Recruited in the western part of the State, and arrived at Annapolis, Md., on November 5, 1861. It remained there undergoing instructions and drill for two months, and then sailed for North Carolina. It was assigned to Foster's (1st) Brigade, and fought under Burnside at Roanoke Island and New Berne, its casualties in the latter action amounting to 9 killed and 43 wounded. The regiment remained in North Carolina during the next two years. Colonel Lee was in command of the brigade most of the time, leaving the regiment to the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Luke Lyman. During its stay in North Carolina it was engaged with credit in numerous minor battles and skirmishes. In April, 1864, it joined the Army of the James in its advance on Richmond. At the battle of Drewry's Bluff the regiment was surrounded while fighting in a dense fog, losing in addition to its killed and wounded, 252 of its number taken prisoners. Among the captured were the Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel, and General Heckman. Part of the regiment escaping, the command devolved upon Major William A. Walker, who was killed soon after at Cold Harbor. On that bloody field the remnant of the Twenty-seventh lost 22 killed, 68 wounded, and 4 missing. In the assault on Petersburg, June 15, 1864, it sustained a further loss of 13 killed, and 30 wounded. In August, 1864, the regiment returned to North Carolina where it served until mustered out in June, 1865.