From the Lower East Newsletter 1988:
Over 100 Senior Reserves from Bladen & Columbus
David Callihan was a Bladen County farmer, age 42, when he was made a captain and headed a group of Senior Reserves from Bladen and Columbus counties during the final full year of the War Between the States.
It was the spring of 1864, and most of the able-bodied men, age 18-40, had long since left home to bear arms for the Confederacy, eithers as volunteers or as conscripts in various infantry and artillery units.
Those men still at home, age 40-plus, were organized in each county and formed into regiments in various areas of the state, the Bladen and Columbus men being a part of the 8th Senior Reserves and members of a unit called Callihan's Company.
The Columbus County group volunteered on May 2, 1864 in Whiteville and in Bladen, the group volunteered at Elizabethtown on May 14, 1864 according to military records.
Several other companies were raised in this area of the state, being headed by men from adjourning counties and some of these units had Bladen and Columbus senior reserves as members, many of the same men who had apparently been discharged fo unknown reasons from the first company.
The list includes 66 seniors with ties to Bladen County, 51 with definite ties to Columbus, three men being shared between the two counties and two others with probable connections to Columbus.
These are divided with military birth records showing 32 born and living in Bladen, 38 born and living in Columbus, two born in Bladen and living in Columbus, one born in Columbus and living in Bladen, five born in New Hanover and living in Columbus, eight born in Sampson and living in Bladen, four born in Robeson and living in Bladen, four born in South Carolina and living in Bladen.
Genealogists will enjoy reading this list of Senior Reserves as the military records show the month and year of birth, plus the county of birth. However, when some of these Senior Reserves joined other units, there would sometimes be major changes, other times small changes such as just a month, in the birth records.
In the listings, the first county mentioned for each man is given as his county of birth, the second county being his place of residence where he enlisted.
Callihan was assisted in his management of his company by two second lieutenants, Joseph Hester of Bladen, whose military record says he was born in neighboring Robeson County, and R A Williamson of Columbus.
Other Senior Reserve companies came from New Hanover and Brunswick, Robeson, Sampson, Duplin, and Cumberland in this 9th Senior Reserve Regiment.
Capt Benjamin J Jacobs headed the unit from New Hanover and Capt W J Kelly was in charge of the Cumberland unit, Capt Nathaniel McLean headed one of the Robeson Companies, Capt Neill McNeill was in charge of another Robeson company.
Most of the Senior Reserves in Capt McNeill's unit enlisted in Wilmington on Nov 10, 1864, and several men were from Bladen and Columbus, including some who were on the original lists for Callihan's Company. Jacob's Company was formed on April 27, 1864 in Brunswick and Wilmington, Kelly's Company formed on April 11, 1864 in Fayetteville, and Capt Bryan of Sampson County headed a unit formed in April.
There are death records on two of the Bladen soldiers, both privates. John F Blue is noted to have died of typhoid fever in a Wilmington hospital on either Jan 21 or Jan 22, 1865. Anthony Brisson, formerly a member of Company I, 2nd Regiment, Artillery, was in a Wilmington hospital on Dec 26, 1864 and sent to Goldsboro, and he was later transferred to Hospital No 8 in Raleigh, where he died of pneumonia on Jan 28, 1865.

Callihan's Company, 8th Senior Reserves

Name

Birth Date

County

Remarks

Hugh Allen
JP Barnhill
WJ Bigford
John F Blue
Buckner Bowden
Anthony Brisson
Joseph Brisson
Daniel N Brown
A J Bryant
William J Bryant
John T Burk
John Cain
J W Cain
David Callihan
James M Callihan
Nevill Cashwell
Neill Clark
D J Council
J T Council
James B Cox
J S Cox
Neill Currie
Edward Davis
Timothy Davis
William J Davis
Samuel Duncan
James H Dyson
John H Edmond
Rollen Edwards
Samuel Evans
William Evans
D Formyduval
Enoch Fowler
Isaac Fowler
George Lewis
James Gooden
John H Gore
Francis A Griffin
Joseph Guyton
Enoch Hall
John H Harper
Job Hester
Joseph Hester
Tyron H Hilburn
Arrington Hinson
William C Jacobs
Samuel Jarrell
P P Jenerett
Caleb Johnson
Wright Lennon
James Long
J P Lytle
George W McColskey
John McDaniel
A J McDonald
J M McKinney
John McLean
Iver McMillan
James McNorton
James R Mitchell
J J Nance
Joshua Nobles
J B Norris
John Norris
Solomon W Norris
Malcolm Parker
James Pate
Isham Peterson
Jackson W Powell
Neill Priest
Noah H Rodgers
John Sessoms
Jms Robert Shepherd
Simon Sibbitt
Hugh Simpson
Laban Smith
Jordan Soles
Jesse Spivey
Henry P Squires
William B Squires
James Stephens
N S Stone
W T Sutton
T C Thompson
Jesse Ward
Joseph Ward
Joshua Ward
Robert Ward
William Ward
Eli Watts
R E Williams
R A Williamson
Isaac S Willis
Coleman Worley

