The 60th North Carolina Infantry was organized in May 1862. This unit more heavily consisted of Asheville and Buncombe County men than any other leaving the state. They trained and drilled at an island on the French Broad a few miles below Warm Springs for about two to three months before being turned over to the Confederate Government. At this time they were sent to Greenville, TN to guard supplies, the railroads and vital bridges during Braggs campaign into Kentucky.
In the months of September and October of 1862 the regiment was sent to Murfreesboro, TN, for drills and guard duty. Near the end of December orders were sent for the regiment to move in order to meet a Union detachment under Gen. Rosecrans. This unit was heading from Nashville. They met at the Stone River just west of Murfreesboro. Fighting took place the 31st of December '62. The next day was comparatively quiet for the 60th N.C., but the 2nd of January found them joining in Breckenridge's charge to dislodge Rosecrans army from a line of cedar trees on the east bank of the Stone River. From there, they withdrew to Tullahooma and set up winter quarters there.
The spring of 1863 brought a move north to Wartrace and then in early summer to Fairield. After this they were sent to Jackson, Mississippi. There, they set up camp along the bank of the Pearl River. July 1st brought orders from Joseph E. Johnston taking the 60th N.C. in the direction of Vicksburg to relieve the seige that Gen. Grant had on the city. They marched through Canton to the north and over towards Vicksburg. In 4 days they reached the banks of the Big Black River. (The night of July 4th.) News spread through the camp that Vicksburg had surrendered and the next day, they retreated to Jackson. Johnston set up his army to defend Jackson. There was minor skirmishing for several days and then on the 16th it became heavy in the area that the 60th was involved. After Johnston's brief defense of Jackson, he withdrew, sending the 60th N.C. to Brandon. Here, they set up camp on a ridge where a tornado had recently passed through. This became known as "Camp Hurricane".
The groups next assignment was in the reinforcement of Bragg in Georgia. They were sent to Chickamauga to help defend against Rosecrans army and arrived about the 10th of September, 1863. The 60th was assigned to the left of the Confederate lines taking up position around Glass', and Lee and Gordon's mills. Skirmishes went on until the 19th, when the major fighting began. This unit earned the distinction of being the farthest Confederate advance at noon on the 20th of September. The confederates leisurely pursued the retreating Union army to Chattanooga. In two days time, the 60th took up position on Missionary Ridge overlooking Chattanooga. On November 25, 1863, they were called upon again. Here they were unable to be used effectively though, due to their position, their targets were either at the farthest range of their artillery or shielded by the curve of the mountain. They did take part in the engagement at the top of the ridge, but the Confederates were forced to retreat in the face of larger numbers. The 60th retreated to Dalton, Georgia and went into winter quarters there.
In 1864 they engaged the Union army again near Dalton in what was called the battle of Stoney Ridge. They went back to their quarters in Dalton and remained there until they were called out in defence of Atlanta during General Johnston's strategic retreats. They saw battle at Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Jonesboro and Atlanta. Following this, they were sent through North Georgia, Alabama and crossed the Tennessee River near Florence on their way to Nashville to cut Sherman's supply lines. Here, at Florence, they met a little resistance. In Tennessee, more resistance was encountered at Columbia on the Duck River. From Columbia, the Union Army fell back to Franklin, where an intensely costly victory for the Confederates took place.
They next engaged the Union army at Nashville and retreated from there to Murfreesboro. From there, they retreated back through North Alabama , Georgia and then into South Carolina. At one point here, they engaged Sherman at Branchville, SC and wound up pursuing Sherman to Columbia to find it in ruins. Then they proceeded to North Carolina through Charlotte, Salisbury, then through Raleigh and ending up at Smithfield. From here, they went to participate in the Battle of Bentonville (April 19-21, 1865). They retreated from there, through Raleigh, Greensboro and to Jimtown. Upon hearing of Lee's surrender, Johnston opened talks with Sherman and surrendered on April 26, 1865.
Here are a few of the enlistments to the 60th relative to our family:
Company A:
Parker, B. F., enlisted May 7, 1862 Parker J. M., enlisted July 12, 1862 (prisoner) Waggoner, W. A., enlisted April 12, 1862
Waggoner, J. P. enlisted October 31, 1862 (detailed)