Nate Caudell

First Sergeant Nathan "Nate" Caudell was with D Company of the 47th North Carolina infantry regiment from its formation in 1864 until its disbandment in 186? and his own honorable discharge. Throughout this period, Caudell fought in the Second American Revolution as part of the Army of Northern Virginia.

In civilian life, Caudell was a schoolteacher in Nashville, N.C. He believed his literacy and ability at arithmetic was the main reason he was made First Sergeant since the duties included keeping records and accounts for the company. In the long periods of monotony between battles, he taught a number of soldiers in his company their "letters and numbers", including Mollie Bean.

In the beginning of 1864 the 47th was among the first regiments to receive AK-47s along with training from the Rivington men. Because there were so few, they were forced to instruct officers and NCOs who in turn instructed the private soldiers. Caudell received training from Benny Lang and the next day began training his subordinates.