The 52nd North Carolina Infantry was formed in 1862. Orignally they where part of the Dept. of North Carolina. They where transfered to the Army of Northern Virginia just before Gen. Lee's Northern Invasion into Pennsylvania. They where assigned to Brig. Gen. J.J.Pettigrew's Brigade, Heth's Division, Hill's Corps. Pettigrew's Brigade was heavily engaged July 1st at Gettysburg against the Union I Corps. After heavy fighting and casualties, they helped forced the Union I Corps to retreat thru the streets of Gettsyburg to Cemetary Hill. Pettigrew's Brigade suffered very heavy losses the first day and where held in reserve July 2nd at Gettysburg. On July 3rd, Gen. Pettigrew assumed command of Gen. Heth's division due to Gen. Heth's head wound recieved July 1st. The 52nd N.C., along with Gen. Pettigrew's entire division, where temporarily transferred to Lt. Gen. James Longstreet's command and where assigned the left wing position of the Pickett-Pettgrew-Trimble Charge at the Union center on Cemetary Hill. Suffering major casulaties they where forced to retreat. They where assigned the rear guard of the Army of Northern Virginia during Gen. Lee's retreat back to Virginia. Brig. Gen. Pettigrew was mortally wounded during the retreat when fighting near Falling Waters, Maryland. The 52nd continued fighting at battles such as Bristoe, Wilderness, Battle of the Crater, Petersburg, and others for the reamainder of the war and surrendered at Appomatox along with the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia in 1865. The unit surrendered 60 men and 6 officers.