Nov 1816
May 1817
Sept 1816
June 1815
Jan 1817
Oct 1816
Oct 1819
Oct 1816
Jan 1816
Apr 1817
Oct 1817
May 1816
Apr 1815
Jan 1818
Apr 1818
Oct 1815
Apr 1818
Apr 1817
June 1817
Apr 1819
May 1817
June 1817
Nov 1817
May 1817
Jan 1816
July 1818
Mar 1818
Feb 1817
July 1817
May 1817
Apr 1817
Mar 1816
Oct 1816
Mar 1816
June 1816
Aug 1816
May 1816
Dec 1814
Nov 1816
June 1816
May 1816
Aug 1818
Apr 1818
Sept 1817
Feb 1816
May 1817
June 1817
April 1817
Aug 1816
June 1818
Sept 1818
Jan 1816
Jan 1818
Dec 1817
May 1817
June 1818
Jan 1815
Apr 1816
May 1816
Dec 1820
Feb 1816
Aug 1816
June 1816
Apr 1817
Dec 1816
June 1816
Jan 1815
May 1818
May 1817
Aug 1818
Dec 1815
Jan 1815
May 1818
June 1817
May 1816
Sept 1817
May 1816
Jan 1816
June 1818
June 1819
May 1816
Feb 1816
Dec 1816
June 1816
Apr 1816
Mar 1814
Mar 1816
Oct 1818
Mar 1818
July 1817
Mar 1814
Mar 1818
May 1815
Feb 1819

Bladen
NH/Bladen
Bladen
Bladen
Columbus
Bladen
Bladen
Bladen/Columbus
Bladen
Bladen
Sampson/Bladen
Sampson/Bladen
Sampson/Bladen
Bladen
Columbus
Bladen
Sampson/Bladen
Bladen
Robeson/Bladen
Columbus
Columbus
Bladen/Columbus
Robeson/Bladen
Bladen
Robeson/Bladen
Columbus
Columbus
Columbus
Bladen
Sampson/Bladen
Sampson/Bladen
Columbus
Columbus/SC
Columbus
Columbus
Bladen
Columbus
Columbus/Bladen
SC/Bladen
Bladen
Columbus
Columbus
Robeson/Bladen
Robeson/Bladen
Robeson/Columbus
Brunswick/Columbus
Columbus
Brunswick/Columbus
Sampson/Bladen
Columbus
Columbus
Bladen
Columbus
Bladen
Bladen
Caswell/Columbus
Columbus
Bladen
Columbus
Columbus
Bladen
Columbus
Columbus
Sampson/Bladen
SC/Columbus
Bladen
Bladen
NH/Bladen
Columbus
NH/Bladen
NH/Columbus
Bladen
Columbus
Columbus
Bladen
SC/Columbus
Columbus
Columbus
NH/Bladen
NH/Bladen
Columbus
Chatham/Bladen
Bladen
Bladen
Columbus
Brunswick/Columbus
SC/Columbus
Columbus
Brunswick/Columbus
Columbus
Columbus
Columbus
Cumberland/Bladen
Columbus

Farmer
Cooper
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Wheelwright
Farmer
Farmer
Captain
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Overseer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
2nd Lieut
Cooper
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer

Turpentine
Farmer
Farmer
Law Officer
Farmer
Turpentine
Overseer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Overseer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Ditcher
Farmer
Turpentine
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Blacksmith
Shoemaker
Cooper
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Miller
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Overseer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Blacksmith
Farmer
2nd Lieut
Farmer
Farmer

Notes: Bowden's military records show he was born in Columbus County and enlisted in Whiteville on 2 May 1864, and when he was paroled at Goldsboro on an unknown date his residence is noted as in Duplin County; William J Davis is noted as having bronchitis and being in a Wilmington hospital on 25 Nov 1864; Edmond, whose address is given as Fair Bluff, was in a Raleigh hospital with fever from 15-31 Jan 1865 before returning to duty; Edwards was in a Goldsboro hospital (undated) and in a Wilmington hospital as late as 26 Dec 1864 with rheumatism.
William Evans, post office noted as White's Creek, was in a Wilmington hospital from 17 Oct to ? Nov 1864, then furloughed for 21 days; Enoch Fowler's record says born in Columbus County, and a Wilmington hospital record from 30 Oct to 5 Nov 1864 notes his address as Blanton's Crossroads, NC which is probably an error and should be South Carolina.
Caleb Johnson is noted in Wilmington hospital with diarrhoea from 18-26 Dec 1864, then transferred to another hospital, unknown; Lennon is shown as being transferred from a Wilmington hospital to Greensboro on 21-23 Feb 1865; Sessoms is shown as having an address of White Oak on a Wilmington hospital record from 4-8 Oct 1864; Stephens is shown with a Bug Hill address when admitted to Wilmington hospital on 30 Nov 1864; Joshua Ward has a Whiteville address when in Wilmington hospital with fever on 6-13 Oct 1864.
Robert Ward is from Whiteville on Wilmington hospital records from 30 Nov - 21 Dec 1864.

