The regiment was organized at Smithfield and Fort Caswell, North Carolina, in June, 1861.

It was first assigned to garrison duties in the coastal areas of North Carolina before being transferred to Samuel Garland, Jr.'s brigade, D. H. Hill's division of the Army of Northern Virginia in June 1862.

Following Garland's mortal wounding in the Battle of South Mountain, Iverson was promoted to brigadier general and took command of the brigade.

The regiment returned to the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia in March 1865 and participated in the Appomattox Campaign.

It surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, with four officers and 71 enlisted men remaining in the regiment.