rd New York Artillery Battery, torched the church on December 30. Camped nearby, Co. G, 3rd North Carolina Cavalry (CSA), galloped to the church with a cannon from the 13th Battalion, North Carolina Light Artillery (Starr's Battery). McChesney's men, however, got behind the Confederates, who retreated. Confederate Lt. David C. Camp was killed while leading his cavalry platoon in a furious charge. Lt. James H. Myrover of Starr's Battery described the chaos when they "suddenly and unexpectedly met the enemy. … The piece … was immediately brought into position … [but it] was impossible to fire [it] without killing our own men.", A Federal report noted that "after a hand-to-hand conflict the enemy retired, leaving 1 lieutenant and 5 men dead, with 1 piece of Starr's fine battery, and caisson and horses. … Our loss was 1 killed, 6 slightly wounded, 1 missing, and 3 horses disabled. … Liet. William K. Adams, of Company L, First North Carolina Volunteers, … fell while making a charge at the head of his command."