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John Calhoun Stafford was a Cadet at the Hillsboro Military Academy at the outbreak of the Civil War. He enlisted at the age of 20 in Company K, 48th Regiment, NC Troops, CSA (known as the "Confederate Guards") when the unit was raised in Forsyth County, NC in early March, 1862. Shortly afterwards, he was elected 2nd Lieutenant (as was then the custom in CSA units) on March 12, 1862. He was soon promoted to 1st Lieutenant on July 3, 1862. He was promoted to Captain on September 27, 1862 and given command of Company K before his 21st birthday.
He was the sole surviving officer in Company K when he was gravely wounded on December 13, 1862 during the bloody "Battle of Fredericksburg, VA." He was hospitalized at Lynchburg, Va before being returned home to Winston, NC where he died of his wounds shortly thereafter on January 24, 1863. Prior to that battle he also fought with the 48th at Petersburg, VA; City Point (near Hopewell, VA); French's Farm ( near Richmond, VA); Gaines' Mill ( during the "Seven Day's Battle near Richmond); the capture of Harper's Ferry. MD on 15 September, 1862); and at Antietam, near Sharpsburg, MD.
He was recognized as "A good and brave soldier". An elegiac poem, composed in his memory by two lady admirers, was published in the "Greensboro Patriot" on Feb. 12, 1863.
Here's a site covering the history of the 48th North Carolina Infantry.
< http://members.aol.com/jweaver303/nc/48ncinf.htm > 27 Mar 1863 - From the "People's Press", Salem, NC
"Tribute of Respect. Pacotaligo Station, S. C. : At a meeting of Company K, 48th Regt., NC Troops held at camp near Pocotaligo Station, S. C. March 16th , 1863, Capt. J. W. Bitting acting as Chairman, appointed H. N. Chitty, 1st Lieut, M. H. Fulp, 2nd Lieut. and J. H. Nading 1st Sergeant, a committee to draft resolutions, expressive of their feelings with regard to the deaths of their fellow soldiers, Capt. Jno. C. Stafford, who died on the 24th January 1863, from a gun shot wound and Lieut. H. C. BANNER, who died on or about the 20th of December 1862, from a gun shot wound, they received at the Battle of Fredericksburg on 13th December 1862. The following resolutions were unanimously adopted:
Resolved 1st; Whereas, it has pleased an Almighty God, in his infinite wisdom, to remove from ranks these much beloved companions, that while we bow in humble submission to the will of Him who sees the end from the beginning and doeth all things well.
Resolved 2nd; That, in the above names, are those who never forsook us in the hour of danger, ever ready to minister to the necessities of their sick comrades, and the lovers of liberty may recognize the names of some of their bravest defenders.
Resolved 3rd; That we tender our heartfelt sympathies to the relatives of the deceased, hoping that we may all recognize the hand of a kind Father in their afflicitions.
Resolved 4th; That a copy of the above resolutions be sent to the families of the deceased, and a copy sent to the People's Press for publication with a request for the Western Sentinel to copy. H. N. Chitty, 1st Lieut. / M. H. Fulp, 2nd Lieut. / J. H. Nading, 1st Serg. / Capt. J. W. Bitting, Chairman / J. W. Reid, 3rd Lieut., Secy."
Source:
The Forsyth County Genealogical Society Journal, Vol. III, No. II, Winter 1985, pages 2, 7 and 8.
The Moravian Archives, 4 East Bank Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101.
"Death Notices from the People's Press, (Salem, North Carolina) 1851-1892" compiled by Robert M. Topkins
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1842 - 1863 (20 years)
