Private Jacob M. Barnhardt

Private Jacob M. Barnhardt

Company C (the "Cabarrus Hornets"), 33rd Regiment N.C. Troops

Farmer Jacob M. Barnhardt (born ca. 1839) of Cabarrus County enlisted in a company known as the “Cabarrus Hornets” on August 31, 1861. The “Hornets” were assigned to the 33rd Regiment N.C. Troops as Company C. From the Battle of New Bern on March 13, 1862, through the Battle of Chancellorsville, May 1-4, 1863, the 33rd North Carolina participated in twelve battles, sustaining nearly 650 casualties, including 143 men killed or mortally wounded in action. Barnhardt likely participated in most or all those actions because, with the exception of month-long hospitalization for chronic diarrhea in January-February 1863, all muster rolls of his company report him present for duty.

The 33rd North Carolina suffered another 137 casualties at the Battle of Gettysburg. One of them was Barnhardt, who was captured July 3-5. He remained at the battlefield for more than a month and was reported on a roll of prisoners-of-war at the Cavalry Corps Hospital, Gettysburg, on August 10 as a “nurse.” Barnhardt arrived at the Federal prison at Point Lookout, Maryland, on September 16, 1863, and remained there until he was paroled and exchanged in February 1865. He is reported present on a roll of paroled and exchanged prisoners at Camp Lee, near Richmond, on February 17, after which date there are no military records for him.

Unknown Photographer

Manarin et. al., North Carolina Troops 9:148; Mast, “North Carolina Casualties; service record files of Jacob M. Barnhardt, 33rd Regiment N.C. Troops, Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers from the State of North Carolina (M270), RG109, NA.

Michael Black Collection

1/6th plate Ambrotype