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Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry
The Fayetteville Independent Light
Infantry is North Carolina’s oldest
military unit and the second-oldest
militia organization in the U.S.
Lt. Charles B. Cook, Fayetteville Independent
Light Infantry, wearing a plumed hat.
Courtesy Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry
At the start of the Civil War, after
North Carolina seceded, the compa¬
ny enrolled in active service for six
months on April 17, 1861, as Compa¬
ny H, 1st North Carolina Infantry.
It seized the U.S. arsenal here and
occupied it until the Confederate
government took control. In May,
the company departed for the camp
of instruction in Raleigh. The ladies
of Fayetteville untrimmed their hats
to trim those of the soldiers with
black plumes, so the “officers and
men of the Independents strutted
like gamecocks, with elaborate
plumes on their broad brimmed
hats.” The company took part in the
first major land engagement of the
war at Big Bethel, Virginia, on June
10. When the six-month enlistment
ended, the group returned to
Fayetteville.
On February 22, 1862, the
Independents were reorganized, and
many members received commis¬
sions or appointments in other
units. Others joined the Clarendon
Guards for duty at Fort Fisher,
leaving a home guard here of men
too young or too old to fight. Today
the Fayetteville Independent Light
Infantry, which remained in active
service through World War I, is
North Carolina’s official historic
military command and still musters
on the parade ground.
On August 23, 1793, the Fayetteville Inde¬
pendent Light Infantry Company was organ¬
ized here as the local militia. Members
mustered and drilled on this parade ground,
where company fifer Isaac Hammond, an
African American who had served in the
American Revolution, is also buried. When
the Marquis de Lafayette visited Fayetteville
in 1825, the Independents escorted him.
Lt. Benjamin R. Huske took
part in the Battle of Big Bethel.
Two days later, he wrote his
wife that he was “at the main
[artillery I battery and had a
fine view of the
entire fight. ...
Gracious how
the balls did
shower around
us and 3 struck
the piece we
were next to.
You can ’t form
any idea of
how they hissed and struck,
just like a shower of hot stones
falling into the water. ... Well
you will ask how did you feel
just as cool as could be - by no
means comfortable but with a
determination to do my whole
duty whatever the consequence.”
Lt. Benjamin R. Huske
Courtesy Fayetteville
Independent Light In fantry