Jacob's Company, 8th Senior Reserves

Name

Birth Date

County

Remarks

Phillip Cox
Joseph Gore
Legrand W Smith
Sylvanus F Wilson

18 May 1817
1816
1816
15 July 1815

Horry, SC
Columbus/Brunswick
SC/Brunswick
Columbus

Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Blacksmith

Note: Cox was present on 27 June 1864 muster report, last record; Gore was also present on 27 June 1864 muster report; Smith has address of Cool Run, NC, on Wilmington hospital record dated 27 Sept - 7 Oct 1864; Wilson was present 27 June 1864.

Bryan's Company, 8th Senior Reserves

Name

Birth Date

County

Remarks

Robert Cain

Sept 1817

Bladen

Farmer

Note: Cain was reported in this unit, a Sampson County unit, on 29 May 1864 muster report.

McLean's Company, 8th Senior Reserves

Name

Birth Date

County

Remarks

L R Kallahan

24 Jan 1817

Bladen/Robeson

Farmer

Note: LR Kallahan is probably Callihan or Callahan and is shown enlisting on 5 July 1864 at Shoe Heel Depot in Robeson County.

Multiple Enlistments, 8th Senior Reserves
The following men, thought to be the same person, enlisted in two separate companies of the 8th Senior Reserves, North Carolina Troops. In some cases, the birth data matches and in other cases, there are differences. In all cases, the men listed below were first members of Callihan's Company of Bladen and Columbus residents, then joined McNeill's Company largely from Robeson County in the fall of 1864.

Company

Name

Birth Date

Birth County

Callihan's
McNeill's
Callihan's
McNeill's
Callihan's
McNeill's
Callihan's
McNeill's
Callihan's
McNeill's
Callihan's
McNeill's
Callihan's
McNeill's
Callihan's
McNeill's

Tyron H Hilburn
Tryon H Hilburn
Arrington Hinson
Arrington Hinson
John McDaniel
John McDaniel
Iver McMillan
Iver McMillan
Solomon W Norris
Solomon W Norris
Jackson W Powell
Jackson W Powell
Hugh Simpson
Hugh Simpson
Isaac S Willis
Isaac S Willis

Sept 1817
Sept 1817
Feb 1816
Feb 1815
Dec 1817
Dec 1815
Apr 1816
Apr 1816
Dec 1816
Dec 1815
May 1817
Apr 1817
May 1816
Feb 1816
May 1815
May 1815

Robeson
Bladen
Robeson
Columbus
Bladen
Bladen
Bladen
Bladen
SC
Columbus
Columbus
Columbus
Bladen
Bladen
Cumberland
Bladen

McNeill's Company, 8th Senior Reserves

Name

Birth Date

County

Remarks

Isham Brisson
John Cain
John Downing
Tryon H Hilburn
Arrington Hinson
John McDaniel
Iver McMillan
Solomon W Norris
Jackson W Powell
Wiley Reeves
Hugh Simpson
Travis Strickland
Henry W Turner
Isaac S Willis

Sept 1817
May 1814
June 1814
Sept 1817
Feb 1815
Dec 1815
Apr 1816
Dec 1815
Apr 1817
Oct 1817
Feb 1816
June 1817
Aug 1817
May 1815

Columbus/Robeson
Bladen
Bladen
Bladen
Columbus
Bladen
Bladen
Columbus
Columbus
Columbus
Bladen
Columbus
Columbus
Bladen

Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Cooper
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Tenant
Farmer

Notes: Hilburn's address is Bladenboro on Wilmington hospital records from 14 Nov - 26 Dec 1864, then sent to unidentified hospital; Powell has Whiteville address on Wilmington hospital records dated 16-21 Nov 1864; Turner has Cerro Gordo address on Wilmington hospital records dated 17-29 Oct 1864.

Kelly's Company, 8th Senior Reserves

Name

Birth Date

County

Remarks

Kinion Davis
RM Johnson
Duncan McCall
Duncan McCall
Duncan McCall

Aug 1817
Aug 1817
Nov 1818
July 1817
Nov 1818

Bladen
Bladen
Cumberland
Bladen
Cumberland

Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer

Notes: Duncan McCall is shown as being born in Cumberland County in Nov 1818 when he enlisted on 11 April 1864 in this company. Another Duncan McCall enlisted the same day in this same company and records show he was born in Bladen County in July 1817. A third record shows a Duncan McCall enlisted in Wilmington on 10 Nov 1864, being born in Cumberland in Nov 1818. This first and third McCall was apparently the same man, reenlisting in November in the same company.