William H. Conaway of Onslow County, killed in action June 1, 1864

My great great great grandfather, William H. Conaway, resided in Onslow County and worked as a farmer. He enlisted in New Hanover County, Wilmington, NC, on March 3, 1862 at age 36. He mustered in as Sergeant of the 51st North Carolina Regiment, Company G, Infantry. He served under General Clingman’s Brigade. He saw action in Goldsboro, NC and was prominent in the Defense Battery at Fort Wagner in Charleston, SC. He was ordered to Drewry’s Bluff and Cold Harbor, VA and was killed in action on June 1, 1864 at Cold Harbor. His body was transported to Petersburg, VA where he was buried in a mass grave with approximately 10,000 other Confederates.