Prior to secession, North Carolina law called for volunteer militia. Once North Carolina seceded, the adjutant general began organizing volunteer militia companies into regiments. They were mustered into state service and designated as North Carolina Volunteers. On 1 May 1861, the legislature approved the formation of ten regiments of State Troops to be organized independent of the existing Volunteers. Volunteer regiments were mustered in for six or twelve months of service solely within the state. State Troops were mustered in for three years or the war. They could serve outside the borders of the state.
The state reorganized the ten regiments of NC State Troops and the fourteen regiments of NC Volunteers on 14 November 1861. The first ten regiments of State Troops kept their State Troops designation while the fourteen regiments of North Carolina Volunteers changed theirs to North Carolina Troops. NC Volunteer regiments 1-14 became NC Troops regiments 11-24 in this reorganization, removing the dual numbering system that was causing so much confusion. The 7th NC Volunteers became the 17th NC Troops at this time.
This same reorganization created dual designations for cavalry, artillery, and reserve regiments. Every regiment received a North Carolina Troops designation and a branch of service designation Thus the 10th North Carolina State Troops were also the 1st North Carolina Artillery.
Civil War in NE North Carolina 